Orthodox Churches
Orthodox Christianity or Orthodoxy is one of three major faiths (and non-religion) of Christianity. It is organized into numerous territorial churches (not national) which together form the " Orthodox "or" Orthodox Communion. "
The Orthodox churches were born or were based in the ancient area of Greek culture, that is to say, in the eastern basin of the Mediterranean. This group of churches sharing understanding, education and offices of a great similarity with a strong sense to consider each other as parts of one Church. The Bible and the liturgy is read in the current or former national languages.
Orthodox Churches are the world's second largest Christian denomination in number of followers after the Catholic Church. Any Orthodox Christian sees his year marked by the liturgical calendar of the Church which it depends.
Summary |
To recognize more easily the various theological orientations that gave them birth, the tables have been created and presented under the following links:
These official expressions as well as technical refer to the Christological councils which they accept the findings.
Organization
The Orthodox Church is a communion of independent churches in terms of organization and discipline and intimately linked to the dogmatic level. Each is autocephalous, that is to say, led by its own synod empowered to choose its primacy. They all share a common faith, common principles of political and religious organization and a common liturgical tradition. Besides the languages used in worship, only minor traditions differ from country to country. The bishops, primates at the head of the autonomous churches may be called patriarchs or archbishops. These primates President episcopal synods, which, in each church, are the canonical authority, doctrinal and administrative highest. There exists among the various Orthodox Churches, a hierarchy of honor, determined by history rather than their actual numbers.
autocephalous Churches
Autocephalous churches, a legal perspective and spiritual, are completely independent and choose their own primate. They may have jurisdiction over other churches, saying only autonomous because they do not mean only their primate.
Because of its influence or its historical importance, an autocephalous Church may use the title of patriarchy or archdiocese and is then directed respectively by a patriarch or archbishop. At the head of an autonomous church, has an archbishop.
Churches and religious communities Russian Orthodox (7 councils) in France and, in general, depend on the diaspora, as appropriate, the Patriarchate of Moscow or that of Constantinople. The Russian Church-border (or Russian Synodal), or the Kiev patriarchate, constitute dissent of the Russian Church who are not recognized by all other Orthodox Churches of the Communion.
In the Orthodox Churches, all Bishops are equal legally and spiritually: a patriarch, archbishop or a metropolitan have no more authority or courts of law than any other bishop in the canonical territory of a neighboring bishop. However, they run collegially, with the bishops of the synod, with the title of primus inter pares ("first among equals"), and they are outside the Church.
Resolutions committing an entire church can be taken by the community of bishops at a council or a synod. In his diocese, each bishop has the full episcopal jurisdiction.
Orthodox Churches
For the Orthodox Church and its components according to their official order: see the list of Orthodox churches. For all of the various Orthodox jurisdictions: see the list of Orthodox churches.
Ecclesiology
The Orthodox Church sees itself as the Christian Church "origins", which all are members of other churches, including Roman Catholic. An Orthodox Church also designs all Christians residing in its canonical territory, as part of its spiritual homeland. Thus it with more or less surprise many evangelical denominations, open on its own sector of Churches parallel. This surprise also works for the Evangelization Catholic Orthodox inserted in the middle.
The Orthodox churches , most of them are members of the World Council of Churches , they joined in 1961. They also maintain an ecumenical dialogue with the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. They are however not willing to accept, even before a decision passed by a majority, values and practices non-traditional (Chair of Pasteurine during a joint celebration, eucharistic hospitality, evolution of language liturgical , theological liberalism ).
Ordination and Priesthood
The Sacrament of Holy Orders has three stages. The first step is the diaconate, the second PRIESTHOOD the third and the episcopate. Only bishops are obliged to celibacy, while priests and deacons may marry (before ordination).
Priests are federated in a hierarchy: the patriarchs, archbishops and metropolitans, as primus inter pares, at the head, then come the bishops (Greek episkopos, that is to say, supervisor, inspector), priests (from the Greek Presbyteros, former), then the deacons (Greek diakonos, ie aid or assistant).
The hierarchy is also sub-deacons, readers, cantors sacrament without specific and without special obligation to discipline boards that take their origin from primitive liturgies, and perform other functions in part as those suggested by their name. The deaconesses also belong to the group of services without ordination. They are mainly responsible for the preparation of the baptism of women, their role is, however, became insignificant with the acceptance of adult baptisms, so that they disappear completely from the late Byzantine kingdom. Deaconesses not ever participated in the office and can not be considered a "female diaconate."
Unlike Western churches, Orthodox churches in most theologies are very traditional and teaching is largely in the hands of Churches; there are also many lay theologians and, conversely, the majority of priests are not theologians. Married people may be ordered. The orthodox priest actually has no right to divorce and remarry, if priests are married because they were before their ordination.
It does not ordain women and we do not admit girls to the altar service. The priest's wife has a special position in the community and a specific title:
- Arabic khouria (female Greek Kyrios, "Lord, but also Mr.")
- Greek Papadia "
- Russian Matuschka ("Mom").
Ineligible to serve as an altar, women can, in principle, exercise all functions in the community, I elected to the church council, choir, readers, catechists for children and adults alike, a painter of icons. Women's participation in community life, however, is different depending on the local culture.
Spirituality
Sacrament
The Orthodox churches know seven sacraments (although the concept of the 7 sacraments is very late), more accurately called Mysteries:
- Baptism
- the anointing with chrism (which corresponds to the Confirmation Catholic but is administered in the Orthodox Church immediately after baptism),
- the Eucharist (also given the first time directly after baptism),
- confession (reconciliation or forgiveness)
- ordination,
- Marriage
- the sacrament of the sick anointing of the sick (as in the Catholic Church, this sacrament is not reserved for the dying)
The seven sacraments are identical to those of the Catholic Church, but in the Orthodox Church, they are not fixed dogmatically as happened in the Catholic Church at the time of the Reformation ( sixteenth century ). Thus, the demarcation is not clear between sacrament and sacramental (eg. Undulation or a funeral).
Unlike most world religions, the Orthodox churches do not celebrate any ritual of transition from childhood to adulthood, but many traditions are practiced by young and emerging from this type of celebration: in Bulgaria, for example, diving into a river and bring back a cross on the day of the celebration of the Baptism of Christ, January 6. This tradition is called "Yordanovden" (in Bulgarian Yordan the saint).
Orthodoxy presents itself as the continuation of the early Christian church that has suffered several schisms, including 431 , 451 and 1054 whose responsibilities remain subjects of contention among historians.
Liturgy
- The heart of Orthodox spirituality is rich, mostly in song, liturgy highly symbolic, whose current form, at least partly rooted in the fourth century.
- According to the Orthodox Church which it depends, the faithful follow a liturgical calendar that determines the specific dates of holidays in the year.
- The first part of the liturgy, called the Liturgy of the catechumens with prayer and Bible readings refer, as the cult synagogue , as Jesus had to know, the second part, the Liturgy of the faithful, celebrating the Eucharist is specifically Christian origin. The name of each part refers to the time when all the candidates not baptized had to leave the church after the first part and when they closed the doors locked.
- The original liturgy lasted five hours, the Basilian Liturgy lasts about two hours, the Liturgy of John Chrysostom lasts about an hour and a half and is one that is celebrated most Sundays while for the larger parties, we prefer the liturgy of St. Basil.
With Orthros (Matins) and other prayers, the Office also takes three hours on Sundays normal, thus, all do not stay from beginning to end. The antiphon Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy) is often typical of the liturgy
- the song develops a special importance in the Russian Orthodox liturgy. They are understood as prayer in its own right and should not therefore be "produced" by human voices. The use of instruments is not permitted in Russian Orthodox churches because the instruments can not pray.
In other Orthodox churches, instrumental music is rare. Theory, considering the aversion against instrumental music, the closer to the usual orchestras in the circus games Roman Christians consider the circus, where they were sometimes the victims, as a worship idolatrous.
In the Orthodox liturgy, we sign whenever the Trinity is mentioned. The sign of the cross takes place in a movement from right to left: forehead, chest, right shoulder, left shoulder. The thumb, index and middle fingers are bound to represent the Trinity, while the ring finger and little finger are folded into the palm to signify the dogma of the dual nature of Jesus Christ (God and Man). There are also signs enjoying an icon with or without prayer and in countless other occasions, at the discretion of the believer.
The believer is, in principle, standing at the office, many churches have seating along the walls as the elderly or debilitated. The kneeling position is infrequent, Sunday, we know some great prostrations in the churches of Europe Central or Egypt.
Differences with other Christian denominations
Differences between the Orthodox Church and the two denominations of origin western (Catholicism and Protestantism):
- This addition, which amended the text of an ecumenical council ( I. Council of Constantinople ), was imposed by the Emperor Charlemagne against the advice of the Pope of Rome St. Leo III and most of his successors during more a century (ninth century, with the notable exception of Nicolas I ).
- this addition would not be consistent with the text of the Gospel (John 15, 26).
- this addition would change relations between persons of the Trinity and belittle the Holy Spirit.
- This addition means that God can save that Christian souls, which could legitimize abuses such as forced conversions and the Inquisition.
- The Orthodox Church denies the doctrine of Augustine on grace for two reasons:
- this doctrine, very personal, not shared by the community of the Church Fathers , both East and West (the principle of collegiality).
- this doctrine destroys the freedom of man: if it is grace that does everything, that makes the man?
- The Orthodox Church baptizes "dumping" for three reasons:
- it is the evangelical tradition from the beginning.
- the very meaning of the word baptism in Greek.
- it symbolizes the total adherence to Christ and being "put on Christ."
- The Orthodox Church ignores the concept of 'hospitality Eucharistic "
- - At the holy table, it is Christ himself "who offers and is offered, which receives and distributes" as repeat every liturgy. No priest, no bishop, no Patriarch has the right to come between Christ and the conscience of the faithful.
- - If a person of faith in communion with the Church, it does so freely in the process of becoming a member and this approach will be sealed by the Holy Communion.
- - If another person is not in communion with the Church, that his conscience is respected and not abused, it does not provide for his conviction and that no lie comes not obscure his relationship with God.
The Orthodox churches, most of them are members of the World Council of Churches , joined in 1961. They also maintain an ecumenical dialogue with the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion. They are however not willing to accept, even if a decision is passed by majority vote, to consider adopting the concepts and practices non-traditional (Chair of pasteurine during a joint celebration, the evolution of liturgical language , theological liberalism ) etc..
Differences with the Catholic Church
- The Orthodox Church allows the ordination of married men. It is customary for diocesan priests are married and if they are widowed, they can not remarry. Monks is living in Orthodox monasteries , is living in the world should, in turn, take a vow of sexual abstinence. The monks are ordained priests who are qualified hieromonks. Some priests, not monks can also make vows of celibacy, especially if they are not married at the time of their ordination.
- The Orthodox Church considers the Pope as the Patriarch of Rome , he has a place of primacy in the event of Ecumenical and not a place as head of the Church this place being that of Christ.
Conditions of a return of the Catholic Church to Orthodoxy or "That they all be one ..." (John 17:21)
The Schism of 1054 , led by Umberto Moyenmoutier has divided Christianity into Catholic Christians and Orthodox Christians. After separation, the Catholic Patriarchs of Rome introduced a series of reforms and strengthening their powers. Today, these reforms are so many natural obstacles to the reunification of the two Christian churches.
- The Donation of Constantine is considered by Constantinople (Orthodox Church) as a common false, what is now recognized by the Catholic Church. This condition is fulfilled today.
- Dropped Dictatus dad (for a single Orthodox Ecumenical Council may have such authority, and more generally, a rejection of papal infallibility ).
- Review of the Gregorian Reform , Eastern Christians see it as a form of authoritarianism and spiritual traditions gradual reversal. This reform requires among others the celibacy of priests.
- Organization in Rome VIII an Ecumenical Council to establish unity.
Despite the difficulties, the natural movement Ecumenism and especially enjoys close dialogue between the two Christian churches.
Saints
See list of saints of the Orthodox Church
See also
Internal Links
- Orthodox liturgical calendar
- Seven Councils of Churches
- Orthodoxy in Azerbaijan
- Orthodoxy
- Orthodox Theology
External Links
- Orthodox Theological Institute of St Sergius in Paris
- the Orthodox Church in Belgium on Wikinations.be
- Directory of Orthodox Internet
Bibliography
- John Meyendorff, The Orthodox Church yesterday and today, Seuil, Paris , 1995, ISBN 2-02-023537-4
- Timothy Ware, The Orthodox, the Church of the seven Councils, Descle de Brouwer, Paris , 1997, ISBN 2-220-04022-4 (2nd ed., 1st ed. in French in 1968)
| Autocephalous churches | |
| Autonomous Churches | |
| Independent churches noncanonical | |
| Note | |
| See also: two councils of churches - churches of three councils - the Eastern Catholic Churches | |
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