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Russian Orthodox church
By: Kim STUDENT
Philosophy with Dr. Baird
Adherents around the world:
location of most people who practice this religion
Distribution of Eastern Orthodox (Russian) in the world by country:
Red-Dominant religion
Yellow- Important minority religion (over 10%)
There are over 225 million Orthodox Christians throughout the
world. Most are still remain in the site of the former Byzantine
Empire.
www.religiousfacts.com & www.answers.com
When and Where the religion was established:
Russian Orthodox Religion
For the first thousand years of her history the Church was essentially one. Five historic Patriarchal centers-Jerusalem; Antioch, Rome, Alexandria, and Constantinople-- formed a unified whole and were in full
communion with each other. There were occasional dissenting or schismatic groups following their own
dogma; but the Church was unified until the 11th century. Then, in events culminating in A.D.1054, the
Roman Patriarch pulled away from the other four, to pursue it’s long-developing state of universal headship of
the Church. Nearly a thousand years later, the other four Patriarchates remain intact, in full communion.
The Orthodox Church and her history is outlined in the above time line, from Pentecost to the present day.
Explanation of timeline:
Refer to timeline:
33 Pentecost (A.D: 29 is thought to be more accurate).
49 Council at Jerusalem (Acts 15) establishes precedent for addressing Church disputes in Council. James presides as bishop.
69 Bishop Ignatius consecrated in Antioch in heart of New Testament era--St. Peter had been the first bishop there. Other early bishops
include James, Polycarp, and Clement.
95 Book of Revelation written, probably the last of the New Testament books.
150 St. Justin Martyr describer's the liturgical worship of the Church, centered in the Eucharist. Liturgical worship is rooted in both the Old
and New Testament.
325 The Nicene Creed is established. The Council of Nicea settles the major heretical challenge to the Christian faith when the heretic
Arius asserts Christ was created by the Father. St. Athanasius defends the eternality of the Son of God. The Arians continue their assault
on true Christianity for years. Nicea is the first of Seven Ecumenical (Church-wide) Councils.
451 Council of Chalcedon affirms apostolic doctrine of two natures in Christ.
589 In a synod in Toledo, Spain, the filioque, asserting that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son is added to the Nicene
Creed. This error is later adopted by Rome.
787 The era of Ecumenical Councils ends at Nicea, with the Seventh Council bringing the centuries-old use of icons back into the Church.
988 Conversion of Russia begins.
We knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth, for surely there is no such splendor or beauty anywhere upon earth. We cannot
describe it to you: only this we know, that God dwells there among men, and that their service surpasses the worship of all other places.
For we cannot forget that beauty. - Envoys of the Russian Prince Vladimir, after experiencing the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Hagia
Sophia in Constantinople in the year 987.
1054 The Great Schism occurs. Two major issues include Rome's claim to a universal papal supremacy and her addition of the filioque
clause to the Nicene Creed. The Photian schism (880) further complicated the debate.
1095 The Crusades begun by the Roman Church. The Sack of Constantinople by Rome (1204) adds to the estrangement between East
and West.
1333 St. Gregory Palamas defends the Orthodox practice of hesychast spirituality and the use of the Jesus prayers
1453 Turks overrun Constantinople; Byzantine Empire ends.
1517 Martin Luther nails his 95 Theses to the door of the Roman Church in Wittenberg, starting the Protestant Reformation.
1529 Church of England begins pulling away from Rome.
1794 Missionaries arrive on Kodiak Island in Alaska; Orthodoxy introduced to North America.
1854 Rome establishes the Immaculate Conception dogma.
1870 Papal Infallibility becomes Roman dogma.
1988 One thousand years of Orthodoxy in Russia, as Orthodox Church world-wide maintains fullness of the Apostolic faith
http://www.saintignatiuschurch.org/timeline.html
Age of Reason
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In the 14th and 15th century there emerged in Italy and France a group of
thinkers known as the "humanists.“ Almost all of them were practicing
Catholics. They argued that the proper worship of God involved admiration of
his creation, and in particular of that crown of creation: humanity. By
celebrating the human race and its abilities they argued they were
worshipping God more properly than depressing priests and monks who
harped on original sin and unremittingly called upon people to confess and
humble themselves before God. Some “humanist” claimed that humans
were like God, created not only in his image, but with a share of his creative
power. The painter, the architect, the musician, and the scholar, by exercising
their intellectual powers, were fulfilling divine purposes.
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This celebration of human capacity, though it was mixed in the
Renaissance with elements of gloom and superstition (witchcraft trials
flourished in this period as they never had during the Middle Ages), was to
bestow a powerful legacy on Europeans. Battles were fought intermittently
throughout the countries.
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By the eve of the French Revolution, the European states system as
formulated at the Peace of Utrecht had undergone rather important
altercations. The traditional diplomatic alignment of Bourbon versus
Hapsburg had been upset by the rise of Russia and Prussia. These two
states of eastern Europe had emerged as nations of great potential power;
the impact of their dynamic expansionism was first felt in this period.
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The heroes of this age are Sir Isaac Newton and John Locke. Both are
believers but not in the Orthodox Christian sense of that word. They believe
in the natural law of creation and the reasonableness of Christian morality,
but not in miracles, revelation, resurrection, salvation, regeneration and the
sacraments of the Church.
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ageofreason.mu.nu/archives
Tenets of Russian Orthodox:
1.That our Lord Jesus Christ was both God and Man, perfect in His Divinity and perfect in His
Humanity, and that He, without confusion or alteration or fusion, was both God and Man simultaneously
while He was on earth. He is the only son of God the Father conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the
virgin Theotokos Mary, was crucified, died, buried, and then conquered death by His Resurrection.
2.That in one God-head there are three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that each is eternal.
3.That the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father (John 15:26).
4.That together with the Father and the Son, the Holy Spirit is adored and glorified.
5.That there are three Creeds: Apostles, Athanasian, and Nicene.
6.That there are seven universally accepted Ecumenical Councils which are: Nicaea (A.D. 325),
Constantinople (AD. 381), Ephesus (A.D. 431), Chalcedon (A.D. 451), Constantinople (A.D. 553),
Constantinople (A.D. 890), and Nicaea (A.D 787).
7.That there are seven grace-giving and Holy Mysteries (Sacraments) of the Church: Baptism, Holy
Chrismation (Chrisma), Holy Eucharist, Penance or Confession of Sins, Holy Priesthood, Holy
Matrimony, and Holy Unction of the Sick. The sacraments were instituted by Christ as a means of
obtaining grace.
8.There are seven effects of Holy Baptism:
Regeneration (John 3:5);
Forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38);
Putting on of Christ (Galatians 3:27);
Salvation (Mark 16:16, I Peter 3:21);
Burial and Resurrection within Christ (Romans 6:4-6);
Baptism by water using the Formula;
Baptism of Infants.
9.That the Holy Spirit is received through the Mystery of Holy Chrisma when anointed with Holy Myron
(Chrism) (I John 2:20,27).
10.That our sins are forgiven by God through Confession of Sins to the priest (Matthew 18:18).
http://www.rbsocc.org/tenets.html
Ecclesiastical Law
Russian Orthodox church is largest autocephalous, or ecclesiastically independent,
Eastern Orthodox church in the world
Throughout its history, the Orthodox Church has dealt with controversial issues by a process
which addresses the "mind of the Church." When an issue arises for which there is no clear-cut,
common and readily approved tradition, and about which there is honest departure of opinion
as to what view truly expresses the teaching of the Church, a process begins which may
ultimately direct to the formulation of an official Church teaching. A classical example from the
early period of the Church is the formulation of the Church doctrines about the person of Jesus
Christ, which began with the First Ecumenical Council in Nicaea (325) and concluded with the
Seventh Ecumenical Council (787). Over this four hundred and sixty-three year period, the
Church clarified its understanding and teaching of the revelation regarding Jesus Christ. At the
center of this method stood the Ecumenical Councils, which constituted the final and most
authoritative mediator for the formulation of doctrine, until the acceptance of their decrees by
the entire Church. For the Orthodox Church, this meant that such issues could not, and should
not, be solved by appeal to a single bishop or leader, no matter how honored and respected he
might be. It meant, rather, that the Church set its mind to resolving the issue through a
corporate approach which drew on the whole tradition of the records of God's revelation.
www.cs.toronto.edu & www.goarch.org
Holy Days of the Russian
Orthodox Church
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1. Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary
2. Presentation of the Holy Virgin
Mary in the Temple
3. Annunciation of the Holy Virgin
Mary
4. Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
5. Meeting of the Lord Child Jesus in
the Temple
6. Theophany (Baptism of Our Lord
Jesus Christ in the river Jordan)
7. Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem (Palm
Sunday)
8. Transfiguration
9. RESURRECTION or Easter
(Pascha)
10. Ascension
11. Pentecost or Descent of the Holy
Spirit upon the Apostles
12. Assumption (Falling Asleep) of
the Holy Virgin Mary
13. The Elevation of the Holy Cross
www.3saints.com
Rites of Passage
Confirmation
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The rise of infant baptism led to a
second rite, whose function had
been served in adult baptism. This
is the rite of confirmation, when
adult children "confirm" for
themselves the vows of
membership (conversion) that had
been said on their behalf as infants.
This rite usually takes place at
puberty, somewhere between the
ages of eight and thirteen. It is a
public rite that takes place before
the assembled members of the
church. The rite is usually
conducted by the minister, although
in the Roman Catholic Church, the
authority to perform confirmation
resides in the bishop.
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Confirmation is usually preceded by
an educational process in the main
elements of Christian belief. In
many churches, confirmation is the
pre-requisite for participating in the
rite of the Eucharist. So much so
that often confirmation is actually
called "First Communion." In this
way, confirmation becomes an
important rite of passage in which
the person who was formerly a
child is now recognized as an adult
member of the church.
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www.uwacadwed.uwyo.edu
Marriage in the Russian
Orthodox Religion:
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Marriage in the Orthodox Church
HOLY MATRIMONY is a one of the Mysteries of the Holy Orthodox Church in which a man and woman are united by the Holy Trinity.
The Mystery of marriage of the Holy Orthodox Church is rich in ritual and symbolism. Each of the acts has special meaning and
significance.
The rings
The rings are blessed by the priest who takes them in his hand and, making the sign of the cross over the heads of bride and groom. The
couple then exchange the rings, taking the bride's ring and placing it on the groom's finger and vice-versa.
The candles
The Wedding service begins immediately following the Betrothal Service. The bride and groom are handed candles which they hold
through the service. The candles represent the lamps of the 5 wise maidens of the Bible, who because they had enough oil in them, were
able to receive the Bridegroom, Christ, when He came in the darkness of the night.
The joining of the right hands
The right hand of the bride and groom are joined when the priest reads the prayer that asks God to "join these thy servants, unite them in
one mind and one flesh." The hands are kept joined throughout the service to symbolize the "oneness" of the couple.
The crowning
The service of the Crowning is the climax of the Wedding service. The crowns are signs of the glory and honor with which God crowns
them during the Marriage. The groom and the bride are crowned as the king and queen of their own little kingdom, the home. The crowns
used in the Orthodox wedding service refer to the crowns of martyrdom since every true marriage involves immeasurable self-sacrifice on
both sides.
The common cup
The service of crowning is followed by the reading of the Epistle and the Gospel. The marriage couple drinks from a common cup to
symbolize Jesus' first miracle -converting water into wine and it is given to the newlyweds, in remembrance of this blessing. This is the
"common cup" of better life signifying the mutual sharing of joy and sorrow-reminding the couple that from that moment on they will share
everything in life.
The walk
The priest then leads the bride and groom in a circle around the table on which are placed the Gospel and the Cross, the one containing
the Word of God, the other being the symbol of our redemption by our Savior Jesus Christ. The husband and wife are taking their first
steps as a married couple.
The blessing
The couple return to their places and the priest, blessing the groom and the bride in their new roles as husband and wife.
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www.russian-crafts.com
Death Rites
In Russia, Russian Orthodox church bells ring a high-to-low
note series for funerals.
Three funeral services follow:
*The vigil, or Trisagion, after death, is usually conducted by
a priest at the wake. The people pray to Christ “to give rest
with the Saints to the soul of Your servant where there is
neither pain, grief ,nor sighing but life everlasting.” While
the people pray for the soul of the deceased, great respect
is paid to the body.
*The funeral service is continued at the church, where the
body is brought on the day of the burial. Then normally the
divine liturgy (Mass) is celebrated. After the funeral service,
the congregation offers its farewell to the deceased.
*The Trisagion is repeated at the graveside.
Memorial services may be offered in the church on the 3rd,
9th and 40th days after death.
Those who commit suicide are considered to have died
outside the Church and are not granted Church funeral
rites.
http://answers.google.com
Women in the Church
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Women are not permitted to be priests
in the Russian Orthodox religion. The
Orthodox Church takes a very
negative view of the recent
introduction of women priesthood in
some Protestant communities.
It is a tradition that stems form the
inequality between men and women in
the ancient world and in the belief that
priesthood has been a service of
spiritual fatherhood.
A woman is put in high regards as a
mother, wife or daughter but the
church believes that there is no
substitute for “fatherhood” and if the
Church were to let women be in a role
not of their nature that the Church
would lose it’s integrity and fullness by
becoming a family without a father.
http://www.geocities.com
Clergy
Requirements:
In traditional Catholicism, it is men who become priests and must meet certain requirements to become priests. In Catholicism, the minimum age to become a
Christian priest is twenty-five. In the Latin Rite of Roman Catholicism, priests must be celibate. There are special exceptions for men who are already married
and would like to convert to Catholicism. A Christian priest in the Catholic religion must be incardinated by his Bishop or other religious superior. After being
incardinated, the priest may practice public ministry.
Once you are a priest, you are a priest forever. Many men enter into priesthood to serve the public and spread the word of God. After being ordained, the
priests should not allow themselves to fall to temptation nor will they be allowed to hold a regular job. Many men become priests because they feel a calling to
do God’s work. Many men pray and try to distinguish what their vocation in life is-whether or not to become a Christian priest is often discussed in many
Catholic youth groups with young men to help the discern whether or not the priesthood is for them.
A priest has the power to accept the Holy Eucharist, the Holy Mass, to forgive sins, to administer religious rites and sacraments. A priest has the authority to
administer the Word of God to the church and govern the faithful. A priest may forgive sins and hear confessions. A priest may also give advice to newlyweds or
those who are engaged. Priests also may give advice on living a victorious Christian life.
Christian priest may have many functions in their community. The Christian priest, however, has three daily events that never alter. Those are the Sacrifice of the
Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours and personal prayer. The Christian priest builds his day around these three activities. A Christian priest may choose to be a
teacher and teach the Word of God. Christian priest may also do specialize ministry and work with other young adults and other adults on their own
Christianity. Most priests do a fair amount of preaching and that requires studying and introspection on their sermon
http://articles.syl.com/choosingtobecomeachristianpriest.html
Communication with God
• Prayer is communion
with God. You must pray
to be saved. Many
illiterate persons, unable
to read the Bible, have
entered into the kingdom
of God, but no one has
entered without prayer.
In prayer you plead
before God for the
salvation offered in
Christ, and come into his
presence to love and
adore him.
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www.geocities.com
Influential practitioners:
Prince Vladimir, whose baptism in 988 would
forever establish Orthodoxy as the principal
religion of Russia.
The unprecedented growth and stability of this
Church inevitably led to the establishment of a
new patriarchate within orthodoxy, with
Metropolitan Job of Moscow becoming the first
Patriarch of Russia in 1589.
Following the death of Patriarch Adrian in 1700,
the Church remained without a Patriarch for
more than two hundred years. At the insistence
of Peter I, a collective administration, known as
the Holy and Governing Synod, was established
in 1721. This form of governance lasted until
1917 at which time the All-Russian Council
restored the patriarchal office and elected
Metropolitan Tikhon of Moscow as Patriarch.
The joy of the election of Patriarch Tikhon
would be short lived, as Russia entered a very
difficult period in its history.
Prince Vladimir
The Bolsheviks, who had come into power in
1917, saw the Russian Orthodox Church as an
enemy to be destroyed as resolutely as the
tsarist institution. Patriarch Tikhon was himself
imprisoned a little more than a year.
Tikhon’s death in 1925 dealt a severe blow to
Russian Orthodoxy and the stability of the
Church.
www.ocadow.org
Tikhon
Colors in the Orthodox Church
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In Byzantium, color was considered to have the same substance as words, indeed each color had its own value and meaning. One or
several colors combined together had the means to express ideas. Being trained in Byzantine art, Russian master-iconographers accepted
and preserved the symbolism of color. The iconographers of ancient Russia learned to create works close in inspiration to local conditions,
tastes and ideals.
Gold
The brilliance of gold in mosaics and icons made it possible to feel the glowing light of God and the splendor of the celestial kingdom where
there is never any night. Gold symbolized the divine nature of God himself.
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Red
Red is one of the most frequently used colors in icons. This is the color of heat, passion, love, life and life-giving energy, and for this very
reason red became the symbol of the resurrection. But at the same time it is the color of blood and torments, and the color of Christ's
sacrifice.
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White
White is the symbol of the heavenly kingdom and God’s divine light. It is the color of cleanliness, holiness and simplicity. On icons and
frescoes, saints and righteous people are usually depicted clothed in white. Only righteous souls were depicted as wearing white.
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Dark-Blue and Blue
Dark-blue and blue indicate the infiniteness of the sky and is the symbol of another everlasting world. Dark blue was considered the color of
Mary who combines in her self both the earthly and celestial. The backgrounds of mural paintings in many Byzantine churches devoted to
the Mother of God are filled with a dark celestial blue.
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Green
Green is the color of natural, living things. It is the color of grass and leaves, youth, flowering, hope, and eternal renewal. Ancient
iconographers often painted the earth green to signify where life began.
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Brown
Brown is the color of the bare earth, dust, and all that is passing and delicate. This color reminds one that everything dies.
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Purple
Purple, or crimson, was a color very important in Byzantine culture. This is the color of the Celestial King and the Byzantine emperor. Only
the Byzantine emperor could use the color purple - for all others it was strictly forbidden.
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Black
Black is the color of evil and death. The black robes of monks, who have left the path of worldly life, are a symbol of their leaving the
pleasures and habits they formerly kept, and dying a death toward this way of life.
Colors Not Used in Iconography
A color that was never used in iconography is gray. When mixing black and white together, wickedness and righteousness, it becomes the
color of vagueness, the color of the negated and nonexistence.
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www.orthodoxworld.ru
Russian Orthodox Church
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1. Russian Orthodox churches are built in a cruciform with the altar facing east. Everything
in the church is placed according to tradition with a specific reason and a symbolic
meaning.
2. The altar is separated from the nave by a wooden icon screen called an "Iconostas"
(Iconostasis is Greek).
3. An icon of the church's patron saint or an icon of the "feast day" often is placed on a
cloth-covered lectern in the center of the church with candle stands nearby.
4. A large crucifix with a painted image of Christ is placed to the left of the church. This
image has candles placed before it by the faithful in memory of the departed.
5. Other icons are placed on cloth-draped lecterns in front of the church, also with candle
stands.
6. Beeswax candles are placed in the candle stands near icons by the faithful. The wax and
olive oil are symbolic of the purity and sincerity of the gifts that provide them.
7. Icons and people are honored with incense. The censing of people is symbolic of the
grace of the Holy Spirit, which is shed upon all men. The censer, or kadilo, represents
Christ, the Divine Ember.
8. People usually stand or kneel during the service, out of respect for the presence of God.
Women do not wear slacks or shorts, only dresses or skirts and many often cover their
heads. Men remove their hats.
9. Musical instruments are never used in the church, only human voices in an a cappella
choir singing hymns and responses to the chanting of the priest.
10. People make the sign of the cross with the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand
joined at the tips with the third and fourth fingers closed at the palm, as a symbol of the
Trinity, by touching the brow, the breast, the right shoulder and the left shoulder, meaning
that every power of mind, heart, soul and strength are dedicated to the service of God.
11. The faithful receive communion from the chalice with a spoon. Communion is in the
form of a small piece of prosfir, or blessed bread, soaked in wine. Confession must
precede communion, before the service, and the communicant must have fasted since
midnight.
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www.friends-partners.org
Russian Orthodox Churches