"Orthodox" Christianity

[countrymousenc]

Thanks ChoirDir and Matrona.

If Hubby didn't object, I'd be glad to drive the 45 minutes every week. He drives about 50 minutes to work 5 days, so I suppose that's one reason he objects. And then, he just hasn't yet felt the tug that I do, and really doesn't see what makes one church much different from another. So, it doesn't make sense to him. Do be praying!

 

[orthedoxy]

Christ Jesus is in our midst!

I am perplexed and a little annoyed how the word "orthodox" is being tossed around in the PRE forum to describe Calvinistic, Anabaptist-influenced "fundamentalist Christianity" whereas even other types of Protestantism are being labeled heretical with no reaction by the moderators on the PRE boards!

Who is to decide what IS and IS NOT "orthodox" in Protestantism? Everyone claims the Bible as their supreme authority and the Holy Spirit as their guide.

The very fact they keep using the word "orthodox" is why I am posting this here, and I wonder how any of you react.

God bless!
TIM

Dear Tim
Some Protestants call themselves Calvinists yet they believe in limited atonement, they call themselves Lutherans yet they don't believe in baptismal regeneration or infant baptism, they condemn Luther’s writings regarding Jews but they call themselves Lutherans.
It's not a surprise to me that Protestants call themselves Orthodox.

 

[countrymousenc]

Dear Tim
Some Protestants call themselves Calvinists yet they believe in limited atonement, they call themselves Lutherans yet they don't believe in baptismal regeneration or infant baptism, they condemn Luther’s writings regarding Jews but they call themselves Lutherans.
It's not a surprise to me that Protestants call themselves Orthodox.

There is no standard of Protestant orthodoxy. It's either every denomination for itself, or every person for himself. Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Hus, Wesley, Wycliffe - they would barely recognize us any longer. We stand up and recite the Apostle's Creed every Sunday, but most of our pastors can't accurately teach or present the doctrine of Trinity. It really is time to row back to the Mother Ship; the lifeboats are wearing out.

 

[Polycarp1]

Without going into a vituperative spiel about what I think of them, do not be deceived by the "Orthodox Anglicans" -- far from subscribing to Orthodoxy as it is taught here and in your churches, they are schismatics who are angry with our Episcopal Church bishops, and arrogating the title to denounce our supposed heresies.

As I understood it, "Orthodox" means "having right doctrine" and was adopted after Chalcedon to describe the national churches who held firm to what we'd describe today as the joint Catholic/E.O. agreement on the trinity and the dual nature of Christ defined at the first four General Councils. The Eastern Orthodox, so I'm given to understand, are the eastern churches distinct from Catholicism who are orthodox in this regard. Most Orthodox also engage in orthopraxis -- the "right practice" of celebrating the Divine Liturgy as you do, the honoring of ikons, and such.

Peace!

 

[Patristic]

I can sympathize with those who drive a pretty big distance to attend the Divine Liturgy. I have to drive an hour each way to attend the nearest Orthodox Church, but lately that has been increasingly difficult. The weather here in my area has been horrible, cold, icy with lots of snow, so that doesn't make for ideal driving conditions. Especially in the morning when the roads aren't really plowed. Because of all the weather obstructions I haven't been able to attend Church regularly and it's been a struggle. I pray that God will open a parish in my hometown or allow me to go to a city with Orthodox Churches when I return to school.

 

[MariaRegina]

At my university, there are three Orthodox Churches within 15 minutes of the college -- Greek, Antiochian and OCA -- one is only 5 minutes away.

Location, Location, Location

 

[Matrona]

At my university, there are three Orthodox Churches within 15 minutes of the college -- Greek, Antiochian and OCA -- one is only 5 minutes away.

Same thing for me. Actually, the Greek church is now just down the street from me--the Greek church is at 1931 Sumter Street and I live at 500 Sumter Street (Just in case there are any killers out there, you can't find me with that address alone... it's me and about five hundred other people living here and you'd have to get through security first... plus, my mailing address is different ).

It is several blocks and a very long walk that would go through a somewhat rough area of the city, but it is still cool to know I live down the street from an Orthodox church!

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

At my university, there are three Orthodox Churches within 15 minutes of the college -- Greek, Antiochian and OCA -- one is only 5 minutes away.

Location, Location, Location

I so want to go to a OCA Church one day. What are they like?

 

[ChoirDir]

I so want to go to a OCA Church one day. What are they like?

Most OCA churches are Pan-Orthodox. The services are usually entirely in English. Most of the music is taken from the Slavic composers, although depending on the makeup of the parish it is not unusual to hear Byzantine Chant or Arabic Chant.
They follow the St Sava Typikon, which is true of the Slavic Churches compared to the Antiochians, Greeks, who follow the Great Typikon.

 

[Orthodox Andrew]

Most OCA churches are Pan-Orthodox. The services are usually entirely in English. Most of the music is taken from the Slavic composers, although depending on the makeup of the parish it is not unusual to hear Byzantine Chant or Arabic Chant.
They follow the St Sava Typikon, which is true of the Slavic Churches compared to the Antiochians, Greeks, who follow the Great Typikon.

Sounds like a pretty good mix they put together. Thanks for the info.

 

[countrymousenc]

At my university, there are three Orthodox Churches within 15 minutes of the college -- Greek, Antiochian and OCA -- one is only 5 minutes away.

Location, Location, Location

Thou shalt not provoke envy!

 

[Patristic]

There was a Greek Orthodox Church not more than a five minute walk away from the campus where I went for my undergraduate studies. The priest actually visited my History of Christianity class to discuss Orthodoxy with the class. It was neat because our professor, who was a Catholic priest, actually invited him to speak to the class. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to attend the service at the nearby Church, but the that experience was my first introduction to Orthodoxy and I always vowed I would investigate. Thankfully, I carried through with that.

 

[Matthias]

Brain... hurts...