"Any sect that believes in Sola Scriptura believes in the equality of the believers."
So far as I know, all Christians believe in the basic equality of all believers. That doesn't mean that my interpretation of scripture is as good as the next guy's. In fact, my interpretation is worthless except as a part of The Church and in fulfillment of my role as a layperson in The Church. The equality of all believers is manifested in the availability to all of a definitive exposition of what we are to believe as members of The Church.
You have illustrated my point. I think it is less so in the EOC than the RCC, but the power of interpretation is only one example of how the patrone hierarchy of the prevailing culture affected both of your sects.
But, given your reverence for the scriptures, you know that since the scriptures, and the Church's interpretation of those scriptures are very different animals, that this idea went out the window with the invention of the printing press, if not earlier. We all know that the reach of the Bible has far outstripped the Church's ability to explain it to the people who have it. This situation continues to grow exponentially. Therefore, there is no equality at all in terms of all believers and the Church. There hasn't been in a long time, and probably never will be. This doesn't even count those who have only heard the word, without ever seeing a Bible. How is this explained?
I think you even told me once, in effect, that in Orthodoxy, the focus is not on evangelism. What are new believers to do if only armed with a Bible given by some Protestant missionary? :)