Conclusion

The history of the Orthodox Church is bound up with the nation of Israel from which it stems. The Church, beginning with the people of Israel and including those who believed in Christ, had its beginning at Pentecost, and has been guided and guarded by the Holy Spirit for two millennia. The seeds of the Church are the martyrs, not only those in the first few centuries A.D., but throughout the 2,000-year history of the Church. Even in the last century, thousands of Christians in the Soviet Union, China, North Korea, and in other places were imprisoned, tortured, and died for their faith in Jesus Christ. Despite the tribulations in every age, we in the Orthodox Church continue to worship the Holy Trinity according to received Tradition and will remain witnesses to the true faith until Christ our Savior comes again.