Orthodox Community in the UK

For Visitors

What is Orthodox Christianity?

Many people are waking up to the fact that Orthodoxy is Ancient Christianity's hidden secret. For various reasons, the existence of Eastern Christianity, as it is sometimes known as, has been
mis-understood and overlooked for centuries by the Church in the western hemisphere.
Thanks to some charismatic, spiritual and prayerful leaders over the last 100 years or so this is changing.

A Faith Rooted in History

Orthodox Christianity is one of the oldest living faith traditions in the world, yet it remains unfamiliar to many—especially in the West. Despite its 2,000-year presence, including more than 200 years in America, its story is often overlooked. Emerging directly from the ministry of Jesus Christ and the apostolic age, the Orthodox Church has preserved its faith and way of life through generations.

The term “Orthodox” means “right belief” or “right glory,” reflecting the Church’s emphasis on maintaining the fullness of the original Christian faith, passed down without change through Holy Tradition. This is the same Church whose history unfolds in the pages of the New Testament and continues today in many of the same places where the Apostles first preached.

This is the same Church whose history unfolds in the pages of the New Testament and continues today in many of the same places where the Apostles first preached.

What Orthodox Christianity Believes

At its core, Orthodox Christianity is about salvation: the transformation and union of each person with Christ through His Church. It teaches that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the long-awaited Messiah, who rose from the dead—and that through Him, eternal life is possible. This is the Gospel, the good news.

Orthodox Christians believe the faith was "once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3), and has been faithfully handed down ever since. The Church maintains the teachings of Christ through Scripture and Holy Tradition—one continuous stream, not two separate sources.

It is also the Church that canonized the Bible, articulated foundational doctrines like the Trinity and the Incarnation, and continues to live out these truths through worship, sacraments, and a life of prayer.

 like the Trinity and the Incarnation, and continues to live out these truths through worship, sacraments, and a life of prayer

A Global and Living Church

While deeply rooted in the early Church, Orthodoxy is not a relic of the past—it is a vibrant and global faith. Today, Orthodox Christian communities span the world. From the cathedrals of Eastern Europe to growing missions in Africa and Asia, and from immigrant parishes in North America to new converts in the West, Orthodoxy is alive and expanding.

Orthodox Christianity is the second largest Christian communion in the world, following Roman Catholicism. It is sometimes called “Eastern Orthodox” or “Greek Orthodox,” depending on regional history, but all belong to the same unified tradition: Orthodox Christianity.

Living the Orthodox Life

For Orthodox Christians, faith is not only belief—it is a way of life. Prayer, fasting, sacraments, worship, and love of neighbor are central practices that shape daily living. Orthodox worship is centered on the Divine Liturgy, a deeply spiritual and communal experience rooted in ancient Christian tradition

The journey is one of transformation—of being healed and made whole in Christ. It is a path that involves the entire person: body, mind, and soul. Through the Church, believers are supported in this life-long process of growing in holiness.