THE HOLY BYZANTINE CATHOLIC ORTHODOX CHURCH

ORTHODOX in following the teachings of the Seven Ecumenical Councils of the
Undivided Church proclaimed in the ancient creeds, adhering faithfully to the
Principles of Apostolic Succession and a life of worship through the Holy
Mysteries, the Seven Sacraments.

CATHOLIC in that it reaffirms the doctrines of historical Christian orthodoxy such
as those defined by the Apostles Creed and the great ecumenical councils of
the first millennium of Christian history such as the Councils of Nicea, Chalcedon,
Constantinople, and others. These catholic doctrines include such affirmations as
the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the atonement of Christ, and other doctrines that
are integral to historic Christianity. It is Catholic in that it maintains a three tiered
ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons who stand in a line of succession from
the apostles. We are not Roman Catholic but we honor the Pope as the
Patriarch of Rome and the elder brother among equals.

BYZANTINE because we reflect the traditions of the Byzantine, Greek, Slavic and
Semitic cultures. We are not anti-semitic.

WESTERN because of the common cultural and language elements of the
people we serve.

REFORMED in affirming the eminent position of the Sacred Scriptures within the
life and worship of the Christian people, without in any way denying its context
within the living Tradition handed down from the time of the Apostles, as
expressed in the close union of proclaimed Word and celebrated Sacrament in
the Churches liturgical tradition.

TRADITIONAL in the holding of the Apostolic origins, practices and biblical
doctrines of the Christian faith.

EPISCOPAL meanings government by Bishops. Episcopos is the Greek word from
which we derive the English word 'bishop'.