The Orthodox Christian Church began on Pentecost in the year 33 AD when the The Orthodox Christian Church began on Pentecost in the year 33 AD when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. It subsequently spread to every corner of the world and was planted in North America in the late 18th century. Today Orthodox Christianity is the second largest body in Christendom with over 225 million people worldwide, and more than 5 million of which being located in the United States and Canada.

The Orthodox Church believes that the eternal truths of God's revelation in Jesus Christ are preserved in its full integrity in the living tradition of the Church under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Orthodox Christians consider that while their beliefs are similar to those of other Christian traditions, that the balance and fullness of the entire Apostolic faith as delivered to the Saints, by Jesus Christ has been preserved without compromise in the Orthodox Christian Church.

The word Orthodox, from the greek word orthodoxia, means both right belief and right glory or worship. In Orthodoxy faith and worship are intimately linked. As one church father wrote "a theologian is one who prays, and one who prays is a theologian." Orthodoxy is by very definition an experiential faith. It is not merely a religion, but a way of life. Orthodoxy is best apprehended or understood in Her worship. The depth and beauty of Her divine services, and in particular, the Divine Liturgy, is unparalleled in other Christian expressions. Deep in meaning, rich in symbolism and mysticism, the Church's divine services, which have not changed substantially since the eighth century, lead the worshiper to an experience of heaven on earth - a total communion of body, soul and spirit with the Living God. The tenth century envoys of Great Prince Vladimir of Kieven Rus very aptly described this fundamental principle of Orthodox worship in remarking when they first attended Divine Liturgy in the Great Church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, that they didn't know whether they were in Heaven or on earth.

Orthodox Christianity is a scripturally based, sacramental Christian faith which is uncompromising in upholding the teachings of the Apostles and is morally conservative. Depite this fact, She is pastorally sensitive to the struggles of Her spiritual children in the midst of today's fast paced and stressful world In recent years, because of Her strong moral stances and strict adherence to the apostolic faith, interest has grown especially in North America in the Orthodox Faith. In its earliest stages in America, understandably so, the Orthodox Church was concerned mainly with ministering to the needs of Orthodox immigrants. However, within the last quarter of a century, the Orthodox Church in North America has placed a greater emphasis on reaching out to those who have no knowledge of Orthodoxy. Orthodox Christianity is a faith for all people and knows no national boundaries! She is open to all who would like to be a part of the Orthodox Community of Faith. Our parish of Saint John the Baptist is one such community who welcomes all who wish to pray with us regardless of ethnic background. As the Apostle Philip said to Nathaniel who was sitting under the sycamore tree, "Come and See..." what the Orthodox Christian Faith has to offer - a foretaste of Heaven on earth.