Publisher: Home:: Orthodox Christian Information Center

As the site’s creator and Webmaster I would first like to point out that the nature of the Internet as an information medium makes this site—from the Orthodox perspective of “acquiring knowledge”—quite limited. For true acquisition of knowledge is an experiential concept involving the transformation of the whole man. This comes through worship, prayer, and ascetic struggle—i.e., an active participation in the Church’s mysteriological life. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind that—as Bishop Kallistos has often stated—“Orthodoxy is not a system of ideas, but a way of life.” When asked about recommended reading on the Orthodox Faith, Bishop Kallistos says that people should focus on the Lives of the Saints*. The Saints are the glory of the Church and exemplify the fullness of Orthodoxy, something which is not a “religion,” but a therapeutic method—a way of cure—undertaken within the Church and involving purification, illumination, and glorification (theosis). In short, Orthodoxy cannot be grasped simply by reading articles and books—one has to experience and live it. The Internet is fine as a conduit of information, but realize its limitations when it comes to deepening your understanding of the Orthodox faith.