34
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If both the Orthodox and Catholic Church affirm salvation by grace through faith, why did the Protestant Reformation happen?
Because the Catholic Church doesn't teach that we attain salvation only through the reception of God's grace by faith. That's why the Protestant teaching is called sola fide!
The Catholic Catechism ...
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23
votes
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Why does this Greek Orthodox monastery in Israel fly the English flag?
The red cross on a white background is the Cross of St George. St George is the patron saint of England and his flag is the flag of England.
(The Union Flag, which many outside the British Isles may ...
- 7,932
18
votes
According to Orthodox Christianity, did God die on the cross at Calvary?
From the Orthodox POV, the answer is unequivocally yes.
The Orthodox understand John 1:14 literally:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only ...
- 3,710
15
votes
What objective, foolproof method do Eastern Orthodox have for working out which side is correct in the case of a Schism?
In essence you are asking an epistemological question: How can one side "know" that it is correct in a theological debate? The question could just as well apply to any Christian body, let alone the ...
- 5,688
15
votes
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Did Catholic Church alter the Nicene creed?
First, to clarify: The Filioque refers to the Latin phrase "and the son," to describe the internal "economy" of the Trinity. It describes the Holy Spirit as proceeding from the ...
- 7,013
13
votes
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Who is this Saint?
It is almost certainly John Chrysostom. Compare your image with the middle figure of this icon of the Three Hierarchs
The middle figure is labeled Chrysostom. To the left of him is Basil the Great. ...
- 3,710
11
votes
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Was there a "cessation of church fathers" in Catholicism?
There isn't really a bright line distinction, but John of Damascus (died ~750) is often cited as the last one. For example, Catholic.com:
the death of St. John Damascene [cir. A.D. 750] is generally ...
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10
votes
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It Still Confuses Me: Who can receive Communion where (Catholic/Orthodox)?
The Catholic Church permits the Orthodox to receive the Eucharist in a Catholic service, but cautions them to observe their own disciplines. For example, OSCCB offers:
Members of the Orthodox ...
- 3,710
10
votes
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On what bases do Eastern-Orthodox reject total depravity?
This answer summarizes portions of the argument against total depravity presented by Alexander J. Renault in his book entitled "Reconsidering TULIP".
Eastern Orthodox Christians agree that sin has ...
- 7,084
9
votes
Accepted
What version of the bible do Greek speaking Christians use?
The language has certainly changed. As such, translations into modern Greek are used.
Today's Greek Bible is often used, and translations by the Hellenic Bible Society have the Blessing and Approval ...
- 7,084
9
votes
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From the perspective of Roman Catholicism, what do Orthodox churches have to do to become "Eastern Catholic Churches"?
The Vatican II document which talks about the Eastern Churches is Orientalium Ecclesiarium. In it, the Conciliar Fathers turn their attention to these Churches and their Orthodox counterparts.
In ...
- 2,795
9
votes
Can Patron Saints be "dethroned"?
Patron saints are not, in general, centrally designated by the Vatican. (St Thomas More is a notable exception. He was declared patron saint of statesmen and politicians by the motu proprio E Sancti ...
- 18.6k
9
votes
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Do the Catholics consider Orthodox Christians heretics?
No. Perhaps the best statement of the current Roman Catholic position on the schism can be found in Unitatis Redintegratio from Vatican II. Essentially, the Roman Catholic Church holds that the ...
- 189
9
votes
Why didn't Protestants unite with the Orthodox against Papal primacy after the Reformation?
Because the Eastern Orthodox churches didn't want it.
For example, Martin Luther did correspond with Patriach Jeremiah II of Constantinople on the Augsburg Confession, see the Desire for Unity section ...
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8
votes
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What is the distinction between Justification and Salvation? (Orthodox/Greek/Eastern View)
Salvation (σωτηρία)
Like non-Orthodox, Orthodox believe that salvation culminates in the attainment of eternal life in God. The path to this attainment in the Orthodox view, is one of purification ...
- 5,688
8
votes
Do heterodox have a guardian angel as well? (Eastern Orthodox perspective)
Of course. God does not have one oekonomia for Orthodox Christians and another for non-Orthodox.
The Orthodox doctrine of guardian angels is witnessed in the Old Testament as well as in the ...
- 5,688
8
votes
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Does the Orthodox Church accept the Athanasian Creed?
For the Orthodox, there is precisely one Creed: the Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed.
That being said, it depends on what you mean by 'accept'. The theology of Quicunque Vult / (Pseudo-)Athanasian ...
- 3,710
8
votes
Accepted
Does the Russian Orthodox Church recognize Adolf Hitler as a Saint?
Does the Russian Orthodox Church recognize Adolf Hitler as a Saint?
The short answer is no.
There is no liturgical celebration for the above said person known infamously as Adolf Hitler in the Russian ...
- 74.5k
8
votes
Accepted
What is the Catholic view of the Book of Enoch?
What is the history behind the Book of Enoch and what is the Catholic view of the Book of Enoch?
As far as the Catholic Church is concerned the Book of Enoch is listed amongst the the Apocrypha.
Book ...
- 74.5k
7
votes
What does 'ages of ages' mean, specifically?
Aion/ Aeon
A closer-to-original-form translation of unto ages of ages is "into [the] aeons of [the] aeons," from Greek eis tous aionas ton aionon, occurring regularly as part of an ovation formula in ...
- 400
7
votes
Is it appropriate (as a Catholic) to make the sign of the cross when passing an Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox or Church of the East church?
Is it appropriate for a Catholic to make the sign of the cross when passing an Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox or Church of the East church?
Of course it is!
It is also a tradition for some ...
- 74.5k
7
votes
Identifying a Saint on a Greek Orthodox icon?
The Greek lettering is (in modern script) Ό Άγιος Παΐσιος ὁ Ἁγιορείτης — Saint Paisios of Mount Athos.
Wikipedia has an article on him.
He was born Arsenios Eznepidis (1924–1994), was a well-known ...
- 14.2k
7
votes
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What is the origin of the Orthodox belief that Sts. Joseph and Mary were betrothed but not married?
To understand the difference in position, we need to understand Jewish marriage customs at the time of Mary and Joseph, and the ambiguity it already carries by considering betrothal as legally married ...
- 496
7
votes
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How is the date of Easter set on the Orthodox calendar?
The Orthodox Churches continue to use the Julian Calendar with the result the equinox is assumed to be 13 days later than it really is. March 21 Julian is April 3 in the Gregorian Calendar commonly ...
- 7,932
7
votes
Accepted
Can protestant churches join the Eastern Orthodox Church?
This has only happened on one occasion. If you read the Book "Becoming Orthodox" It tells the story of a group of Campus Crusade for Christ ministers who formed their own denomination after ...
- 897
7
votes
Are there any Saints that have miraculously overcome death (should have died, but did not)?
Yes, St. Polycarp (A.D. 69-155).
The early Church Father St. Polycarp. He was put in fire, yet he did not burn. We read in The Martyrdom of Polycarp:
This, then, was carried into effect with ...
- 2,039
7
votes
Accepted
What is the spiritual significance of a patron saint?
What is the spiritual significance of a patron saint?
The spiritual significance of having a patron saint is quite simple. We have a saint in heaven to, as one can say, have as a heavenly friend that ...
- 74.5k
7
votes
Accepted
What is the Eastern Orthodox view of tradition and its authority?
In its early centuries Eastern Orthodoxy based tradition on the authority of bishops, based on the principle of apostolic succession. Tradition is rooted in dogma, again based on the teaching ...
- 7,013
7
votes
How does your denomination refute the various claims that God is a liar?
Non-denominational Evangelical here.
The lying spirit of 1 Kings 22 is sent into the mouths of prophets who have no desire to utter the truth into the ears of a king (Ahab) who has no desire to hear ...
- 21.1k
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