The Fourteen Principles and Beliefs
of the Maronite Orthodox Church
"Eloah comes from Teman,
and the Holy One from Mount Paran,
His Majesty Covers the heavens,
and His glory fills the earth".
Book of Habakkuk 3:3
I. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that mankind can only find redemption through acknowledging Him as Savior.
II. We believe in the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church whose Foundation and Head is Our Lord Jesus Christ.
III. We believe in the Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost
IV. We believe in the inerrancy and divine revelation of Holy Scripture
V . We believe in and celebrate the Seven Sacraments of the Church, Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Unction, Penance, Marriage and Holy Orders.
VI. We believe in and hold to the divine appointment of apostolic succession.
VII. We acknowledge the supreme authority of the collective Orthodox and Catholic episcopate.
VIII. We believe in the essentials of Orthodox doctrine and practice as these have been expressed in the Nicene, Apostles and Athanasian Creeds of the Catholic Church, and in the doctrinal formulations of the Seven Ecumenical Councils at Nicea, Constantinople, Chalcedon and Ephesus.
IX. We believe that celibacy of those in Holy Orders is a matter of personal conviction, and should not be imposed by the church hierarchy.
X. We believe in the sacra mentality and sanctity of marriage. However, believing that Our Savior is merciful and unwilling that any of the faithful be prohibited from the communion of the saints., we do not consider divorce or subsequent remarriage a legitimate impediment to the reception of the sacraments.
XI. We believe that contraception is a personal decision.
XII. We believe in the divine mandate of the union of a man and woman, and that homosexuality in any form is a sin and accordingly do not perform or condone same sex marriages. Nor do we allow participation within the church of individuals who are openly gay or lesbian.
XIII. We believe that abortion is the taking of human life.
XIV. We believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ and reject all other theologies, including that of the New Age movement.
The Maronite Orthodox Church
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