How many Eastern Orthodox Christians are there in the world? There are not that many, but I do know that some of them are still quite active in the Church. For example, there are those who have been baptized by immersion and those who have venerated icons. You may have seen these people at the rosary, or at the Eucharist, or at some other religious event. They are important members of the church. However, there are also many who have rejected the faith and who do not go to the Church at all.
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Icon veneration
How many Eastern Orthodox Christians venerate icons? There are millions of them in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
But icons are not just icons, they are a window into heaven. These images are filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit. They testify to the participation of Christians in divine life.
The best example of a good icon is the Icon of the Theotokos, which is located inside the iconostasis. This is the icon that is supposedly the incarnation of the Theotokos.
Another is the Icon of the Forerunner, which is located inside the iconostasis. These icons are designed to illustrate theological concepts in a visual form.
Aside from the Icon of the Forerunner, there are many more icons in the Orthodox Church. They are grouped in sets called iconostasis, and they are displayed in front of the altar.
Baptism by immersion
Having been baptized in the name of the Trinity, a baptized individual is “clothed in Christ”. The person is cleansed of all sins and is given eternal life.
Baptism is one of the three sacraments in the Orthodox Church. The others being the Eucharist and Confirmation. When a person is baptized, they are given a white robe which represents their new humanity. A baptismal candle is also lit.
Infants are baptized on the eighth day of their lives. This practice is generally based on the child’s godparents’ confession of faith. If the infant is older, consent from their parents is required.
Baptism is usually performed in the threefold immersion method. However, in rare cases, the person is baptized by sprinkling water over their head.
Cooperative activities to get the gospel out to an unbelieving world
There is more to ecumenical activities than tying up the flag. One of the most important tasks in the ecumenical endeavor is the stewardship of resources such as human and material capital. While we may not be in a position to turn the tide of global warming or the threat of a nuclear Armageddon, we can certainly help ensure that we are part of the solution rather than the problem. Likewise, fostering dialogue and cooperation amongst our brothers and sisters in Christ is something that can’t be understated.
Ecumenical aficionados can be split into two camps: those that believe that the most important task of all is to foster unity amongst the various ecclesial communities of faith, and those that believe that the most important goal is to foster unity in the church at large. Neither camp is wrong.
The effectiveness of the sacraments is entirely independent of faith
Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that the effectiveness of the sacraments is independent of faith. They believe that all baptisms administered by duly ordained clergy are effective. The sacraments are believed to be the conduit for God’s grace.
Baptism is a key part of the Eastern Orthodox Church. It is performed by immersion. After baptism, a person is chrismated, meaning that he receives the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This action imparts the Holy Spirit’s gifts, including the power to heal. These gifts are shared by baptized Christians at the Eucharist.
While the Eastern Orthodox have not traditionally emphasized a doctrine of Atonement, they do emphasize the fact that salvation is a lifelong process. They also believe that the Fall is a departure from deification.
Luke 22:32 as justification for papal infallibility
Among the most significant barriers to the unity of the Church today is papal supremacy. Popes of the Catholic Church claim that they possess infallibility, a unique form of spiritual authority.
Papal infallibility is the doctrine that by divine action the pope is prevented from error. This doctrinal dogma is based on two passages in the Bible. During the early Church, papal supremacy did not exist.
One passage in the Bible refers to Peter as the head of the Church. The other enumerates the universal power of Christ. It is said that Christ will never allow His gates to be beaten.
In addition to the universal power of Christ, the passage also refers to the keys which represent Peter’s authority to rule the Church. Moreover, the passage tells us that Christ promised to loose in heaven the things which Peter binds on earth.
