IN AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF INSTRUCTION IN MARCH OF 1988, I REMINDED THE MEMBERS AND CLERGY OF CHRIST CATHOLIC ORTHODOX CHURCH, "NO ONE CAN JUST START A CHURCH. THERE IS ONLY ONE CHURCH OF GOD AND THROUGH OUR BISHOPS, WE ARE DWELLING IN THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH FOUNDED BY JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR. THERE IS ONLY ONE TRUE HEAD OF THE CHURCH AND THAT IS JESUS CHRIST."

OUR PORTION OF THE ONE CHURCH UNIVERSAL, IS RICH IN HERITAGE, HISTORY, AND TRADITION GOING BACK 2000 YEARS TO THE APOSTLES THROUGH THE LAYING ON OF HANDS AND APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. WE ARE ORTHODOX BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN "RIGHT WORSHIP" AND "RIGHT TEACHING". WE ARE THEREFORE ONE IN SPIRIT WITH THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHURCH.

PREVIOUSLY, I MENTIONED THE WESTERN ORTHODOX TRADITION. WE USE A WESTERN RITE OR CONTEMPORARY STYLES OF WORSHIP WHICH TRULY REFLECTS OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE. HOWEVER, OUR LOVE AND RESPECT FOR THE MYSTICAL BEAUTY OF THE EASTERN RITE SHALL GO ON UNTIL THE END OF TIME AS WE KNOW IT.

WITH THE CREATION OF THE DIOCESES OF OHIO, CHRIST CATHOLIC ORTHODOX CHURCH BEGAN ITS LIFE AS A DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH. THE YEARS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN FRUITFUL AND AT TIMES A LITTLE DISCOURAGING. WE HAVE SEEN BOTH INCREASE AND DECREASE IN SIZE. YET BY THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; IT HAS ENDURED AND SINCE 1988, (A VERY SPECIAL YEAR IN THE CHURCH) HAS FLOURISHED AND BECOME A STRONG WITNESS FOR CHRIST IN THE WORLD.

SINCE THERE TRULY IS ONLY ONE CHURCH UNIVERSAL, OUR DENOMINATION BELIEVES IN STRONG ECUMENISM. THEREFORE, OUR CHURCH HAS DEVELOPED OPEN COMMUNICATIONS WITH SEVERAL PROTESTANT, ANGLICAN, EPISCOPAL AND ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH COMMUNIUES. MEMBERS AND CLERGY OF CHRIST CATHOLIC ORTHODO CHURCH ARE INVOLVED WITH MANY MINISTRIES AND INTER-DENOMINATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

ST. SERAPHIM'S CENTER FOR THEOLOGICAL STUDIES WAS ESTABLISHED BY OUR CHURCH TO HELP THOSE SEEKING TO ANSWER THE CALL OF CHRIST TO MINISTRY AS A DEACON OR PRIEST TO ACHIEVE THAT GOAL.

OUR CLERGY AND FAITHFUL COME FROM DIVERSIFIED BACKGROUNDS AND DENOMINATIONS AND THlS GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A TRULY INTEGRATED RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE AS WE FELLOWSHIP, MINISTER, AND PRAY TOGETHER.

THE DIVINE LITURGY, THE CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST, IS AT THE CENTER OF OUR PRAYER LIFE. OUR ORTHODOX FAITH IS BASED ON SACRED SCRIPTURE, THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS , HOLY TRADITION , AND THE STATEMENTS OF FAITH AS SET DOWN IN THE NICENE CREED. WE BELIEVE IN THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS OF THE CHURCH, AND APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION. I'VE ALWAYS MAINTAINED THAT YOU MAY HAVE APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION,BUT YOU REALLY MUST HAVE APOSTOLIC SUCCESS WITH THE HELP AND GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! (AS OTHERS HAVE ALSO STATED)

OUR CLERGY CONSIST OF THE MAJOR ORDERS OF DEACON, PRIEST, AND BISHOP. WE HAVE ALSO BROUGHT BACK THE ANCIENT ORDER OF DEACONESS. WE ALSO HAVE VARIOUS LAY MINISTRIES WHICH ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH COMMUNITY.

OUR DEACONS, PRIESTS, AND BISHOPS MAY REMAIN IN THE SINGLE, OR CELIBATE STATE , OR MAY CHOOSE TO MARRY, JUST AS WAS THE PRACTICE IN THE ANCIENT CHURCH. WE ALSO ENCOURAGE THOSE WHOSE CALLING IS TO A LIFE OF PRAYER AND SERVICE TO BECOME MONKS, AND NUNS. LIVING THE LIFE OF A NUN OR THE MONASTIC LIFE IS TO BE HIGHLY AND SPIRITUALLY COMMENDED. ALL OF US IN THlS DAY , AND AGE NEED TO STRIVE TO LIVE MORE HOLY SPIRIT FILLED LIVES, AND TO PRAY FOR THlS SIN FILLED WORLD , AND TO PRAY FOR EACH OTHER.

I COULD GO ON AND DESCRIBE MORE FULLY THE DAY TO DAY, AND YEAR TO YEAR ACTIVITIES OF OUR CHURCH COMMUNITY, BUT IT WAS AND IS MY SIMPLE GOAL TO RELATE WHO, AND WHAT CHRIST CATHOLIC ORTHODOX CHURCH IS.., AND THAT CAN BEST BE DONE BY MY CLOSING STATEMENT.

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE AT TIMES THE WORD FAMILY BECOMES LOST IN A VERY HIGHLY TECHNICAL SOCIETY WHERE LIFE IS PASSING US BY AT SUCH A FAST RATE WE HAVE PROBLEMS JUST KEEPING UP WITH IT. I ENVISION THE FAMILY WE HAVE COME TO KNOW IN OUR HOLY SPIRIT, FAITH, FAMILY, COMMUNITY BEING A CATALYST, HOWEVER SMALL, IN HELPING ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN TO KNOW AND REALIZE THE REAL PEACE AND COMFORT WHICH ONLY JESUS OUR SAVIOUR CAN GIVE AND GIVE SO FREELY. As I OFTEN THINK IT SEEMS SO STRANGE THAT WE HAVE ONE GOD, ONE CHRIST, ONE HOLY SPIRIT AND SO MANY DENOMINATIONS CALLING THEMSELVES CHRISTIANS. WHY CAN'T WE BE ONE FAMILY IN CHRIST JESUS. IF CHRIST CATHOLIC ORTHODOX CHURCH A HOLY SPIRIT, FAITH, FAMILY, COMMUNITY CAN IN SOME, SMALL WAY, ANSWER THE CALL OF THE LORD , AND HELP THlS TO COME ABOUT, THEN I BELIEVE WE'VE FULFILLED HIS CALLING. LET US THEN, LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS HE HAS LOVED US.