Does anyone know anything about the Greek Othodox faith?

Question

I am interested in the religion. I would like to know more about it. Does anyone have any answers for me? What do Greek Orthodoxers believe? What is the foundation of the faith? Is there a confession, like with Catholics? What about rosaries? Thanks!

Answer 1

That's a tall order!

BTW - I endorse everything that Tonks said above, including the book by Kalistos Ware. It is a very good introduction to Orthodox thought.

Orthodox Christianity is very distinct in its theology. The foundation of their faith is the first seven (some say nine) Ecumenical Councils of the Church. They have a confession - it is identical to that used by the Roman Catholics, except that it does not contain the part about the Holy Spirit coming from the Son. It has a form of the rosary known as a prayer rope, which is a cord of knots.

Orthodox Christianity maintains that sin is caused by mortality. Jesus died and rose from the dead, and through the sacraments were are united to the resurrection of Christ. This spiritual life gives us the power to overcome sin. Orthodox theology does not acknowledge original sin, does not maintain that the guilt of Adam passed on to his descendents, and does not maintain that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross. Salvation in Orthodoxy consists of the gradual process of overcoming temptation.

Orthodox Christians follow the ten commandments, and observe regular fasts and feasts. They place a high regard on the veneration of religious icons and the beauty of the Christian liturgy. They venerate the Virgin Mary as the First of the Redeemed, but they dot believe in the immaculate conception. Most believe that Mary died in Ephesus, and that her body was assumed into heaven.

Orthodox dotrine is based on Scripture (interpreted corporately within the context of sacred tradition), the writings of the Church Fathers, the liturgy, the decisions of the Church Councils, and the iconographic tradition.

Orthodox Churches practice closed communion. You must be Orthodox to approach the Eucharist.

Give me a few minutes and I will try to drum up some links for you.

http://orthodoxwiki.org/Main_Page
http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/
http://www.myriobiblos.gr/
http://www.romanity.org
http://www.orlapubs.com/AR/index.html

Answer 2

The Eastern Orthodox Church is composed of a variety of national churches that pretty much all follow the same teachings. The Orthodox Churches are the truest to the faith of any church. In the beginning of Christianity there was only one church. Then in 1054 the Western Church lead by the Bishop of Rome broke away from the rest of the Church. What was left called themself "Orthodox" which means right believe and right practice. And they are. I am an Episcopalian and where Rome and the Orthodox disagree on theology I follow the teaching of the Orthodox. I am not Orthodox myself because I am a liberated woman and don't agree with their views on the place of women in the church, which is even more conservative than Rome.

A good book to read about the teachings of the Orthodox Church is "The Orthodox Way" by Kallistos Ware.