Can someone explain the Greek Orthadox religion to me?

Question

My mother has been married to my step-father for 9 years and they have two children together. On February 10, they are to be married through the Greek church so they can be god-parents' to my step-father's cousin's baby. While meeting with the priest, he asked if her kids were baptized and she said no. They have us set-up to be baptized right before their "wedding" which is right before the baptizm of the baby. I'm not Greek and the only connection I have to it is my step-father. I don't know anything about the Greek Orthadox religion and the information I find online is confusing. Can someone please help?!

Answer 1

I am a Greek Orthodox (I am not going to analyse why) and I live in Greece.
I want to answer just to say this: your parents have NO right to make you embrace a religion (either it is important or not to you or them), especially if it's only to become god-parents (so hypocritic). Defend your rights!
And you could always lie to the priest....
The Orthodox Church is quite conservative because it insists on the relationship of people with God and his divine presence in every aspect of their lives, but this applies mostly for the "very religious" people -most christians are far more liberated. Typically, a God parent should be an active member of the christian community (thus baptized) but I do not think this is that necessary: I have heard that Greek Orthodox churches in the U.S.A. are less strict. You could ask people offering service in other Greek Orthodox temples -they could advise you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Greece
http://www.anagnosis.gr/index.php?pageID=107&la=eng
http://www.myriobiblos.gr/liturgical_en.html
This would be what a being-baptized individual should say at a certain point of the ceremony (or the god-parent-to-be on behalf)
http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/fathers/symbol-of-faith.asp

Answer 2

You will be baptised In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is the same as it is in almost all Christian Churches. I am Roman Catholic. What I know about the Orthodox Church is that it has roots all the way back to the Apostles, just like our Church. I went to an Orthodox Mass once to see what it was like. It was obvious to me that their Church is a lot like the Catholic Church in its rituals. Their beliefs are the same basic beliefs of all Christians. If you read their Apostles Creed it will say everything that they believe. In Christianity there are many churches but the major differences in most are simply how they sing and dress. Both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches can actually claim that their congregations were originally founded by the Apostles themselves. The newer churches are break aways, offshoots, and copy cats, but are not necessarily a bad thing either. They also do not believe much differently from us. In the end we are all Christians and we just worship God differently but we are not worshipping a different God. The Orthodox Church has direct roots to the origins of Christianity and is therefore a totally legitimate Apostolic Church. In my opinion that makes the Orthodox Church a very good and credible Christian Church with established ancient teaching authority. You would be likely to gain a great deal of wisdom from studying and practicing that faith. Good luck and God Bless you

Answer 3

The Greek Orthodox Church is almost like Catholicism. But there are differences. Greek Orthodox can take communion in a Catholic mass but not the other way around (not sure why - another question). But they are basically very similar in many regards.

Best thing to do is visit one. They are very nice people and love showing people their churches. They have some of the most beautiful churches and icons. Icons are a big part of Greek Orthodoxy.

Answer 4

Can I ask you why you are converting to a religion that you know nothing about. Is this your choice or you just doing it so your mom can get married. Not a really good reason to convert is it? Its pretty selfish of your mom to ask you to do that anyway. The point is you were not baptised but the point is your not baptised in the religion you grew up in not this one. Now because of that your mom is asking you to just pick this one to make her new husband happy. Bad start to a new beginning. If the priest is demanding this then it only proves my point that church is a big bunch of hogwash. I can understand the baby but not you and your brothers/sisters. P.S. Have you ever seen a greek othodox baptism? Let's just say what I saw horrified me.

Answer 5

The Eastern Orthodox Church, of which Greek Orthodoxy is a major part, is a Christian body that views itself as the historical continuation of the original Christian community established by Jesus and the Twelve Apostles, preserving the traditions of the early church unchanged, accepting the canonicity of the first seven ecumenical councils held between the 4th and the 8th centuries, and maintaining the unbroken link between its clergy and the Apostles by means of Apostolic Succession.

Answer 6

Greek - has to do with the language that is spoken in the churches.

Orthodox - has to do with a sect (segment) of the Christian Religion.

A broader term is "Eastern Orthodoxy" ; there are Russian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Slovakian..... many different languages spoken in eastern orthodoxy, and it has been around for a very very long time. -nutshell history- This guy named Constantine wins a war and becomes the Emperor of Rome. His victory (legend) is caused by Jesus. Constantine makes Christianity the official religion of the Roman state. Several hundred years later there are two power centers of Christianity. Rome is one (The Roman Catholic Church) Constantinople is the other (Eastern Orthodoxy). Rome feels the "pope" is the supreme leader of all christians. Constantinople disagrees. They don't talk to each other for a long time and help each others' enemys in order to get rid of the other. Jesus ? love ? ...... oh well anyway....... .........what the religion believes.....

- - here is the basic stuff - - Eastern Orthodoxy believes in a supreme all knowing / loving being - Called God. God created mankind and gave him a perfect place to live (garden of eden), but mankind broke the one and only rule - - Tada ..... SIN.....(boo boo we say boooooo to sin !) so mankind is kicked out of the garden of eden. Sin is bad and causes a problem and man needs somebody to pay the penalty for sin .... Tada...... Jesus..... now jesus' mom was rather special she was before and after jesus always a virgin. She is so special that she can help answer prayers too, just like God. okydoky Jesus lives a sinless life, gives his life upon the cross (ie dead) and then comes back to life. Jesus goes back to heaven and gives mankind the holy spirit.

Now the fun part - - - Church leadership.... (oh well also in eastern orthodox there are these special paintings called 'icons' these are depictions of very good christians who became 'saints' and we can light candles to them and pray to them and such) ok.....Rome has a Pope.... Eastern Orthodox has the PATRIARCH ..... this guy is fun - each easter he goes into the spot where jesus rose from the dead with unlit candles & a couple hours later as a sign to the truth of the resurection God lights 'em and he comes out.... Fun 'eh ?!?!?!?. About the only other significant difference is that Eastern Orthodox priests can have wifes and have sex with them.

There are different rules and stuff handed down by church leaders for hundreds of years to where we are today & you have to get baptized so your mom and step dad can be godparents. Sunday is the day to go to church.Sometimes at services they put water and oil on babies, or do something special for those who have died (like a special prayer or special loaf of bread). At Communion each Sunday you get to have some wine with crackers in it, yummy yummy. Every few Sunday's is a very special event for feast days to celebrate some of the saints. Other Sundays we talk about issues surrounding the history and current events where this or that happened.

Since people are involved there is some good, some ok, some bad & yes some downright ugly.

Such is all religion and all of mankind.

Answer 7

Orthodoxy is Orthodoxy -- Greek, Russian, Romanian, Serbian are all the same, but come from different cultures.

Orthodoxy is basically Catholicism minus the Pope, with a more mystical orientation. Very conservative -- a 10th century Orthodox Christian would feel completely at home in a modern Orthodox church.

Answer 8

Rather than getting slanted views from people in this forum.....I think you would be better off reading the religious doctrines yourself and forming your own opinions. Ask the priest which reading materials are best for you to start out with.

Answer 9

The Greek Orthodox Church is the result of the Catholic Church separating out when the Bishop of Rome and the Bishop of (i think Constantinople) excommunicated each other. The Greek Orthodox became the wide spread religion of eastern Roman territories and the Catholic Church was the west.

______________________________-

bocasbeachbum has it backwards
(don't get mad and give me a thumbs down - I'm a student of Anthropology. Do your research LOL)

_________________________________-
I agree with kj

Answer 10

Similar to Catholic, but no immages (statues or paintings of God) allowed. Many fast days - about 100 per year. Many things described as a mystery that other denominations have elaborate explainations for. Tend to be against speculation: for example, you wouldn't say that the "end days are near." You're suposed to be ready always - not speculate and make a bunch of theories.