Our Faith
What Do We Believe?
It is more to ask: "in whom do we put our trust?" Our faith is not an opinion, not one of many possible views. It is an affirmation of what ultimate reality is the ultimate and dependable reality.
Apostolic Faith
Founded by St. Thomas the Apostle in AD 52, preserving the unbroken apostolic tradition.
Holy Scripture
Scripture as the inspired Word of God, central to prayer and all liturgical worship.
Holy Tradition
The living tradition of the Church — the Fathers, councils, sacraments, and worship.
The One True God
The Holy Trinity
We do not put our trust either in the ancient character of our Church or in any dogmas or doctrines. Our trust is in the One True God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit, eternal, self-existent, indivisible, infinite, incomprehensible, glorious, holy, not created or owing his being to something else, all-sovereign, Creator of the whole universe.
The Triune God is beyond all conceptual comprehension not only by human beings, but by any created mind. The Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, share the same being — one, infinite, eternal, uncreated, self-existent, with three persons or centres of consciousness and response, always acting in concord and unison as one being.
The Son of God
Jesus Christ
We believe that Jesus Christ the Son of God became a human being, and rules in the universe. All power in heaven and on earth is given to Jesus Christ the God-Man. Death and Evil have been overcome, but they are still allowed to function, serving Christ's purposes.
Jesus Christ is now fully God as he always was, of the same being as God the Father. He is also fully a human being, sharing our fallen human nature, but without incurring sin. His humanness and his Godness are inseparably and indivisibly united without change or mixture.
The Life-Giver
The Holy Spirit
For us the Holy Spirit is Life-giver, Sanctifier and Perfecter. The central category in our understanding of salvation is the life-giving Spirit. It is He who effects forgiveness of sins, removes barriers between human beings as well as between them and God, gives life, makes people more holy and God-like.
While we do speak about these operations of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who are not three Gods but one God, we know next to nothing about His being as Triune God. It is important for us to confess the incomprehensibility of God. He is not to be discussed or explained, but to be worshipped and adored and acknowledged as Lord of all.
Ecclesiology
The Church
We believe in the Church. The Church is the great consequence of the Son of God becoming flesh. It is this community that not only bears witness to Christ, but also is the abode of Christ, Christ dwelling in the Church, which is His body.
The local Church is not a mere part of this one great heaven-and-earth community; it is the full manifestation of the One Church, especially when the community is gathered together with the Bishop for the hearing of the Word of God and for the Eucharistic participation in the one eternal sacrifice of Christ.
The Saints
Intercession & The Theotokos
We are never allowed to forget even in a small local church the presence of this great cloud of witnesses who share with us the life of the One Church. Of the great Saints in the Church, the first and unique place goes to the Blessed Virgin Mary, for she was the first to hear the Gospel of the Incarnation.
Theosis
Salvation
Salvation for us means more than escaping hell and going to heaven. It means separation from evil and growth in the good. It means eternal life with true holiness and righteousness. It means also being united with Christ in his divine-human nature, in his sonship and rule over the universe.
The Mysteries
The Sacraments of the Church
The seven Sacraments, known as the Holy Mysteries (roze-d-idtho in Syriac), are sacred acts through which believers receive God's grace and participate in the life of Christ and His Church. Through these mysteries, we are united with Christ and strengthened in our journey of faith.
Holy Baptism
New birth in Christ and entry into the life of the Church.
Holy Chrismation
The sealing of the newly baptised with the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Eucharist
Participation in the Holy Body and Precious Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Holy Matrimony
The blessed lifelong union of husband and wife, reflecting the relationship between Christ and His Church.
Holy Confession
Repentance, forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God and the Church.
Holy Unction
Anointing of the sick with holy oil, accompanied by prayers for healing, strength and spiritual comfort.
Holy Ordination (Hierotonia)
The laying on of hands and invocation of the Holy Spirit for the sacred ministry of deacons, priests and bishops.
The Word of God
The Sacraments of the Church
We hold the Bible in very high regard. The Gospel is the Word of Life, the proclamation of life and salvation to the world. Icons are important for us — they mediate to the worshipping community the presence of the Saints and of the saving events of our Lord's incarnate life.
Worship & Hope
Our Life in Christ
Our worship as a community is the centre of our life. Our hope is focused on Christ's coming again — in which evil would be separated from good, death from life, so that the good can triumph eternally.
It is our task to bear witness to this final reality, while living it out here and now, as much as we can, beset as we are by sin and frailty.
Thy Kingdom Come Lord. And when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom, remember us poor sinners also.