The Orthodox Church

By : Ms. Darlene TempeltonCatholic Central High School

Like the Catholic Church, the Orthodox Church traces it’s beginnings back to Christ and His Apostles.

The two churches split in 1054 primarily over the issue of the authority of the Pope.

Today there are between 230 – 300 million Orthodox Christians. Most live in Greece, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Russia.

Orthodox and Catholics share many of the same beliefs and practices:• 7 sacraments• Trinity• Nicene Creed• First seven ecumenical councils of the

Church • Veneration of saints and especially of

the Virgin Mary (often referred to as the Theotokos or “God-Bearer”)

SACRAMENTS IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH

Mysterion• “Mysteries” – the

Sacraments• Ways in which God

reaches out to humanity through normal material substances such as bread and water

• Orthodox do not limit the number

• There are 7 “Great Mysteries”

Baptism

• Usually infants• Full immersion

three times – in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

Chrismation• Confirmation• Chrism = holy oil• Normally performed

immediately after being baptized

• One may receive all the other sacraments after being confirmed

The Divine Liturgy• Most important

sacrament• Celebrated only

once a day• Lasts between 90

minutes & 3 hours• Congregants usually

stand or kneel• Usually in native

language of the church (Greek for Greek Orthodox)

Receiving Communion:• At every service• Becomes “body and

blood” of Christ• Bread is dipped into

wine and received from a golden spoon

• Must go to Confession, fast and pray before receiving

• Only Orthodox Christians may receive

Penance• Required to participate in penance before

planning on receiving communion• Before a priest or bishop designated as a

”Confessor”• Do not always receive a penance – if they

do it is something to help so you do not commit that sin again

• No “First Penance” – one receives it when one is ready to (no age requirement)

Unction

• Anointing of the sick

• For anyone who feels the need for physical or spiritual healing

Holy Orders• Includes bishops,

priests and deacons• Priests and deacons

may marry before ordination

• Only ordain men• Are discussing the

possibility of ordaining women to the diaconate

Marriage The bond of love between a husband

and wife is a foretaste of the love that will exist between us and God in heaven

The ceremony includes:

The Exchange of Rings• Takes place at the

door of the church• Priest blesses the

rings and they are placed on the bride and groom’s right hands

• After this, the entrance procession take place

The Crowning• The bride and

groom are crowned by the priest – they wear these for the rest of the ceremony

• Ceremony contains Scripture readings, prayers and blessings, sharing of a cup of wine

Dance of Isaiah• Dance of Isaiah –

the couple circles the altar three times

• The circle is a symbol of eternity and reminds the couple that marriage is forever

• There is no exchange of vows

AN ORTHODOX CHURCH

A typical Greek Orthodox church:

• Usually cruciform in shape

• Three sections:• Narthex• Nave• Sanctuary

Narthex • Entryway• Contain icons and

places for votive candles

• A place to pray and prepare oneself for entering into worship

Nave• The main worship

area• May contain pews

or kneelers – but many do not

• Bishop’s throne – found in all Orthodox churches

• Men & women are usually separated

Iconostasis• Also called “templon”• An icon screen• Separates the nave

from the sanctuary• Contains icons of

Jesus, John the Baptist, Mary and the church’s patron saint

• May contain other icons

• Three doors – middle door (“The Beautiful Gate”) is only for the priest

• Only the priest and deacon may enter the sanctuary on the other side of the iconostasis

• Much of the service takes place where the congregation cannot see what is happening

Sanctuary

• Contains the altar, a seven branched candleholder, and the Tabernacle

• The consecration of the Eucharist takes place here

On the back wall there is nearly always a painting of “Christ Pantocrator” – “Christ All-Powerful”

ICONS

• From the Greek word eikona, meaning “image”

• An icon is a painting of Jesus, Mary (The Theotokos) or a saint done in a very stylized form

Colors, symbols and the posture of the person all have symbolic meanings

Icons in a prayer corner of a home

ORGANIZATION

Patriarchs• Originally heads of

churches founded by the Apostles: Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, Rome

• Constantinople was added in the fifth century

• Others were added as missionaries spread the church into Eastern Europe

Patriarch Alexei of Moscow

• Today Patriarchs are the heads of the national churches

• The Patriarch of Constantinople is “First Among Equals”

• Patriarchs are equal in authority to one another

Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople

• Organization of the Orthodox Church is similar to that of the Catholic Church, with Metropolitans, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests and deacons

Monasticism• The earliest

monastic rules (Pachomius and Basil) were Orthodox

• Orthodox monasteries today still follow the Rule of St. Basil

St. Paul’s Monastery, Mt. AthosSeveral Medieval monasteries are located on this “holy mountain” in Greece

Areas where most Christians belong to the Orthodox Church: