I didn't mean it as a correction, Agriarian, rather as a clarification. You are absolutely right about the Orthodox Church relying on the Scriptures. Anything written by Elder Cleopa, for example, is full of biblical references; the same is found in Philokalia and even in ordinary homilies on Sundays.
It sort of goes without saying that the clergy, especially the monastics, would "know" the Bible — and by that it is understood by rote, from having read it countless numbers of times.
The simple Orthodox folk, the people of God, do not presume that they can just open the Bible and "understand" the depths of it, let alone teach it. What I wirte is what I believe at the moment, but I never presume it's the truth. Despite my objections, in the final anlysis I always defer to those who are supposed "know the Bible," and follow a paraphrased Taoist adage: Orthodoxy is the way it is even if I don't understand it. I go to my confessions, and experience faith through Divine Liturgy, leaving my opinions and (mis)conceptions behind.
It would seem to me that anyone with the slightest bit of spiritual interest could master the Scriptures themselves.
Especially now that we know so many of the priest and monks have been involved in homosexuality.
I mean, those aren't the people I would be trusting with my soul.
"Orthodoxy is the way it is even if I don't understand it."
How true.
"It sort of goes without saying that the clergy, especially the monastics, would "know" the Bible — and by that it is understood by rote, from having read it countless numbers of times."
Yes, it goes without saying for *us*, since we are familiar with examples of good Orthodox monasticism. But for those who are not familiar with the specifically Orthodox monastic tradition, this is often a surprise that the Scriptures are so central.