Eastern Orthodox
History
Eastern Orthodox is one of the three main groups representing Christianity: Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant. The notion of “eastern” refers to the origins in traditions from Eastern European areas such as Russia and Greece, and areas of the Middle East as well. Titles are deemed by geographical location and cultural beliefs, rather than national context.
The word “orthodox” in Greek translates as “right belief.”
Geological location became a determining factor of the split between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox with Emperor Constantine’s capital moved to Constantinople, becoming the center to eastern Christianity.
Roman Catholics utilized Latin as their native language, while Eastern Orthodox utilized Greek.
Eastern Orthodox represents separate traditions than Oriental Orthodox (Armenian, Ethiopian, Malankara)
The Great Schism of 1054: Christian doctrine was determined at a series of conferences known as the Ecumenical Councils, specifically the first seven. Within these meetings, the main purpose was to create a unified Christian religion, combining several different branches at the time. After the seventh council in 787 CE, divisions in thoughts and opinions began to arise more prominently.
Differences in theological principles and political agendas contributed to the split in 1054 between the Greek East and the Latin West, resulting in the excommunication of Patriarch Michael I Cerularius (East), and the separation of two major branches of Christianity (East and West).
The Crusades in the aftermath of the schism played a role in the relations between Eastern and Western Christians, specifically the Sack of Constinople in 1204 during the Fourth Crusade.
The effects of the schism would last until the 20th Century with the Catholic-Orthodox Joint Declaration of 1965 which did not end the schism, but withdrew excommunications laid down in the 11th Century. The declaration was made by Roman Catholic Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I.
In 1980 the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church was founded.
Currently the Eastern Orthodox Church has approximately 230 million members, making it the second-largest Christian church in the world.
Beliefs/Principles
Eastern Orthodox theology is technically classified as monotheistic Trinitarianism, believing that God is divided into the “Holy Trinity” yet is based in one sacred essence.
Rather than having a head of the church such as the Roman Catholic Pope, Eastern Orthodox churches believe that Christ himself is the head of the church. Administration is done through people such as patriarchs, but known are considered supreme.
Holy Synod: group of administrative bishops tasked with such actions as picking the next patriarch.
Eastern Orthodox religion is known for being autocephalous (Greek for “self-headed”).
Children are immediately included in Eastern Orthodox traditions from the time of their birth, receiving communion much earlier than those in the Roman Catholic faith.
Orthodox Christians typically fast for nearly half of the year, staying true to older expectations of the religion set down centuries ago.
Iconography is a prominent staple of many Eastern Orthodox churches, and caused great controversy prior to the Schism of 1054.
Eastern Orthodox in the United States
The first emergence of Eastern Orthodoxy in what we now recognize as America dates back to 1794. The territory of Alaska, then owned by Russia, was the site of Russian Orthodox missionaries and the establishment of religious jurisdiction at the order of the “Holy Synod.” Through struggles and lack of leadership initially, the religious presence gradually experienced growth, due in part to the influence the religion had on native populations such as the Aleuts.
Saint Innocent of Alaska: A Russian missionary priest, he is remembered for many accomplishments within Eastern Orthodoxy including the merging of Orthodox and native Alaskan traditions, and being the first Bishop and Archbishop of the religion in the Americas.
In 1868, after Alaska had been sold to the United States one year prior, the first Orthodox church was established in the contiguous United States, in the city of San Francisco. As the 19th Century continued, more parishes began to be established within the country, including the first Orthodox church in New York City in 1870, and the first Orthodox church in Philadelphia in 1897. St. Andrew’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia was constructed by Russian naval officers who were currently stationed at Cramp’s Shipyard in the city waiting upon construction of warships. Longing for a place to pray and provide religious services for others, the men were given donations of land and supplies by sailors, and the church became the first Orthodox church in Philadelphia.
In 1872, the diocese was transferred from Sitka, Alaska to San Francisco. In 1905, it would be transferred to New York City.
Conflict would become prevalent between Catholic and Eastern Orthodox religions as the latter’s presence became more prominent in the country.
Saint Tikhon of Moscow: Serving as head of the Diocese of the Aleutians and North American in the early 20th Century, he stood for reform among the church in regards to different ethnic populations growing in the country, need for Orthodox education systems and decentralizing of the diocese.
Founded a monastery in Wayne County, PA (titled years later as Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary)
In 1917, years after Tikhon had been called back to Russia to act as Patriarch of Moscow, the communist-based Bolshevik Revolution within the country led Tikhon to declare that any Orthodox churches outside of Russia should declare themselves as self-governed.
Many churches were aligning themselves based on ethnicity (Greek, Serbian, Ukranian)
In 1924, the Russian Orthodox diocese officially mandated that they were self governed, and incorporated themselves into the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in America.
Over the years the unity within separate Orthodox communities would tighten, and eventually in 1970 the creation of the Orthodox Church in America would involve complete autocephaly and encompass most Orthodox religious affiliations.
Eastern Orthodox in Philadelphia
Ukranian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia - 810 N. Franklin Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123.
St. Mary's Malankara Syrian Orthodox Cathedral - 1333 Welsh Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA, 19006
St. Andrew's Russian Orthodox Cathedral - 707 N. 5th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19123
St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral - 256 S. 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107
Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church - 723 N. Bodine Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19123
Readings/Resources
Erickson, John H. Orthodox Christians in America: A Short History (Religion in American Life). Oxford University Press, 2007.
Krindatch, Alexei D., and Dean R. Hoge. "Satisfaction and Morale Among Parish Clergy: What American Catholic and Orthodox Priests Can Learn from Each Other." Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 49, no. 1 (2010): 179-87. www.jstor.org/stable/40664684.
Prodromou, Elizabeth H. "Religious Pluralism in Twenty-First-Century America: Problematizing the Implications for Orthodoxy Christianity." Journal of the American Academy of Religion 72, no. 3 (2004): 733-57. Accessed July 17, 2020. www.jstor.org/stable/40005913.
Roberson, Ronald G. "The Dialogues of the Catholic Church with the Separated Eastern Churches." U.S. Catholic Historian 28, no. 2 (2010): 135-52. www.jstor.org/stable/40731267.
