Eastern Orthodox

Prayers for the dead can help them.

Afterlife / stronglyAgree

The Apocrypha is inspired Scripture.

Bible / stronglyAgree

Allegorical interpretation of Scripture is valid.

Biblical Interpretation / stronglyAgree

Every word in the Bible has multiple layers of meaning.

Biblical Interpretation / stronglyAgree

The Bible should be interpreted by the Bible alone.

Biblical Interpretation / stronglyDisagree

Church councils can make binding doctrinal decisions.

Church History / stronglyAgree

The early church fathers are authoritative interpreters.

Church History / stronglyAgree

The Protestant Reformation was necessary.

Church History / stronglyDisagree

The Roman Catholic Church is the one true church.

Church History / stronglyDisagree

Pastors should have formal theological education.

Church Leadership / stronglyAgree

Confession of Dositheus

Promulgated by the Synod of Jerusalem in 1672 under Patriarch Dositheus, this confession rebutted Calvinist doctrines and reaffirmed traditional Orthodox teaching on Scripture, the sacraments, free will, and the synergy of faith and works.

Source: Synod of Jerusalem

Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs (1848)

Issued jointly by the patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, this encyclical responded to Pope Pius IX’s 1848 letter and reaffirmed Orthodox ecclesiology, denouncing Roman claims of universal jurisdiction and upholding the authority of the seven ecumenical councils.

Source: Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs

For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox Church

Commissioned by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and released in 2020, this statement articulates a global Orthodox vision for human rights, economics, racial reconciliation, gender, technology and ecology, offering practical principles for Christian living in the 21st-century pluralistic world.

Source: Ecumenical Patriarchate Orthodox Social Ethos Commission

Nicene Creed

Formulated at Nicaea (325) and expanded at Constantinople (381), the Creed defines the Orthodox belief in the Trinity, the incarnation of the Son, and the saving work of Christ. It is proclaimed at every Divine Liturgy and remains the primary test of doctrinal fidelity across the Orthodox world.

Source: First Council of Constantinople

The Basis of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church

Adopted by the Moscow Patriarchate Bishops’ Council in 2000, this comprehensive document sets out Orthodox teaching on contemporary social issues—from family and labour ethics to bio-medicine, war, economy and environmental care—guiding faithful on how to translate doctrine into daily public life.

Source: Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church

The Longer Catechism of The Orthodox, Catholic, Eastern Church

Prepared by St Philaret of Moscow in 1839, this question-and-answer manual systematically presents Orthodox doctrine under the headings of faith, hope, and love. It explains the Creed, the sacraments, the commandments, and prayer, and became the standard catechism throughout the Orthodox Church.

Source: Orthodox Catechism by Philaret