What Does The Orthodox Church Believe?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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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 is the difference between Orthodox and regular Christianity?

Orthodox: Conforming to approved doctrine . Christian: Follower Of Christ. ... Protestants confess straight to God, Catholic confess mortal sins to a Priest, and venial sins straight to God (Orthodox have similar practice) Anglicans confess to Priests but considered optional. God always forgives sins in Jesus.

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 is the core belief of Orthodox?

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.

What does the Orthodox Church believe about salvation?

The Orthodox believe that there is nothing that a person (Orthodox or non-Orthodox) can do to earn salvation. It is rather a gift from God . However, this gift of relationship has to be accepted by the believer, since God will not force salvation on humanity.

Which religion is Orthodox?

Orthodox, (from Greek orthodoxos, “of the right opinion”), true doctrine and its adherents as opposed to heterodox or heretical doctrines and their adherents. The word was first used in early 4th-century Christianity by the Greek Fathers.

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.

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.

What Bible does the Orthodox Church 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.

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.

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 .

Do Greek Orthodox believe in Heaven?

For Greek Orthodox Christians, our central feast is the Resurrection of Christ (Pascha or Easter). This is Christ’s triumph over death. ... In our understanding of existence for human beings, going to heaven is not life after death, but rather the General Resurrection of us all at the end times will reunite body and soul.

Who is the leader of the Orthodox Church?

The church has no central doctrinal or governmental authority analogous to the bishop of Rome (Pope), but the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople is recognised by all bishops as primus inter pares (“first among equals”) and regarded as the representative and spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians.

Can Orthodox priests marry?

Under Orthodox rules, a celibate priest cannot marry after ordination , and a non-celibate priest cannot remarry and remain a priest, even if his wife dies, he said.

Does the Orthodox Church believe in original sin?

The Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholic Churches’ version of original sin is the view that sin originates with the Devil, “for the devil sins from the beginning (1 John iii. 8)”. ... The Church does not interpret “original sin” as having anything to do with transmitted guilt but with transmitted mortality .

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.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.