What's the difference between Eastern Orthodoxy and Oriental Orthodoxy?

Question

I understand that the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox are not in communion with one another. The Oriental Orthodox reject the 6th Ecumenical Council and claim it contradicts the 3rd? Ecumenical Council most decisively. I am aware they also only accept the first 3 Ecumenical Councils and regard the 4th as heretical.

I am aware that the split was over Christology. The Eastern Orthodox accuse the Orientals as being Monophysite or Miaphysite. The Oriental Church accuses the Eastern Church of being Nestorian. Although the Eastern Orthodox refuse the title Nestorian, and the Orientals I have heard reject both the Miaphysite and Monophysite (and Eutychian(sp) ) titles.

So what do these Churches actually believe about the will(s) and nature(s) and person of Christ? Also, what seperates these Churches in theology so that they are not in communion with each other?

Finally, which of these Churches do you think holds closest to the understanding of the Apostles?

Contrary to what the Catholics say, the Orthodox Churches are both very opposed right now to merging with Rome. For these Churches to merge, Rome would have to give up the filioque, Papal Infallibility, their doctrine of Original Sin, their beliefs about how Mary is sinless, many of the things in scripture that they attribute to Mary Magdaline, their belief in the transubstantiation (of the Eucharist) (Orthodox believe communion remails 100% bread and 100% wine), and many other doctrines. While the Roman Catholic Church might allow Eastern Orthodox to commune in their Church, the Eastern Orthodox prohibits its parishoners from communing in the Roman Catholic Church. So, in response to what I've read so far, the Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church are not close to being in communion with each other.

As for the Oriental Orthodox Church, I know the Coptic Church and the Greek Churches are very close to being in full communion. However, many accuse E.P. Batholomeos(sp) and the Greek Patriarch of being too ecumenical. The monks on Mt. Athos I know have voiced their (negative) opinions of some of the ecumenism that is taking place in the Orthodox Church right now. I tend to trust the Elders of Mt. Athos more than anyone else in the Church (except Christ Himself).

I need to clarify what I said about communion (the Eucharist). It remains 100% bread and wine and 100% body and blood as the Orthodox understand it. We do not know when God makes it body and blood, we just trust that it is when we partake of it.

hossteacher,

You have gotten the Byzantine Catholics confused with the Oriental Orthodox.

There was a schism earlier than 1054 at the 4th ecumenical council. The schism was over Christology. The Oriental Orthodox accuse the Eastern Orthodox of being Nestorian in their views. The Eastern Orthodox accuse the Oriental Orthodox of being either Monophysite or Miaphysite in their views. The disagreement is over one half of one doctrine that might not actually be different, but worded differently, depending on the Church. These Churches are working on coming back into full communion with each other. Egypt, India, and the Syriac Orthodox Churches would be Oriental. Russian, Greek, and Antiochian Churches would be Eastern. Can anyone fill me in on the Christological differences (if they exist)?

Sandy,

Yes, we are all reading the same book. Ironically, all of us 'lead by the Spirit' in our private interpretations have arrived at all kinds of different doctrines. Thats why I go back to the Church that wrote the Scriptures and to the understanding of Christianity that the writers had when they wrote the Scriptures and that the Church had when it canonized the Scriptures.

Answer 1

It is a somewhat moot point. The Oriental Orthodox are seeking union with Rome as are the Eastern Orthodox. The conclusion of the various parties has been that linguistic differences and cultural meanings of words, as well as political issues resulted in the split. People were not understanding one another from their own point of view and were trying to translate delicate concepts in languages not well adapted to it. If the leadership does not muck it up worse than it is, I suspect the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox will merge into Catholicism and Catholicism into the two branches of Orthodoxy.

Answer 2

I suppose it was once the 'council of chalcedon' or the 'council of nicaea' - I overlook which. I consider japanese christianity relates to greek orthodoxy (adding what could come to be japanese europe), while oriental christianity relates to syriac, assyrian, armenian, georgian, and probably ethiopian). I overlook which institution north african and coptic belongs to (as a rule japanese). The main points are fuzzy since I learn the guide (under) a at the same time again, however it is whatever to that outcome.

Answer 3

Oriental Churches are Catholic and in union with the Pope in Rome. They form part of the Eastern Catholic Church. The Orthodox Churches broke away in the Great Schism.

Answer 4

Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't you people all reading the SAME book??? Schizmatism isn't holy.