Essentially the Orthodox Church shares much with the other Christian Churches in the belief that God revealed himself in Jesus Christ, and a belief in the incarnation of Christ, his crucifixion and resurrection . The Orthodox Church differs substantially in the way of life and worship.
What are the characteristics of the Eastern Church?
Distinguishing characteristics of the Eastern Orthodox Church include the Byzantine Rite (shared with some Eastern Catholic Churches) and an emphasis on the continuation of Holy Tradition , which it holds to be apostolic in nature.
How is Orthodox different from Catholic?
The Catholic Church believes the pope to be infallible in matters of doctrine. Orthodox believers reject the infallibility of the pope and consider their own patriarchs , too, as human and thus subject to error. In this way, they are similar to Protestants, who also reject any notion of papal primacy.
What are the major differences between Eastern Orthodox and Western Christianity?
While worshiping, the Western Church promotes kneeling position in prayer while Eastern Orthodox places of worship have normally standing followers. Unleavened bread (made without yeast) is utilized as a part of Roman church customs, while the Orthodox Church utilizes leavened bread.
What do Eastern Orthodox believe?
Eastern Orthodox Christians believe in a single God who is both three and one (triune); the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit , “one in essence and undivided”. The Holy Trinity is three “unconfused” and distinct divine persons (hypostases), who share one divine essence (ousia); uncreated, immaterial and eternal.
How does the Orthodox Church worship?
Orthodox Christians do not worship the icons, but pray through the icons to God . There are other services including an evening service of vespers , morning matins and other shorter services based on the Divine Office .
What Bible do the Orthodox use?
The Orthodox Study Bible (OSB) is an Eastern Orthodox study Bible published by Thomas Nelson. It features an English translation of the St. Athanasius Academy Septuagint for the Old Testament and utilizes the New King James Version for the New Testament.
Which is older Catholic or Orthodox?
Therefore the Catholic Church is the oldest of all . The Orthodox represents the original Christian Church because they trace their bishops back to the five early patriarchates of Rome, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Constantinople and Antioch.
Why did the Orthodox Church split from the Catholic Church?
The Byzantine split with Roman Catholicism came about when Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne, King of the Franks, as Holy Roman Emperor in 800. ... The Eastern Church became the Greek Orthodox Church by severing all ties with Rome and the Roman Catholic Church — from the pope to the Holy Roman Emperor on down.
What are the different Eastern churches?
The other main branch of Orthodoxy is constituted by the six national churches of the Oriental Orthodox communion: the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, the Malankara (Indian) Syrian Orthodox Church , the Ethiopian Orthodox ...
Can a Catholic go to an Orthodox church?
Thus, a member of the Russian Orthodox Church attending the Divine Liturgy in a Greek Orthodox Church will be allowed to receive communion and vice versa but, although Protestants, non-Trinitarian Christians, or Catholics may otherwise fully participate in an Orthodox Divine Liturgy, they will be excluded from ...
Can you be both Catholic and Orthodox?
Apostolic succession and sacraments Most Orthodox Churches allow marriages between members of the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church . Catholic canon law allows marriage between a Catholic and an Orthodox only if permission is obtained from the Catholic bishop.
Does the Orthodox Church use the rosary?
The number of beads varies by religion or use. ... Roman Catholics use the Rosary (Latin “rosarium”, meaning “rose garden”) with 59 beads. However, Eastern Orthodox Christians use a knotted prayer rope called either a komboskini or chotki , with 100 knots, although prayer ropes with 50 or 33 knots can also be used.
What are two differences between the Eastern and Roman churches?
One difference between the two is language. The Eastern Orthodox Church spoke Greek, while the Roman Catholic Church spoke Latin . Roman Catholic Church: Run by the pope, rituals and teaching were in Latin, priests could not marry, their capital city was Rome and they celebrate Christmas.
What is the difference between Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches?
The primary theological difference between the two communions is the differing Christology . ... Oriental Orthodoxy does not have a magisterial leader like the Roman Catholic Church, nor does the communion have a leader who can convene ecumenical synods like the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Does the Orthodox Church pray to Mary?
According to practitioners, devotion to the Virgin Mary does not amount to worship , which is reserved for God. Both the Catholic and Orthodox traditions view Mary as subordinate to Christ, but uniquely so, in that she is seen as above all other creatures.
