Bishops and Roles in the Church

The interconnecting lines represent paths of communication, not Hierarchal authority, for all the roles are equal in judgement, no single man can make changes with out consulting the rest of Orthodoxy. The head Patriarch is considered to be first amoung equals in honnor. the Bishops are divided by branch of Orthodoxy, country, and region of country.

The Seven Sacraments

Marriage: You can only get married in an eastern Orthodox Church if you want to be recognized as a married couple( ex. cant get married on a beach or in any outside setting).
Baptisum: sacrament in which you recieve the Holy Spirit and become an orthodox Christian. This is when you take Communion for the first time, and this service usually happens before you are one years old.
Holy Orders: Also known as Preisthood. You need to go to four years of college and Seminary school for 8 years. After you have completed the schooling you then become a decon, and later on you pass an examination to see if your ready to become a pPeist and if you pass, then you become a Preist.
Almsgiving: Your duty to helping the poor, doing good deads through the church.
Holy Unction: Service in which you are annointed with oil, said to heal you of any illness.
Confession: Sevice in which you go to the Preist and confess your sins. Preist is communicating to you through god by guiding you thorugh any problems you are expressing to him. After you confess your sina, they are completely forgotten and you are given a cean slate to start over.
The Eucharist: The Holy Eucharist, which is known as the Divine Liturgy, and is offen referred to as the "Sacrament of Sacraments", is the Church's celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Christ offered every Sunday and "Holy day". It is when you go up and drink the Blood of Christ and eat the Body of Christ. All the other Sacraments have a way of leading toward the Eucharist or coming off of the center meaning of the Eucharist. In other words, much of the church revolves around this sacrment.

Fast periods

Eastern Orthodox Christians observe several fast periods and days over the course of the year. Unlike the name sugests, on fasting dates, you only have to obstain from meat, fish, dairy products, olive oil, and wine. The only abstinence from food or drink is observed preceding Holy Communion. The feast periods Orthodox Christians observe are

The Great Fast (Lent)--beginning on a Monday 7 weeks before Easter.
Fast of the Apostles--varying in length from 1 to 6 weeks; it begins on a Monday, 8 days after Pentecost, and ends on June 28--the eve of the feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
Fast of the Repose of the Virgin Mary--August 1 to 14.
Christmas Fast--lasting 40 days, from November 15 to December 24.

In addition, Christians fast on several individual days, includeing the feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross (September 14), the Beheading of St. John the Baptist (August 29) as well as Wendsdays and Fridays
http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7070.asp

Holy Days

Holy Days are defined by the Church as "the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass. Moreover they are to abstain from those works and affairs which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body." In Eastern Orthodoxy, there are 12 Holy Days in the religious year and they are:

The Nativity of the Virgin Mary (September 8)
The Elevation of the Life-giving Cross (September 14)
The Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple (November 21)
Christmas (December 25)
Epiphany (January 6)
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (February 2)
The Annunciation (March 25)
Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter)
The Ascension (40 days after Easter)
Pentecost (50 days after Easter)
The Transfiguration (August 6)
The Repose of the Virgin Mary (August 15)

ARCHDIOCESE LOGO

ARCHDIOCESE LOGO

The Eastern Orthodox calendar

Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calender, which differs considerably from the Gregorian calendar used in the West. Despite efforts by Pope Gregory to convince the Orthodox church to use the Gregorian calendar, Eastern Orthodox Christians still rejected it because Easter would then coincide with Passover. Some Orthodox churches eventually switched to using the Gregorian calender, but the majority did not. The ecclesiastical year in the Orthodox church, starts on September 1. Orthodox Christians, for example, celebrate Christmas 13 days later than Western Christians on January 7. In the same way, Western Christians celebrate The Epiphany on January 6, and Eastern Orthodox Christians on January 19. The two calenders have some common ground though; for example, they both celebrate Christ's Resurrection on the same day. One unique thing is that the Julian Calender has what are called "movable" holy days. Movable holy days are determined by the date of Easter, and Easter itself is a movable holiday. For example, determining when the Easter holiday is involves using a complex mathematical formula. Easter Sunday should fall on the Sunday which follows the first full moon after the vernal equinox. If the full moon happens to fall on a Sunday, Easter is observed the following Sunday.
http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7070.asp

Holiday's

The "twelve great feasts," as they occur in chronological order after September 1, are as follows:

The Nativity of the Virgin Mary (September 8)
The Elevation of the Life-giving Cross (September 14)
The Presentation of the Virgin Mary in the Temple (November 21)
Christmas (December 25)
Epiphany (January 6)
The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (February 2)
The Annunciation (March 25)
Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter)
The Ascension (40 days after Easter)
Pentecost (50 days after Easter)
The Transfiguration (August 6)
The Repose of the Virgin Mary (August 15)

(http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7070.asp)

The Great Schism

The Great Schism of the 11th century divided what was simply understood as "Christianity" in the Byzantine Empire into two sects, Roman Catholisism and Eastern Orthodoxy. The Schism was a series of mostly minor disagreements between the two churches that forced the two to split. One major disagreement between the two religions was the insertion of the Filioque Clause in the Nicene Creed. The original clause said "We believe in the Holy Spirit ... who proceeds from the Father", while the ammended clause said "We believe in the Holy Spirit ... who proceeds from the Father and the Son", which was not accepted by Orthodox Christains. Other disputes between the two churches included which religion had juristiction over the Balkans, Southern Italy, and Sicily, weather the Pope was in higher standing than the other patriarchs, the use of unleavened bread for the Eucharist, and the seperation of church and government to name a few.
Partly because of the Filioque Clause , and partly because of the Roman Catholic Church's use of unleavened bread, Patriarch Michael Cerularius closed the Roman Catholic Churches that he had control over. In response to this, three delagates from the Roman Catholic Church went from Rome to Constantinople (the heart of the Eastern Orthodox Church) and in the middle of mass, placed a decleration of excommunication on the altar, which was understood as excommunication of the entire Greek (or Orthodox) church. After that, the two religions were indefinatley split, dispite numerous efforts to reconcile them.

Sources:
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761576891/Schism_Great.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East-West_Schism#Catalysts
http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Great_Schism

Icons

There are various purposes for icons in the process of Orthodox worshiping. One purpose is to enhance the beauty of the church it’s self. Together with the sweet smell of burning ensence, the sound of the ancient, holy chants and hymns, and the somber feeling of the service the icons are meant to create an atmosphere that takes over the senses and fills you with the Holy Spirit. The Icons are used as a tool for faithful to remember major events and periods in the church and also to remind us for all the sacrifices that were made for us and for our salvation. It is a common misconception that the Orthodox faith worships the Icons, this is not true for that would be idle worshiping, the icons are used almost like a gateway for our prayers and venerations.

Eastern Orthodox Holidays

Since Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Christianity came out of essentially the same religion, they have essentially the same holidays. The only difference is Orthodox Christians go by a different calendar than Western Christians, the Julian calendar, which is a week or so later than the calendar used by Western Christians. Here are a few religious holidays shared by Eastern and Western Christians:
Feast of the Immaculate Conception- Celebration of the belief that Mary, mother of Jesus, was without sin.
Christmas- Birth of Jesus
Ash Wednesday- Begins Lent, in preparation for Easter.
Good Friday- Marks Jesus’ crucifixion
Easter- Marks Jesus’ resurrection
Ascension Day- 40 days after Easter, marks Jesus’ ascension into heaven

Eastern vs. Western Orthodox

The Eastern Orthodox church and the Western Christian churches have different ideas of the Holy Spirit. Which was the reason that eventually caused the split from one religion into two, the Eastern and Western. The difference was very minor and more of a tidious techinical idea, but it was said to be the contributing factor to the Great Schism(when the Chirch of Christ split into Eastern orthodox and roman Catholosism). The Eastern Orthodox beliefes say that the Holy Spirit proceeds only from The Father, where the Western Christianity believes that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son.

The Canon Law

Canon Law

Although generally referred to as canon law, such a name given to the Church's law suggests a parallel to secular law. It would be more correct to call it the tradition of the holy canons, since they are the object of its concern. This law of the Church, her canonical tradition, is an outgrowth of the holy canons; and it appears on the surface to have much in common with secular law, involving persons invested with authority (bishops), as well as the means of creating, formulating, interpreting, executing, validating, amending and revoking laws (through synods or conciliar actions).

(http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7071.asp)

The creed

"We believe in one God. The Father Almighty. Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light; true God of true God; begotten not made; of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man. And He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose Kingdom shall have no end


The Creed was created in the first Ecumenical Council, it was created to have a true statement of the beliefs of Orthodoxy. The Creed is recited every liturgy of the sanctified gifts (service where holy communion is offered. Example: Sunday Divine Liturgy.

For more information visit http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8062.asp

Top 10 things to know about Eastern Orthodox

1. INTRODUCTION - Introduces the non Orthodox to Orthodox Christianity.
2. HOUSE OF GOD - Describes the interior of the church building.
3. WORSHIP - Discusses the form and characteristics of Orthodox worship.
4. LITURGY - Describes the meaning and celebration of the Eucharist.
5. SACRAMENTS - Describes the meaning and importance of liturgical life.
6. SPECIAL SERVICES AND BLESSINGS - Describes the non-sacramental services which contribute to spiritual life.
7. TEACHINGS - Outlines the salient points of doctrine and basic credal affirmations.
8. SPIRITUALITY - Discusses the meaning of theosis as the goal of Christian life.
9. HISTORY - Sketches the great epochs of Orthodoxy.
10. THE CHURCH - Outlines the procedure for becoming a member of the Orthodox Church

(http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article7102.asp)

Ecumenical councils

The ecumenical councils were a series of meetings of the heads of the orthodox faith to judge the basic and not so basic beliefs of the religion. There was a total of eight meetings spanning over 400 years, the first one was held 325 A.D in Asia Minor the last one was held in 787 A.D in Asia Minor.
During the time of the Ecumenical Councils their were saints known as the Defenders of Orthodoxy who fought for the beliefs of the orthodox religion. These saints are considered to be equal to the apostles which is one of the highest honors bestowed upon a saint.


(For more information on The Ecumenical Councils and defenders of the faith please visit link below)
http://www.goarch.org/en/ourfaith/articles/article8071.asp


By Dean T.

The History on Eastern Orthodox

THE TIME OF PERSECUTION
The earliest Church, which is described in the Epistles and the Acts of the Apostles, did not confine itself to the land of Judea. She took very seriously the command of Our Lord to go into the whole world and preach the Gospel.

THE TIME OF GROWTH
The beginning of the fourth century marked a new stage in the development of the Church. After centuries of vicious persecution at the direction of the Roman Emperors, an Emperor of Rome became a Christian. This was Constantine the Great, who in the year 313 granted Christians freedom of worship.

TIME OF STRUGGLE
In the year 1453, the City of Constantinople fell to the invading Muslims. With its capital, the Byzantine Empire came to an end; and the vast lands of Asia Minor fell subject to non-Christians. The great ecclesiastical cities of Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, which had come under the political control of Islam centuries earlier, were now joined by Constantinople. Throughout the Ottoman Empire, Christians came to be treated as second-class citizens who paid heavy taxes and wore distinctive dress. The life of the Orthodox Church in the Balkan and Asia Minor continued, but under much duress. Thousands of Christians suffered martyrdom.

Baptism

The holy sacrament of Batism is one of the most holy sacraments to the Eastern Orthodox religion. It is the sacrament in which a person(usually a child) is put into a faunt of holy water, which is designanted to clense the body and soul of all sin. Their whole body is dipped in three times, to resemble the Holy Trinity. It marks the ending of the past, of any sin, and the rebirth and resurection of christ in the person in the future.When the person is Baptised they are then united with the Holy Spirit. After the person is put in the faunt, they then recieve holy communion, partaking in the body and blood of Christ.