Holy Tradition

Holy Tradition

In the Orthodox Church, Tradition is understood as the entire faith handed down from the Apostles. It is not limited to Scripture, but encompasses the whole life of the Church, how Christianity has been understood, practiced, and lived from the beginning.

Tradition includes the Holy Scriptures, the Divine Liturgy, the creeds, the teachings of the Church Fathers, the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils, the canons, iconography, ascetic disciplines, and all that constitutes the Church’s faith and life.

This living Tradition is understood as the work of the Holy Spirit guiding the Church through history, preserving fidelity to what was originally delivered while remaining alive and present in each generation.

Orthodox Christians do not view Tradition as a collection of human additions to Scripture. Rather, Scripture itself is part of Tradition, since the Church existed before the New Testament was written and it was the Church that recognized and received the books of the biblical canon.

Because of this, Scripture cannot be correctly interpreted outside of Tradition. Tradition represents the Church’s continuous understanding of Scripture, shaped by centuries of saints, theologians, and councils who have engaged the biblical text through prayer, worship, and lived experience.