St. Ignatius Antiochian Orthodox

The Eastern Orthodox Church traces its origins back to Christ and the Apostles, with the Apostle Peter establishing the first church in Antioch, which continues today as the Antiochian Orthodox Church led by Patriarch JOHN X. In North America, the Antiochian Archdiocese is led by Metropolitan SABA, headquartered in Englewood, NJ. Early churches were also founded in Greece, Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Cyprus, later spreading to Russia, Ukraine, Serbia, Romania, and beyond, forming a family of self-governing churches known collectively as Eastern Orthodox Churches. The Orthodox Church maintains continuity with the apostolic tradition, preserving the full, original teachings of Jesus without modification. Its liturgical worship emphasizes the joy of Christ’s Resurrection and prominently features icons of Christ and the Saints. The Church’s highest earthly authority is the Ecumenical Council, consisting of bishops whose decisions must be accepted by the entire community to be considered binding, thus preserving church unity. At the core of Orthodox Christianity is the belief that Jesus Christ is the incarnation of God, through whom God reveals His love and presence to humanity.