Our Faith
Rooted in
Orthodox
Christianity.
The Orthodox Christian faith is at the heart of OCAAF’s mission, fellowship and service within the Armed Forces and wider Defence community.
Statement of Faith
A faith received and lived.
OCAAF’s beliefs and practices are grounded in the historic faith of the Orthodox Church.
Our statement of belief affirms the Holy Trinity, the Nicene Creed, Holy Scripture and sacred Tradition, the sacramental life of the Church, the Divine Liturgy and the importance of prayer.
These beliefs shape the spiritual life of OCAAF and the fellowship we seek to share throughout military and everyday life.
Our Belief
The Holy Trinity
We believe in one God in three Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
This belief in the Holy Trinity is fundamental to the Orthodox Christian faith and lies at the foundation of our understanding of God, worship and Christian life.
The Nicene Creed
The historic statement
of Christian faith.
The Nicene Creed is a central statement of Orthodox Christian belief and expresses the Church’s faith in God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Church.
It was formulated through the Ecumenical Councils and remains a defining expression of Orthodox Christian faith and worship.
Holy Scripture
The divinely inspired Scriptures
Holy Scripture is understood as divinely inspired and occupies a central place within Orthodox Christian life and teaching.
Sacred Tradition
The living Tradition of the Church
Alongside Holy Scripture, the Orthodox Church gives great importance to sacred Tradition, including the teachings of the early Church Fathers and the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils.
Salvation
Life in Christ
Humanity’s salvation is made possible through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Atonement, reconciliation with God and participation in the life of Christ are central to Orthodox Christian belief.
Sacramental Life
The sacred mysteries
of the Church
The Orthodox Church recognises seven principal sacraments or sacred mysteries through which God’s grace is made present in the life of the faithful.
Baptism
Chrismation
The Eucharist
Confession
Holy Orders
Matrimony
Anointing of the Sick
Worship
The Divine Liturgy
The Divine Liturgy is the central act of Orthodox Christian worship, where the faithful come together in prayer and participate in the Eucharist.
It stands at the heart of the Church’s worship and communal spiritual life.
Prayer
Prayer as part
of everyday life.
Prayer is an integral part of Orthodox Christian life.
It includes personal prayer, communal prayer and the liturgical prayers of the Church.
Within OCAAF, prayer forms part of the spiritual foundation of our fellowship and our support for one another.
The Wider Church
Part of a global Orthodox
Christian community.
Orthodox Christianity has a global presence, with vibrant communities throughout the world.
These communities contribute to the cultural, social and religious life of the societies in which they live while remaining united by the historic faith and worship of the Orthodox Church.
OCAAF
Faith lived in
fellowship and service.
Learn more about OCAAF or discover how to become part of our community.