Who are the Orthodox?

"The Orthodox Church is one of the three main Christian groups (the others being Roman Catholic and Protestant)." "About 200 million people follow the Orthodox tradition."

"It is composed of a number of autonomous Churches which are either \"autocephalous\" (that is, having their own head) or \"autonomous\" (that is, self-governing)."

"The Orthodox Churches are united in faith and by a common approach to theology, tradition, and worship." "They rely on elements of Greek, Middle Eastern, Russian, and Slavic culture."

"Each Church has its own geographical title (rather than national) which generally reflects the cultural traditions of its believers."

"The word \"orthodox\" derives its meaning from the Greek words" "orthos" "(\"right\") and" doxa ("belief"). Therefore, the word orthodox means correct belief or right thinking.

The Orthodox tradition developed from the Christianity of the Eastern Roman Empire and was shaped by the pressures, politics, and peoples of that geographic area. Since the eastern capital of the Roman Empire was Byzantium, this style of Christianity is sometimes called "Byzantine Christianity."

The Orthodox Churches share with other Christian Churches the belief that God revealed himself in Jesus Christ , and a belief in the incarnation of Christ, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. The Orthodox Church differs significantly from other Churches in lifestyle and worship, and in some aspects of theology.

The Holy Spirit is perceived as present and as a guide of the Church, working through the entire body of the Church, as well as through priests and bishops.

Are Orthodox churches the same as Oriental Orthodox churches?

Not all Orthodox churches are "Oriental Orthodox." The "Oriental Orthodox Churches" have theological differences with the Eastern Orthodox Churches and form a distinct group, while some Orthodox Churches are not "in communion" with others.

Not all churches of the Eastern tradition are Orthodox - Eastern churches not included in the Orthodox group include the Eastern Catholic churches.

The Oriental Orthodox Churches

The nominal head of the Oriental Orthodox Churches is the Patriarch of Constantinople. However, he is only first among equals and has no real authority over Churches other than his own.

There are 15 "Autocephalous Churches," ranked in order of priority.

Churches 1 to 9 are led by patriarchs, while the others are led by archbishops or metropolitans:

1. Church of Constantinople (ancient)
2. Church of Alexandria (ancient)
3. Church of Antioch (ancient)
4. Church of Jerusalem (ancient)
5. Church of Russia (founded in 1589)
6. Church of Serbia (1219)
7. Church of Romania (1925)
8. Church of Bulgaria (927)
9. Church of Georgia (466)
10. Church of Cyprus (434)
11. Church of Greece (1850)
12. Church of Poland (1924)
13. Church of Albania (1937)
14. Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia (1951)
15. Orthodox Church in America (1970)

The Orthodox communion also includes a number of `` Autonomous Churches ':

• Church of Sinai
• Church of Finland
• Church of Estonia *
• Church of Japan *
• Church of China *
• Church of Ukraine *
• Archdiocese of Ohrid *

* denotes a Church whose autonomy is recognized only by some of the other Churches

History and Schism

The Great Schism

The doctrine of the Christian Church was established over the centuries at councils dating from 325 AD where leaders of all Christian communities were represented. The Church of the East recognizes the authority of the councils of Nicaea 325 CE, Constantinople I (381), Ephesus (431), Chalcedon (451), Constantinople II (553), Constantinople III (680), and Nicaea II (787).

Although initially, Eastern and Western Christians shared the same faith, the two traditions began to divide after the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787 AD and are generally thought to have finally separated from the conflict with Rome in the so-called Great Schism in 1054.

In particular, this occurred regarding the claim papal of the supreme authority and the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. The break became definitive with the failure of the Council of Florence in the 15th century.

However, in the minds of most Orthodox, a decisive moment was the sack of Constantinople in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade (Western Christian). The sack of Constantinople by the Crusaders ultimately led to the loss of this Byzantine capital to the Muslim Ottomans in 1453. This has never been forgotten.

The divisions between the Churches of East and West occurred gradually over the centuries as the Roman Empire fragmented.

Eventually, while the Eastern Churches maintained the principle that the Church must adhere to the local language of the community, Latin became the language of the Western Church.

Until the schism, the five great patriarchal sees were Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. After the break with Rome, Orthodoxy became "Eastern" and the dominant expression of Christianity in the eastern Mediterranean, much of Asia Minor, Russia, and the Balkans.

Life and worship

Eastern Christianity emphasizes a way of life and belief that is expressed especially through worship. By maintaining the correct form of worship of God, handed down since the very beginnings of Christianity. Eastern Christians believe that they confess the true doctrine of God in the right way (orthodox).

The Bible of the Orthodox Church is the same as that of most Western Churches, except that its Old Testament is not based on Hebrew, but on the ancient Jewish translation into Greek called the Septuagint.

The wisdom of the Church Fathers is at the heart of the Orthodox way of life as today's heirs of the "true faith and Church" handed down in its purest form. By maintaining the purity of the teachings inherited from the apostles, believers become more aware that the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is present both in history and today.

A life of prayer

At the center of worship and belief is the Eucharist surrounded by the divine offices or the cycle of prayer. These prayers are sung especially at sunset and dawn and at certain other times of the day and night.

Personal prayer plays an important role in the life of an Orthodox Christian. For many Orthodox Christians, an important form of prayer is the Jesus Prayer. It is a phrase that is repeated several times; for example: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner." The purpose of this repetition is to allow the person to focus solely on God.

The strict life of a monk or nun is considered an important expression of faith.

Mount Athos and monasticism

Monasticism is a central element of the Orthodox faith. Mount Athos, in northeastern Greece, is described as the center of Orthodox monasticism. It is the only place in Greece entirely dedicated to prayer and worship of God. For this reason, it is called the sacred mountain.

Most monasteries are cenobitic : living a communal life. The peninsula is divided into twenty autonomous territories. Each territory consists of a large monastery and a few other monastic establishments surrounding it (cloisters, cells, huts, seats, hermitages).

For monks as well as nuns, their spiritual life should follow the same lifestyle that all Christians try to achieve by following God's commandments. Without being against marriage, it is generally accepted that celibacy in the Church allows a better understanding of Christian life away from worldly things.

Fasting and prayer

Fasting and prayer play an important role in Orthodox Christian life. Orthodox Christians believe that fasting can be the "foundation of all good." The discipline of training the body can allow a believer to fully focus their mind on preparation for prayer and spiritual matters.

There are four main fasting periods:

• The Great Fast or Lent period
• The Apostles' Fast: Eight days after Pentecost until June 28. The end with the feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
• The Dormition Fast which begins on August 1 and ends on August 14
• The Nativity Fast from November 15 to December 24.

It is also expected that every Wednesday and Friday are fasting days.

Even though today the call to fast is not always strictly followed, many devout Orthodox Christians go through a period of real hardship and it has been said that:

A discussion on self-denial

Contributors from Opus Dei and a Greek Orthodox church discuss self-denial and bodily mortification with a Muslim chaplain.

The sacraments

Sacred mysteries (sacraments)

The following seven main mysteries or sacraments are at the heart of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Baptism and chrismation

The first two are baptism and chrismation. The baptism of adults and infants is done by immersion in water three times in the name of the Trinity and is both the initiation into the Church and a sign of forgiveness of sins.

Chrismation immediately follows baptism and is done by anointing with holy oil called Chrism. Chrismation is followed by Holy Communion . This means that in the Orthodox Church, babies and children are full communicant members of the Church.

Chrism can only be consecrated by the patriarch, or chief bishop, of the local Church. A portion of the old Chrism is mixed with the new, thus linking the newly baptized to their ancestors in the faith.

Chrism is used to anoint different parts of the body with a sign of the cross. The forehead, eyes, nostrils, mouth and ears, chest, hands, and feet are all anointed. The priest says the words "The seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit" while making the sign of the cross at each point.

The newly baptized Christian is now a layperson, a full member of the people of God (the "royal priesthood"). All Christians are called to be witnesses to the truth.

Chrismation is linked to Pentecost in that the same Holy Spirit who descended on the apostles descends on the newly baptized.

The Eucharist

The Eucharist, generally called the Divine Liturgy, fulfills the command of Jesus Christ at the Last Supper: "Do this in remembrance of me."

As in many Western churches, the Eucharist is a service consisting, in the first part, of hymns, prayers, and readings from the New Testament, and in the second, the solemn offering and consecration of leavened bread and wine mixed with water, followed by the reception of Holy Communion.

Orthodox Christians believe that through consecration, the bread and wine are truly transformed into the body and blood of Christ. Communion is given in a spoon containing both bread and wine and is received standing. A sermon is generally preached either after the reading of the Gospel or at the end of the service. At the end of the liturgy, blessed but not consecrated, the bread is distributed to the congregation, and non-Orthodox are often invited to participate as a gesture of fellowship.

Both parts of the liturgy contain a procession. At the Little Entrance, the Gospel book is solemnly carried into the sanctuary and at the Great Entrance, the bread and wine are brought to the altar for the consecration prayer and Holy Communion.

The consecration prayer is always preceded by the proclamation of the Nicene Creed, often by the entire congregation.

The Orthodox Church places particular emphasis on the role of the Holy Spirit in the Eucharist and, in the consecration prayer, calls upon the Father to send His Holy Spirit to effect the change of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.

There are four different liturgies used throughout the year:

• The Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom (used on Sundays and weekdays)
• The Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great (used 10 times a year)
• The Liturgy of Saint James, the Lord's brother (sometimes used on Saint James' Day)
• The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts (used on Wednesdays and Fridays of Lent and the first three days of Holy Week)

Orders

Although the Church is an autonomous community, the Church recognizes the diaconate, the presbyterate or priesthood, and the episcopate (bishops).

Bishops of the Orthodox Church are considered the direct successors of the first apostles and they truly are a unifying center in the Church. Priests of the Orthodox Church are allowed to marry but cannot marry after ordination. Bishops must always be celibate. Orthodox priests normally do not shave their beards, in accordance with the Bible.

Penance

All Orthodox Churches use the Mystery of Penance, or Confession, but in Greek-speaking Churches, only priests who have been blessed by the Bishop as "Spiritual Fathers" are allowed to hear confession. Children may be admitted to the sacrament of Confession as soon as they are old enough to know the difference between right and wrong.

Through this Holy Communion, sinners can receive forgiveness. They enter confession with a priest often in an open space of the church (not in a confessional as in the Roman Catholic tradition nor separated by a grille).

The priest and the penitent stand, and a cross and a Gospel book or an icon are placed before the penitent with the priest slightly apart. This emphasizes that the priest is simply a witness and that forgiveness comes from God and not from the priest.

The priest will then hear the confession and may give advice. After confession, the penitent kneels before the priest, who places his stole on the penitent's head while saying a prayer of absolution.

Anointing of the Sick

In Greek-speaking Churches, this is performed annually for the entire congregation during Holy Week on the eve of Holy Wednesday. Everyone is encouraged to present themselves for anointing with the special oil, whether they are physically ill or not. This is because it is generally accepted that everyone needs spiritual healing even if they are physically well.

The anointing of the sick can also be performed on individuals. People sometimes keep the blessed oil of the sick at home.

The Church anoints the sick with oil, following the teaching of Saint James in his epistle (5: 14-15), "Is anyone among you sick? He should call the priests of the Church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him."

Wedding

Marriage is celebrated by the rite of crowning , showing the importance of the couple's eternal union. Although marriage is considered a permanent commitment in life and in death, remarriage and divorce are allowed in certain circumstances.

Icons

Icons are of great importance to Orthodox Christians. These magnificent and elaborate paintings are described as "windows into the kingdom of God." They are used in worship both in church decoration and for private homes. The icon is considered both a form of prayer and a means to pray.

An icon is generally a painting created in two dimensions. They often have a gold leaf background and are usually on wood. They represent Christ, his mother Mary , scenes from the Bible or the life of saints .

The iconographer prepares to paint an icon with prayer and fasting. By worshiping at the icon, the Orthodox Christian enters a sacred place with God.

The icon is venerated and often candles and oil lamps are burned before it. The worshiper kisses the icon, makes the sign of the cross, and may kneel or prostrate before it.

In most Orthodox churches, the altar, or sanctuary, is separated from the main body of the church by a solid screen (known as the iconostasis), pierced by three doors, the central one being known as the holy door. The screen is decorated with icons, the main ones being those on each side of the Holy Door of Christ and the Mother of God.

These are normally flanked by icons of Saint John the Baptist and the Saint, or Feast, to which the church is dedicated. In Russian churches, the iconostasis normally forms a solid wall decorated with four or five rows of icons according to an elaborate traditional arrangement.

Composer Sir John Tavener is one of the most famous followers of Orthodox Christianity in Great Britain and calls icons "the most sacred and transcendent art that exists." In this clip, he talks about his interpretation of these works of art.

Calendar and Christmas

The Orthodox calendar

After World War I, various Orthodox churches, starting with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, began to abandon the Julian or old calendar and adopt a form of the Gregorian or new calendar. The Julian calendar is currently thirteen days behind the Gregorian calendar.

Today, many Orthodox churches (except Jerusalem, Russia, Serbia, and Mount Athos) use the new Gregorian calendar for fixed feasts and holy days, but the Julian calendar for Easter and movable feasts. In this way, all Orthodox celebrate Easter together.

The Orthodox Church calendar begins on September 1st and ends on August 31st. Every day is sacred: each is the day of a saint, so at least one saint is venerated daily.

Orthodox Christmas

Christmas is celebrated by Orthodox Christians in Central and Eastern Europe and worldwide on January 7 in the Gregorian calendar - 13 days after other Christians.

In the East, Christmas is preceded by a 40-day fast starting on November 15. It is a time of reflection, restraint, and inner healing in the sacrament of confession.

Usually, on Christmas Eve, practicing Orthodox Christians fast until late in the evening, until the first star appears. When the star is seen, people set the table for Christmas dinner.

On Christmas Day, people participate in the divine liturgy, after which many walk in procession to the seas, rivers, and lakes. Everyone gathers in the snow for outdoor ceremonies to bless the water. Sometimes, the rivers are frozen, so people make holes in the ice to bless the water. Some bring water home to bless their houses. Then, a big party takes place inside where everyone joins to eat, drink, and have fun.

A Russian Orthodox custom is to serve Christmas cakes and sing songs. The tradition is mixed with other pagan traditions of ancient Russia, so that people can visit their neighbors in disguise, dance, sing, and ask for gifts, similar to trick-or-treating.

There are similarities, as well as differences, between the Eastern and Western celebration of Christmas. Eastern Christmas has a very strong family and social appeal, just like in the West. It brings together people of all generations to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Unlike the West, where Christmas is supreme, in the East it is Easter , centered on the cross and the resurrection of Christ, which is the supreme feast of the year. Eastern Orthodox Christmas also lacks the typical commercial side of the West.