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Ephesians4_32 -> Greek Orthodox Thread (4/22/2008 3:05:07 PM)

Any thoughts?



earthless -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/22/2008 3:05:44 PM)

If I had to pick between the RCC or the GO - I would go Greek Orthodox. [:)]



Ephesians4_32 -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/22/2008 3:20:33 PM)

Well, I've studied a little of Roman Catholicism and turned from it when I saw people kissing statues. I can't stand the thought of kissing icons.



Lurker -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/22/2008 4:00:11 PM)

http://www.goarch.org is the official website of the Greek Orthodox Church in America.
I'd recommend you look into the theology behind icons and statues before condemning them. :)
As for me, I like the Greeks, but their chanting style is a bit too somber. I prefer the Russians and Ukranian stylings.



earthless -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/22/2008 4:04:04 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lurker

http://www.goarch.org is the official website of the Greek Orthodox Church in America.
I'd recommend you look into the theology behind icons and statues before condemning them. :)
As for me, I like the Greeks, but their chanting style is a bit too somber. I prefer the Russians and Ukranian stylings.


I believe she meant that about the RCC....



Cloak -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/22/2008 4:17:26 PM)

My favourite church. If we go back to the Bible and the early Christians, this IS what the church of biblical times looked like! [:)] My icon says it all.



john_mark -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/22/2008 4:22:26 PM)

having the desire to know more about the orthodox church i read the book light from the christian east. what i found was that there many points of agreement between my understanding of the bible and theirs. that has prompted me to look deeper and removed some of the mystry



Ephesians4_32 -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/23/2008 12:07:29 PM)

I'm sorry, Greek Orthodox members. I don't want to offend anyone, but I will never believe that the earliest Christians were kissing icons.



rcjames -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/23/2008 2:46:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ephesians4_32

I'm sorry, Greek Orthodox members. I don't want to offend anyone, but I will never believe that the earliest Christians were kissing icons.


It does seem strange that it was not reported in the New Testament, especially since the EOC contribute the earliest ICONS to Luke.

Thanks
RC



drmark -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/23/2008 3:16:36 PM)

The fascinating parallel between sanctification in the Wesleyan tradition and theosis in the Eastern Orthodox tradition have been discussed by historians in many scholarly articles. Here is one I found for those interested in doctrinal development:

THEOSIS AND SANCTIFICATION:JOHN WESLEY'S REFORMULATION OF A PATRISTIC DOCTRINE



ladyichigo -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/23/2008 3:36:39 PM)

How very very interesting that this thread has come up as I was just thinking about the EOC while I fell asleep last night!

I was thinking about it because right before I went home from work yesterday, I found out that my former youth pastor, who was an evangelical pastor for a charismatic protestant church had decided to join the EOC after leaving the pastoral ministry from a complete burn-out. I wanted to see if there was a thread regarding the Orthodox Church on CW, but didn't see it yesterday. Then this morning, here it was!

HERE is the link that I found on his blogsite.



Heavendweller -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/23/2008 5:10:11 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ladyichigo

How very very interesting that this thread has come up as I was just thinking about the EOC while I fell asleep last night!

Lady, how interesting. For the past week I've wanted to start a discussion on the Orthodox Church. Ephesians stole my thunder!

quote:

I was thinking about it because right before I went home from work yesterday, I found out that my former youth pastor, who was an evangelical pastor for a charismatic protestant church had decided to join the EOC after leaving the pastoral ministry from a complete burn-out. I wanted to see if there was a thread regarding the Orthodox Church on CW, but didn't see it yesterday. Then this morning, here it was!

I'm not at all surprised. I've read about a number of Evangelical Protestants that have become Orthodox. Increasingly, I am leaning in this direction.

I would consider myself a Catechuman, in the stages of learning about Orthodoxy. Each time that I study this faith tradition, my spirit wants to leap like a gazelle. I find it so refreshing. I can go to any Orthodox website, read Orthodox material, and actually get answers as to what they believe. It's not like going to 50 different websites and discovering that they disagree. I'm able to learn about the Orthodox teaching on the Deity of Christ, the Incarnation, the Trinity, Eschatology, the Church, Apostolic Succession, the angels, Satan, sin, Eucharist, Baptism, the Sacraments, etc. etc. And to my surprise, I have discovered that there is a unity of belief, a communion that is shared in the Christian Orthodox Church that has not changed. It is a faith that is universally held by all Orthodox.

This unity does not mean, however, that there won't be differences in which liturgy is used, whether or not there are pews in the church, head coverings for women, attire of the clergy, which calendar is preferred, etc. But these are not differences in doctrine, but rather tradition.

What has led me in this direction is disillusionment within Evangelical/fundamentalist Protestantism. The disunity, plethora of interpretations about every major Christian doctrine, the schisms, sects, and church split all have convinced be something has seriously gone awry.

I'm discovering there is a Church, mystical and visible, that has held to, protected, and believed in the Apostolic teaching since her conception. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."

Let's keep this discussion going. BTW, you can learn and chat about the Orthodox faith in the thread titled, "The New Testament Church and Apostolic Succession."

May God bless you on your journey of faith.

Heavendweller



Heavendweller -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/23/2008 5:18:16 PM)

Ephesians,
I just wanted to say that I read the article that was connected to your "icon" thread that was shut down. That article was not from an Orthodox website and misconstued the Orthodox faith. One could do the same with the Lutheran faith, or the Methodist faith or any other Protestant faith if they wanted to.

When I wanted to learn about the Roman Catholic Church, I went to Roman Catholic sites, read Roman Catholic books, read Papal Encyclicals, attended mass, had counsel from a priest, attended RCIA classes. IOW, I went to the proper sources. The same is true for the Orthodox faith. You need to learn about it from Orthodox sources, Orthodox people, and attend Divine Liturgy. And attending one or two times isn't enough. I am discovering, as someone on these forums has told me, that "Orthodoxy is a way of life."

God Bless you,

Heavendweller



Heavendweller -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/23/2008 5:20:11 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Cloak

My favourite church. If we go back to the Bible and the early Christians, this IS what the church of biblical times looked like! [:)] My icon says it all.

What faith tradition were you prior to being Orthodox? Or were you raised Orthodox?

HD



Heavendweller -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/23/2008 5:30:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ephesians4_32

I'm sorry, Greek Orthodox members. I don't want to offend anyone, but I will never believe that the earliest Christians were kissing icons.

Ephesians,
You may just be surprised to discover that the earliest Christians did not believe that The Lord's Supper and Baptism were ordinations and only symbolic. You may discover that the Early Church did not believe that the church universal is only mystical. You may discover that they did not hold to Once Saved Always Saved, a very popular teaching within Protestantism. You may discover that they believed it was necessary for a Christian to "endure to the end to be saved." It wasn't a done deal upon initial conversion.

There are many stark differences between the modern Evangelical Protestant Church and the Early Church. This has been such an eye-opener for me. Over the past several years I have discovered that Protestantism must neccessarily have schisms, splits and controversy due to its foundational principals.

Believe me, I never, ever would have chosen to go in this direction. I was rather content being an Evangelical Protestant.

God Bless you,

Heavendweller



Ephesians4_32 -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/24/2008 12:18:40 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Heavendweller

Ephesians,
I just wanted to say that I read the article that was connected to your "icon" thread that was shut down. That article was not from an Orthodox website and misconstued the Orthodox faith. One could do the same with the Lutheran faith, or the Methodist faith or any other Protestant faith if they wanted to.

When I wanted to learn about the Roman Catholic Church, I went to Roman Catholic sites, read Roman Catholic books, read Papal Encyclicals, attended mass, had counsel from a priest, attended RCIA classes. IOW, I went to the proper sources. The same is true for the Orthodox faith. You need to learn about it from Orthodox sources, Orthodox people, and attend Divine Liturgy. And attending one or two times isn't enough. I am discovering, as someone on these forums has told me, that "Orthodoxy is a way of life."

God Bless you,

Heavendweller


I normally do the same although it is not always advisable. If you want to learn about Mormonism, for example, I suggest learning from an ex-Mormon first before you are sucked in.

When I wanted to know about Catholicism, I went to a Catholic priest. Later I visited St. Peter's in the Vatican and other cathedrals in Italy. I believe I got the real picture. Now just because some information is at a non-Eastern Orthodox site, does not make it inaccurate information. Forgive me, but that sounds rather presumptuous.

I no longer remember the link I posted previously.

The Orthodox honor the saints through icons by kissing them. I'm sorry, folks, but I do not agree with this practice.



Ephesians4_32 -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/24/2008 12:20:07 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rcjames

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ephesians4_32

I'm sorry, Greek Orthodox members. I don't want to offend anyone, but I will never believe that the earliest Christians were kissing icons.


It does seem strange that it was not reported in the New Testament, especially since the EOC contribute the earliest ICONS to Luke.

Thanks
RC


Someone agrees with me! [:D]



mcleod -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/24/2008 9:47:26 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ephesians4_32

Why is there a skull and cross bones on this cross?

http://wb5gug.com/of%20Christ/cross01.gif


You got me there. Where did you get that picture?



Lurker -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/24/2008 10:54:18 AM)

It's the skull of the forefather, Adam. Legend says that Adam is buried beneath Golgotha. And Christ's blood dripped onto Adam's skull



rcjames -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/24/2008 11:01:28 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lurker

It's the skull of the forefather, Adam. Legend says that Adam is buried beneath Golgotha. And Christ's blood dripped onto Adam's skull


So folks just sit around and make up these "Legends" or do they use mind altering drugs to help?

Thanks
RC



Lurker -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/24/2008 11:28:38 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rcjames

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lurker

It's the skull of the forefather, Adam. Legend says that Adam is buried beneath Golgotha. And Christ's blood dripped onto Adam's skull


So folks just sit around and make up these "Legends" or do they use mind altering drugs to help?

Thanks
RC


Well, theologically it does kinda make sense. By Christ's death on the Life Giving Cross, the sin of Adam was made clean by the application of the Precious Blood of Our Lord.

Perhaps the legend grew around the teachings of how the stain of Adam's sin was cleansed through Christ's death on the cross.



Ephesians4_32 -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/24/2008 3:09:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mcleod

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ephesians4_32

Why is there a skull and cross bones on this cross?

http://wb5gug.com/of%20Christ/cross01.gif


You got me there. Where did you get that picture?


Why is there a skull and cross bones on this cross?

http://wb5gug.com/of%20Christ/cross01.gif

The site is called "St. John of Damascus Orthodox Mission."



Ephesians4_32 -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/24/2008 3:11:05 PM)

Here's another:

http://www.troparion.com/stnich/crucifix.jpg

Saint Nicholas Church, Hobart, IN



Ps103 -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/24/2008 3:53:46 PM)

Scroll up, Ephesians--your question was answered earlier.[;)]



drfuss -> RE: Greek Orthodox Thread (4/24/2008 6:12:40 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Heavendweller

You may just be surprised to discover that the earliest Christians did not believe that The Lord's Supper and Baptism were ordinations and only symbolic. You may discover that the Early Church did not believe that the church universal is only mystical. You may discover that they did not hold to Once Saved Always Saved, a very popular teaching within Protestantism. You may discover that they believed it was necessary for a Christian to "endure to the end to be saved." It wasn't a done deal upon initial conversion.

Heavendweller


drfuss: Not sure where you looked in Protestantism, but most protestant denominations do not believe in Once Saved, Always saved. However, the Baptists are very vocal about thier belief in it, so I can see why you could conclude that it is popular among Protestants.



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