We are members of the
“Mystical Body” Orthodoxy: general introduction In this doctrine, there is no time, no space, no future, no past, no death, no differences…all are interrelated. Holistic, united to all the Universe, yet are out of this Universe. Orthodoxy:
general introduction - According to Florovsky: ”Christianity is a liturgical religion. The Church is first of all a worshipping community. Worship comes first, doctrine and discipline second”. - Orthodoxy sees man above all else as a creature who is himself when glorifying God, finding his perfection in worship. - There is the emphasis upon divine beauty. And the peculiar gift of Orthodox peoples was this power of perceiving the beauty of the spiritual world, and expressing this celestial beauty in their worship. - The Worship of the Orthodox Church is communal and popular. - The icons which fill the Church serve as a point of meeting between Heaven and Earth. As such the prayers also are ritualistic trying to teach us through all of our senses. - However, like the Icons in our Church, our materialism is two-dimensional. The third dimension is God. Love God and do whatever you want to do. - Christ is the New Adam, Mary is the New Eve. We do not honor Mary and venerate her in isolation but because of her motherly relation to Christ. - Orthodox Church believes that after consecration the bread and wine become in very truth the Body & Blood of Christ: they are not mere symbols but the reality. - An Orthodox who becomes a member of Christ is admitted at once to the full privileges of such membership. Orthodox children are not only baptized in infancy, but confirmed in infancy, and given communion in infancy. - The sacraments are personal: they are the means whereby God’s grace is appropriated to every Christian individually. Some history,
and then… - Next to the Bible, it is the Seven Councils and Tradition that the Orthodox Church takes as its standard and guide in seeking solutions to the new problems which arise in every generation. - The Pope of Rome is the first bishop in the Church - but he is the first among equals. - The vestments that Orthodox bishops now wear are the vestments once worn by the Emperor in Church. Bishops were appointed by God to teach the faith, whereas the Emperor was the protector of Orthodoxy. - In Byzantine history Church and State were closely interdependent, but neither was subordinate to the other. - During the dark periods of persecution the Orthodox Tradition was substantially maintained unimpaired, due to the Holy Liturgy more than anything else. - The Great Schism of 1054 was the worst event in the history of the Church. Then the Crusaders brought not peace to this part of the world but a sword; and this sword was to sever Christendom. - The Orthodox Church
is the Church of the Fathers, Saints, Monks and Martyrs. - Orthodox have been scattered with God’s permission, so that they can announce to all peoples the Orthodox faith and prepare the world for the second coming of Christ. - And then, after a long dark period, a light appeared in the horizon reviving our “Hope”, as well as a more dedicated and educated Clergy. But, the individual remains overwhelmed by factors, like: - challenging issues in an open world –minorities problem -Middle East problem -economical crisis and work opportunities.
N.B: For more information about the Orthodox theology and tradition kindly refer to www.goarch.org
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