Orthodox Tradition is not a dead letter, a collection of dogmas and practices of the past. It is the life of the Holy Spirit, who constantly illuminates us to become sons and daughters of God, living in the Divine light of the all-blessed Trinity.

Dr George Bebis, Tradition in the Orthodox Church
The one Holy Tradition constitutes the self-identity of the Church through the ages and is the organic and visible expression of the life of the Spirit in the Church.

Fr John Meyendorff, Living Tradition: Orthodox Witness in the Contemporary World
Let us look at the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the very beginning, which the Logos gave, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers preserved. Upon this the Church is founded.

Saint Athanasius, First Letter to Serapion
The principal Tradition, the transcendent Tradition, of the Orthodox Church is the living God-man Christ, entire in the theanthropic Body of the Church of which He is the immortal, eternal Head.

St Justin Popovich, The Attributes of the Church
We hold fast to all the Traditions of the Church, written and unwritten, and above all to the most mystical and sacred celebration and communion and assembly, whereby all other rites are made perfect.

Saint Gregory Palamas, Letter to Dionysius
To be within the Tradition is to keep the living Truth in the Light of the Holy Spirit; or rather, it is to be kept in the Truth by the vivifying power of Tradition. But this power, like all that comes from the Spirit, preserves by a ceaseless renewing.

Vladimir Lossky, Tradition and Traditions
We should try to live in such a way that if the Gospels were lost, they could be re-written by looking at us.

Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
Brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word or our epistle.

Second Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians
Tradition is the constant abiding of the Spirit and not only the memory of words. Tradition is a charismatic, not a historical event.

Fr Georges Florovsky, The Catholicity of the Church
For the Life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us.

First Epistle of the Holy Apostle John

The Mysteries of the Church

St Nicholas (Velimirovitch) explains the importance of all the sacraments

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The Unity of the Church

Metropolitan Germanos outlines an Orthodox view of Church unity

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Ministry within the Church

An overview of the orders of ministry by Fr Sergius Bulgakov

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Welcome to Living Orthodox Tradition, a website dedicated to making readily accessible a broad selection of documents and theological writings reflecting the living tradition of the Orthodox Church. This site is faithful to Orthodox tradition, sharing the wisdom of ancient and modern Fathers and Mothers of the Church, and engaged in dialogue and challenge where appropriate with the modern world.