What are the main differences between an Orthodox and a Protestant?

Answer 1

There are many differences between the two. The main one being that the Orthodox Church was founded by Jesus Christ in the year 33 AD and has continued unchanged for more than 2,000 years, whereas the Protestants were founded as late as 1517 by Martin Luther, and have split into literally thousands of groups since then.

This does not mean that all Orthodox are going to heaven and all Protestants are going to hell. But it does show that the two groups have a completey different history from their very foundation.

Another major difference is that the Orthodox honour the Blessed Virgin Mary and venerate holy icons. Icons are venerated and honoured (in the same way that we would honour a picture of our mother or father) but icons are not worshipped. Worship is reserved for God alone.

The Protestants also place all their faith on the Holy Bible, whereas the Orthodox place equal emphasis on the Holy Bible and the Holy Tradition. The reason for this is because the Early Church for many centuries did not even have a Bible, let alone a printing press or a population that could read or write. So the oral traditions of the Apostles which they handed down to us became the Holy Tradition. After all, it was this same Holy Tradition of the Church that gave us the Holy Bible we have today, and this was many centuries before the Protestant groups had even emerged.

Another OpinionMost non-Orthodox Christians do not believe that the Orthodox church was the original church founded by Jesus Himself. It is true that many of the present-day Protestant churches did start after or around the time of Luther. But not all of them did. There were Protestant churches before that, such as the Waldensians, Lollards, Hussites, Utraquists, and Taborites. See the Related Link. One difference between the Orthodox church and Protestant denominations (not religions) is that the Orthodox church services are more ceremonial and formal than most of the Protestant church services, but not all of them, of course.

thats it for now

Answer 2

The East-West Schism in the early Christian Church took place in the 11th century. The reformation in the early 15th. Although separate, the Roman Church recognizes the Sacramental System (seven sacraments) of the Orthodox Faith. Priests are usually married in Orthodoxy but woman may not be "priests". Both admit to a "Real" presence in a "substantial" change in the Eucharistic elements of Bread and Wine. (emphasis placed on "Eat" "Drink" THIS is my body, THIS is my blood). Baptism uses a 'trinitarian' formula

"High" Protestants recognize only the "sacraments" of Holy Communion and Baptism (Luther considering 'confession' a semi-sacrament). With varying degrees of "presence" Holy Communion. (emphasis placed on "do this in remembrance of me"). The lack of a "sacrifical" emphasis in the Eucharist illiminates the need of a "Priest" to offer Sacrifice.

Rev. Robert Sweeney www.holyrosary-ny.com

Answer 3

When I was a Catholic being educated in Catholic schools, in high school our Carmelite priest, who were considered to an unsanctioned order by the Pope and in my opinion understood more about God's grace and mercy than any other order, allowed us to experience an Othrodox mass and communion, which the schools funded by Archdiocese would not have dared. The only difference is that in both Catholic and Protestant communion service wafers and wine are used but the Othrodox Church use a challice full of wine with tiny squares of bread floating in it. The priest dispensed the bread and wine with a little spoon which would touch the side of the wide open mouth.

Answer 4

Roman Catholic AnswerThe Catholic Church was started by Our Blessed Lord in the year 33 A.D. starting with appointing St. Peter as the first Vicar and ending on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came on the early Church to guide it all days until the end of time.

The Orthodox Church started when some Eastern Rite Churches split for political reasons in the eleventh century. They remain valid Churches with a valid priesthood.

The protestant ecclesial communities left the Church in the sixteenth century, losing apostolic succession, a valid priesthood, valid sacraments (save some of them who still practice baptism with water in the name of the Trinity) and thus can not be called "churches". They contain Christians only insofar as they have a valid baptism and still profess the Nicene Creed in its traditional interpretation.

Answer 5

Catholics & Orthodox believe in Apostolic Succession, while Protestants only go by what is in The Bible.