Eastern Orthodoxy

The 'early church' is rather a grey area, but it usually refers to the time when the Christian Church first came into being after Jesus' crucifixion, resurrection and ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. After this event, the disciples and others who followed Jesus began to form small groups in each others' houses to remember Jesus in the 'Breaking of Bread'. When Paul was converted too after seeing a vision of Jesus, he helped found many churches across the Roman Empire from Turkey to Rome. In addition, other disciples travelled as far as Spain, northern Africa and even. some believe, India, to spread the message. This mushrooming of the Christian message over less than 100 years or so resulted in many churches ( a 'church' being a group of Christians and not 'a building') forming across the then-known world. These were referred to as the 'early Church'. However, the same name can also be given to the church right up to the Celtic Church around 400-500 years later.

It depends upon the denomination of the church. Roman Catholic priests are exclusively male and are not allowed personal relationships with women as they vow celibacy at their ordination. However, other denominations (such as Anglican and Episcopalian, and Methodists) all allow their priests and ministers (male and female) to marry and therefore, unless there is another reason why not (e.g. he or she is already dating or is married!!) it would be well within the 'rules' to date if he or she agrees.

In addition to opening our presents and visiting with family, we remember the true meaning of Christmas, which is this: 'God loved us so much that he sent his only son, so that whoever believed that He was the son of God, and accepted him as their savior, would not have to take the consequence of their sin, (death, and an eternity in hell) but that Jesus would take the consequence, and die for us, so that we could live forever in heaven with him.' Most Christians also go to church, on Christmas Eve.

Please remember that God loves you very much, and that he sent his son to die for you too, and he will never walk away from you the way that people of this world do. He created you, and he wants to spend a (literal) eternity with you, in heaven! Please consider what I've said. May God bless you!

A paten, or diskos, is a small plate, usually made of silver or gold, used to hold Eucharistic bread which is to be consecrated. It is generally used during the service itself, while the reserved hosts are stored in the Tabernacle in a ciborium.

Yes

NOt only to say yes that we are christians, We are the Mother of all Christians

We are the purest held Christians to this day. Welcome and learn about the Full truth of Christ through Orthodoxy. This is why we are called Orthodox, because we kept our religion pure unaltered with no dogmas or heresies that the others have contributed to themselves. We also never added as the Roman church did or subtracted as the many divided Protestant denominations.

We did not accept the pope as a supremacy, because the only leader of the Orthodox church is Jesus Christ himself. No bishop or Archibishop or Patriarche is the same as a pope. All they get is a higher level of respect to preserve the faith and get the info out to the people. Each Patriarch represents their country, since there are other orthodox Christians other than Greeks, but they still hold no power over the people as the Pope's views are by the Catholic people. In those days the new Roman Catholics looked at the Pope like a God and that was a sin in our eyes. We only look at Jesus that way.

When a priest speaks in Church as part of a Liturgy or Service, it is called a Sermon.

This is a very hard question - my Priest told me that we shouldn't think in numbers. However, most estimates are between 250 million to 350 million. Other estimates are much higher including people who are Orthodox on paper but are not actively involved in the Church. Also, this number is steadily increasing in many former Communist countries where people are returning back to the Church. There are also many non-Orthodox parishes accepting the Orthodox faith throughout lands that are not traditionally Orthodox. There are also many millions of Non-Chaledonian Oriental Orthodox Christians, with the largest number in Ethiopia.

This covers a lot more than can be answered sufficiently in a forum like this one. Your best bet is to go to the website of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, which has a page giving an introduction to the Greek Orthodox faith (link is under "Related Links"). Start with the first link, "What is the Greek Orthodox Church?", and work through the other links in the middle of the page. After you've looked at these, you can get more information through the various links on the left side of the page. If, after looking through these, you still have questions, your best bet would be to contact a Greek Orthodox parish near you and ask the priest. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has a parish finder on their website (also linked under "Related Links").

Did? So we're talking past-tense...hmm. In the early days of the church the terms "pope" and "patriarch" were synonymous. Pope did not refer to the infallible power we know today. He was viewed as the Orthodox view the patriarch; a first among equals. Now, though, the Pope is seen as infallible by the Catholic church. Although the Orthodox respect his religious authority, they do not acknowledge his rite of infallibility.

orthodox christians in the fullest true sense, the house is called the house of prayer Orthodox Christians worship in the house of God, which is called the church of the living God (1 Timothy 3:15).

There is no "Head Honcho", so to speak. The early Church was counciliar, where overseers of various jurisdictions (often a city) would jointly seek to discern God's leading. This has lasted to the present day; historically there were five "patriarchates", in Rome, Byzantium (Constantinople), Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch (where "they were first called Christians"). The leaders of these jurisdictions, or "sees", were bishops. In the Church, all bishops are equal; titles such as "Archbishop" or "Metropolitan" indicate organizational hierarchy, not ecclesiastical superiority. Anyway, among the five patriarchs, the patriarch of Rome was ascribed the honor of being, "First among equals". Over time (many, many books have been written about this!), the Patriarch of Rome (called the Pope), declared primacy over his brothers, and there was a split (the Great Schism), about 1000 years ago. So for now, the Patriarch of Constantinople, addressed as "His All-Holiness", is first in honor, but of no higher power, than his fellow patriarchs.

The Patriarch is the authoritative figure for The Greek Orthodox Church.

The Orthodox Church tolerates marriage between an Orthodox to non-Orthodox Christian provided:

* The non-Orthodox is baptized in water and in the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. * The couple should be willing to baptize their children in the Orthodox Church and raise and nurture them in accordance with the Orthodox Faith.

Orthodox Christianity is divided into 2 main denominations: Eastern & Oriental.

From there on, there are further divisions.

Eastern Orthodoxy:

Greek, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Armenian, etc.

Oriental Orthodoxy:

Coptic, Ethiopian, Indian, Syrian, etc.

The proper address of an abbot/abbess is:

"The Right Reverend Abbot/Abbess [(canonical) First Name; Family Name is optional]"

The Orthodox Church and the Roman Church both have apostolic succession so they are equally old. Anyway at one stage they were one church called the Catholic Orthodox Church or The Universal Truth. The western church (Catholic) wanted to change the creed (a sum of the faith) and started declaring papal supremacy over the other churches - the Orthodox church views the St.Peter on the rock thing a Primacy of Honour not infallibility since Jesus did not make one apostle greater than the other. These were the main events that caused the 1054 schism and creating officially the Catholic and Orthodox Church. However seeing how the Catholic Church changed its teachings,liturgy among other things. The Orthodox Church did not change anything before or after the 1054 schism That is why the Catholic Church views the Orthodox Church as valid, but the Orthodox Church doesn't for the Catholic Church

Mosaics, as well as Icons are used.

Mainly, wood and paint. Some are also partially to mainly covered in silver or gold.

There are over 300 million members of the Eastern Orthodox Church

The generally accepted date for the split between what is now called the Roman Catholic Church and what is now called the Eastern Orthodox Church is 1054 AD. The Anglican Church is generally considered to come from the time of King Henry VIII in the 1530s, although some would say that the Anglicanism originated in the Elizabethan Settlement of 1559, since Queen Mary effectively returned the Church of England to Roman Catholicism earlier in the 1550s. In any case, since the people who subsequently became Church of England were previously Roman Catholic, and not Eastern Orthodox, and since the Orthodox and the Catholics parted ways in 1054, you might say that the Anglicans broke away from the Roman Catholics, but it would be extremely difficult to say the Anglicans broke away from the Eastern Orthodox.

The Easter or Pascha date is determined by four main factors. The first two have been established by Apostolic canon, making them binding, and the last two have been established by church tradition. The history of determining Easter dates has been complex and sometimes controversial, but the following pre-conditions provide a general summary. The Easter date is set according to the Julian or Old Calendar and this date must be: 1) after the Vernal (Spring) Equinox, and 2) after the Jewish Passover, and 3) with the first full moon in Spring, and 4) on a Sunday after 21 March.

The main difference between the Orthodox churches and the Catholic Church is the issue of authority. Most all of the doctrines and all of the sacraments and devotions you know are also present in the Catholic Faith, especially in the Catholic Eastern rites. If you wish to convert, it is best to approach the local Catholic parish priest and declare your desire to do so as well as express which rite you wish to belong to. You will probably only need to make a declaration of Faith and express your recognition of the pope as the vicar of Christ. It should really be that simple.