The first Christian communities began in the lands near the MediterraneanSea over 2,000 years ago. In these Eastern cities, the fundamentals of ourFaith were proclaimed at the Seven Ecumenical Councils. The GreekOrthodox Church embodies and expresses the rich spiritual treasures ofEastern Christian beliefs, and preserves the integrity of the ApostolicTradition by a direct, unbroken connection to the Church of the Apostles.Another way to understand the word ‘Orthodox’ is “true praise.” To bless,praise, and glorify God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the fundamentalpurpose of the Church. All of her activities, even her doctrinal formulations,are directed toward this goal.