The Orthodox Church is the original and historical church established by Jesus and His Apostles. Many Americans are looking for a living continuity with the Church of ancient times. An ever-increasing number are looking for a stable faith rooted in apostolic tradition, apostolic succession, and the Bible. In fact this Church, which Jesus Christ Himself said would “prevail against the gates of Hades”, has in truth continued in unbroken succession, through the transmission of her faith and the succession of her bishops, from the day of Pentecost to the present (see the Time-Line of Church history). The Orthodox Church has survived steadfastly despite persecution and martyrdom and has never accepted any kind of change or innovation which contradicts earlier established doctrine, reached in consensus with the universal Church and led by the Holy Spirit. Her doctrines were clarified (and consequently, certain heresies were defined) at seven ecumenical councils held between the 4th and the 8th centuries. If you are looking for the “one, holy, catholic and apostolic church” of the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, you found her! It is the Orthodox Church!