June 6, 2023
06/005

To the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America, beloved children in the Lord, and to all who might make use of the present work:

You have before you the fruit of the common labor of multiple Departments of the Orthodox Church in America, which in turn coordinated the work of numerous clergy, theologians, teachers, and qualified laypeople. The result of their work, Essential Orthodox Christian Beliefs: A Manual for Adult Instruction, comprises sixteen chapters that can be presented in a flexible manner. Using the Divine Liturgy as the framework for presenting the teachings of the Orthodox Church, this manual is a suitable resource for the newly-illumined, and confirming mature Orthodox Christians in a fuller understanding of our holy faith.

So many are the things "which Jesus did, were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written" (Jn 21:25). The present volume claims neither to be a definitive catechism nor a complete replacement for the previous resources, such as Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko's series The Orthodox Faith (opens in a new tab). Moreover, there are plans to provide supporting materials, including multimedia materials, and to update this work on a regular basis.

It is my hope that this work, made available to all, free of charge, will serve for the upbuilding of the Orthodox Church in America, the healing and salvation of souls, and the hastening of the kingdom. And to our God, one in Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be all glory.

Yours in Christ,

+Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada