What is the structure of the Orthodox Church?
The basic structure for the Orthodox church is defined by the New Testament writings; the canons (regulations and decrees) of the first seven ecumenical councils; the canons of several local or provincial councils, whose authority was recognized by the whole church; the so-called Apostolic Canons (actually some …
Who are leaders in the Eastern Orthodox Church?
The Eastern Orthodox Churches. The nominal head of the Eastern Orthodox Churches is the Patriarch of Constantinople. However, he is only first among equals and has no real authority over Churches other than his own.
Are there divisions in the Orthodox Church?
So there is potential for serious conflict, not least because Ukraine’s Orthodox believers are divided among three Churches: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), the Orthodox Church of the Kiev Patriarchate and the small Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC).
What are the branches of the Eastern Orthodox Church?
The other main branch of Orthodoxy is constituted by the six national churches of the Oriental Orthodox communion: the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, the Malankara (Indian) Syrian Orthodox Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox …
What was the major conflict between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches?
The Great Schism came about due to a complex mix of religious disagreements and political conflicts. One of the many religious disagreements between the western (Roman) and eastern (Byzantine) branches of the church had to do with whether or not it was acceptable to use unleavened bread for the sacrament of communion.
Can you be both Catholic and Orthodox?
Apostolic succession and sacraments Most Orthodox Churches allow marriages between members of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. Catholic canon law allows marriage between a Catholic and an Orthodox only if permission is obtained from the Catholic bishop.
How is Orthodox different from Catholic?
The Catholic Church believes the pope to be infallible in matters of doctrine. Orthodox believers reject the infallibility of the pope and consider their own patriarchs, too, as human and thus subject to error. Most Orthodox Churches have both ordained married priests and celibate monastics, so celibacy is an option.
What do the Orthodox believe about Mary?
Simply said, Orthodox theology thinks of the young Hebrew woman Mary of Galilee as a human like any other human who was or has ever been born. Her all-holiness was not a privilege, but truly a free response to God’s call.
Does the Orthodox Church pray to saints?
Intercession of the Saints is a doctrine held by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Roman Catholic Churches. The practice of praying through Saints can be found in Christian writings from the 3rd century onward.
Does the Orthodox Church believe in saints?
Orthodox belief considers that God reveals saints through answered prayers and other miracles. Saints are usually recognized by a local community, often by people who directly knew them. The altar in an Orthodox church usually contains relics of saints, often of martyrs.
Do Orthodox Christians pray to God?
Orthodox Christians do not worship the icons, but pray through the icons to God. There are other services including an evening service of vespers , morning matins and other shorter services based on the Divine Office .
Why do Protestants not honor Mary?
The Roman Catholic Church reveres Mary, the mother of Jesus, as “Queen of Heaven.” However, there are few biblical references to support the Catholic Marian dogmas — which include the Immaculate Conception, her perpetual virginity and her Assumption into heaven. This is why they are rejected by Protestants.
Why don t Protestants do the sign of the cross?
Protestants find it offensive because it is an outer indicator of Catholicism and they find Catholicism offensive. It is offensive because Catholics and Greek Orthodox practice mysticism and Protestants do not.
What are some important features of the Orthodox Church?
Essentially the Orthodox Church shares much with the other Christian Churches in the belief that God revealed himself in Jesus Christ, and a belief in the incarnation of Christ, his crucifixion and resurrection. The Orthodox Church differs substantially in the way of life and worship.
Why do Orthodox churches have domes?
There are several explanations of what these domes mean. One says that these domes are meant to gather or collect the goodness from Heaven, while another explanation is that they are meant to show the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. The domes also come in different forms.
What does a Russian Orthodox church look like?
Many Russian Orthodox churches are distinguished by their verticality, bright colors and multiple domes, which provide a striking contrast with the flat Russian landscape, often covered in snow. The very first churches in Kievan Rus’, such as the 13-domed wooden Cathedral of St.
Is Russian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox the same?
Ethnic Greeks in Russia and Greeks in Ukraine, as well as Pontic Greeks and Caucasus Greeks from the former Russian Transcaucasus, often consider themselves both Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox, which is consistent with the Orthodox faith (since Orthodoxy is the same across ethnic boundaries).
Who are more Catholic or Orthodox?
Based on the numbers of adherents, the Eastern Orthodox Church (also known as Eastern Orthodoxy) is the second largest Christian communion in the world, after the Roman Catholic Church, with the most common estimates of baptised members being approximately 220 million.
Does the Ethiopian Orthodox Church believe in Jesus?
Additionally, unlike many other Christians, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church believes that Jesus Christ has one nature that is solely divine, instead of two that are both divine and human. Amare Bogale is an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian who has lived in the Holy Land for approximately five years.
Are there Orthodox Christians in Israel?
Around 30% of Christians in Israel are adherents of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
What religion is Orthodox in Ethiopia?
Ethiopia is one of the oldest Christian states in the world. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church is an Oriental Orthodox Church, which is the largest Christian denomination in Ethiopia. It was part of the Coptic Orthodox Church until 1959, and is the only pre-colonial Orthodox church in Sub-Saharan Africa.
How old is Ethiopian Christianity?
Christianity was introduced to Ethiopia in the 4th century, and the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (called Tewahdo in Ethiopia) is one of the oldest organized Christian bodies in the world.