Ask an Eastern Orthodox Christian: Joining the Antiochian Orthodox Church

Do I need to do anything to join the Antiochian Orthodox Church if I’m already part of another Orthodox church?

Already Orthodox? You’re already part of the Antiochian Church — no new initiation needed.

By Nick Damascus | FāVS News Columnist

The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News. 

Full Question: Before moving away, I was chrismated in an Orthodox Church in America parish and now want membership in an Antiochian Orthodox Church that is closest to my home. What do I need or do to join the Antiochian Church?

As a member of the Orthodox Church of America, you are already a member of the Antiochian Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Church is one church with many different jurisdictions. 

The word before Orthodox Church denotes the administrational authority, which can be cultural, historical or geographical. All are part of the same church, called the Eastern Orthodox Church. 

So when we refer to the Greek Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church, Antiochian Orthodox Church, Alexandrian Orthodox Church or Jerusalem Orthodox Church, we are indicating that the first word in each title applies to a jurisdictional see, and the last word, Orthodox, implies the Eastern Orthodox Church. 

In the early church, a see was a major area of jurisdiction. In the first 1,000 years of Christianity, there were five historic patriarchal sees (or centers) known collectively as the Pentarchy — four Eastern Orthodox sees consisting of Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria and Constantinople and one in the west, the See of Rome. In 1054, the See of Rome left the other four sees, marking the official beginning of the Roman Catholic Church. 

In later years, through missionary efforts, other jurisdictions were founded and added to the Eastern Orthodox Church, including the Orthodox churches of Russia, Greece, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, etc. 

All of these justifications are in full communion with one another and continue to be united in faith, doctrine, Apostolic tradition, sacraments, liturgies and services as one, holy, catholic (meaning universal, not Roman Catholic) and apostolic church not adding to, altering of or subtracting from the original faith given to us by Christ and the Apostles.

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