Eastern Orthodox Church
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Ikons or idols?
One of the questions Protestants ask about Orthodox Chirstianity is whether the ikons used in the Orthodox Church are not idols. This article explains what Orthodox ikons mean, and why Orthodox Christians regard iconoclasm as a heresy.
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Orthodoxy and antisemitism
Some biblical scholars and historians have claimed that Christianity is inherently antisemitic, including even the New Testament documents. Orthodox theologians like St John Chrysostom are said to have promoted the antisemitism that led to genocide of the Jews in the last century. What is the relation of Orthodox Christianity to antisemitism, Jews and Judaism?
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Orthodoxy - Catholic or Protestant?
People sometimes ask whether Orthodoxy is Catholic or Protestant, but most Orthodox Christians would say Roman Catholics and Protestants are closer to each other than either is to Orthodox Christianity.
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Forgiveness Sunday and Great Lent
Sunday 25 February 2001 is Forgiveness Sunday in the Orthodox Church, and marks the beginning of Great Lent. It is a time for repentance, reconciliation and forgiveness.
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The Theophany or Epiphany - the baptism of Christ
The Twelfth Day of Christmas is the eve of the Epiphany, or Theophany, the manifestation of Christ and the Holy Trinity, and his baptism in Jordan. In this he sanctifies water, and by extension all matter and nature
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The 2000th anniversary of the Nativity
Christmas 2000 is the 2000th anniversary of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, yet no special celebrations are being planned at Bethlehem to mark the occasions. Israel & Palestine are on the brink of war, and it is possible that pilgrims will be barred from going to Bethlehem to celebrate the 2000th anniversary of the birth of the Prince of Peace.
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Father Alexander Schmemann
Father Alexander Schmemann, the former dean of St Vladimir's Orthodox theological Seminary in New York, who died in 1983, wrote a number of books on Orthodox theology in English, which helped to stimulate the growing interest in Orthodox Christianity in the English-speaking world.
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The Nativity Fast
In the Orthodox Church, the feast of the Nativity of Christ is preceded, like Pascha, by a 40-day fast. In this fast we are invited to prepare ourselves to "come and see" Jesus, and we are promised that we will see greater things than we ever expected.
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The Philokalia
The Philokalia is a collection of texts compiled for the edification of Orthodox monks. It has become quite popular, even among non-Orthodox, though sometimes clergy and others discourage people from reading it. Does it have a dark secret that people want to hide?
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Orthodoxy and nationalism
Orthodox Christianity often seems to be closely linked with national cultures and nationalism. This article explores some of the historical background to these links.
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Where are we going?
Orthodox Christianity in Albania and South Africa, and one's personal relationship with God.
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Holy Tradition - Holy Scripture
Western Christians have often disagreed on the relative importance of Scripture and Tradition. Orthodox Christians see no conflict between them.
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Mission, evangelism and proselytism
Orthodox Christians often fail to distinguish between evangelism and proselytism. Some say the Orthodox Church should not evangelise, because "proselytism is wrong".
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Orthodox monasticism
Monasticism and the monastic life are basic features of Orthodox Christianity, yet many Orthodox Christians life far from a monastery and have never visited one.
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Orthodox Christianity - what is it?
This is a very brief introduction to the Orthodox Church, written mainly for Western Christians and others who are not Orthodox.
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