The Orthodox Churches
The Orthodox Churches (consisting of different churches in communion with one another, including the Greek, Russian, and Antiochian churches) are Eastern Churches springing from the Apostles, but not in communion with the Bishop of Rome. These churches are both Chalcedonian (accepting the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon) and non-Chalcedonian (rejecting the Council of Chalcedon). The Coptic Church is one such group that rejects the condemnation of monophysitism at the Council of Chalcedon. The non-Chalcedonian Eastern Churches are not in communion with the Chalcedonian Churches.
The Eastern Orthodox Churches have much in common with the Catholic Church, and the Catholic Church considers the East one of the two "lungs" of Christendom. The Western and Eastern Churches split in 1054 in what is called the "Great Schism." Both Eastern and Western leaders excommunicated each other. However, these excommunications were lifted recently in an effort at eventual reunification, a dream of Pope John Paul II and many Orthodox bishops. Pope John Paul II is pictured on the right with Archbishop of Greece, His beatitude Christodoulos. Despite a recent openness on both sides, various issues, including the infallibility and role of the Pope and the filioque ("and the Son") addition to the Nicene Creed, constitute areas of deep disagreement.
I have blogged frequently about Eastern Christianity, including here in July and here in August, and as these posts demonstrate, I have a deep appreciation of Eastern Christianity.
Overview: The Orthodox Churches
Numbers - 225,000,000 (see Adherents.com)
Date founded: Apostolic in origin
Major Figures - St John Chrysostom, St. John of Damascus, St Maximos the Confessor, St. Gregory Palamas
Valid Apostolic Succession - Yes
# of Sacraments - Varies, usually set at seven
View of Eucharist - Bread and Wine become body and blood of Christ. The Eastern churches have been slow to define the manner in which this happens, hence the lack of a common vocabulary to describe the change.
Ordination standards
- Celibate and married men. The state a candidate for the priesthood is in when he begins the ordination process is the state he will remain for the rest of his life. Episcopacy is celibate.
Views on Mary
- Mary is the ever-virgin Mother of God (theotokos), the "all-holy," free of sin, dating at least to her "yes" to God’s call. She was assumed into heaven after her falling asleep (Dormition). She is to be given the
highest level of veneration, but not worshiped.
Major Moral Stands
- Actively opposed to abortion, gay marriage, and often artificial contraception, although some Orthodox churches have adopted more liberal views. For the most part the Orthodox Churches’ stands are identical to that of the Catholic Church.
Major Parties/Divisions
- The Orthodox Church does not have major "parties" like Protestant denominations. However, there are some more conservative groups, including ROCOR (the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia) that are break-off groups, accusing mainstream Orthodox Churches of being too "liberal."
Major Prayers/Devotions - Divine Liturgy, Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have Mercy on me, a sinner), veneration of icons, Akathist Hymn
Left image from: quiaquorundam.web-gratis.net
Right image from: http://home.att.net/~sergei592
