Questions tagged [eastern-orthodox]
Doctrine, practice, saints and other topics around Eastern Orthodox (Greek, Russian etc.) Church.
431
questions
-1
votes
0
answers
64
views
Can individuals in Western societies, amid the distractions of modern life, attain theosis and access spiritual gifts according to Eastern Orthodoxy?
According to Eastern Orthodoxy, are the concepts of theosis and spiritual gifts privileges that only saintly monks practicing ascetic lifestyles can attain, or is there hope for individuals in Western ...
- 1,698
2
votes
2
answers
121
views
Which denominations consider it commendable to pursue a profound mystical connection with God?
If an individual earnestly hungers for deep spirituality, including a desire for attaining a profound degree of sanctification and consecration, but also for a profound, mystical, supernatural ...
- 1,698
0
votes
1
answer
42
views
Is the bread really Jesus body - Transubstantiation? [closed]
I've heard a million complex arguments about this for both sides - but here is my take on it.
There are only 3 possible things in this situation.
The bread truly becomes Jesus' body.
The bread does ...
- 1
1
vote
2
answers
61
views
Mudras in Orthodox icons? [duplicate]
Why is it common in many Orthodox icons that Jesus Christ and the saints are represented making mudras?
For example:
Christ the Pantocrator icon by Jovan the Zograf
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
27
views
St. Anselm in Eastern Orthodoxy
Is Anselm of Canterbury venerated by the Eastern Orthodox Church, or is he accepted as a saint only by the West?
Similarly, is his Satisfaction model of the atonement accepted at large within the EOC (...
- 21
2
votes
2
answers
121
views
How did the Catholic Church choose which Sacred Tradition is infallible?
How did the Catholic Church choose which Sacred Tradition is infallible when there are conflicting traditions, such as the Filioque controversy, especially considering that both the Catholic and ...
- 990
3
votes
3
answers
154
views
Can There Be valid Apostolic Succession in multiple Churches?
Can there be valid Apostolic Succession in multiple churches, such as Orthodox, Anglican, Church of the East, and Coptic Church? If so, how do Catholic church reconcile this with it's belief in being ...
- 990
-2
votes
1
answer
116
views
What are distinctive features of Eastern Orthodox spirituality?
I'm seeking insights into the distinctive features of Eastern Orthodox spirituality. For those familiar with this tradition, could you provide information on specific aspects that characterize the ...
- 1,698
4
votes
2
answers
164
views
Do Catholics Recognize Second Eastern Orthodox Marriages as Valid?
It is my understanding that the Eastern Orthodox can get married a second time after a separation when their first wife is still living. It is also my understanding that Catholics do not permit this ...
- 202
11
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Why does this Greek Orthodox monastery in Israel fly the English flag?
I was driving past the Monastery of the Cross in Jerusalem today and — well, I was driving, so I couldn't look too closely, but there appeared to be both a Greek and an English flag flying from it. A ...
- 851
2
votes
0
answers
55
views
Will a Greek Orthodox priest in America marry a couple who haven't civilly registered the marriage?
A senior citizen couple I know were married in a Greek Orthodox church ceremony without ever obtaining a marriage license. The priest agreed to do this. Is this allowed by the Church? I know several ...
- 21
0
votes
0
answers
29
views
What are the main philosophical differences as well as the main differences in general between Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy? [duplicate]
Again the titular question says everything that I want to ask. I’ve been able to understand to an extent the main differences between the Catholic and Protestant orientations and gather that Eastern ...
- 129
1
vote
0
answers
39
views
Question about the letters in the Mandylion Icon
I am trying to determine what language the letters around Christ's head in the Mandylion Icon are written in and what they are equivalent to in English.
I think in the Icon above, they are ancient ...
- 153
1
vote
2
answers
461
views
Did any Early Church Fathers believe that Mary was without sin? [duplicate]
The immaculate nature of Mary is a doctrine, that holds that the Virgin Mary was free of original sin from the moment of her conception and that she lived a holy and sinless life, but did any of the ...
2
votes
2
answers
55
views
Do any of the Church Fathers or any Orthodox theologian state that you should not call spiritual leaders “father” or “teacher?”
Did any of the Church Fathers or any other significant theologian in Eastern Orthodoxy state that we should not call spiritual leaders “father” or “teacher?”
- 21
3
votes
1
answer
202
views
Did any of the Church Fathers interpret Matthew 1:25 as not speaking in a sexual sense?
Protestants often used Matthew 1:25 as proof text that Mary did not remain a perpetual virginity after her marriage to Joseph, but did any of the Early Church Fathers interpret or understand this ...
-2
votes
1
answer
239
views
What was the real cause of the split between the Greek Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church?
Was the split caused by political, doctrinal, different canons, linguistic differences, or other?
And what was the name of the Church before the split, if there was any? Or were there many loosely ...
- 1,427
2
votes
2
answers
81
views
What is the rationale for Greek Orthodox's erection of a wall between the congregates and the altar?
Other Christian religions (e.g. Lutheran, Catholic, Baptist, et al.) leave access to the altar open for their congregations. Is there a special theological reason the the different approach by the ...
- 1,427
-1
votes
1
answer
62
views
How does not the communion of the Saints invalidate the need for the bodily ressurection?
Since the saints are said to be in the grave, if someone has answered that their spirits are in communion with Christ and interceding, then there would be no importance of the resurrection of bodies. ...
- 11
3
votes
2
answers
197
views
Did any of the Early Church Fathers use the Orthodox canon?
The Orthodox Church believed and affirm that there was not a set canon during the church, thus is why they have an unmodified canon. But the Orthodox church has a much more larger canon than both the ...
user60738
0
votes
0
answers
111
views
What is the biblical basis for Mary being the ark of the new covenant?
Both Orthodox and Catholic Christians believe and affirm that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the ark of the new covenant, but is there a scriptural basis for this and if so where do we see this in the Old ...
user60738
2
votes
0
answers
74
views
Why did Orthodox Christians alter the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom to pray for "Orthodox" Christians?
I'm a Catholic who also attends Eastern Orthodox services, mainly Greek. One of the most bizarre differences between Catholics and Orthodox is that the Orthodox service regularly reminds everyone ...
- 121
1
vote
1
answer
43
views
On the Canonization of St. Poeman the Great and the Origin of His Epithet?
Often quoted in the "Sayings or the Desert Fathers," St. Poeman is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as some of the Eastern Orthodox churches.
QUESTION: Was St. Poeman ever ...
user60376
1
vote
1
answer
69
views
Is the authorship of the New Testament Sacred Tradition in the Catholic and Orthodox churches?
For example, is the tradition that the Gospel of Matthew was "written according to Matthew" considered an infallible Sacred Tradition in the Catholic or Orthodox churches?
- 327
1
vote
0
answers
31
views
Orthodoxy: Does baptism grant dispensations from vows previously made as a protestant?
The title is pretty self explanatory. I have made some vows during psychotic episodes from when I was an emotionally charged and immature protestant many years ago. I was recently just now received ...
-2
votes
5
answers
215
views
Why do Christians care so much about what you believe?
Being irreligious I find some arguments in Christianity utterly ridiculous. Like the question of Jesus's nature (miaphysite vs monophysite vs etc.). Why do believers care so much about such ...
- 121
2
votes
1
answer
106
views
Seeking full text of St. John Chrysostom's homily "On the Cemetery's Name and the Cross"
I became aware of a homily by St. John Chrysostom entitled "On the Cemetery's Name and the Cross" from a blog post by John Sanidopoulos. In the post, Sanidopoulos indicates that this sermon &...
- 7,035
3
votes
0
answers
72
views
What is the earliest reference of the seven sacraments in the Orthodox Church?
In the Roman-Catholic Church, the earliest writings that explicitly mention the seven sacraments come from Peter Lombard’s “Setences”.
I am curious what are the earliest reference in Eastern-Orthodoxy ...
- 1,853
0
votes
0
answers
21
views
Did the early church bow down to and venerate images/statues? [duplicate]
Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe in the veneration of images and states and bow down to them in order to show them veneration, but did the Early Church Fathers believe in venerating images and ...
user60738
1
vote
4
answers
264
views
Does Presbuteros mean priest? [duplicate]
According to Catholic and Orthodox apologists, priests in the New Testament are called "elders" and to defend this, they say that the Greek word Presbuteros means priests, but is this true?
user60738
1
vote
1
answer
94
views
How are the definitions of Ecumenical Council divinely inspired?
Catholics, Orthodox, and other denominations hold that the definitions produced by accepted ecumenical councils are protected from error by the Holy Spirit.
What is the manner of this inspiration? ...
- 327
1
vote
0
answers
74
views
What arguments do Catholics and Orthodox Christians use against Matthew 1:25 disproving the perpetual virginity of Mary? [duplicate]
Both Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe that the blessed Virgin Mary remained a virgin not only until she had given birth to the Lord but for her entire life, but most Protestants use Matthew 1:...
user60738
1
vote
1
answer
83
views
Did the Early Church Fathers believe in exorcisms?
Both Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians believe in exorcism (ie the religious or spiritual practice of evicting demons, jinns, or other malevolent spiritual entities from a person), but did the ...
user60738
0
votes
1
answer
387
views
Did the early church condemn getting tattoos?
Getting a tattoo is very clearly condemned in the bible (Leviticus 19:28) but did the Early Church Fathers condemn getting tattoos?
user60738
1
vote
2
answers
686
views
Did the Early Church Fathers believe in praying for the dead?
Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe that praying for the dead is not only deeply rooted in the scriptures but also the apostolic church (ie the church fathers), but did any of the Early ...
user60738
0
votes
1
answer
110
views
From a Roman Catholic or Orthodox perspective, what is the biblical basis for the priesthood?
Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians believe in a priesthood, i.e. office of the ministers of religion, who have been commissioned ordained with the Holy orders of the Orthodox or Catholic church; ...
user60738
-2
votes
2
answers
862
views
In what language were the four Gospels and Paul's writings originally written?
I'm an Orthodox Christian and the tradition we believe says that Matthew and John (the Gospel writers) are the same as Matthew and John (two of the original 12 apostles). I know that scholars say that ...
- 323
0
votes
1
answer
79
views
From the perspective of the theology of the Eastern Orthodox Church, how should Christians react to a political leader who fights the Antichrist?
Suppose the Antichrist has arrived, and there is a political leader who tries to destroy him, while knowing that he is the Antichrist.
I heard an opinion that such a political leader should be ...
- 101
1
vote
1
answer
93
views
Is the Orthodox canon right? [closed]
I am considering becoming an Orthodox Christian but what is really stagnating me from joining the Orthodox Church is their canon: Orthodox Christians have a much larger canon than both Protestants and ...
user60738
1
vote
0
answers
53
views
Are any Christians outside of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches *not* considered to be heretics by the Catholic Church?
This question regarding whether the Catholic Church considers the Assyrian Church of the East to be heretics made me wonder: are any Christians outside the Catholic and Orthodox churches not ...
- 6,568
4
votes
1
answer
84
views
What does Augustine mean by the "hymns and psalms" which were introduced into the liturgy?
I am puzzling over a passage in Augustine's Confessions, where he speaks of himself and his mother in the Church at Milan:
We were still cold, untouched by the warmth of your Spirit, but were
excited ...
- 669
1
vote
0
answers
60
views
What is the Roman Catholic Church's position on the Eastern Orthodox Church?
What is the official Roman Catholic position on the Eastern (Greek) Orthodox Church? Obviously, there was a mutual anathema/ex-communication declared between them a long time ago - has it been updated ...
3
votes
3
answers
187
views
How do non-Catholics understand Catholics' fulfillment of the Great Commission?
One argument in favor of Catholicism that I see as particularly convincing is that Catholics have done the best job of fulfilling the great commission. This is born out in the fact that Catholics have ...
- 4,737
4
votes
1
answer
543
views
What is the Eastern Orthodox view of tradition and its authority?
Within the broad tradition of Eastern Orthodoxy, how is tradition viewed? Is it authoritative? If so, what parts? What about when Church fathers contradict each other in teaching? Which church father ...
- 4,737
6
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Did Catholic Church alter the Nicene creed?
When was the Filioque clause added to the creed and what is the reason for that? Did the eastern fathers believe in the filioque?
- 990
7
votes
1
answer
386
views
What is the spiritual significance of a patron saint?
What is the spiritual or heavenly significance of saint having a patronage or being patron saint with regards to something like a place, person or profession?
Is it just a recognition of the fact that ...
- 1,901
2
votes
1
answer
218
views
Why, according to the Catholic Church, does the Filioque not violate the Council of Ephesus?
On OrthodoxWiki it says that the filioque violates the Canons of the Council of Ephesus, because it's an addition to the Nicene Creed.
The Catholic Encyclopedia says "[But] that creed itself ...
user54757
1
vote
0
answers
80
views
According to Eastern Orthodoxy, can "co-parents-in-law" marry?
Same question as here but for Eastern Orthodox. I don't see how a married couple's becoming step-siblings is any different from step-siblings' become a married couple.
Suppose Alice and Bob are widows ...
- 360
3
votes
1
answer
162
views
Catholicism - Is the TULIP Formula more or less true? (Semantics)
Catholic convert here. It is of my understanding that the differences between the Calvinist and Catholic predestination theology is mostly a game of semantics, and I was curious to see other opinions ...
2
votes
0
answers
215
views
Why does the Orthodox Church have a larger canon than Catholics or Protestants?
There's obviously a despite between Roman Catholics and Protestantism on which constitutes the canon with Roman Catholics having the Deuterocanonical's as scripture (ie one and two Maccabees), but the ...
user51922