More than three quarters, or 77 percent, of the world’s OrthodoxChristianslive in EasternEuropean countries like Russia. Still, many of the OrthodoxChristiansare not very religious, probably in large part due to the fact that communism forbade the practice of religion for many decades in the countries where Orthodoxyis most prevalent.

Which country has the most Orthodox Christians?

Orthodox Christianity In Russia. Of all the countries on the list, Russia is the largest both in land mass and the number of Orthodox Christian followers. Here, there are 101 million followers of the faith. The Russian Orthodox Church has had strong political influence over the country for nearly 1,000 years.

What are some interesting facts about the Eastern Orthodox Church?

Interesting Facts about the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church is not one big church is you may think. It is actually composed of thirteen independent churches named “autocephalous,” each of them administering its own matters but having a common approach to sacraments, liturgy, and doctrine.

What is Orthodox Christianity?

Orthodox Christianity is one of three distinct branches of the Christian religion (the other two being the Catholic and Protestant branches). Being an Orthodox Christian means following the earliest known set of Christian doctrines.

Was the Eastern Orthodox Church persecuted?

But, for the most part, the Orthodox Church has largely been the victim of persecution, from Communists in Russia, to conquering Muslims during the Byzantine Empire, to other Christian sects as in the 4th crusade of the 13th century and the events in Alaska in the last century. The Eastern Orthodox Church has never supported killing anyone.

What is the second baptism?

Penance is “a second baptism” in that it deals with sins committed after baptism. “Totally contrary is the Latin teaching of penalties and punishments, external and temporal remission, the treasury of merits, the superabounding grace of our Lord’s passion, the works of supererogation performed by the saints, and purgatorial fire, all of which the Orthodox church most strenuously rejects” (Karmiris, 29).

What happened in the 4th Crusade?

The final blow came in 1204 when western troops on their way to Egypt in the Fourth Crusade took a detour through Constantinople. They had been invited to Constantinople by Alexius, son of the emperor, ostensibly to restore the latter to the power from which he had been deposed. Alexius failed to live up to his end of the bargain, principally his promise to reward them financially. They stormed the city and ransacked the Church of the Holy Wisdom, regarded as an act of inexcusable desecration by eastern Christians (French prostitutes who had accompanied the soldiers caroused in the church, one of whom sat defiantly on the throne of the patriarch). For three days they burned libraries, ransacked, pillaged, desecrated and destroyed every artifact and building associated with the Orthodox Church. They raped and killed and left Constantinople in ruins. It never recovered, and the breach was final.

What did the East believe about the filioque?

The east accused the western church of heresy when they, following the theology of Augustine, inserted the term filioque (“and the Son”) into the Nicene Creed. In its original form, the creed affirmed that the Holy Spirit proceeded “from the Father.” At some later time (no one knows for sure when or how or by whom, but most likely it originated in Spain) the word filioque was added to affirm that the Spirit also proceeded “from the Son.” They believed this reinforced the Deity of the Son against Arian threats. It was ratified at the Council of Toledo in 589 and spread rapidly into France, Germany, and was eventually endorsed by Charlemagne. Orthodox believers regarded this as a violation of the finality and authority of the early ecumenical councils and the wisdom of the Fathers. They also regarded it as theologically untrue and a threat to the doctrine of the Trinity.

What was the first step in a geographical, cultural and political split between the East and the West?

In 330 the Emperor Constantine moved the capital of his empire to Constantinople ( modern day Istanbul in Turkey). This was the first step in a geographical, cultural and political split between the East (centered in Constantinople) and the West (centered in Rome). By the end of the sixth century, neither group could speak the other’s language. Latin was the language of Rome and the west while Greek was the language of Constantinople and the east.

Why did the word "filioque" come to be?

At some later time (no one knows for sure when or how or by whom, but most likely it originated in Spain) the word filioque was added to affirm that the Spirit also proceeded “from the Son.”. They believed this reinforced the Deity of the Son against Arian threats.

Do Orthodox believe in Scripture?

The Orthodox do affirm the sufficiency of Scripture ( ad omnia satis superque sufficiat – “for all things complete and more than sufficient”). But Scripture is differently interpreted by different people. Hence the need for the consensus of the church as to Scripture’s proper interpretation. Said Florovsky: “Ecclesiastical understanding could not add anything to the Scripture. But it was the only means to ascertain and to disclose the true meaning of Scripture. Tradition was, in fact, the authentic interpretation of Scripture” (“The Function of Tradition in the Ancient Church,” Greek Orthodox Theological Review 9.2 [1963]; quoted in Clendenin, Readings, 99). Florovsky insists that “Scripture belonged to the church, and it was only in the church, within the community of right faith, that Scripture could be adequately understood and correctly interpreted” (99).

Which Church rejects the Roman Catholic dogma?

The Orthodox Church rejects the Roman Catholic dogma (1854) of the immaculate conception of Mary but at the same time affirms her sinless life.

What is the daily prayer cycle in Eastern Orthodoxy?

The liturgical day begins at sundown, and at that time, the churches and monasteries hold a service of prayer called Vespers. A prayer service called Compline occurs after the evening meal and before bed. A service called the Midnight Office is held at midnight, usually only in the monasteries. The service of Matins is held just before sunrise. There are four other prayer services, called Hours. The First Hour is often said immediately following Vespers. Many churches say the Third and Sixth Hours during the Proskomedia portion of the Divine Liturgy, and the Ninth just before Vespers. Orthodox tradition does not list the Divine Liturgy in the daily cycle of prayers because it is believed to occur outside of normal time. The daily prayers occur inside normal time ( chronos ), and serve to sanctify it while bringing the faithful into eternity ( kairos ).

What do the priests do at the prayer service?

During the prayer services, the faithful repeat a number of litanies, or prayers of petition, for both the living and the dead. They also read the Psalms, which are arranged in a special book called a Psalter. If all nine services are held each day, the entire Book of Psalms is read in a week. The choir also chants short hymns. A priest cannot celebrate alone, but must have at least one other person present. As a result, in some parishes the prayer services are only held on the weekends and at major feasts.

What is Patheos’s view?

Patheos Explore the world’s faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

What is the Orthodox prayer?

Prayers at regular intervals throughout the day are an integral part of daily life in Eastern Orthodox tradition. Daily prayer is a communal matter, and is conducted in the churches and the monasteries. Private prayer in the home combines liturgy with spontaneous personal prayer.

Why is fasting important in the Orthodox Church?

Like in many Christian churches, the Orthodox believes that fasting and prayer are the way of disciplining one’s body in order to enable one’s mind to concentrate on prayer as well as all other things spiritual. The Orthodox Church has four chief fasting periods:

How many Orthodox churches were closed down?

Take the example of the church’s harsh experience under Soviet communism and atheist policies — 98% of Orthodox churches were shut down, over a thousand monasteries and 60 seminaries were closed down. From 1917 up to the outbreak of the First World War, about 50,000 were persecuted and martyred.

How many churches are there in the Eastern Orthodox Church?

Interesting Facts about the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church is not one big church is you may think. It is actually composed of thirteen independent churches named “autocephalous,” each of them administering its own matters but having a common approach to sacraments, liturgy, and doctrine.

What are the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church?

But apart from that, they basically have much more in common with the seven sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church such as baptism, the Confirmation, the Eucharist, confession, the anointing of the sick, Holy Orders, and matrimony.

Why do Eastern Orthodox believe in Mary?

The Eastern Orthodox Church maintains that they will worship God and Him alone. Nevertheless, they recognize Mary in a special way due to the fact that she is Jesus Christ’s mother.

Which calendar do Orthodox follow?

The Julian Calendar. While most Christian churches follow the Gregorian calendar, a lot of Orthodox churches still use the Julian calendar. Since the Julian calendar is thirteen days behind the Gregorian, the Orthodox observe the holy days two weeks after the West.

What is Eastern Orthodoxy?

Since Eastern Orthodoxy was formed it expanded throughout the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine Empire and other areas. It has played a dominant force in Russian, Slavic, Greek, and some African cultures. Since the Eastern and Western Christian churches separated, the Eastern Orthodox Church does not recognize the authority …

How many Orthodox Christians are there in Ethiopia?

Orthodox Christianity In Ethiopia. Ethiopia also has a high number of Orthodox Christians – 36 million. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church dates back to the 4th century when the nation was converted to Christianity and today its followers make up nearly half the population.

What was the Great Schism of 1054?

The Great Schism of 1054 brought on a separation of the Orthodox religion due to the difference of opinion on such things as the Holy Spirit, bread for the Eucharist, use of images, and the date of Easter. This separation created what today is the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox church. The Orthodox Church is one …

How many followers of the Greek Orthodox Church are there?

Followers of the Greek Orthodox Church number 10 million. While that is significantly less than the Orthodox populations in Russia and Ethiopia, it represents 98% of the population of Greece. The church descends from the original churches of the 1st century, those that the Apostles founded.

What is Orthodox Christianity?

Orthodox Christianity is one of three distinct branches of the Christian religion (the other two being the Catholic and Protestant branches). Being an Orthodox Christian means following the earliest known set of Christian doctrines. Believers follow the Homoousian doctrine which declares that Jesus is both God and man.

What is the Eastern Orthodox Church?

The Orthodox Church is one of the oldest religious institutions and attempts to follow the original Christian faith as established by Jesus . By the 4th century, the faith had spread throughout the Roman and Byzantine Empires, …

How long has the Russian Orthodox Church been in power?

The Russian Orthodox Church has had strong political influence over the country for nearly 1,000 years. In 988, Prince Vladimir made it the official language of Russia. By 1453, the Byzantine Empire had fallen and in 1589, Moscow became the patriarch.

Is the Orthodox Church important?

Modern Significance. Although unfamiliar to many people around the world the Orthodox Church continues to hold importance in many countries around the world. Observers praise its adherence to original Christian principles, but this observance of ancient tradition does not make the Church irrelevant in modern times.

How many Orthodox Christians are there in the world?

While the Orthodox Church boasts 260 million members worldwide, it’s a much smaller portion of the United States. In the 2020 version of the CES, just .6% of all respondents were Orthodox (or about 20 million Americans). That means they are about the same size as Hindus, or Buddhists and just slightly smaller than Muslims who are 1% of the population.

What is the CES question?

The CES asks several questions about a respondent’s view of racial issues that are part of the racial resentment battery. I have included two of them in this analysis because they have been consistently included in the survey over a longer period of time. On both questions, the analysis is incredibly clear: Orthodox Christians have shifted their views of race/racism and most likely as a result of the last several years of protests.

Do Orthodox Christians like to cut the deficit?

It’s pretty clear that Orthodox Christians like plugging the deficit by cutting the budget, not by raising taxes. While a fair number each year like the 50/50 approach, the majority do fall to the right of center on economic issues. And, what’s even more notable, is that the mean response for each year actually moved ever so slightly to the left between 2008 and 2020. In 2008, it was 68, but by 2020 it had shifted to 62. Thus, there’s no evidence here that Orthodox folks have become more conservative on taxing and spending – just the opposite.

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What happened to the heretics and nonheretics?

There were events when heretics and nonheretics held secular positions of power and ended up expelling, persecuting, exiling, or killing those that did not agree with them, but the truth of Christ eventually prevailed as evidence in the seven Ecumenical Councils.

What did the Iconoclasts reject?

Those who rejected images, the Iconoclasts, objected to icon worship for several reasons. In the Old Testament, the prohibition against images was in Exodus 20:4, the Ten Commandments and the inclination of idolatry.

What is Nick Damascus’s purpose?

Nick Damascus is one who seeks to discover and apply the proverbial question of what is truth and wisdom, to fill that gaping hole, to become complete and to become realistically and synergistically functional. In an attempt to live the Christian life, which he says is a definite work in progress, he has discovered that he’s created the Christ that fits his lifestyle and agrees with his ego (and boy what an ego, he says), carefully avoiding what God intended him to be.

Where did the 7th ecumenical council take place?

The Seventh Ecumenical Council took place in Nicea in 787 AD, where there was controversy in the Byzantine Empire over the use of religious icons. Known as the Iconoclastic Controversy, the iconoclasts persecuted those who were in favor of the existence of icons. Those who rejected images, the Iconoclasts, objected to icon worship for several reasons. In the Old Testament, the prohibition against images was in Exodus 20:4, the Ten Commandments and the inclination of idolatry.

When was the heresy of the single nature of Christ persecuted?

In the Council of Chalcedon 451 AD the heresy of the single nature of Christ who were also persecuted Orthodox Christians for their Cyrillian view of Christology.

Who challenged the heretical teaching of Nicea?

It was challenged by the church and determined to be heretical, and that teaching was condemned.

Did the Eastern Orthodox Church commit heinous crimes?

Throughout history, you will find many people, who in the name of the church have committed heinous offenses. To the best of my knowledge, it was not the Eastern Orthodox Church, as an institution who has done these things. There were incidents of Roman emperors, Russian tzars and Byzantine emperors who have done things “in the name of the church” that were motivated by economic or political circumstances and the church spoke out against them, however not in every situation.

What does John despise about the Orthodox Church?

Ironically, the very assumption John despises in the Orthodox Church (that there is no salvation outside the Orthodox Church) is the same assumption he has made regarding evangelicalism . “The Baptist church is the true Church that is following the teachings of Jesus and the apostles,” he affirms, though admitting the presence of believers in Pentecostal, Brethren, and other evangelical denominations.

How did John’s view of salvation change?

John’s view of salvation changed dramatically as well. As he delved into Paul’s epistles, primarily to the Romans and Ephesians, John came to understand salvation as a gift from God through faith alone, not through good deeds.

What was the Orthodox priest’s role in the village?

The Orthodox priest was one of the most important people in the village in which John grew up. John’s family was considered “devout” and “religious” by the priest and the rest of the community. Though the church building was just four houses down the street from his, John rarely attended. “I usually went to the midnight Easter vigil,” he recalls.

What does John shake his head about?

John shakes his head, sadly but firmly. “An Orthodox Christian that is truly born again would realize that the church is wrong and would turn to evangelicalism. ”. For John, coming to Christ and joining an evangelical church are two sides of the same coin.

How old was John when he was baptized?

John was baptized into the church when he was six weeks old. Later, he and his wife were married in the Orthodox Church. As John tells me about these years, I sense he resents the past. It is clear that he sees his youth as a wasted part of his life, and he is upset that the priest never taught him the truth about God.

What did John’s family think of John’s wife?

John’s family reacted harshly. His wife thought he had gone crazy. His parents told him he was bringing shame upon the whole family. The Communist party began to put pressure on him to give up his newfound faith and continue to be involved in their atheistic agenda.

Is Romania an Orthodox country?

Romanian Orthodoxy is the state religion, meaning that almost everyone born in Romania is already considered a member of the Orthodox church, regardless of devotion or belief. John’s grandparents were faithful leaders in the Orthodox church. The Orthodox priest was one of the most important people in the village in which John grew up.

What is the dominant religion in the United States?

Christianity is the dominant religion in the United States accounting for about 70% of the religious population. Orthodoxy is one of the Christian denominations practiced in the US and around the world. As per the history of religions, Orthodoxy is recorded among the earliest religions to be practiced in the world.

How many Orthodox are there in the US?

There are approximately 7 million Orthodox Americans. Although it is one of the world’s oldest religions, it seems to be gaining ground at a very gradual rate in the US. Members adhere to different branches including Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Ukranian Orthodox, and Albanian Orthodox among many others.

Which state has the largest Orthodox population?

Alaska . Alaska has the largest Orthodox population by percentage of the state population at 5%. This is due to Alaska ‘s settlement by Russian traders in the 18th century. Missionaries of the Russian Orthodox faith were sent to establish a formal mission in the settlement in the 1790s.

Which state has the largest number of Orthodox Christians?

California. California is the most populous state among the fifty states of the USA. It is home to the largest number of Orthodox Christians. However, this number is still so small that it is almost insignificant when compared to the entire USA population.

St. Tikon Defender of Orthodoxy

Which Russian Tsars treated the Orthodox Church well, and were good Orthodox Christians? And which did and were the opposite?

Matrona Lady Godiva Freedom Rider

Don’t forget Ivan the Terrible. He was supposedly very devout (stuck to the fasts, etc) but he was also a vicious murderer who married so many times that the Orthodox Church refused to perform any more marriages for him.

St. Tikon Defender of Orthodoxy

I don’t even begin to know the answer to your question but I have always wondered about the Church’s position on Rasputin? Do you know? Does anyone? I really would like to know the answer and won’t debate it whatevr it is…but if there’s an official opinion, I would surely love to hear it???