The Joy of Orthodox Christianity

 by Bishop Moses (Maisonett) 

The joy of Orthodox Christianity is something deeply spiritual, flowing not merely from religious practice but from the lived experience of God’s presence in daily life. It is not a joy rooted in passing emotions or material comfort, but in the unshakable reality of Christ’s love, His resurrection, and the hope of eternal life.

This joy is found in knowing that Christ has conquered death and that He is truly Emmanuel—God with us. Every Divine Liturgy is a faithful encounter with His presence in the Holy Eucharist, which we believe to be the medicine of immortality.

The joy is also manifested in the communion of the saints, for to be Orthodox is to be part of a family that transcends both time and space. Together with the saints, the Mother of God, and the whole Church on earth and in heaven, we rejoice in unending prayer and fellowship.

The beauty of Orthodox worship—its rich liturgy, sacred hymns, holy icons, and fragrant incense—is not mere ritual, but a foretaste of the Kingdom of God here and now.

Living in God’s love brings a joy that is neither forced nor superficial, but a deep peace rooted in prayer, repentance, forgiveness, and the abundant grace of Christ. It is the joy of freedom from the fear of death, for Orthodoxy proclaims not simply survival after death, but the resurrection of the body and everlasting life in the presence of God.

This is the spirit of Orthodoxy, and this is the joy of being an Orthodox Christian—expressed here in the weakness of my thoughts, as a frail and lowly servant of Christ Jesus.

+Moses,

Bishop of New Jersey

Primitive Orthodox Church of the Americas