34
votes
Accepted
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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24
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 ...
- 7,852
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 ...
- 3,650
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 ...
- 5,637
14
votes
Accepted
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 ...
- 5,365
13
votes
Accepted
What does 'ages of ages' mean, specifically?
The phrase comes from the Bible. It’s a fairly wooden translation of the Greek idiom εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Many English translations instead use “forever and ever” or something along those lines,...
- 4,322
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. ...
- 3,650
11
votes
Accepted
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 ...
- 3,650
10
votes
Accepted
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 ...
- 7,035
9
votes
Why doesn't the Orthodox church consider Saint Augustine Doctor and Father?
There is a certain amount of freedom within the various Christian Churches to employ or ascribe certain titles to particular saints or blessed in their own way (or traditions).
The title of Doctor ...
- 67.8k
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 ...
- 7,035
9
votes
Accepted
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 ...
- 18.5k
9
votes
Accepted
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
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 ...
- 5,637
8
votes
Accepted
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 ...
- 3,650
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 ...
- 67.8k
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 ...
- 67.8k
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 ...
- 378
7
votes
Accepted
How do Eastern Christians explain Jesus "sending" the Holy Spirit in John 15:26?
In reality, John 15:26 supports both the Eastern Orthodox and the (Western) Catholic positions, because (at least as far as the Catholic Church is concerned) both positions are valid and complementary....
- 13.2k
7
votes
Accepted
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 ...
- 5,637
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 ...
- 67.8k
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 ...
- 14.1k
7
votes
Accepted
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
Accepted
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 ...
- 7,852
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