A NEW SPIRITUAL SANCTUARY IN DOVER!

       The CHAPEL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT is a mission congregation under the auspices of the Archdiocese of the Delaware and North American Missions, Orthodox Church of the West.  As an American incorporated denomination, we recognize the Metropolitan-Primate of the Orthodox Church of Canada (OCC) also as our ecclesiastical Primate.  The Orthodox Church of Canada is a daughter Church of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. 

     We celebrate both Eastern and Western Rites in our worship.  We follow the Sacramental tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church and are theologically traditionalist, upholding the inspiration of Scripture, the teachings of the Church Fathers, the determinations of the First Seven Ecumenical Councils, and the pious customs and traditions handed to us from the early Church. 

       Our congregation uses the Western Liturgical Rite, according to St. Tikhon, modeled on the liturgy of the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  We follow the Western Ecclesiastical Calendar, therefore we celebrate the major Feasts of the Nativity (Christmas) and the Resurrection (Easter) on the same days as do most western churches.

WHAT'S AN ORTHODOX CHURCH?

       According to the Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, "Historically, what is today known as 'the Orthodox Church' developed from the Eastern Roman or Byzantine Empire.  The faith of the Orthodox Church is based primarily upon the definitions of the first seven Ecumenical Councils" (p. 1198).

       The Christian Churches in the East (Constantinople - 'Greek') and the West (Rome - 'Latin') were considered to be in unity until the final breach occurred in 1054 CE.  The doctrinal points at issue between the two sides were the 'Latin' Papal claims of ecclesiastical primacy and the insertion by the Latin Churches of the 'Filioque' into the third section of the Nicene Creed (". . . proceeds from the Father [and the Son], . . ."  The schism caused a barrier and the Orthodox Church then expanded to the north, the Slavic nations and, since the 1920's, via large scale immigration of Greeks, Russians and other Eastern Europeans into North America.

       The word 'Orthodox' is derived from the Greek terms 'ortho' and 'doxos', meaning, right belief.  We profess the Christian Faith, as handed down to us by our Fathers-in-Christ in the Apostolic sacred tradition of the Holy Church.  We adhere to Holy Scripture, as interpreted by the Holy Fathers and Councils of the Church, in accord with the standard of faith included in the Nicene Creed, the Symbol of Faith.

       We revere symbolically, but not in an idolatrous manner, the sacred icons of Jesus Christ, his Holy Mother Mary, and all the Saints and Angels of heaven.  We address to their originals the honor given to their images.  We confess our Ever-Virgin Saint Mary, the Theotokos (Bearer of God), having bourne in the flesh one Person of the Holy Trinity, namely Jesus Christ our Lord.