Overview of Greek Orthodox religion?

The Eastern Orthodox faith, whether Greek, Russian, Romanian, or a number of other expressions, is one faith, one Church. Orthodoxy is often characterized as those Christians in communion with the Patriarch of Constantinople, rather than with the Pope of Rome.

The Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church were one Church for the first millennium of Christianity, so there are many similarities. Common to both are most of the points of the Nicene Creed (http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/cree...

* belief in the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit

* the divinity of Jesus Christ

* the Virgin Birth

* the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ

* the ascension of Christ into heaven

* the future return of Christ and the creation of his everlasting kingdom

* eternal life

Similar also are

* the structure of church governance (a hierarchy of of various ranks and responsibilities of bishops, a priesthood, and a diaconate)

* the change of communion bread and wine into the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ

* baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

* liturgical worship forms

* the major sacraments (baptism, marriage, ordination, confession, etc.)

* male-only clergy

* only celibates may become bishops

Beliefs have become different in some areas over the years. The chief differences, and those which precipitated the split between Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism, commonly called the Great Schism of 1054:

Orthodoxy believes

* the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father (Nicene Creed and John 15:26)

* the patriarchs of the various churches have no ruling bishop over them all, always having been organized by councils/synods of bishops

Roman Catholicism believes

* the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (an addition to the Creed)

* the Pope of Rome is the presiding bishop over all Christianity

Additional post-schism Catholic dogmas, required for Catholics to believe, but that have never been Orthodox dogmas:

* purgatory

* indulgences

* immaculate conception of Mary

* infallibility of the Pope

There are differences in practice that aren't quite dogma:

* It is normal for married men to become priests in the Orthodox Church

* Orthodox fasting practices are more severe

* Orthodoxy uses the Greek Septuagint for Old Testament, and the original Greek for New.

* The Orthodox use leavened bread in the consecration of communion

* Different holiday date calculations result from different calendars in use

More on Orthodox Christianity can be found here:

http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/introduction

I am a convert to the Orthodox Church. The proper term is Orthodox Christian or Orthodox Church

The first answer is how we are structured- in the Catholic Church the Pope is in charge.

He had final say over maters of faith, morals and practice and there is a doctrine that states under the right conditions he can speak infallibly. We don't use the filioque which is Latin for from the son which was added to the Creed.

In the Orthodox Church all Bishops are equal and sit on a governing body called a Synod.

there are several through out the world- and titles like Russian, Greek and what have you simply so which synod that particular Church belongs too. I normally go to an American Church which is part of the OCA.

In Eastern Europe- for example Greek Orthodox Churches are limited to Greece Russian are limited to parts of the former Soviet union- and so forth. In the US and western europe it is all jumbled up as priests and Bishops used to be sent from the old countries to serve a given community.

There are titles like Patriarch, Archbishop and Metropolitan that show seniority- and thus designate who leads a service or presides over the meetings of the Synod.

Next there are doctrinal differences- the Orthodox church denies the immaculate conception of Marry-

while we consider her to be the most pure woman to ever live- we don't believe in the immaculate conception due to our view of original sin. While the world is seperated from God and thus sick do to the first sin- there has never been a view that we were guilty of anything except our own willful actions.

As we view sin as a disease- and not simply breaking the law all sin is either voluntary- the things we choose to do or involuntary- every thing that is wrong with us we can't control.

We don't differentiate between venial and mortal sin- all sin is the same and can damage our relationship with Christ if ignored. An Eastern rite Catholic priest might say the eastern attitude is 32,000 pebbles will sink some one just as fast as a one ton boulder.

Next we do allow for devoce and remarriage- one can have two marriages after their first.

Allowing a marriage to break up and not to fix it is still considered a sin- so efforts must be taken.

In general abuse and adultery are the big ones.

Next- Eastern Christians ordain married men to the priesthood. We do have some celibate priests mainly monks all of out Bishops are monks.

We don't have different monastic orders one of the things that have happened with the Catholics over the years is that differnt orders have developed to perform differnt roles.

The Benedictines are the closest to an Eastern Monk who mainly live lives of succlusion in a monestary

while the Jesuits are teachers.

Next we don't have purgatory- the Orthodox view of our walk with God is Theosis which is a spiritual growth where we become more Christlike. While we do have to deal with our sins- all of our view points deal with theosis.

The Baha'i faith is an self sustaining international faith whose purpose is the unite the peoples of the international in one simple reason and one simple faith. based by skill of Baha'u'llah (Manifestation of God) meaning Glory of God interior the nineteenth century. all the Manifestations( Mohammed, Christ, Moses, etc.) come from one God,and are available for a particular time to help and instruction manual the ppl. this is termed modern Revelation. all of it starts off like a sprint seed, then it prospers right into a large flower. some simple concepts are team spirit in variety, peace in the international, faith and technological expertise ought to go hand in hand, equality between ladies and men, etc. "And be it typical that this nearness isn't based upon time or place. Nearness to God relies upon upon purity of the midsection and excitement of the spirit by the happy tidings of the dominion. evaluate how a organic, nicely-polished replicate totally reflects the effulgence of the sunlight, no count how distant the sunlight may well be. as quickly because of the fact the replicate is wiped sparkling  148  and purified, the sunlight will appear itself. The greater organic and sanctified the midsection of guy will become, the closer it attracts to God, and the sunshine of the sunlight of actuality is printed interior it. This easy gadgets hearts aglow with the fire of the affection of God, opens in them the doorways of expertise and unseals the divine mysteries so as that non secular discoveries are made a danger." (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of accepted Peace, p. 147) in case you have anymore questions, dont hesitate to touch me! Have a large day

Religious Psychoses