Similarities between Anglicanism and Orthodoxy?

[Mockingbird0]

1. What are the Similarities in Orthodox and Anglican style of worship and the differences?
2. What beliefs do both groups agree on and what ones do they disagree on?

Here is how I replied to a similar question over on the EO board.

Differences between Anglicanism and Orthodoxy:

1) Filioque. American Episcopalians still use the filioque in their creed, though it is being slowly phased out. Many of us who have studied the matter agree that while the doctrine is orthodox in some theological contexts, the emergency that was thought to require the word being inserted into the creed -- the danger of the Visigothic aristocracy of Spain lapsing into Arianism -- is long past.

2) Calendar. The EO follow the old Julian method to set the date of Easter. In other words, they say that the moon will be full on March 1st, 2013. Anglicans use the Gregorian method to set the date, so we hold that the moon will be full on February 25th, 2013. In about two weeks we well be able to see whose approximation is closer to the facts.

3) Scripture. Some Anglicans hold to St. Athanasius's nuanced view of the authority of the books commonly called Apocrypha. Others may hold a more "protestant" view, denying them any authority other than that of, say, the church fathers. In practice, however, our lectionary makes no clear distinction between Scripture and Apocrypha. We read from ben-Sira and Wisdom when appropriate.

4) Liturgy. The Episcopal Church's rite is basically the Western rite. However, there are important qualifications. Our anaphora has always been based on the rite of the 18th-century Scottish church, which had some Greek influences. These Eastern influences have become more numerous in recent years For example: (a) the adoption of the Phos hilaron in the Evensong rite, (b) the Trisagion in the Eucharistic rite, and (c) the adoption of an anaphora ("Prayer D") based on the Coptic anaphora of St. Basil.

5) Invocation of saints. The Episcopal Church's liturgy contains no instance in which the saints or angels are requested to "help" or "assist" or "fight for" us. Saints can, however, be asked to pray for us (just as we can ask any other fellow-Christian to pray for us) and saints and angels can be asked to praise God with us, as in, for example, Psalm 148.2 and in the canticle Benedicite. Some of us may go beyond this.

6) Baptism. We accept EO baptisms as true baptisms. Their priests sometimes despise our baptism as no baptism.

7) Leavened and unleavened bread. We hold that any wheaten bread, leavened or unleavened, can be offered with thanksgiving to God. (In an emergency, I would allow corn-pone, oat-bread, rice-cakes, or barley-bread as well, but I have never experienced such an emergency). The EO use (last I heard) only leavened bread.

Similarities:

1) Calendar. The 7-day week, with the Lord's day at the beginning and the Sabbath at the end, is the same for both of us.

2) Rulesrulesrules. Our wisest teachers hold that the Christian life is about achieving love of God and one's neighbor, not about following rules (though rules can often help). I suspect that the wisest of the EO priests, monks, and teachers have a view that overlaps with this.

3) Scripture. Notwithstanding the differences noted above, and (so I have heard) an EO preference for the Greek LXX over the Massoretic Text, we read every Sunday from basically the same Hebrew and Greek scriptures the EO use, and every Weekday where the Daily service is said.

4) Creed. Notwithstanding the filioque (which is slowly being phased out anyhow) we believe the same Trinitarian theology.

5) Liturgy. Our liturgy is indeed Western, as noted above. It is also orthodox. Who says a rite need be Eastern to be orthodox? "It is not necessary that Traditions and Ceremonies be in all places one, or utterly alike; for at all times they have been divers, and may be changed according to the diversity of countries, times, and men's manners, so that nothing be ordained against God's Word." (Article 34.)

6) Prayer. Though there are many differences, our prayers and praises, daily, weekly, and yearly, draw verbally on the same Scriptures the EO draw on, and are nurtured by the same Holy Spirit.

 

[Albion]

When drawing a comparison between "high" Anglicanism and Orthodoxy, you can, of course, find many liturgical and practical similarities; the greatest similarity, however, would be ecclesiology.

Please. It's not 'High Anglicanism" (or "Low Anglicanism" for that matter). Using that kind of term, which Anglicans themselves ordinarily do not do, makes it sound like a value judgment--High Anglicans good, Low Anglicans bad or casual or whatever.

"High Church" Anglicans are ceremonial but may be either Anglo-Catholic (seven sacraments, etc.) or Evangelical Protestant. "Low Church" Anglicans are less ceremonial but still liturgical and may be either Anglo-Catholic or Evangelical, although those who are the former tend to call themselves "Center Church" or some other term. The High-Low terms, IOW, refer to the vestments, postures, and so on.

 

[ebia]

...which Anglicans themselves ordinarily do not do, ...

Maybe not in your neck of the woods, but they often do here and in England.

And while strictly high/low church refers to the form of liturgy, that is so heavily correlated with theological position the two aspects are usually conflagrated without problem.

 

[Albion]

Maybe not in your neck of the woods

That's right.

that is so heavily correlated with theological position the two aspects are usually conflagrated without problem.

They're on fire?

 

[WisdomTree]

What about the Old Catholics of Ultrect? Do they have similarities in regards to the topic being discussed?