Hello, it would really help if you could answer these questions because I don't know anything about the orthodox church! The clearest and most direct answer gets ten points.
1)What are the main artefacts in the church + what are they used for?
2) How does worship take place? Is there a set format or not? Is there silent worship? Does prayer take place as a coHngregation or individually?
3)Is there a vicar/priest/minister who leads the service or does no-one lead the service?#
4)How many sacraments are there in the church? what are they?
Thank you for your help :)
2007-07-01 08:43:54 · 6 answers · asked by monigopoly 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The orthodox church in general...
2007-07-01 08:49:01 · update #1
I agree with God is Love. I used to be a Greek Orthodox. I'm still Greek by heritage but my eyes have been opened to the "TRUTH" which is only on Jesus Christ our Savior and reading His Holy Word. Everything else is an abomination to our God.
For starters, I never knew how much God loved me with so much detail. They never urged us to read the Bible. Actually they had told us noone can read the Bible without a priest interpreting it. They said there is no way man can understand it on his own besides a priest. The list goes on but I believe this is enough to be said.
Here is a Love Letter from God Almighty to you & me and all of us.
http://www.fathersloveletter.com/flltextenglish.html
2007-07-01 09:45:07 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
The following web site will provide you with the information and additional links that describe Orthodoxy.
http://www.troparia.com
The Orthodox Church has been with us since Pentecost and follows the practices and traditions set by the Apostles and the Church Fathers.
They don't have feel good revival services, or any of the other fun stuff that everyone looking for easy religion goes for these days. It's easy to fall for the line "believe and you are saved" and "we're all living saints". Unfortunately this has never been Christian Theology until recently, promoted by those with the agenda to grow their new found theology.
Regarding reading the bible and knowing everything you need to know please explain what people read in the first 3 centuries of Christianity before the Orthodox Church Compiled the Bible? What were people reading between the compilation of the Bible and the invention of the printing press? For over a thousand years people didn't have Bibles yet the Church existed. The delusion that you can find your salvation by self interpreting the Bible on your own comes from only one place. Which of course brings up the question of which translation of the Bible are you reading because I'm sure you are not reading it int he original Greek.
2007-07-01 20:37:18 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
!) Icons or holy pictures are th e most noticeable,especially on the screen in front before the altar which,among other things,has a cross on it. There are :hand cross for blessings,antidoron or blessed bread at the end of Divine Liturgy(Communion Service) and Gospel Book which the priest or deacon reads from antdthe priest blesses with and there are many more things like the chalice and vestments (which distinguish roles in the services and in the life of the Church)
2) Worship is very formal,congregational and there is a lot of singing and incense,crossing oneself and bowing,processions with the Gospel Book(Little Entrance) and the "elements' for Communion( Great Entrance)
3) The priest usually leads any service in a parish but there could be cantors,lectors ,choir and servers also.
)7 Baptism and Chrismation/Confirmation(done together),Holy Confession,Eucharist(Holy Communion),Matrimony( with crowning),Holy Unction( for the sick but for all Orthodox on Great and Holy Wednesday in Holy Week), Ordination to Deiaconate, Priesthood/Presbyterate and Episcopate(Bishop)
There are many other services like Orthros ,Vespers,Compline and Akathists
2007-07-01 16:02:37 · answer #3 · answered by James O 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Uh, WHICH orthodox church? There are several, including Greek and Ukrainian and DFutch, for starters - all vastly different.
2007-07-01 15:48:09 · answer #4 · answered by Brent Y 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I suggest visiting http://www.oca.org where your questions are answered as part of the FAQ - there's a FAQ section on the website.
2007-07-02 14:20:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is governed by tradition....you have to be one to know one.
2007-07-01 15:48:26 · answer #6 · answered by God is love. 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋