Our Faith
The Greek Orthodox Church traces its roots directly from the Apostles of Jesus Christ. We believe Christ is the fulfillment of Judaism, of the Old Testament, and believe that His life, and that of the early Church,has been faithfully chronicled in the New Testament. The Church’s teachings are taken from the Holy Scriptures, and the sacred writings of the Saints – Apostolic tradition – as documented over the last two thousand years.
The first teachings of the Disciples were oral, before the New Testament was written. Orthodox worship grew directly out of two practices of Jewish worship: synagogue and temple. The prayers, the Scripture readings, the events of the Divine Liturgy are all based on an unchanging tradition. Everything that happens in Orthodox worship has meaning.
Specifically, the Holy Table (Altar) of the Church, located behind the iconostasis in the middle of the altar area, parallels the Ark of the Covenant, which was located in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle and the Temple (2 Chronicles 5:7). Correspondingly, the Holy Table fulfills a similar function as the Ark of the Covenant. Just as the Ark of the Covenant was a special place of meeting between God and people (Exodus 25:22), so is the Holy Table a place from which people receive their most intimate communion with Christ. On the Ark of the Covenant was sprinkled the blood from the atoning sacrifice (Leviticus 16:14); and likewise, on the Holy Table is offered the Bread and Wine which become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we receive Holy Communion, we partake of the once-for-all-sacrifice of our Passover Lamb. In partaking of this Sacrifice, we come to a special meeting with God and enter into the Mystery of His Death and Resurrection (1 Corinthians 10:16). We believe that the Eucharist – the Body and Blood of Christ – is a miraculous medicine of immortality, given to us by God as a means of communion with Him whereby we receive grace to aid us in our Christian life (St. John 6:53-54).
Do you ever hear some say that the Divine Liturgy is too long, or too repetitive or too boring? That’s because we live in a fast-paced world in which our attention spans have shortened and our distractions have multiplied. It’s also because we live in a time when faith is weak, sadly. St. Nikodemus, the Hagiorite, writes: “When faith is weak, the mind cannot understand the mysteries of God, and even before the mind understands them, the will has no desire to love them.”
If people just show up and just “go through the motions” on a Sunday morning, they will miss the supernatural events happening all around them. During the Divine Liturgy, time and space dissolve and we stand before the Throne of God.
Yet, if people open their spiritual eyes, they will sense and even see what is truly transpiring during the Divine Liturgy. They will join in worship with the Angels, who are actively assisting the priest with the Liturgy. In the procession, the Gospel is preceded by altar boys carrying Exapteryga (“Six-winged” metallic fans depicting the Seraphim) representing the Angels. Saint John Chrysostom reports an incident with a priest who witnessed a large number of Angels clothed in bright robes, luminous like the sun. He reported that he was carried up to the altar by them and that they offered their help, bowing their head in great respect around the Holy Table. At times they stood in silence and at other times they chanted liturgical hymns along with the chanters, uplifting their melody.
Elder Cleopa (+1998) of Romania recounts a time when he was living as a recluse, and had no choir, yet had to serve the Liturgy. As he approached the time for the Cherubic Hymn, he heard a voice behind him tell him that he has his choir. Elder Cleopa looked around and birds with crosses on their heads descended and started singing the Cherubic Hymn, and then vanished when the Liturgy was over.
There have also been stories of priests, who when serving Holy Communion, notice that the Body and Blood of Christ never lessens, but keeps multiplying. As the priest gives Holy Communion, more of it “bubbles up” in the chalice – sometimes until it almost overflows.
From this, one can understand that the Church is literally the “House of God.” It has been consecrated for that purpose. It is the place where Heaven joins with earth. It is truly a sacred space. It allows us to fulfill the fundamental purpose of our Faith: the worship of God and to achieve Theosis – a likeness and union with God. Everything else about life, and how we live it, flows from this essential process.
Orthodox Christian worship is always “God-centered,” not “people-centred.” Worship is not meant to entertain, but to allow us to glorify God. When we have humility and repentance, and mean the words we pray in the Liturgy, we get a foretaste of Heaven. In our worship we do our utmost to please God, not ourselves – and this is a great honour. In essence, worship doesn’t revolve around what we might or might not “get out of it,” it’s all about what we “give” to God. If we can slow down, and shut out the world’s cares, and devote our time and effort to attend Liturgy, we will obtain God’s grace and blessings.
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Address: 3125 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M2K 1G2
Phone: 416-221-4611 Email: info@allsaintstoronto.ca
Church Office Hours Weekdays 8:00am to 3:00pm
