1. Is another name for your church the Eastern Orthodox Church?
It is often called that to distinguish it from Roman Catholicism, because if we called ourselves catholic it gets confusing in the west.
2. Do you teach that salvation is by faith and works?
Salvation is unity with Christ Jesus, to abide in Him. In this, there is no seperation between faith and works, because they are united in faithfulness. Christ says we will be judged according to our works. Faith without works being dead, it is like no faith at all.
What really makes an orthodox Christian? Abiding in Jesus Christ. Christ says that His disciples will be recognized by their love. In love, even the samaritan was deemed righteous. The truth is, we are all wrong. The One who is righteous is God alone. A pagan who loves may be in better standing with God than even someone who has been raised by the church and has no love to show for it.
The salvation of Christ has been offered to every creature under heaven, the gospel having been preached to all that exists, being buried in the hearts of all. Our hearts are defiled and wicked, but if we choose to be co-workers with God rather than rebels against God, the Holy Spirit is faithful to cleanse us of our stain and purify our souls. The key is to abide. To direct your heart towards God, not vain imaginings that only bring us deeper into delusion.
If you do not have a hunger and thirst for righteousness, can your gamble or outward acceptance of Christ save you? Vain religion does not heal. Worshipping God in spirit and truth is what heals, and this is not a dead faith, but the constant realigning of ones heart towards The Truth out of love for God. A life of repentance.
3. Is the schism you refer to the breakaway in AD 879-880 or AD 1045?
It wasn't until after the later schism that the Roman church rejected the 879-880 council of Constantinople in favor of the robber council held between 869-870. The council that we consider the 8th ecumenical council was only rejected after the schism.
4. What do you believe about Mary?
That God became incarnate of The Holy Spirit and The Virgin Mary. The angels said that all generations would call her blessed, and so we honor her with the title "Theotokos". Just as the word of God was written on the tablets contained in the ark, so was God in the flesh contained in the womb of the virgin. The church is the body of Christ, and Christ's flesh comes from his mother. We honor her with this prayer of Saint John Chrystostem during liturgy...
"It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, who art blessed and all-blameless, and the mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, thou who without stain bearest God the Word, and art truly Theotokos: we magnify Thee."
5. What do you believe about baptism and communion?
We, as the creed states "acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins."
We are not like anabaptists who get their name from their practice of rebaptizing.
As the body and blood of Christ, we hold communion with utmost reverence. The mystery of the eucharist is central to the mystery of Christianity. Properly known, it is the gospel itself.
We practice a closed communion, only those recognized as being with the church are allowed to drink the blood of the new covenant (as appropriate). We will often share the body with visitors even if they don't take initiative.
6. What is your position regarding the saints?
They are not honored so much for any righteousness of their own, but the righteousness of Christ that shines through them. The ones here on Earth are the salt of the Earth. The ones who have moved on to glory can be learned from.
7. Who are the leaders of your church?
The head of the church is Jesus Christ. The church is pastored by Bishops, who following the resurrection were the apostles and those whom they ordained. The bishops appoint presbyters to act in their place and take care of local congregations.
8. Are all outside from your church (all other denominations and believers) who claim the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior heretics, in your opinion?
I wouldn't call someone who is in a heterodox church a heretic. I am sure that there are Christians who belong to heterodox churches that will be reunited to The Church in eternity. God knows the hearts of men. God also knows what we have to work with. There is plenty of room for grace, for we have all fallen short of the glory of God.
