2. Background The word orthodox means ‘right believing’ and was adopted to signify the true religion that faithfully followed the beliefs and practices defined by the first seven ecumenical that sated back to the first 10 centuries. The Orthodox Christianity claims to have fully preserved, without any variation, the traditions and doctrines of the early Christian church established by the apostles. This is why believe themselves to be the only true and right believing Christian faith. Like all Christian churches in Australia, the Eastern Orthodox Churches are immigrant churches, and this fact has characterised their presence in this country. The Orthodox Churches were established in Australia for the spiritual and pastoral care of those Orthodox Churches who decided to make their lives outside the traditional boundaries of the mother church. Orthodox Christians follow the principal festivals of the Western church, but many use the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian, so that their commemorations are 13 days behind those of the West. Every day in the calendar of the Orthodox Church is assigned remembrance of a saint or feast.

3. Basic Beliefs Authority of Scripture: they believe that the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Tradition are of equal value and importance. Baptism: Orthodox Christians believe baptism is the initiator of the salvation experience. The Orthodox Church practices baptism by full immersion. Eucharist: is the centre of worship in the Orthodox Church. Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that during the Eucharist believers partake mystically of Christ's body and blood and through it receive his life and strength. Holy Spirit: Orthodox Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is one of the persons of the Trinity, who proceeds from the Father and is one in essence with the Father. Jesus Christ: Orthodox Christians believe that Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, God's Son, fully divine and fully human. He became flesh through Mary, but was without sin. He died on the cross as man's Saviour. He resurrected and ascended to heaven. He will return to judge all men. Mary: Orthodox Christians believe Mary has supreme grace and is to be highly honoured but they reject the doctrine of Immaculate Conception. Predestination: Orthodox Christians believe God has fore-knowledge of man's destiny, but he does not predestine him. Saints and Icons: Orthodox Christians practice veneration of icons; reverence is directed toward the person they represent and not the relics themselves. Salvation: Orthodox Christians believe salvation is a gradual, life-long process by which Christians become more and more like Christ. This requires faith in Jesus Christ, working through love. The Trinity: Orthodox Christians believe there are three persons in the Godhead, each divine, distinct and equal. The Father God is the eternal head; the Son is begotten of the Father; the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father.

4. Like all churches in Australia, the Eastern Orthodox churches are immigrant churches. There were no listed Orthodox Christians in Australia during the early colonial period. The first Orthodox service in Australia took place at Easter in 1820 in Sydney, celebrated by a visiting Russian Orthodox ship’s chaplain. The first Orthodox Church in Australia was established in 1898 in Sydney, by the joint efforts of people of various Orthodox backgrounds. Development

5. Priests etc. The Orthodox Church has always allowed married priests and deacons, provided the marriage takes place before ordination. Widowed priests and deacons may not remarry, and it is common for such a member of the clergy to retire to a monastery. Although Orthodox consider men and women equal before God (Gal. 3:28), only men who are qualified and have no canonical impediments may be ordained bishops, priests, or deacons.