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: