Well,Lately as I've been reading the history of the church and I keep coming back to a church I never really paid attention to this church,The only churches I paid attention to since I left the Jehovah witnesses was the Roman Catholic Church and her children the Protestant Church,Anglican Church and those calling themselves Baptist (Which I associated with and considered myself a member of until not so long ago),when I was reading Saint Irenaeus's Against Heresy and I see the importance of Apostolic succession.I also read about the "Thrones" of st.Peter,St.Paul,St.Mark etc. and I found that the Roman Catholic Church "Use" to be one with Eastern Orthodox Communion but it left the communion.So I became very interested in the "Eastern orthodox church" and I would like to know a few things
What is all the differences between the Eastern Orthodox church and the Roman Catholic Church?
Is the claim of apostolic succession valid?
I would appreciate any info you have on this topic on both a religious level and a secular level.Bias-Nessa is acceptable but please,Civil answers is what I beseech of you.
Research the Nicean Creed, it is how and when the Catholic church divided into the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox religions. The Catholic Church was centralized in Rome, and the Pope started to make unilateral decisions but at the time, he was just in charge of Rome and it's territories. Each territory under the Catholic Church had it's own archbishop, the Pope being one of them, and they were all equal in power but because the others were so far away, the Pope decided he was the only one in charge. So they met in Nicea, couldn't hammer out their differences, and the church split. This is an over simplification, but if you search that, you'll get the specifics.
Yes the Orthodox Church's claim of Apostolic successions is absolutely true. There are different churches within E. Orthodoxy, such as Greek, Coptic, Oriental, Russian,etc. To figure out the Apostle the sect you are interested in is succeeded from you have to look at the city in which they were founded. That is the key to finding the patriarch.
We (RC) feel they left us, not vice verse, (over doctrinal differences) however, the EO's certainly have the closest doctrine to RC's than any other sect of Christianity. We feel -coinciding- that we are both in the fullness of faith, mainly because we all celebrate, receive, and revere the Eucharist. That common doctrine very much unites us.
Some of the other doctrines we both adhere to are:
The Sacraments
The Veneration of Saints
The Sanctity of Life
The use of Sacramentals (such as Holy Water)
The necessity of fasting as a means to honor the Lord
The love of Jesus Christ's mother, Mary.
Some of the differences:
Orthodox priests may marry, as long as they do so by the time they graduate seminary. They can only marry once, even if their wife dies.
They give children certain Sacraments earlier than we do.
They have different doctrines concerning the soul (I personally prefer their doctrine on this matter) and the afterlife.
They are steadfastly more pious regarding fasting.
The RCC tends to do more outreach and charity work, whereas the EO's have an incredible and personal fellowship.
That's all I can think of right now, and I can't list all of our differences, but I hope that helps.
Good for you for researching church history! Not many people do, so it always delights me to see this. You will find Eastern Orthodox Priests and the people to be quite welcoming, so you are more than certain to receive a warm welcome and a good discussion about their beliefs if you go to their church, or attend a service -- or simply -- call one of the priests!
The Eastern Orthodox Church is the communion of the original Churches founded by the Apostles themselves.
The Church of Rome (Roman Catholic Church), founded by St. Peter, WAS in communion with the Eastern Churches but they excommunicated each other in the year 1054.
The successor of Peter (Pope of Rome) was considered the "First Among Equals" (most senior bishop) but the Roman Catholic Church sees the Pope as holding an office senior (absolute authority) to that of other bishops, rather than merely being the most senior bishop. This claim was one of the main causes of the East-West Schism in the Christian church.
Orthodox churches do Not recognize the supremacy of the bishop of Rome (the Pope) over the patriarchs of the Orthodox churches.
You will find No statues in Orthodox Churches, only Icons, which are often referred to as "picture windows to Heaven".
Orthodox clergy may marry before ordination.
They reject the immaculate conception of Mary because of their rejection of the doctrine of original sin; however, they do affirm the perpetual virginity of Mary as well as her bodily assumption. They also give Mary the title "Mother of God" (Theotokos)
Actually you have it backwards, the Eastern Orthodox separated from the Roman Catholic Church back in 1054 Anno Domini known as the Great Schism. I came across an interesting book:
That They May Be One (History of the Church) Written by Charles W. Moore, presents historical background and arguments concerning restoration of Christian unity. It is extremely well written and except for expected differences, due to faith backgrounds, I highly endorse it as being informative to Catholics, Orthodox, and other Christian believers. NOTE: Colourization has been added.
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The Greek Heresy and Schism was commenced by Photius, who, though not a priest, took unjust possession of the See of Constantinople. This schism was consummated in A. D. 1054, by Michael Cerularius, who broke entirely away from the supremacy of the Popes, and established what is called the "Greek Church." The Greeks say that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father alone, instead of from the Father and the Son, as taught by the Catholic Church from the beginning. Photius was deposed and condemned at the Fourth Council of Constantinople, A. D. 870, under Pope Adrian II, and St. Ignatius was restored to his See.
In 869 AD there arose a sect w/n the church that wanted to require 'Infant Communion" a.k.a. infant baptism also the idea of sprinkling vs immersion came up. The 2 popes of the time got so angry they ex-communicated each other. Finally at the council in Constantinople there was a formal split. Rome became the center of the infant baptism group and Constantinople was the ones who choose to stay with the original teachings of the apostles.
Eastern Orthodox Church,What is it?
