Orthodox Church

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Orthodox Church, also termed the ‘Eastern’, ‘Greek’, or ‘Greco-Russian Church’. A family of Churches, mostly situated mainly in E. Europe; each Church is independent in its internal administration, but all share the same faith and are in communion with each other, acknowledging the honorary primacy of the Patr. of Constantinople (or Oecumenical Patriarch).

What is known as ‘the Orthodox Church’ developed historically from the Church of the Byzantine Empire. It became limited on its E. side by the Monophysite and Nestorian schisms of the 5th–6th cents. (The Oriental Orthodox Churches also claim the title ‘Orthodox’.) From the 9th cent. there was increasing tension between Rome and Constantinople, leading to the final breach which is conventionally dated in 1054; it was in fact a gradual process. The main doctrinal points at issue were the Papal claims and the Filioque. Bounded on the E. and W., the Orthodox Church expanded to the North. A missionary advance was inaugurated in the 9th cent. by Sts Cyril and Methodius. Bulgaria, Serbia, and subsequently Russia were converted to the Christian faith largely through the efforts of Byzantine missionaries. Since the fall of Constantinople to the Turks (1453), the Church of Russia has been the largest and most influential member of the Orthodox communion. For over five centuries Orthodoxy suffered persecution, first under the Ottomon Empire and then under Communism, but with the collapse of the Communist power c.1988, a new era of expansion began in Russia and the rest of E. Europe. Largely through immigration after 1920, Orthodoxy has been taken to the United States of America, W. Europe, Australia, and Africa.

The faith of the Orthodox Church is based primarily on the dogmatic definitions of the seven Oecumenical Councils. Certain local Councils have also exercised a decisive influence on Orthodox doctrine, especially those of Constantinople in 1341 and 1351, which endorsed the teaching of Hesychasm concerning the Divine light; and the Councils of Jassy (1642) and Jerusalem (1672), which clarified Orthodox teaching on the Eucharist and the nature of Church. Orthodox acknowledge the seven sacraments, or ‘mysteries’ as they are termed, though no rigid distinction is drawn between them and other sacramental actions such as burial of the dead. Baptism is by immersion; chrismation (confirmation) is administered by the priest immediately after Baptism, and children are taken to Communion from infancy. In principle services are in the language of the people, but in many places an archaic form is used. The veneration of icons plays an important part in Orthodox worship, both private and public. Intercession for the departed is emphasized in Orthodox spirituality, but the doctrine of purgatory, as developed in RCism, is not accepted. Monasteries have been influential throughout Orthodox history; the chief monastic centre is Mount Athos. Bishops are drawn from the celibate clergy; parish priests are generally married, but must be so before becoming deacons. Most Orthodox Churches are now represented on the World Council of Churches; in recent years they have begun to develop friendly links with the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

Orthodox Church. Major grouping of Christian churches, constituting, by full communion with each other, a single Church. The Orthodox Church claims direct descent from the Church of the apostles and of the seven ecumenical councils. The name ‘Eastern Orthodox’ (to be distinguished from ‘Oriental Orthodox’) arose from accidents of history and geography which led to a separation from ‘the West’; but Orthodoxy has in fact spread throughout the world.

The Orthodox Church comprises a number of autocephalous bodies in communion with one another: the ancient patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, and the Orthodox Churches of Russia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Cyprus, and Albania. In addition, there are autonomous churches (whose primate is under the aegis of one of the autocephalous churches) in Finland, Crete, Japan, and China, and missions yet to become autonomous in Korea and Africa. The oecumenical patriarch of Constantinople has a primacy of honour, but no universal jurisdiction to correspond to that of the pope.

The Orthodox Church traces its history back to the missionary work of Paul, and itself became missionary, achieving notably the conversion of the Slavs through the ‘apostles of the Slavs’, Cyril and Methodius. Russia became a Christian kingdom under St Vladimir in 988.

There was a progressive estrangement between Rome and Constantinople, partly on account of divergent liturgical usages and also because of the claims of the Roman papacy. There was a temporary schism under patriarch Photius, then a final one under Michael Cerularius in 1054. Attempts at reunion, notably at the Council of Florence (1439), have been ineffective.

After the fall of Constantinople (1453), the Church came under Muslim rule.

Orthodox doctrine proceeds from the Bible, the formulae of the seven ecumenical councils, and broadly from the writings of the Greek fathers. Many doctrines of more recent definition in the W., e.g. the nature of sacraments and the Immaculate Conception, are not laid down. On the other hand, constant and exclusive appeal to ancient authorities makes Orthodox theology inherently conservative.

The Orthodox liturgy (eucharist) is longer than the Western, and typically celebrated with greater ceremonial. Baptism is by immersion, and is followed by chrismation (see CHRISM). Icons are an essential part of the furnishing of a church building, and in houses are a focus of private prayers.

Parish priests are usually married, but may not marry after their ordination as deacon. Bishops, however, are always celibate, and therefore do not come from the parish clergy but from the ranks of monks. Besides providing bishops, monasticism has also provided the intellectual and spiritual centre of Orthodoxy, specifically in modern times at Mount Athos, but many theologians today are laypeople.

orthodox church. The eastern orthodox church dating from earliest Christian times has its centre at Constantinople (Istanbul), the residence of the ecumenical patriarch, who has primacy of honour over much of the ‘intricate tapestry’ of the Christian East, including the Greeks, Serbs, Bulgars, Georgians, and Russians. In 1995 there were c.190 million adherents world-wide. The earlier rupture with Syriac monophysite churches was followed by the break with Rome and the West (1054), which the crusades intensified. Orthodoxy has always been closely associated with temporal power. Priests are usually married, though bishops are always celibate. Icons are central to devotion, but at the heart of orthodox life is the mystery of the liturgy with its chanting and ceremonial in icon-lined churches—an experience of ‘heaven on earth’. Orthodoxy's greatest contribution to the West has been its mystical writings, ranging from 7th-cent. Symeon the New Theologian to the 18th-cent. Philokalia, and its practice of silent, contemplative prayer. British contacts with orthodoxy began with 16th-cent. merchants and Peter the Great's visit to England (1698). Since the 1950s orthodoxy has flourished in England with c.287,000 members (1995).

Revd Dr William M. Marshall

Orthodox Church The Eastern or Greek Church, having the Patriarch of Constantinople as its head, and the national Churches of Russia, Romania, etc. in communion with it. Separation from the Western Church came in the 4th century, originally through cultural and political factors, focused from the 5th century onwards on differences of doctrine and ritual, and took formal effect in 1054 when the Pope and the Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated each other. In the latter part of the 20th century the Orthodox Churches have taken an active part in the ecumenical movement; the mutual excommunication of 1054 was abolished in 1965.

orthodox church the eastern orthodox church dating from earliest Christian times has its centre at Constantinople (Istanbul), the residence of the ecumenical patriarch, who has primacy of honour over much of the ‘intricate tapestry’ of the Christian East, including the Greeks, Serbs, Bulgars, Georgians, and Russians. In 1995 there were c.190 million adherents world‐wide. British contacts with orthodoxy began with 16th‐cent. merchants and Peter the Great's visit to England (1698). Since the 1950s orthodoxy has flourished in England with c.287,000 members (1995).

Or·tho·dox Church a Christian church or federation of churches originating in the Greek-speaking church of the Byzantine Empire, not accepting the authority of the pope, and using ancient forms of service.