Sunday of Orthodoxy - Feast of Orthodoxy

In the 8th century A. D., our Church dedicated the First Sunday of Great Lent as the Sunday of Orthodoxy. It was at that time that the Empress Irene of Athens of later Theodora, with her son Michael, restored the veneration of the holy icons.

As we know, the Church of Christ, for more than a century, underwent years of hardship and persecution at the hands of the heretical iconoclasts. This was instigated by irreverent leaders such as Leon (of) Isavros who tormented the people of the Church and who, many times, inflicted such punishments as exile and many other forms of humiliation. This occurred because the faithful remained steadfast in their belief that the holy icons must be venerated, just as the apostles of Christ venerated them, just as the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, the Orthodox Church taught of their veneration.

The purpose of this article is not to analyse the position that the heretical iconoclasts took and to expose their motives, nor to justify the Apostolic Tradition of our Church in this issue of the holy icons, that preaches their relative veneration.

The purpose of this article is to emphasise the messages and the teachings that this bright Feast brings. The first message is to show the struggles and the sacrifices of the members of our Church, from the apostolic years and onwards.

The second message that the feast brings is to let the trumpet sound, to awaken us and call us to our holy duties; and strengthen us on our holy struggle so that with our sacrifices we can preserve the purity of our faith for the forth coming generations. This faith is the priceless treasure which will safely guide the faithful one to the salvation of his soul. This treasure also reminds us that faith must also be accompanied by a correct and proper way of life.

The terms Orthodoxy and Correct practise or life (Ïñèïðñáîßá) are not empty words. Orthodoxy means a belief in the Triune God (Holy Trinity), a belief in the Holy Bible, a belief in Holy Tradition and a belief in the decisions made by the Seven Ecumenical Councils.

St James, known as “Adelfotheos” tells us that faith without the acts of faith is a dead faith. This is how (Ïñèïðñáîßá) becomes a natural and logical result of Orthodoxy. The correct faith, automatically leads to the correct acts.

Orthodoxy, therefore, is essential in a Christian’s life. The acts of the deeds which have merged in the clean waters of faith give the believer a living and fulfilled identity.

These are the great truths which we are reminded of with the feast of Orthodoxy. It also shows us with a vivid and descriptive manner, the life of worship in our Church. The Mysteries, the many holy services and the holy feasts which are filled with symbolism and divine messages; the divine hymns which are adorned with the flowers of dogma. It makes us listen and turn towards the spiritually satisfying Byzantine treasure of our Church Music, which is only alive in Orthodoxy. It is the music, the divine hymns, which raise the believer from the earth to the heavens, and help him acquire divinity. (Theosis)

The wealth of its Iconography, the works of a tried, worthy and holy art, whose symbolic, dogmatic and theological extensions divinely inspire the humble Christian. The Byzantine Icon creates contrition and teaches the devoutness and holiness of the portrayed Saint.

The feast of Orthodoxy reminds us and shows us everything which is related to our Orthodox Faith.

All of this, along with our beautiful and God pleasing morals and traditions of a long standing heritage, are combined to create the most beautiful and God pleasing faith, known as Orthodoxy.

This is the faith which guides people to the clean springs of true life, which is the compass of the only correct direction and which is the only safe anchor and hope of mankind.

Let us hope that we too benefit from the messages and teachings of the Feast of Orthodoxy.

By the late Father Nicholas Moutafis 1931-2001