The Russian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest and most traditional churches in the world. The flag of the Russian Orthodox church has many symbols that represent the Russian Orthodox religion and culture.
One of the most well-known is the Russian Orthodox cross. This cross has three horizontal beams, with the bottom one slanted downwards. It is commonly used by the Russian Orthodox Church and by Eastern Rite Catholic Churches.
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The Russian Orthodox Cross
The Russian Orthodox Cross is a variation of the Christian cross that originated in the 16th century in Russia. It bears some resemblance to the cross with a bottom crossbeam slanted upward found in the Byzantine Empire since the 6th century.
Today it is a symbol of the Russian Orthodox Church and a distinctive feature of Russia’s cultural landscape. It is also a prominent feature of jewelry in the form of gold orthodox crosses, necklaces and pendants.
The Holy Trinity
The Holy Trinity is a key part of the Christian faith. However, it can be difficult to understand at first.
The doctrine of the Trinity is based on Scripture. It also relies on historical events that God has revealed to us.
The Father, Son and Spirit are identical in nature, essence, existence and life. They each possess the same attributes of divinity, including the fullness of life, love, truth, wisdom, blessedness, holiness and power.
The Akolouthia
The Akolouthia (from Greek: ; Slavonic: posledovanie) is the name given to a collection of hymns, prayers and readings compiled for a particular Saint or feast. It is usually a book composed by a different hymnographer than the other liturgical books.
The akolouthia is an eschatological vision, one that fashions the consciousness of Orthodox Christians and inspires and guides their life and activity. This is reflected in every ecclesiastical service, whether it is a daily or irregularly celebrated one.
The Vestments
Vestments are the distinctive garments worn by Orthodox priests, bishops and deacons at church services. They are designed to help the clergy reveal their function and role in the Church, and serve to draw the faithful closer to God.
The vestments are characterized by their form, and their adornment with embroidery and ornamental trimmings. These are the primary sources of their aesthetic significance and are the product of a long history of experimenting with the shape, material and design of liturgical vestments.
The Altar
In religion, an altar is a raised structure or place for sacrifices and worship. It is a symbol of Jesus Christ, who is the atoning sacrifice for sins.
Altars are used in many religions and can be made of a variety of materials. They can be round, square or triangular and vary in height.
In the Bible, an altar is often a symbol of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In one example, God commands Elijah to challenge the Baal prophets by offering a burnt sacrifice on an altar.
The Liturgy
The Liturgy is the official public prayer life of the Orthodox Church. Its purpose is to commemorate and celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, to recall and enact pivotal events in the Church’s history, and to give witness to God’s active charity in human history.
In a sense, the liturgy is Christ’s “priestly work,” which is to continue his public ministry through his church. It is a time to gather and worship in community, to hear the word of God and to offer prayers for one another, to partake of the sacraments, and to respond with a sacrifice of praise to God.
The Clergy
The Clergy is an important part of the Russian Orthodox Church. It includes priests, deacons, readers, and sacristans.
The clergy is divided into married and monastic clergy. Married clergy may be ordained to the priesthood, and a bishop can appoint presbyters to serve parishes.
There are distinctions of rank among priests, with the highest distinction being an Archpriest. This can be given to non-monastic priests and also to monastic ones who are distinguished in their service.
