Holy Scriptures
The Bible, the inspired word of God, is a living monument in that it goes above and beyond being just a historical document or just a classic piece of literature. It is the Revelation of God Himself and His Will. The Bible is a divine account of God’s Design for the salvation of man; it is an account of the Incarnation of the Logos in the Person of Jesus Christ Who became flesh and dwelt among man. It was written to be read with reverence and faith. The Revelation and Message of the Bible should not be hidden or altered by words and phrases that have lost or changed their meaning over the years. The Bible was given to mankind so he might know the True God and His Revealed Truths, for without the Bible Christ would be unknown to man. God speaks to man through the Bible. Therefore, the written word in its original context is indispensable for belief in Christ and for living His Commandments in the Holy Orthodox Church. The important words of the Holy Bible are “written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name,” (John 20:31).
Without exception The Old and New Testament are at the very heart of Orthodox Christian life, worship and devotion. It is therefore incumbent of every Orthodox Christian and member of the Annunciation Church family to read and study the Word of the Lord. An Orthodox theologian expanded on this expectation of the Church and wrote the following:
“The study of the Gospel implies certain presuppositions. One not only needs to be a member of the Church, but one must also trace the way forged by the holy Evangelists who “evangelized peace and good.” So one must live the holy life of the Church, struggle for cleansing from passions and for the acquisition of Christ-like virtues, be nourished by the sacred Mysteries of the Christian altar, be enlightened and sanctified by the Grace of God offered in all the Holy Sacraments and the liturgical life of the Church in general."
