Among the many Orthodox churches in the world, the Eastern Orthodox Church is the largest, with approximately 220 million baptized members. It is a communion of autocephalous churches, and its bishops govern local synods.
The Nicene Creed
Whether or not you agree with it, the Nicene Creed has become one of the most important statements of Christianity. It is a statement of belief that expresses belief in the Holy Trinity, and in God’s forgiveness and eternal life. This creed is recited during each Divine Liturgy, and is a part of the confession of faith that non-Orthodox Christians make when entering the Orthodox Church.
The Nicene Creed was formed at two Ecumenical Councils, the first in 325 and the second in 381. The first council, in Nicea, Turkey, gathered 318 bishops from all over the empire to discuss the issue of Jesus’ divinity. In order to resolve this issue, the bishops compromised and said that both Jesus and God are of the same substance.
This was a controversial issue at the time, and some people thought that Jesus was eternally divine. The debate continued, and the Nicene Creed was later revised to condemn specific beliefs.
The doctrine of the Incarnation
Despite its significance, the doctrine of the Incarnation is often misunderstood and misrepresented. To understand the doctrine, it helps to look at the history of Christian teaching on the topic.
During the early Church, many Christians debated whether or not Jesus was a truly human being. Some believed that Jesus was of the same substance as the Father, while others believed that he was only a man in a human body. In any case, it was clear that Jesus’ apostles believed that He was more than just a man.
The doctrine of the Incarnation was developed through ecumenical councils. Some of these councils defended the doctrine of the Trinity, while others fought against the teaching of monothelitism.
In the early Church, Jesus’ apostles believed that He was both the Son of God and the Man. The apostles also placed Jesus on a level of Yahweh. These early theologians believed that the Incarnation would fulfill the promises of the Old Testament.
Blessings
During the Gregorian calendar date of January 19, the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the Great Blessing of Water. This is an expression of Orthodox belief that creation is sanctified through Christ. This service is held after the Divine Liturgy. It remembers the baptism of Jesus.
The Forty Day Blessing is a ritual that takes place before Great Lent. This service is a form of anointing and blessing that is performed on Sunday before the fortieth day of the child’s birth.
A parent brings their child to the Church for the blessing. If the child is old enough, all family members are welcome to attend. This service is usually held in a large parish and takes some time.
For the most part, it is a ritual that Orthodox Christians perform to commemorate Jesus’ baptism. During this service, the priest makes a Sign of the Cross over the water.
Sacraments
Having a common understanding of Sacraments is important to Orthodox Christians. These are the ceremonies, rituals, and acts that are performed by the Church to give grace and a better understanding of God’s Word. Each sacramental act is interpreted as a prayer of the ecclesiastical community.
The Orthodox Church accepts six major Sacraments: Confession, Baptism, Holy Unction, Holy Communion, Penance, and Anointing of the Sick. However, the number of sacraments varies from one Orthodox community to another.
Confession is an opportunity to reconcile with God. It is also a spiritual healing. The sacrament of anointing of the sick is a form of healing by prayer. This sacrament is administered on Holy Wednesday during the church service.
The Eucharist is an expression of the fullness of truth. It is a sign of God’s love and forgiveness. This sacrament is shared by all members of the Church during Holy Week.
Art and music
Sacred art and music in the Greek Orthodox Church is an important component of the spiritual life of Christians. It is used during courtly ceremonies and festivals, and at private gatherings. These musical performances are used to glorify God and to pray.
Music has always been a central element of Greek culture. It is the medium through which artists express themselves. Early Greek music was played on pipes and the lyre. Later, Greek music expanded to include folk music from across the Ottoman Empire.
Music in Byzantine worship was used as paraliturgical music, and acrosticha (prayer hymns) were sung by the people at religious ceremonies. Acrosticha were often dedicated to a particular day of menaion.
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Alexandria were centers of hymnographic reform. However, as splinter nations emerged from the Byzantine Empire, they began to declare autonomy from the Patriarchate of Constantinople. These hegumeniai played an important role in restoring monastic life at the Stoudios Monastery in Constantinople.
