Acts 9:32-42.

32 Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. 33 There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. 34 And Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed." Then he arose immediately. 35 So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. 36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. 37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. 39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

John 5:1-15.

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" 7 The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." 8 Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed." 11 He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.' " 12 Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?" 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." 15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

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  We are a diverse community of Orthodox Christians. Some of us are emigres from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia and other Orthodox nations, while others are Belgian converts to Orthodoxy. We have all found the "Pearl of great price" in the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Orthodox Christian Church, and we hope that this web page will give you (in Dutch, Russian and some English) a taste of our beliefs and way of life. The Divine Liturgy and other services are performed in Church-Slavonic. We gladly welcome visitors and inquirers and always have a complimentary meal on Sunday (sometimes Saturday) to get acquainted.

Please note that reception of the Holy Eucharist is only for baptized members of the Orthodox Church who have prepared with prayer, fasting and periodic confession. Of course everybody is welcome to join us in prayer and worship, and stay for refreshments, conversation and companionship after the service. You are encouraged to receive the blessed bread that is offered at the end of the service and which may also be offered to you by one of your neighbours during during Communion.

  “The Orthodox Way”, by Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia, Chapter Six, page 140

A traveler on the Way is a member of the Church. The journey is undertaken in fellowship with others, not in isolation. “No one is saved alone. He who is saved is saved in the Church, as a member of her and in union with all her other members. If anyone believes, he is in the communion of faith; if he loves, he is in the communion of love; if he prays, he is in the communion of prayer.” (Aleksei Khomiakov)

“Ignorance and sin are characteristic of isolated individuals. Only in the unity of the Church do we find these defects overcome. Man finds his true self in the Church alone: not in the helplessness of spiritual isolation but in the strength of his communion with his brothers and his Savior.” Alexander Elchaninov

Certainly, God is able to save those who in this life never belonged to His Church. However, there is in Christianity no such thing as a spiritual elite exempt from the obligations of normal church membership.

The spiritual Way presupposes a life in the sacraments. There is only one way; the way of the sacraments and the way of inner prayer are not alternatives, but form a single unity. None can be truly Christian if he treats the sacraments as a mechanical ritual. The hermit in the desert may receive communion less frequently than the Christian in the city. That does not mean, however, that the sacraments are any the less important for the hermit, but simply that the rhythm of this sacramental life is different. While God is not bound to the sacraments, we are bound to them. “For in this sacrament we attain God Himself, and God Himself is made one with us in the most perfect of all possible unions… This is the final mystery: beyond this it is not possible to go, nor can anything be added to it.” Nicolas Cabasilas