Where is the word Christ in “Greek Orthodox????”
Where is it in “Roman Catholic?” And what was that stuff about “Franciscan” on the sign I mentioned?
So far as that obviously American sign for the Lutheran Church you posted, it means you did not address at all the fact that it’s called “Evangelische” in Germany.
Now....do you think that the church in Corinth to which Paul wrote his letter had a sign out front?
(And did it say “Roman Catholic” on it anyplace?)
Orthodox means Correct Worship or Correct Glorification (it’s translated from Pravoslav) the secular meaning comes after and inspired by that.
Are you conceding btw that Lutherans in America worship Luther over Christ?
i don’t think they had a sign bearing the name of their Elder.
Most Catholic and Orthodox parishes around the world simply say "St. So-and-so's Church" or "Church of the [Fill in the Event in the Life of Our Lord]"
It is unnecessary to label the Church further because every man of common sense knows that these are parishes of the universal Church, and that only heretics require detailed signs out front.
Now the Church is called Catholic because it is throughout the world from one end of the earth to the other. And since the word Church is applied to different things ... the Creed states for the sake of security the article, "And in One Holy Catholic Church"; that you may avoid their (the heretics') wretched services and ever remain in the Holy Catholic Church in which you were regenerated. And if you are staying in any city, do not ask simply where the Lord's house is (for the sects of the profane also attempt to call their own places houses of the Lord,), nor merely where the Church is, but where is the Catholic Church. (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechectical Sermons, AD 340)Under the apostles, you will say, no one was called Catholic. Granted! But, when, after the apostles, heresies had arisen and were attempting, under various names, to tear apart and divide the dove and the queen of God, did not the apostolic people require a special name to distinguish the unity of the people who were uncorrupted. ... Suppose this very day I entered a large city. When I had met Marcionites, Apollinarians, etc., who call themselves Christians, by what name should I know the congregation of my own people unless it were named Catholic? .... Christian is my name, but Catholic is my surname. The former gives me a name; the latter distinguishes me ... Wherefore our people, then named Catholic, are separated by this appellation from the heretical sects. (St. Pacian AD 370)
We must hold to the Christian religion and to communication in her Church which is Catholic, and which is called Catholic not only by her own members, but even by all her enemies. For, when heretics or the adherents of schisms talk about her, not among themselves but with strangers, willy-nilly [velint nolint] they call her nothing else but Catholic. For they will not be understood unless they distinguish her by this name which the whole world employs in her regard. (St. Augustine, The True Religion, 7.12, AD 390)
And at last, the very name of Catholic, which, not without reason, belongs to this Church alone, in the face of so many heretics, so much so that, although all heretics want to be called Catholic, when a stranger inquires where the Catholic Church meets, none of the heretics would dare to point out his own house or basilica. (St. Augustine, Against the Letter of Mani called `The Foundation', 4.5, AD 397)