To practice Orthodox Christianity you must:

1. Transcend attachment to the four (4) pursuits¹:

 

1.     Food

2.     Possessions (including Knowledge)

3.     Glory

4.     Romance.

 

2. Transcend the five (5) vices they generate²:

 

1.     Wrath

2.     Sorrow

3.     Lethargy

4.     Pride

5.     Envy

6.     (Despair and Suicide)

 

3. Keep the four (4) cardinal virtues of the Old Testament:

 

1.     Prudence

2.     Self-restraint

3.     Justice

4.     Godly Courage

 

And the four (4) cardinal virtues of  the New Testament:

 

1.     Love

2.     Humility

3.     Patience

4.     Self-control

 

4. Practice the Ten (10) practices:

 

1.     Stillness

2.     Obedience

3.     Fasting

4.     Vigil

5.     Prayer

6.     Psalmody

7.     Charity

8.     Study

9.     Questioning of the Elders

10.  Guarding of the Mind and Heart

 

5. Keep the seven (7)³ sanctifying sacraments of the Orthodox Christian Church.

 

6. Devote your free-will to God through obedience to elders in Christ, and the keeping of the commandments of the Old and New Testaments.

 

 

Notes.

 

1. These four (4) pursuits generate the five (5) primary vices:

1. Gluttony   2. Love of possessions   3.Vanity

4. Disobedience   5. Unchastity

 

To defeat these practice the following five (5) primary virtues:

1. Self-control   2. Frugality   3. Humility   4. Obedience   5. Chastity

 

2. These five (5) vices are defeated by practicing the following five (5) secondary virtues:

1. Meekness   2. Joy   3. Diligence   4. Humility.   5. Love

6. (Patience and Hope).

 

3. Only four (4)  sacraments are compulsory:

1. Baptism   2.   Chrismation   3. Holy Confession   4. Holy Communion.

 

 

Compiled by

Greg Pantelidis BSc(Hons)

gregpantelidis@gmail.com