"Eastern", then, indicates the geographical element in the church's origin and development, while "Orthodox" indicates the faith, as well as communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. There are numerous versions and styles that are traditional and acceptable and these vary a great deal between cultures. The Communist authorities closed down the prison in 1952, and punished many of those responsible for abuses (twenty of them were sentenced to death). Each retained the "Catholic" part of its title, the "Roman Catholic Church" (or Catholic Church) on the one hand, and the "Orthodox Catholic Church" on the other, each of which was defined in terms of inter-communion with either Rome or Constantinople. Significant Eastern Orthodox minorities exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina,[e][153] Latvia,[156] Estonia,[157] Kazakhstan,[158] Kyrgyzstan,[159] Lebanon,[160] Albania, Syria,[153] and many other countries. CHRISTIANITY . Retrieved 18 February 2011, Pomazansky, Michael, Orthodox Dogmatic Theology, pp. Over time, Imperial Russia would style itself a protector and patron of all Orthodox Christians, especially those within the Ottoman Empire. BBC - Religions - Christianity: Eastern Orthodox Church Eventually this led to each group anathematizing the other. WebEastern Orthodoxy and the Struggle of Ethnic Christianity. Christianity In 1547, his grandson Ivan IV, a devout Orthodox Christian, cemented the title as "Tsar of All Rus", establishing Russia's first centralised state with divinely appointed rulers. [165][f][g], Turkey, which for centuries once had one of the largest Eastern Orthodox communities, saw its overall Christian population fall from roughly one-fifth in 1914 to 2.5% in 1927. In Eastern Orthodox theology, the Mother of God is the fulfillment of the Old Testament archetypes revealed in the Ark of the Covenant (because she carried the New Covenant in the person of Christ) and the burning bush that appeared before Moses (symbolizing the Mother of God's carrying of God without being consumed). [60] It is not static, nor an observation of rules, but rather a sharing of observations that spring both from within and also in keeping with others, even others who lived lives long past. Paul and the Apostles traveled extensively throughout the Roman Empire, including Asia Minor, establishing churches in major communities, with the first churches appearing in Jerusalem and the Holy Land, then in Antioch, Ethiopia, Egypt, Rome, Alexandria, Athens, Thessalonica, Illyricum, and Byzantium, which centuries later would become prominent as the New Rome. It recognizes seven major sacraments, of which the Eucharist is the principal one, celebrated liturgically in synaxis. KEY ISSUE 3 Why Do Religions Organize Space in Distinctive Patterns? That faith is expressed most fundamentally in scripture and worship,[56] and the latter most essentially through baptism and in the Divine Liturgy. Cyril and Methodius began translating the divine liturgy, other liturgical texts, and the Gospels along with some other scriptural texts into local languages; with time, as these translations were copied by speakers of other dialects, the hybrid literary language Church Slavonic was created. They also hold that the congregation of the church comprises both the living and the dead. The patriarch of Constantinople has the honor of primacy, but his title is only first among equals and has no real authority over churches other than the Constantinopolitan and set out prerogatives interpreted by the ecumenical patriarch,[127][128][129][130] though at times the office of the ecumenical patriarch has been accused of Constantinopolitan or Eastern papism.[131][132][133]. Christianity But the term also properly applies to other sacred actions such as monastic tonsure or the blessing of holy water, and involves fasting, almsgiving, or an act as simple as lighting a candle, burning incense, praying or asking God's blessing on food. [24], The seven ecumenical councils recognized by the Eastern Orthodox churches are: Nicaea I, Constantinople I, Ephesus, Chalcedon, Constantinople II, Constantinople III, and Nicaea II. According to church teaching and tradition, God himself bears witness to this holiness of saints' relics through the many miracles connected with them that have been reported throughout history since biblical times, often including healing from disease and injury. "First Without Equals", "The 1,000-Year-Old Schism That Pope Francis Seeks To Heal", "The Leadership of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Significance of Canon 28 of Chalcedon Theology Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America", "Major branches of religions ranked by number of adherents", Orthodoxism Is Declining in the Overall Christian Population, ": , ? [171] Today, only 0.2% of Turkey's population represent either Jews or various Christian denominations (320,000). Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria, Ethiopian Orthodox Patriarchate of Ethiopia, Eritrean Orthodox Patriarchate of Eritrea. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. This identification with Greek, however, became increasingly confusing with time. [185], The Eastern Orthodox Church, in understanding itself to be the Body of Christ, and similarly in understanding the Christian life to lead to the unification in Christ of all members of his body, views the church as embracing all Christ's members, those now living on earth, and also all those through the ages who have passed on to the heavenly life. Each bishop has a territory (see) over which he governs. Orthodox do not accept the doctrine of Purgatory, which is held by Catholicism. Bishops are almost always chosen from the monastic ranks and must remain unmarried. The Eastern Orthodox Christian life is a spiritual pilgrimage in which each person, through the imitation of Christ and hesychasm,[181] cultivates the practice of unceasing prayer. WebOrthodox Churches. [215], Chrismation (sometimes called confirmation) is the mystery by which a baptised person is granted the gift of the Holy Spirit through anointing with Holy Chrism. Some autocephalous churches get their chrism from others. Eastern Orthodox Church - Wikipedia [237] During his visit to Georgia in October 2016, Pope Francis was snubbed by most Orthodox Christians as he led mass before a practically empty Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi. WebRESPONSE: Orthodox Christianity is not limited to any particular ethnic or language group, just as Roman Catholicism or Lutheranism are not limited to any particular ethnic group. [124], Pew research conducted in 2017 found a doubling in the global Orthodox population since the early 20th century, with the greatest resurgence in Russia. Today they are known as the Coptic Orthodox Church, having maintained a separate patriarchate. WebOrthodox Christianity is a relatively small faith tradition in the U.S., but in recent years it has expanded to new regions. Judaism is characterized by a belief in one transcendent God who revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and the Hebrew prophets and by a religious life in accordance with Scriptures and rabbinic traditions. Orthodox Christians believe that Christ Jesus was both God and Man absolutely and completely, having two natures indivisibly: eternally begotten of the Father in his divinity, he was born in his humanity of a woman, Mary, by her consent, through descent of the Holy Spirit. From ancient times through the first millennium, Greek was the most prevalent shared language in the demographic regions where the Byzantine Empire flourished, and Greek, being the language in which the New Testament was written, was the primary liturgical language of the church. The term "Eastern Church" (the geographic east in the EastWest Schism) has been used to distinguish it from western Christendom (the geographic West, which at first came to designate the Catholic communion, later also the various Protestant and Anglican branches). A Brief Outline of the Orthodox Church, , 65 (2004), pp. Despite their emphasis on invariable adherence to the pre-Nikonian traditions, the Old Believers feature a great diversity of groups which profess different interpretations of church tradition and they are often not in communion with each other (some groups even practise re-baptism before admitting a member of another group into their midst). The period 1923-1924 was followed by the obligatory population exchange between Greece and Turkey.[113]. A. Avenarius. [222][223] The church understands marriage to be the union of one man and one woman, and certain Orthodox leaders have spoken out strongly in opposition to the civil institution of same-sex marriage. "[205], The Eastern Orthodox Church does not subscribe to the Protestant doctrine of sola scriptura. RELIGIONS . Most modern Christian churches regard this synod, commonly called the First Council of Nicaea or more generally the First Ecumenical Council,[71][72] as of major importance. [54][55] The Bulgarian and all the Slavic churches use the title Pravoslavie (Cyrillic: ), meaning "correctness of glorification", to denote what is in English Orthodoxy, while the Georgians use the title Martlmadidebeli. Orthodox Christianity in the 21st Century | Pew Research Center It was used to varying degrees in imperial campaigns of Russification, and was even allowed to levy taxes on peasants. The Order of Saint Benedict is an affiliation of monastics of the Eastern Orthodox Church who strive to live according to the Rule of St Benedict. As well as in many other Christian traditions, for example in Catholicism, it serves to unite a woman and a man in eternal union and love before God, with the purpose of following Christ and his Gospel and raising up a faithful, holy family through their holy union. Another group of non-mainstream Eastern Orthodox Christians are referred True Orthodoxy or Old Calendarists; they are those who, without authority from their parent churches, have continued to use the old Julian calendar, and split from their parent church. You Are All One? Eastern Orthodoxy and the Struggle of Ethnic [120], Albania was the only state to have declared itself officially fully atheist. The various autocephalous and autonomous synods of the Eastern Orthodox Church are distinct in terms of administration and local culture, but for the most part exist in full communion with one another. [178], Since the fall of man, then, it has been mankind's dilemma that no human can restore his nature to union with God's grace; it was necessary for God to effect another change in human nature. [238], The Oriental Orthodox Churches are not in communion with the Eastern Orthodox Church, despite their similar names. Orthodox Churches", "[Highlights from the] 2010 US Orthodox Christian census", "Global Christianity A Report on the Size and Distribution of the World's Christian Population", "Part I: Doctrine and Tradition - Creator and creation", "News & Events - the Benedictine Fellowship of Saint Laurence", "Russian Orthodox Oklahoma - Only the finest russian orthodox oklahoma", "The Textual History of Septuagint-Daniel and Theodotion Daniel", "Letter to Families by Pope John Paul II", "Statement of Orthodox Christian Bishops", "OCA Reaffirms SCOBA Statement in Wake of Massachusetts Same-Sex Marriage Ruling", "Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage in the Orthodox Church: Economia and Pastoral Guidance", "Orthodox Church debate over women deacons moves one step closer to reality", "Second Day of Deliberations of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Alexandria", "Orthodox move for women deacons is 'revitalization' not 'innovation', Orthodox Church snubs Pope Francis in Georgia, "Middle Eastern Oriental Orthodox Common Declaration March 17, 2001", " : ", " : " ", The Decline of Eastern Christianity Under Islam, " ", "The Church of Greece has recognized the Autocephalous Church of Ukraine (upd)", "It's Official: Church of Greece Recognizes the Autocephaly of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine", "Archbishop of Cyprus commemorates Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv for first time (upd)", " ", "Archbishop of Cyprus: My decision to commemorate Metropolitan Epifaniy first serves Orthodoxy", "Holy Synod - Encyclicals - Archpastoral Letter on Ukraine", "Ko su ziloti, pravoslavni fundamentalisti", Bibliography of Russian history (12231613) Religion, Bibliography of Russian history (16131917) Religion, "The Local Churches and Catholicity: An Orthodox Perspective", "Eastern Christianity in the United States". The priest will administer the gifts with a spoon, called a "cochlear", directly into the recipient's mouth from the chalice. E thnic Religions . In commemoration of their baptisms, each Serbian family or tribe began to celebrate an exclusively Serbian custom called Slava (patron saint) in a special way to honor the saint on whose day they received the sacrament of baptism. While divinely inspired, the text still consists of words in human languages, arranged in humanly recognisable forms. The Eastern Orthodox Church considers Jesus Christ to be the head of the church and the church to be his body. Just as Christ is indivisible, so are union with him and faith in him, whereby the Christian Church is "universal", unseparated, and comprehensive, including all who share that faith. [126], The Eastern Orthodox Church is a fellowship of autocephalous (Greek for self-headed) churches, with the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople recognized as having the primus inter pares status. A number of other Christian churches also make a similar claim: the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Assyrian Church, and the Oriental Orthodox. [174] The God who is transcendent and the God who touches mankind are one and the same. The Orthodox faith became further tied to Russian identity and nationalism, while the church was further subordinated to the interests of the state. The church in Egypt (Patriarchate of Alexandria) split into two groups following the Council of Chalcedon (451), over a dispute about the relation between the divine and human natures of Jesus. Toggle Name and characteristics subsection, Toggle Organisation and leadership subsection, Toggle Holy mysteries (sacraments) subsection, , , Russian Orthodox Church in the Russian Empire, Eastern Orthodox churches under Communist rule, 1996 and 2018 MoscowConstantinople schisms. In 1453, a much-diminished Byzantine Empire fell to the Ottoman Empire, ending what was once the most powerful state in the Orthodox Christian world, if not in all Christendom. [121] In some other Communist states such as Romania, the Romanian Orthodox Church as an organisation enjoyed relative freedom and even prospered, albeit under strict secret police control. [109], The final breach is often considered to have arisen after the capture and sacking of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade in 1204; the final break with Rome occurred circa 1450. In the Orthodox Church, an ecumenical council is the supreme authority that can be invoked to resolve contested issues of the faith. The Orthodox Church is one of the three main Christian groups (the others being Roman Catholic and Protestant). The dual meanings of doxa, with "glory" or "glorification" (of God by the church and of the church by God), especially in worship, yield the pair "correct belief" and "true worship". The study also found a decrease in proportional terms, with Eastern Orthodox Christians making up 12.2% of the world's total Christian population in 2015 compared to 20.4% a century earlier. [229][230] In February 2017, Patriarch Theodoros II consecrated five women to be deaconesses within the Patriarchate of Alexandria. The Eastern Orthodox Church understands the death and resurrection of Jesus to be real historical events, as described in the gospels of the New Testament. [127] Each church has a ruling bishop and a holy synod to administer its jurisdiction and to lead the Eastern Orthodox Church in the preservation and teaching of the apostolic and patristic traditions and church practices. WebRacial and ethnic composition among Orthodox Christians - Religion in America: U.S. The official name of the Eastern Orthodox Church is the "Orthodox Catholic Church". [169] This was predominantly due to the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, which saw most Christian territories become independent nations. As a man he also died, and went to the place of the dead, which is Hades. The ecumenical patriarch was the religious and administrative ruler of the Rm, an Ottoman administrative unit meaning "Roman", which encompassed all Orthodox subjects of the Empire regardless of ethnicity. KEY ISSUE 2 Why Do Religions Have Different Distributions? By many The word was first used in [98][99][100][101][102][103][104][105] They accepted Christianity collectively along familial and tribal lines, a gradual process that occurred between the seventh and ninth centuries. WebAnswer (1 of 7): It depends on who you ask. Ethnic Christ sends the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father, and the Holy Spirit forms Christ in our hearts, and thus God the Father is glorified." [161][162][163] Spain and Germany have the largest communities in Western Europe, at roughly 1.5 million each, followed by Italy with around 900,000 and France with between 500,000 and 700,000. While the Eastern Orthodox Church continues officially to call itself "Catholic", for reasons of universality, the common title of "Eastern Orthodox Church" avoids casual confusion with the Catholic Church. In a short time they managed to prepare and instruct the future Bulgarian clergy into the biblical texts and in 870 AD the Fourth Council of Constantinople granted the Bulgarians the oldest organised autocephalous Slavic Orthodox Church, which shortly thereafter became Patriarchate.
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is orthodox christianity ethnic or universalizing