What is the primary difference between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church?

Answer 1

It's just a difference in administration. The beliefs are identical. If a Greek moves to Russia, he worships in a Russian Orthodox church, and vice versa. In the US, there will ultimately be only one administration, an American Orthodox church. At the moment there are several administrations, each under the supervision of the national church of Another Country. The Greek and the Russian are the largest of those administrations. Orthodox Christians in the US are free to worship at any Orthodox church, regardless of national origin. Those who are from an Orthodox country have so far tended more often to choose a church under the supervision of that country's national church. In addition, there may be some local variations in custom and tradition. For instance, compare the iconography of Russia with Greek icons, and both of those with Coptic. They are all icons, but look a little different based on local tradition. The Faith is one, but the Orthodox Church does not shy from embracing (and transforming) native cultures. Yeah theres realy not much of a difference just the languge,everything is the same icons church equipment and church dates.

Answer 2

The Russian Orthodox Church is part of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and is therefore in communion with all the other churches that belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church, such as the Greeks, Serbians, Romanians, etc. The Coptic Orthodox Church is part of the "miaphysite" group of churches, also called "Oriental" or Non-Chalcedonian churches, and is therefore not in communion with the rest of the Orthodox world. The Eastern Orthodox Church, which includes the Russian Orthodox, accepts the decisions of the Seven (or Nine) Ecumenical Councils, however, the Coptic Orthodox Church does not accept all the Ecumenical Councils. This "miaphysite" dispute was over the two equal natures of Christ - human and divine - which the Eastern Orthodox accept, but the miaphysites, such as the Coptic church, only accept the one or "mono" nature of Christ's divine nature which later was a misunderstanding,the Eastern Orthodox communion believe christ has two natures human and divine which are separate while the Coptics believe christ also has two natures human and divine but are united.

According to an agreement reached between the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and the Coptic Orthodox Church in 2001. Actually, prior to this agreement, a Greek Orthodox person could still have married a Coptic Orthodox person, but for the marriage to be recognized by both Churches it would have had to be performed twice (once in each Church). The agreement obligates each Church to recognize the validity of a marriage performed in the other Church.

Another View:The Russian Orthodox church is part of the Eastern Orthodox church which consists of Greek,Serbian etc the Coptic Orthodox church is part of the Eastern "Oriental" Orthodox church which consists of Armenian,Syrian,Ethopian etc.

They are both Orthodox churches but the Russian orthodox church was granted its own patriach from the Greek Orthodox church founded by St.Andrew and the Coptic Orthodox was founded by St.Mark

They differ in the views of the divinty of christ .Eastern Orthodox believe christ has 2 natures that are separate while the Eastern "Oriental" Orthtodox believe that christ has 2 natures but united

A misunderstanding that Copts beleived in one nature led th the schism of the east in 451 AD this was seen as a misunderstanding.

However both churches are very close and follow Orthodox traditions you won't be able to tell a difference,except in headgear.They are allowed to marry and use each others churches

Answer 3

Lines East ( back in the USSR!) does not, with some rare ( Uniate) churches as the exception, recognize the primacy of the Pope. language of worship is Russian or some other Slavic tongue- the Romanians use Romanian, but are ( Ortho) through and through. Many colorful and theatrical-like ceremonies- Three times around the horn at weddings, for example ( no it is not a sobriety test! They have panoramic stages long before Hollywood and Radio City thought of them, with a circular walkway around the main part of the church itself- used in weddings and probably other ceremonial actions.There are some other differences, whether the Holy Spirit is diffused though the Father and the Son, or is a separarte entity ( odd to me), and the use of Icons or religious pictures as devotional items- flat- not statuary. there are other Ortho angles as well. the entire Romanov family have been canonized in the Russian Orthodox church so it is okay to pray to Anastasia- enough of a sales pitch!

Answer 4

Apart from language of worship and some differing rituals- not much. The Russians tend towards a spiritual numerology that favors the number l,3, and 5. it is common for an Orthodox church to have five domes- the center one symbolizing God or the Church and the outer four the four Gospels. ( it can also be argued the four points of the Compass) they have many domes- naturally Cathedrals have more. The Greeks prefer a center-type cruciform ( cross- shaped- Greek cross naturally) and this may have been borrowed form the Greek Theate, thus the Altar is center stage and there are four ranks of pews stemming from the four arms of the cross. the Russians, owing to larger church formats, do not necessarily follow this practice. a sort of panorama stage runs around the perimeter of the altar, and this is used in certain ceremonies such as weddings- thus Three Times around the Horn, which has slang meanings.

Answer 5

Russian Orthodox is a denomination of Christianity.