Sabbath Day - Orthodox

[Union With Christ]

Normally, we go with the consensus of the Church, but if Abbott Tryphon's words edify you, then sabbath away, Hoss.

If you read my OP I noted that I was hearing different voices from the Orthodox on the issue. That is why I opened this thread to find out if the position of Abbott Tryphon is the traditional Orthodox position.

 

[Justin-H.S.]

it would be wonderful to find a Church to fellowship with that I am in agreement with.

There it is.

 

[Justin-H.S.]

If you read my OP I noted that I was hearing different voices from the Orthodox on the issue. That is why I opened this thread to find out if the position of Abbott Tryphon is the traditional Orthodox position.

Doesn't sound like there's a single position on the issue of "Keeping the sabbath" in the Jewish sense.

The Church usually "Christianizes" things and makes it Her own. That the Sabbath IS Christ must be one of those things. Just like the "Logos" was a pagan concept that the Church made Her own. The Logos IS Christ. Etc.

 

[Union With Christ]

Yes, we don't designate it to Saturday. We try to remember the sabbath everyday.

Yeah well as a sabbath keeper that is problem for me. Will the Priest be willing to welcome me into fellowship if he knows my sabbath beliefs?

 

[Union With Christ]

Doesn't sound like there's a single position on the issue of "Keeping the sabbath" in the Jewish sense.

So then the answer is that the Orthodox Church hasn’t defined it’s position on the issue?

 

[Justin-H.S.]

Yeah well as a sabbath keeper that is problem for me. Will the Priest be willing to welcome me into fellowship if he knows my sabbath beliefs?

Are you able to recite the Nicene Creed Orthodoxly? If so, then you're probably okay. Sabbath Keeping isn't a huge issue that I know of. I can ask my priest on Saturday.

 

[Union With Christ]

There it is.

What do you mean by this? Most people are searching for a Church that lines up with their doctrinal stance.

 

[Justin-H.S.]

So then the answer is that the Orthodox Church hasn’t defined it’s position on the issue?

Sabbath - Questions & Answers
The Sabbath Day
Sabbath in Christianity - Wikipedia
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy... | RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF ST.JOHN THE BAPTIST
The Orthodox View on Sabbath and Sunday - The Catalog of Good Deeds
etc etc etc

I don't know. I've never kept the sabbath in the Jewish sense because I was born a gentile. Maybe Jewish Orthodox still do?

 

[Justin-H.S.]

What do you mean by this? Most people are searching for a Church that lines up with their doctrinal stance.

Yeah, I know. That's a Protestant mindset and we're not Protestants.

 

[Union With Christ]

Are you able to recite the Nicene Creed Orthodoxly? If so, then you're probably okay. Sabbath Keeping isn't a huge issue that I know of. I can ask my priest on Saturday.

I do know the Nicene Creed but I do not have it memorized. I usually read it out of the hymnal on Sunday.

I did email my local Priest and we are still conversing. I am waiting for his response.

If you want to talk to your Priest about it that would be great.

 

[Union With Christ]

Yeah, I know. That's a Protestant mindset and we're not Protestants.

So you don’t wish to agree with your churches theology?

 

[Justin-H.S.]

So you don’t wish to agree with your churches theology?

Oh yes, I do. We conform ourselves to the Church. Protestants do the opposite. They shop churches until they find the one they agree with.

 

[Justin-H.S.]

I do know the Nicene Creed but I do not have it memorized. I usually read it out of the hymnal on Sunday.

If you do your prayers diligently, you'll have it memorized in no time. I'll try to remember to ask my priest on Saturday concerning the keeping of the sabbath.

 

[Lukaris]

I was in elementary school in the early 1970s & can remember when Sunday was rather different than it is now. Where I live in Pennsylvania, most stores were closed & more families ate Sunday dinner together. A sense of sabbath was kept on Sunday and where I grew up the plurality of Christians were Catholic, a slight majority of denomination Protestants, & a sizable Orthodox minority ( obviously 7th Day Adventist’s were distinct). It seemed to be a common Christian understanding of applying a concept of sabbath to the bigger picture of Sunday worship.

I also observed ( 1996 visit) probably the last remnant of Ireland’s once distinct Catholic identity & on Sunday almost everything was closed. Mass attendance was still strong ( even if declining ). Again, a sense of sabbath was observed on Sunday.

I tend to think in times & social conditions like those you would probably receive similar answers ( across the board) to your question. That it is fine to sabbath on Saturday but the general observance is in accordance to the Sunday worship.

I mean no criticism towards your inquiry etc. I just do not think Saturday sabbath is in most traditional Christian mindsets but it is perfectly fine. This is just a perspective on my part not a solid answer & sorry if it falls short.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I’ve heard this statement many times now and I understand that our sabbath rest is in Christ and that the sabbath points to him. But that still doesn’t answer the question at hand as to whether or not members of the Orthodox Church observe the sabbath.

unless that commemoration is what the true keeping of the Sabbath is.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Oh yes, I do. We conform ourselves to the Church. Protestants do the opposite. They shop churches until they find the one they agree with.

or break off and make their own.

 

[prodromos]

In regards to the Sabbath, the Papists and we share the same view, pretty much which is why I posted it.

Well, that I s not entirely true. They have diverged significantly from Orthodox theology regarding the Sabbath.

 

[Union With Christ]

We conform ourselves to the Church.

So blind allegiance then? What makes you so sure that you are in the church with correct theology?

 

[Union With Christ]

I was in elementary school in the early 1970s & can remember when Sunday was rather different than it is now. Where I live in Pennsylvania, most stores were closed & more families ate Sunday dinner together. A sense of sabbath was kept on Sunday and where I grew up the plurality of Christians were Catholic, a slight majority of denomination Protestants, & a sizable Orthodox minority ( obviously 7th Day Adventist’s were distinct). It seemed to be a common Christian understanding of applying a concept of sabbath to the bigger picture of Sunday worship.

I also observed ( 1996 visit) probably the last remnant of Ireland’s once distinct Catholic identity & on Sunday almost everything was closed. Mass attendance was still strong ( even if declining ). Again, a sense of sabbath was observed on Sunday.

I tend to think in times & social conditions like those you would probably receive similar answers ( across the board) to your question. That it is fine to sabbath on Saturday but the general observance is in accordance to the Sunday worship.

I mean no criticism towards your inquiry etc. I just do not think Saturday sabbath is in most traditional Christian mindsets but it is perfectly fine. This is just a perspective on my part not a solid answer & sorry if it falls short.

Thanks. I understand that there are a lot of churches that treat Sunday as the sabbath but I am not in agreement with that position. I do however think Sunday is a good day to worship and remember the resurrection of our Lord. Every day is actually a good day for worship.

 

[ArmyMatt]

So blind allegiance then? What makes you so sure that you are in the church with correct theology?

it's not blind all, we know because history supports Orthodoxy