Orthodox spirituality is supremely a eucharistic spirituality. Directly after baptism and chrismation, the newborn life is nourished with the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine. The church does not view it as a metaphor, any more than it views baptism as figurative. It is essentially an eschatological meal that deifies the believer and anticipates the future banquet in the kingdom of God. The Eucharist constitutes the central act of worship in the Orthodox tradition...

(A) sacramental and synergistic approach to the Christian life has characterized Orthodox spirituality from the beginning and pervades it. It is important to state that the sacraments do not impose on our freedom or work automatically apart from faith. 

They do not work mechanistically. It is up to each Christian to make the sacraments bear fruit in their lives. The Orthodox Church has always upheld the doctrine of synergy, a collaboration between free will and God’s grace. It is an unequal emphasis in which God takes the initiative in saving grace; yet it also is one that requires a response by human beings. The church recognizes that we are all saints by grace, but we must also become saints by our actions.

-Dr Bradley Nassif, 'Four Views on Christian Spirituality'