Eastern Orthodoxy

The main types are: assistant bishops, titular bishops, diocesan (or ruling) bishops, archbishops, metropolitans, popes and patriarchs. They are all bishops, but they have different levels of seniority.

Eastern Orthodox - allow up to 2 divorces, the 2nd one being only for particular limited circumstances

Oriental Orthodox - no divorce except for adultery

It is not considered the only true church (except perhaps by the Copts themselves) as they are not considered to be fully Orthodox. The reason for this is that the Copts do not accept the Fourth Ecumenical Council decision regarding the Two Natures of Christ.

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Martin Luther, an Augustinian Monk and scholar, differed with the Roman Church on various issues. He was declared heretic. The Church agreed with him - there did need to be a reform, but he needed to acknowledge that his reform had some errors, though they contained some good things. Luther's pride prevented him from admitting this and he started his own church, the Lutherans, which within 10 years split and so on, up until today. There are many synods of the Church in the United States, some conservative abiding closely to the Lutheran reforms, others more liberal in their thinking.

Other reformers differed from Luther and different denominations sprung up.

The Apostle's Creed starts with "I believe" and the Nicene Creed with "We believe". After Vatican II, we recited the Nicene Creed using "we" since our faith is a community relation to God rather than a personal one. We are a community of believers.

I believe that the "I believe" will be reverted to in the new translation next year.

The Orthodox Patriarch is traced all the way back to St. Andrew the Apostle. The Catholic Pope is traced all the way back to St. Peter the Apostle.

The Church gained power after the Roman empire fell. For many years, Christians were persecuted by Roman emperors who were strongly opposed to the Church. When the Roman empire was falling, Constantine went into power and allowed Christians to practice their faith openly. Romans turned to the religion to hold on to their many traditions and practices, which is why the Church is heavily influenced by Roman culture. More and more people turned to Christianity during the fall of Rome which allowed the Church to gain the power it needed to survive over many centuries.

The lit candle represents the life of the faithful. It shows how a Christian should act, burning like a candle before God, his body being gradually consumed by the divine flame, marking the end of earthly light. It is also worth noting that, unlike in Protestant faiths, fire is not a negative thing (the concept of burning in the 'fires of hell', for example, does not exist is eastern orthodox teachings.). It is a symbol of purity and cleansing.

The pope in Rome is not the leader of any Orthodox Church. The pope is only the leader of the Roman Catholics and has no jurisdiction (power or authority) over the Orthodox Church, which has its own leaders, such as the Ecumenical Patriarch in Constantinople.

There are various rites in the Catholic Church. This means primarily that there are various ways to celebrate the liturgy, though the different rites have their own set of laws and disciplines in other areas as well, such as the rules for fasting and abstinence during lent. A priest of the eastern rite is a Catholic priest who is a member of the eastern rather than the latin rite (the rite the majority of Catholics belong to).

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, icons are sacred images representing Christ, the Virgin Mary, saints, and biblical events. They serve as a means of spiritual connection and veneration, believed to convey divine presence and grace. Icons are often used in worship and are integral to the church's theology, emphasizing the incarnation of Christ and the communion of believers with the heavenly realm. Their creation follows strict artistic conventions and is considered an act of devotion.

The phrase "pall of orthodoxy" refers to a prevailing atmosphere or influence of conventional beliefs or established doctrines that may stifle dissent or creative thinking. It suggests an oppressive weight or burden imposed by accepted norms, which can inhibit innovation and critical discourse. This pall can create an environment where alternative perspectives are marginalized or discouraged.