To comply with ethical and moral standards in society, as well as to regulate relations between an individual and the state or the highest form of spirituality (Cosmic mind, God), world religions were created. With the passage of time, schisms occurred within every major religion. As a result of such a split, Orthodoxy was formed.
Orthodoxy and Christianity
Many people make the mistake of considering all Christians to be Orthodox. Christianity and Orthodoxy are not the same thing. How to distinguish between these two concepts? What is their essence? Now let's try to figure it out.
Christianity is a world religion that originated in the 1st century. BC e. waiting for the coming of the Savior. Its formation was influenced by the philosophical teachings of that time, Judaism (polytheism was replaced by one God) and endless military-political skirmishes. Orthodoxy is just one of the branches of Christianity that originated in the 1st millennium AD. in the Eastern Roman Empire and received its official status after the split of the common Christian church in 1054.
History of Christianity and Orthodoxy
The history of Orthodoxy (orthodoxy) began already in the 1st century AD. This was the so-called apostolic creed. After the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the apostles faithful to him began to preach the teachings to the masses, attracting new believers into their ranks.
In the 2nd-3rd centuries, orthodoxy actively opposed Gnosticism and Arianism. The former rejected the writings of the Old Testament and interpreted the New Testament in their own way. The second, led by Presbyter Arius, did not recognize the consubstantiality of the Son of God (Jesus), considering him an intermediary between God and people.
Seven Ecumenical Councils, convened with the support of Byzantine emperors from 325 to 879. The axioms established by the Councils regarding the nature of Christ and the Mother of God, as well as the approval of the Creed, helped form a new trend into a powerful Christian religion. Not only heretical concepts contributed to the development of Orthodoxy. The split of the Roman Empire into Western and Eastern influenced the formation of new trends in Christianity. The different political and social views of the two empires gave rise to a crack in the unified common Christian church. Gradually, it began to break up into Roman Catholic and Eastern Catholic (later Orthodox). The final split between Orthodoxy and Catholicism occurred in 1054, when the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Pope of Rome excommunicated each other from the church (anathema). The division of the common Christian church was completed in 1204, togetherwith the fall of Constantinople.
Russian land adopted Christianity in 988. Officially, there was no division into the Roman and Greek Orthodox churches, but due to the political and economic interests of Prince Vladimir, the Byzantine direction - Orthodoxy - was spread on the territory of Russia.
The essence and foundations of Orthodoxy
The basis of any religion is faith. Without it, the existence and development of divine teachings is impossible.
The essence of Orthodoxy lies in the Creed adopted at the Second Ecumenical Council. At the Fourth Ecumenical Council, the Nicene Creed (12 dogmas) was approved as an axiom, not subject to any change.
Orthodox believe in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Holy Trinity). God the Father is the creator of everything earthly and heavenly. The Son of God, incarnated from the Virgin Mary, is consubstantial and only begotten in relation to the Father. The Holy Spirit proceeds from God the Father through the Son and is revered no less than the Father and the Son. The Creed tells about the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, pointing to eternal life after death.
All Orthodox belong to one church. Baptism is an obligatory ritual. When it is performed, liberation from original sin occurs. It is obligatory to observe moral standards (commandments), which were transmitted by God through Moses and voiced by Jesus Christ. All "rules of conduct" are based on help, compassion, love and patience. Orthodoxy teaches to endure any hardships of life meekly, to accept them as the love of God and trials for sins, in order to then go to heaven.
Orthodoxy and Catholicism (main differences)
Catholicism and Orthodoxy have a number of differences. Catholicism is a branch of Christian doctrine that arose, like Orthodoxy, in the 1st century. AD in the Western Roman Empire. And Orthodoxy is a direction in Christianity that originated in the eastern Roman Empire. Here is a comparison table:
|
Orthodoxy |
Catholicism | |
| Relations with authorities | The Orthodox Church, for two millennia, was in cooperation with the secular authorities, then in its subordination, then in exile. | Giving the Pope both secular and religious powers. |
| Virgin Mary | The Mother of God is considered the bearer of original sin because her nature is human. | The dogma of the purity of the Virgin Mary (there is no original sin). |
| Holy Spirit | The Holy Spirit comes from the Father through the Son | The Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Son and the Father |
| Attitude towards a sinful soul after death | The soul makes "ordeals". Earthly life determines eternal life. | The existence of the Last Judgment and purgatory, where the purification of the soul takes place. |
| Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition | The Holy Scripture is part of the Holy Tradition | Equivalent. |
| Baptism | Triple immersion (or dousing) in water with communion and chrismation. | Sprinkling and dousing. All ordinances after 7 years. |
| Cross | 6-8-pointed cross with the image of God the conqueror, legs nailed with two nails. | 4-pointed cross with God-martyr, legs nailed with one nail. |
| Co-religionists | All brothers. | Everyone is unique. |
| Attitude towards rituals and sacraments | The Lord does it through the clergy. | Performed by a priest endowed with divine power. |
The question of reconciliation between churches is very often raised these days. But due to significant and minor differences (for example, Catholics and Orthodox cannot agree on the use of leavened or unleavened bread in the sacraments), reconciliation is constantly delayed. A reunion is out of the question anytime soon.
Relation of Orthodoxy to other religions
Orthodoxy is a direction that, having stood out from general Christianity as an independent religion, does not recognize other teachings, considering them false (heretical). There can be only one truly faithful religion. Orthodoxy is a direction in religion that does not lose popularity, but on the contrary,acquires. Nevertheless, in the modern world it quietly coexists in the neighborhood with other religions: Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Buddhism, Shinto and others.
Orthodoxy and Modernity
Our time has given the church freedom and support. Over the past 20 years, the number of believers, as well as those who identify themselves as Orthodox, has increased. At the same time, the moral spirituality that this religion implies, on the contrary, has fallen. A huge number of people perform rituals and attend church mechanically, that is, without faith.
The number of churches and parochial schools visited by believers has increased. The increase in external factors only partially affects the internal state of a person. The Metropolitan and other clergymen hope that after all, those who consciously accepted Orthodox Christianity will be able to develop spiritually.
