Shortly after the doctrine of Christ began to be propagated among the Gentiles, the followers of Christ in
Antioch began to be called Christians
Christian was spread everywhere.
The followers of Christ gladly called themselves by the name of their beloved Teacher and Lord; and the
enemies of Christ called His followers Christians by carrying over to them the ill-will and hatred which they
breathed against Christ.
However, quite soon there appeared people who, while calling themselves Christians, were not of Christ in
spirit. Of them Christ had spoken earlier: Á-°Not everyone that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the
Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heavenÁ-?
Christ prophesied also that many would pass themselves off for Christ Himself: Many shall come in my name,
sayings I am Christ
antichrists
They indicated that those who stepped away from the doctrine of Christ should not be considered their own:
They went out from us but were not of us
case it would be false for them.
Of what use was it of old to call oneself a Jew, an Old Testament follower of the true faith, if one was not such
in actuality? Such the Holy Scripture calls the synagogue of Satan
The designation of a Christian consists in glorifying the Heavenly Father by one's life.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven
Therefore true Christianity and it alone may be named "right-glorifying" (Ortho-doxy).
By the word "Orthodoxy" we confess our firm conviction that it is precisely our Faith that is the true doctrine of
Christ. When we call anyone or anything Orthodox, we by this very fact indicate his or its non-counterfeit and
uncorrupted Christianity, rejecting at the same time that which falsely appropriates the name of Christ.
By St John Maximovich