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Eastern Orthodoxy
A Christian Faith that believes in Jesus Christ as both Son of God and God, and in the Seven Ecumenical Councils of the Church. God is defined as the Holy Trinity, which is One God in Three Persons (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). The statement of the Orthodox Christian faith is the Nicene Creed.
752 Questions
God forgives anyone who truly repents (true repentance involves a firm resolution to sin no more). After death there is no more time, there is no more change. This life on earth is what God has given us to turn towards Him and love Him or to turn away from Him. So our choice is here, if we have truly repented then, of course God forgives, the only thing He can not forgive is the soul who doesn't want forgiveness. jonab: how about someone who despited Christianity because he was wrong by a christian or by his own parents who are christians? He rejected Christianity till the day he died. When he stood before God and truly understood what Christianity was all about and repented would God turn him away. Would God allow him to spend eternity in hell? Is eternal hell too great a punishment for someone who rejected Christ because he was wrong by a Christian? How about someone who grew up in a communist country? You and I probably would also reject Christ if we have to choose between Christ and our family survival. How about someone who have never heard about Christianity or who have heard but never understood? How many time we heard about Christ preached before we understood? All very good questions to which I think only God, Himself, really knows the answers. We can only function with what He has given us. And he has given us not only all that we need to know, but the commission to go and teach all nations, which, of course, includes all individuals. All that we know is that if we are truly presented the Gospel (i.e. Christ) and reject Him and It for whatever reason, then God respects our decision. God is Love, and He loves each of us and He will not force our wills. All "what if" presented above that involve a rejection of the Gospel and of Christ necessarily result in our eternal damnation because this is what we chose, even if we thought it was for very good reasons (our family, etc.) Someone who has never heard of Christianity, which is a stretch for most of the world in this day and age, would be judged on how well he lived the truth to the extent that he did understand it: which would involve taking up his cross and following Christ, even if he didn't understand that is who it was. In other words, there are no easy outs, there is no reason we can ever give that will make it okay to sin, or to put something or someone before Our Blessed Lord (the Word, the Truth, etc.) Jonab: Yes we can know some of the answers. For example let's take the subject - can a child who dies without Christ enter hell. Yes it is true that a child is a sinner and the wage of sin is death and the bible teaches that unless one is born again one can not enter heaven... But lets put our head back on our shoulder and think for a moment. A 10 years old African child was born in hunger and died of hunger (this child is real not hypothetical-they are numbered in the ten of thousands and they die everyday) This child suffered hunger from the day he was born till the day he died. Can anyone has the courage to look at this child in the eyes and tell him: "I am sorry but according to the bible you belong in hell because you heard about Jesus but you did not accept Him as your Savior" When asked about destiny of these children so many Christian conclude: "only God knows" But wait a minute! When one says "only God know the answer" one actually implies that yes it is possible for the child to go to heaven and yes it is also possible for the child to go to hell and only God can decide where the child will be. That is what one implies! One actually implies yes it is possible for a child who dies without Christ to go to hell. This is unthinkable! This is ridiculous! How can any person in their right mind believe in a God who would allow a child to be born in hunger die in hunger and burn of hunger for eternity???? So instead of saying "only God knows" we should say "I am sure God has a place for the child in heaven" PiusX: The Roman Catholic Church has always taught that we do not know all the ways that the Almighty operates. God is so far beyong our understanding, "My thoughts are not your thoughts". This is unthinkable, this is ridiculous, yes, to us, but then we are not God. The Church has taught several different ways of looking at children, before the age of reason. Classically there has been the answer of limbo. A child dies in this state, for instance, the victums of abortion, before ever committed any actual sin, and they are not baptised. We do not know how God may have communicated Himself to that child. Fortunately, we are not in charge. We must do all that we can in the light of what we have been taught, we must baptise any child in danger of death, and we must trust in the mercy of God, who is Mercy Itself. jonab: It is true that God's mind is way beyond human mind but on the other hand Jesus used simple story like the prodigal son to help us understand the mind of God. Infact Jesus has taught us in such away that even a child can understand how God loves us. All it takes to understand how God love us is a simple mind and heart of a child. So the reality is even a jungle person who has never learned to read and write can still understand the Prodigal Son story and what Jesus did on the cross for him and place his trust in Jesus. And with that same understanding we can be confident that an African child who suffered hunger, thirst, nakedness all of his brief life on this earth will not spend eternity in ...hell!!! Yes we can and must trust in the mercy of God!
If a woman's on her period can she continue fasting and praying during the Great Lent?
Of course - menstruation has nothing whatsoever to do with her fast or praying. God I'm sure, will overlook her period.
If you compare the orthodox and Catholic symbol of Faith. what is the difference between the two?
The Nicene Creed (also known as the Symbol of Faith) is primarily the same, except for one difference. The Roman Catholics inserted the 'Filioque' clause (meaning 'and the Son') into the Creed in 1014 AD, without having the authority to do so. Because the Creed was established by an Ecumenical Council, only another Ecumenical Council is authorised to make changes to the Creed. This means that no Pope, Patriarch or Bishop has authority to change even one word of the Creed, and this has been confirmed by the entire Christian Church from the earliest centuries.
How do Orthodox and Anglican Christians differ in their use of icons?
Some Anglicans (known as Episcopalians in the US) use icons in their churches. Most fall into the category of "high church" Anglicans, rather than the "low church" Anglicans. High church Anglicans frequently use icons, incense and bells as a means of facilitating worship and relationship to God, whereas the low church Anglicans tend to believe excessive rituals and implements distract from worship and relationship. In many places around the world, Anglicans are emphasizing their ancient roots and are encouraging the use of icons and other devotional practices again. For example, St Paul's Cathedral in London, has a large icon of the Virgin Mary and Christ on its wall. The current Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams, also encourages the use of icons as part of Anglican services.
It may also be argued that the Anglican tradition has long emphasized words as iconography even more than images. Examples can be found in the mystical and poetical tradition throughout Anglicanism's history. Examples may include such notable "icons" as "St. Patrick's Breastplate," the poetry of John Donne, and the Book of Common Prayer, itself.
The Orthodox Church, however, places much greater emphasis on the corporate use of holy icons in its services and some churches are full of portable icons and frescoes or mosaics on the walls. It continues the practice of the Early Church which has used icons in its Liturgy and services for over 2000 years. For example, the evangelist and apostle St Luke, himself painted many icons of the Virgin Mary and Christ. So from this, no one can say that the use of icons did not have an Apostolic foundation. Indeed, the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which is accepted by all mainstream Christian Faiths, made a clear ruling that icons are a necessary and essential part of the Christian Faith. The veneration or honour of holy icons has an important place in the Church, but it confirmed that icons are not worshipped. Only the Lord Jesus Christ is worshipped. Icons are venerated, which means respected and honoured, in the same way that we respect a photo of our loved ones by kissing it, but we do not worship them either.
Icons represent the transfigured Saint who is represented in the icon, and sometimes depicts some scenes from their life or martyrdom. Holy icons have been used as an aid to worship by Christians since the earliest times during Orthodox Church services. Especially since the Church had only the Hebrew Scriptures without a formalized New Testament for the first few centuries of the Church.
What is the date of the first Christian church?
The first Christian church began in the year 33 AD. This event is known as the Day of Pentecost, which took place in Jerusalem in the First Century. The Orthodox Church claims to trace its history from this event to the present day. This is called the Apostolic Succession of bishops (from 33 AD to today).
Why did byzantines place the authority for the government and for the church in one person?
This was not the case. The Emperor and his Council of Ministers ran the government, whereas the Ecumenical Patriarch and his Council/Synod of Bishops ran the church. Church and State were separate entities. Therefore, authority in the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire was not held by just one person.
What books are in the pseudapigrapha?
Pseudepigraphical works are any writings falsely attributed to another author. In the New Testament, scholars regard all the epistles attributed to James, John, Jude and Peter as pseudepigraphical, as well as the pseudo-Pauline epistles known as Colossians, Ephesians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus.
The above epistles, although pseudepigraphical, are considered works of theological merit. Some use a word, pseudapigrapha(notice the spelling) to refer to pseudepigraphical works that are not thought to have any theological merit, and for these the list is almost endless.
How was the Eastern Orthodox Church founded?
Jesus Himself has established His Church. Eastern Orthodox tradition preserves this very Church.
The Orthodox Church was founded by Christ in the year 33 AD, on the Day of Pentecost.
According to Orthodox Christian beliefs, the Orthodox Church has always existed from the beginning of time (called the Church Triumphant) but the physical church on earth (called the Church Militant) was established in Jerusalem in 33 AD and continues to exist without any changes to its dogmas and beliefs, to this day.
AnswerThere existed one Church for the first millennium of Christianity. During the later part of this time, the Catholic Church made several fundamental changes to the teaching and practice of the Church. The first was the addition of what is called the Filioque to the Nicene-Constantinople Creed, which stated that instead of proceeding from the Father as the Scriptures tell us, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. This doctrine existed early on and was started in Spain to counter the teachings of the Arians who believed Christ was not God. It is important to note that when St. Peter's basilica was built in Rome, Pope Leo refused to allow the Filoque to be carved into the stone with the Creed, but instead had the original Nicene-Constantinople Creed written in silver tablets, which is how it remains to this day. This was an issue of which the Orthodox took offense since the Creed was formulated during the First and Second Ecumenical (Church wide) Councils and the Creed was inspired by the Holy Spirit. Just as in Acts 15, the Church came together in Council and responded to the erroneous doctrines of the times. After this, the Pope of Rome attempted to increase his power stating that he had universal jurisdiction over the entire Church and supreme authority (which would later evolve into infallibility, the teaching that the Pope, when speak ex-cathedra, from the Chair of Peter, is incapable of error). The Patriarchs (Greek form of Pope) of Constantinople, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria rejected such claims, and thus the Pope schismed (broke away from) the other four who continued, and do continue to this day, the way things had been.In short, I would say that the Orthodox Church came from none other than Christ, in the year 33 AD, and continues to hold fast to the Traditions of the Apostles.
AnswerOrthodox Faith was not just made. It is the continuation and the original interpretation of Jesus' teaching. Moreover this continuation was not done by someone foreign, distant person or group - it was done within the "One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church" or in other words the community that Jesus Himself has started. And this is fully in compliance with Matt 18:18: "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."The Orthodox Christian faith was started by none other than Jesus Christ. When Christ ascended to heaven, He left Apostles to guide the Church with the promise of the Holy Spirit. The Apostles founded Churches throughout the Roman world and spread the Gospel. As they aged and/or were martyred for their faith, they chose successors to carry on their teachings. This continued right up until today when, in the Orthodox Church, our bishops are the direct decendents in both faith and practice of the Apostles. The Orthodox Church has continued and does continue to this day to be the Church founded by Christ.
Another view The Orthodox Church asserts that it is the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church established by Christ and His Apostles and his almost 2,000 years ago. In doing so, it shares the same and contradictory belief of the Catholic church as well as various Protestant denominations. While some Christians, mainly Protestants would assert that the Orthodox Church adopted many traditions and beliefs not shared by the early apostles but rather adopted from cultures where the Church was established such as adoration of saints and veneration of icons thus distancing the Church from the ''true faith.''Historically, the Church actually came into existence in the 11th century as the result of a schism between Rome and Constantinople or what is now known as the Catholic and Orthodox Churches respectively.
What religious saint is responsible for curing colds?
There is no saint who is specifically responsible for curing colds, but there are many saints who can heal illnesses in general. For example, Saints Cosmas and Damian were doctors who cured people for free. As was St Panteleimon, who is well-known by Greeks and Russians alike, for curing all kinds of diseases and illnesses. Of course the Blessed Theotokos or Virgin Mary is also able to cure people of all infirmities, sickness, diseases and other illnesses. It is important to pray with faith. A good way to pray is by saying: "Most Holy Theotokos pray to God for me" or "Holy Sts Cosmas and Damian pray to God for me" or "Holy St Panteleimon pray to God for me, to cure me of my cold."
Saint Sophia was the saint of wisdom, she had three daughters (faith, hope, and wisdom)
She was a widow, and her three daughters were martyrs. They were placed in a furnace, got boiling water poured on them, and scourged. This however, did not kill them, they were not even harmed by these events. Sadly they were beheaded and three days later their mother dies also (Sophia)
Thank you and have a good day
for the record I'm going through choosing a confirmation name now, and I would be much obliged if you had anything to add. :)
What was the basic cause of the schism between the Catholic and the Orthodox?
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from A Catholic Dictionary, edited by Donald Attwater, Second edition, revised 1957
The Schism of the East
the estrangement and severance from the Holy See of what is now called the Orthodox Eastern Church was a gradual process extending over centuries. After a number of minor schisms the first serious, though short, break was that of Photius; from then on tension between East and West increased, and the schism of Cerularius occurred in 1054. From then on the breach gradually widened and has been definitive since 1472. There was a formal union from the 2nd Council of Lyons in 1274 until 1282, and a more promising one after the Council of Florence from 1439 to 1472. After the capture of Constantinople it was in the Turkish interest to reopen and widen the breach with the powerful Roman church; the patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem were dragged into this policy, Russia and the Slav churches stood out the longest of any: none of these churches, except Constantinople itself in 1472, formally and definitely broke away from the unity of the Church. But in the course of centuries the schism has set and crystallized into a definite separation from the Holy See of many million people with a true priesthood and valid sacraments. The origins, causes and development of the schism are matters of much complication, still not fully unraveled.
from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980
Separation of the Christian Churches of the East from unity with Rome. The schism was centuries in the making and finally became fixed in 1054, when the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularisu (died 1059), was excommunicated by the papal legates for opposing the use of leavened bread by the Latin Church and removing the Pope's name from the diptychs or list of persons to be prayed for in the Eucharistic liturgy. A temporary reunion with Rome was effected by the Second Council of Lyons (1274) and the Council of Florence (1439) but never stabilized.
Why did the church split into Catholic and Orthodox not just what it was called great schism?
The Church did not "split" into Catholic and Orthodox, the Eastern Churches definitely split in the 11th century from the Church, and are now referred to as the "Orthodox". Since that time, all most all of them have split again, with part of each returning to the Catholic Church from which they split. There can be only one Church as it is the Mystical Body of Christ and His Bride, and He is neither Schizophrenic nor a bigamist.
When the Eastern Churches left the authority of Rome it was referred to as the Eastern Schism. "The Great Schism" happened centuries later when the pope moved to Avignon. THAT is what the Church refers to as the Great Schism.
from A Catholic Dictionary, edited by Donald Attwater, Second edition, revised 1957
The Great Schism, otherwise know as the Schism of the West was not strictly a schism at all but a conflict between the two parties within the Church each claiming to support the true pope. Three months after the election of Urban VI, in 1378, the fifteen electing cardinals declared that they had appointed him only as a temporary vicar and that in any case the election was invalid as made under fear of violence from the Roman mob. Urban retorted by naming twenty-eight new cardinals, and the others at once proceeded to elect Cardinal Robert of Geneva as Pope Clement VII, who went to reside at Avignon. The quarrel was in its origin not a theological or religious one, but was caused by the ambition and jealousy of French influence, which was supported to some extent for political reasons by Spain, Naples, Provence, and Scotland; England, Germany, Scandinavia, Wales, Ireland, Portugal, Flanders and Hungary stood by what they believe to be the true pope at Rome. The Church was torn from top to bottom by the schism, both sides in good faith (it was impossible to know to whom allegiance was due), which lasted with its two lines of popes (and at one time three) till the election of Martin V in 1417. It is now regarded as practically certain that the Urbanist popes were the true ones and their names are included in semi-official lists; moreover, the ordinal numbers of the Clementine claimants (who, however, are not called anti-popes,) were adopted by subsequent popes of the same name.
The Schism of the East the estrangement and severance from the Holy See of what is now called the Orthodox Eastern Church was a gradual process extending over centuries. After a number of minor schisms the first serious, though short, break was that of Photius; from then on tension between East and West increased, and the schism of Cerularius occurred in 1054. From then on the breach gradually widened and has been definitive since 1472. There was a formal union from the 2nd Council of Lyons in 1274 until 1282, and a more promising one after the Council of Florence from 1439 to 1472. After the capture of Constantinople it was in the Turkish interest to reopen and widen the breach with the powerful Roman church; the patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem were dragged into this policy, Russia and the Slav churches stood out the longest of any: none of these churches, except Constantinople itself in 1472, formally and definitely broke away from the unity of the Church. But in the course of centuries the schism has set and crystallized into a definite separation from the Holy See of many million people with a true priesthood and valid sacraments. The origins, causes and development of the schism are matters of much complication, still not fully unraveled.
from Modern Catholic Dictionary by John A. Hardon, S.J. Doubleday & Co., Inc. Garden City, NY 1980
Separation of the Christian Churches of the East from unity with Rome. The schism was centuries in the making and finally became fixed in 1054, when the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularisu (died 1059), was excommunicated by the papal legates for opposing the use of leavened bread by the Latin Church and removing the Pope’s name from the diptychs or list of persons to be prayed for in the Eucharistic liturgy. A temporary reunion with Rome was effected by the Second Council of Lyons (1274) and the Council of Florence (1439) but never stabilized.
Marriage between Greek orthodox and Macedonian orthodox?
Generally if the love is true the female follows the man, below is straight out of the bible and a true beliver will follow, dispite political differences, good luck!
(1) The husband is the head of the wife. He is to be her protector and provider. When a wife takes her husband's name, she displays submission to him, which is in accord with God's will. Notice: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord" (Eph. 5:22; also read Colossians 3:18).
The following scriptures show that God has given the husband authority over his wife:
I Corinthians 11:3: "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."
Ephesians 5:23-24: "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the savior of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing."
Can you be Orthodox Catholic and protestant?
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Catholic AnswerNo, the terms are mutually exclusive. The Orthodox separated from the Catholic Church in the eleventh century over political arguments, and the very name protestant means that they have been protesting the Catholic Church for five hundred years. The Orthodox, however, maintain a valid priesthood, and thus valid sacraments.Yes, these events are known as the Great Schism when the Roman Catholic church broke off The Orthodox Church.
Roman Catholic AnswerIn the Catholic Church, the "Great Schism" usually refers to the Western schism when there were two, sometimes, three claimants to the papal throne. The pope had moved to Avignon, in France; another Pope was elected in Rome. This went on from 1378 until 1417. The Schism of the East in 1054 was between the Catholic Church and what is now called the Orthodox Church, is sometimes now in popular cultures as "the Great Schism". But, as I said, it is confusing as that technically refers to the Schism of the West not the East.What is the literal meaning of Jesus?
The name Jesus comes from the Greek word "Iesous" which means healer and saviour. The name Christ comes from the Greek work "Christos" which means the Annointed One or Messiah. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ is the only name that brings salvation (Acts 4:12).
What was the Eastern Orthodox Church based on?
it was based on the New Testament church founded by Jesus Christ in 33 AD. From there, the church spread to all parts of the world until the year 1054 AD, when there was a split or schism and this caused the two groups to be known as Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox from that period onwards.
What does a manoualia do in an orthodox church?
It is a place for the faithful to light candles and pray, either for themselves or for someone else.
Why was the African Orthodox Church founded?
To bring Orthodoxy to the African (Ethiopian, Eritrean) people
Where are the majority of the followers of Eastern Orthodox Christianity found?
The most notable "hot pockets" are the Mediterranean, Eastern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. However, Orthodox is thriving in central and southern Asia and in North America, and is growing in many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, and in some parts of Eastern Asia and Latin America.
For Catholics and Orthodox Christians in areas where the custom is still kept, this can be quite a formal and spiritual event, and the priest will come and bless the house with holy water and pine branches, and mark a blessing over the door in chalk for the new year. For Protestants and others though, this is mostly just fun.
The term you are using "bethlehemes" comes from Bethlehemes jatek (pronounced: Bet-la-hem-esh Yah-teck) which means in the Hungarian language, Bethlehem game or Bethlehem Play. In Slavic lands this may be called Jaselka (Nativity Play) or Szopka (Manger). In German speaking lands these groups are called Sternsinger which means Star-Singers for the star which they carry. The custom of Bethlehemes is similar to British and American caroling. Today, while the older tradition is still strong, Bethlehemes may also be a Christmas Presentation given by the children of a school, just as in Britain and the United States during the month of December. One other important part of the Bethlehemes custom is that the "Wisemen" and "Bethlehemers" besides bringing and receiving treats, are given money, but they don't keep it. They are collecting for worthy causes like the disabled veterans or children in Africa. Bethlehemes goes on usually from the first Sunday in the New Year, for a week until the Sunday that follows Epiphany, they Sunday after Epiphany being the big day for doing this. "Bethlehemer" school children - often dozens of them, all dressed as wisemen- also visit the president of several countries, and say "Christ bless this house" at the Parliment, and sing in the capital.
You've just reminded me to dust off my Three Kings costumes. Thanks!
Vízkereszti üdvözlet!Happy Epiphany!
