The Unity of the Orthodox Church

orthodox america ^ | Priest Andrew Phillips

[The_Reader_David]

Thanks for posting that! If I had a scanner (that worked well--I have one, but half the time it doesn't work at all, and the half it does, the OCR software doesn't do a good job) I might take to posting articles.

Thank you!

[IGNATIUS]

Useful info for my Protestant and RC friends confused because we remain Greek,Russian,ROCA,Serbian,Antiochian, OCA,etc.

Although I'm OCA,visits to other ethnic churches are always spiritually uplifting(one also makes many friends plus new food and cultural experiences).

Sharing the same Liturgy and Our Lord's Body and Blood makes one truly welcome anywhere in the Orthodox world.

[MarMema]

ping for understanding of Orthodox church

[don-o]

Here's hoping for a good discussion.

Good article to post.

[Catholicguy]

Who is the head of the Orthodox Church? This is a question often asked, especially by Roman Catholics. No doubt they expect to find in the Orthodox Church an equivalent to the papacy. For Orthodox, however, the very existence of a visible head of the Roman Catholic Church indicates that, whatever its merits, the Roman Catholic Church is structurally a secular insti-tution. Visible heads are the symbols of secular corporations, companies or governments. Orthodox would argue that, ultimately, the Pope is the descendent of the pagan Roman Emperors: historically, when the Imperial Power disappeared from Rome, its authority and prestige were transferred, mainly by the Carolingians and their descendents, to the Papacy. In Roman Catholic ideology the Pope of Rome has been known as the "Vicar of Christ" ever since the Hildebrandine Reform of the late eleventh century. (Until that time, he had been known in Orthodox fashion as "the Vicar of St. Peter".) And since according to the "filioque" the Holy Spirit proceeds from Christ as from the Father, so the Holy Spirit must proceed from the "Vicar of Christ," i.e., the Pope. Is this not precisely the affirmation of the dogma of papal infallibility?

<> Has it ever occured to you that the Orthodox imitate Protestants in how they structure their arguements? Nearly all the arguements begin with rejection and criticism of Rome. That is far more revealatory than you folks ever imagine<>

[pegleg]

Here's hoping for a good discussion.

Interesting post. I notice there is no mention of the keys. What is the Orthodox position on this?

[Catholicguy]

Who is the head of the Orthodox Church? This is a question often asked, especially by Roman Catholics. No doubt they expect to find in the Orthodox Church an equivalent to the papacy. For Orthodox, however, the very existence of a visible head of the Roman Catholic Church indicates that, whatever its merits, the Roman Catholic Church is structurally a secular insti-tution. Visible heads are the symbols of secular corporations, companies or governments. Orthodox would argue that, ultimately, the Pope is the descendent of the pagan Roman Emperors: historically, when the Imperial Power disappeared from Rome, its authority and prestige were transferred, mainly by the Carolingians and their descendents, to the Papacy. In Roman Catholic ideology the Pope of Rome has been known as the "Vicar of Christ" ever since the Hildebrandine Reform of the late eleventh century. (Until that time, he had been known in Orthodox fashion as "the Vicar of St. Peter".) And since according to the "filioque" the Holy Spirit proceeds from Christ as from the Father, so the Holy Spirit must proceed from the "Vicar of Christ," i.e., the Pope. Is this not precisely the affirmation of the dogma of papal infallibility?

<> Has it ever occured to you that the Orthodox imitate Protestants in how they structure their arguements? Nearly all the arguements begin with rejection and criticism of Rome. That is far more revealatory than you folks ever imagine<>

[Catholicguy]

<> sorry, I didn't mean to post the same thing twice<>

[malakhi]

Ping!

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

What does it reveal, in your opinion?

Becky

[malakhi]

Mornin' Becky. Where ya been? :o)

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good Mornin to you too:)

I've been lurking a bit. But the weather is nice here again and I have been taking advantage of it. But I am moving slow this morning. Yesterday I had to get up at 4:00 in the morning to get my daughter to the airport. Then came home and rode fo 4 hours, then went to church. I was in bed at 9:00. I wouldn't be up now except for Susie:)

Jenny is in Calf. Her first plane ride. She went to a managers conference. She is 22 but it was very hard to leave her at the airport. You know unless you are a passenger you can't get any farther then the metal detectors. Luckily she will be coming home on Fri, before any thing could happen in Iraq. Isn't it sad the amount of things you have to worry about these days.

Sorry for the ramble, I was just sitting here worrying about her:)

Becky

[malakhi]

Isn't it sad the amount of things you have to worry about these days.

I agree. With all of the news stories about terrorism, war, biological weapons etc., I worry about the sort of world my children must live in. Occasionally an article is posted on FR about the possibility of a biological attack using smallpox. It is horrifying to contemplate.

Sorry for the ramble, I was just sitting here worrying about her:)

Quite all right. It is good to hear from you again.

[RnMomof7]

I have been worried about you guys glad to see your post girl! Say hi to Mack fer me

[RnMomof7]

Who is the head of the Orthodox Church? This is a question often asked, especially by Roman Catholics

I HOPE it is Jesus the chief cornerstone that the builders rejected

Hi mar have not seen you lately either

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

No need to worry, but thanks anyway. The weather turned nice here, so that tells you where I have been, and Mack has decided that he was spending way too much time here and is trying to get his office work caught up and freep in moderation:). But we have been lurking.

Becky

[RnMomof7]

Blessings to you both..beautiful day here today high 50's-60..Great yellow leaves on the trees and ground and a clear blue sky..awesome gift of a day

[don-o]

Has it ever occured to you that the Orthodox imitate Protestants in how they structure their arguements? Nearly all the arguements begin with rejection and criticism of Rome. That is far more revealatory than you folks ever imagine

The reason for that is because of the almost universal ignorance of what Orthodoxy is. Most folks think that Orthodoxy is just the form of Roman Catholicism that is practiced is certain foreign lands.

[katnip]

Great yellow leaves on the trees and ground and a clear blue sky..awesome gift of a day

It is gorgeous day here in Downstate also. The reds and oranges are breathtaking.

It is extra glorious for me, and I have to thank Jesus for his mercy.

My husbands Oncologist called this morning. After these 2 months of Chemotherapy, they can find no trace of Lymphoma on his most recent bodyscans!

Thanks to God!