What Is the Orthodox Church?
Presented by St Nicholas Orthodox Books – Serving Orthodox Christians in Canada
We’re not Jewish, but we are Orthodox.
We’re not Roman, but we are Catholic.
We’re not Protestant, but the Bible came from us.
We’re not Denominational — we’re Pre-Denominational.
On the one hand, the Orthodox Church is the oldest Church in Christendom.
On the other hand, it is still new to many people in North America.
With more than 225 million faithful worldwide, Orthodoxy is the second largest Christian body in the world, though fewer than six million live in the U.S. and Canada. In the twentieth century alone, over 40 million Orthodox Christiansgave their lives for Christ, especially under communist persecution. For this reason, the Orthodox Church has often been called “the Church of the Martyrs.”
She is the Church of some of history’s greatest saints, theologians, and writers—
people like St. John Chrysostom, St. Justin Martyr, St. Augustine, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and Alexander Solzhenitsyn.
But what exactly is this Church? What are her roots and beliefs? And why are so many in the West only now discovering her?
A Brief History
The Orthodox Church is the original Christian Church, founded by our Lord Jesus Christ and described in the pages of the New Testament. Her history can be traced in unbroken continuity back to Christ and His Apostles.
For over twenty centuries, she has remained steadfast in her faith and practice. Her apostolic doctrine, worship, and structure are still preserved today. The Orthodox Church understands herself as the living Body of Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit.
For the first 1,000 years of Christian history, there was but one united Church. In the Great Schism of 1054, a division arose between the Orthodox East and the Roman West, primarily over the role of the papacy and the interpretation of doctrine. Since that time, Orthodoxy has continued to preserve the faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).
Orthodoxy Today in North America
When Orthodoxy first came to North America, it was often seen as a “foreign” faith. Early immigrants worshipped in their native languages, and the richness of Orthodox worship was little understood outside their communities.
Today, that is changing. More and more people are discovering the ancient Christian faith—a Church that has not changed with time but has kept the timeless truth of Christ. Many are drawn to Orthodoxy’s depth, beauty, and faithfulness to Scripture and Tradition. Across Canada and the U.S., new missions are being founded, and established parishes are offering services in English. Orthodoxy is growing among families, students, and seekers who long for the fullness of the Christian life.
Discover the Faith
At St Nicholas Orthodox Books, our mission is to help make the treasures of the Orthodox faith accessible to all Canadians.
Through our carefully selected collection of books, icons, incense, and devotional items, we strive to support those exploring or deepening their understanding of Orthodox Christianity.
Whether you are new to Orthodoxy, a lifelong believer, or simply curious about the ancient Christian faith, we invite you to learn more through our available titles and resources.
Visit us online at stnick.ca to explore Orthodox classics, catechetical works, children’s books, and more — all faithful to the teaching and tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church.
“Come and see.” — John 1:46