Holy Tradition

Here’s how the Ancient Church faithfully preserved for centuries its apostolic teachings, canon of Scripture, sacred art, and sacred music: Holy Tradition

Our Tradition is the priceless and timeless ethos of Christianity; it is the life of the Church, transcending nations, cultures and tongues. Whether you’re at an Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, Damascus, Moscow or Mt. Sinai, today or 1,000 years ago, you’ll witness the same Divine Liturgy, the same Holy Scriptures, and the same doctrines delivered by the Apostles. If a first-century Christian came back today as a guest, he or she would feel right at home in an Orthodox Church. Generations of intense persecution, counter-cultural shifts, errant pseudo- Christian theologies, and anti-Christian worldviews have not been able to prevail against Christ’s Church. Our Lord had foretold “….on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18). Despite popular secular voices advocating for the Church to change as society’s norms change, Christ’s Truth cannot change; It must change us.

Through its Holy Tradition the Church guards its unique identity, records its history of apostolic succession; maintains the inerrancy of its doctrinal teachings in spoken, sung, written, or oral expression; and chronicles the original compilation and unadulterated interpretation of Holy Scripture. Had the Church lost its Holy Tradition over time, we would’ve been left to speculate on what the early Church must have been like.

Any meaningful discussion of Holy Tradition requires distinguishing it from small “t” traditions, which are customs or preferred practices that help us express our Holy Tradition, such as: language, chanting styles, liturgical new vs. old calendar, kissing the Holy Chalice after receiving Holy Communion, etc. These customs do not conflict with Holy Scripture or apostolic doctrine, but rather give guidance on specific matters where Scripture and apostolic doctrine are silent.

Then, there are what Scripture warns as “traditions of men” which either run contrary to God’s will, or detract from the gospel of Christ and true worship. In Mark chapter 7, Jesus rebukes the Jewish leaders for their criticism of Jesus’ disciples eating bread from the marketplace with unwashed hands. He says: “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.” (verse 9). Earlier in the chapter, He cites Isaiah: “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” (verse 6). The Apostle Paul admonished the Church at Colossae against the clever, secular sophistry of the times: “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” (Colossians 2:8). The Church rejects all worldly traditions that pose legalistic constrictions, or otherwise overshadow the centrality of the Faith.