March 25th
2:17 PM
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Blood-Stained Cassocks and 1821

Without the Orthodox clergy the great national campaign of 1821 would not have succeeded. Some propagandists of outdated ideologies deny the role of the Bishops and speak only of the “lower clergy”. They are wrong both in terms of terminology and in their historical perspective.

In the Orthodox Church the higher clergy are the Bishops, the Presbyters (priests) and the Deacons. To the lower clergy belong the Subdeacon and the Reader, who are laymen. The French Consul François Pouqueville writes that 100 Patriarchs and Bishops were killed during the Turkish Occupation and the Struggle [of 1821]. Before 1821 there were 80 movements made by Greeks, and most were led by Bishops. Remember that from 1680 to 1700 Eastern Central Greece was free after two Bishops revolted, Hierotheos of Thebes and Philotheos of Salona.

1821 is stained with the blood of Patriarch Gregory V and Patriarch Cyril VI, from Andrionople. Besides Bishop Germanos of Patras, who blessed the banner at Holy Lavra Monastery and in Patras, Isaiah of Salona declared Revolution in Fokida and was sacrificed in Alamana. The Patmian Patriarch of Alexandria, Theophilos Pagkostas, went to Patmos and raised the banner of revolution. From then he never returned to his throne.

Most Bishops of Peloponnesos were imprisoned by the Pasha of Tripoli from the beginning of March 1821, and only two were found alive when the Greeks entered after 6.5 months. Let us not forget this sacrifice of the shepherds.

In Cyprus, Archbishop Kyprianos had joined the Filiki Etairia (Society of Friends). The Turks were informed and on 9 July 1821 there was a great slaughter in Nicosia. Kyprianos together with all the Bishops and Archimandrites were killed together with the elders.

Many other Bishops played a significant role in the Struggle, such as Anthimos of Elos, Theodoritos of Vresthena, Joseph of Androusa, and Neophytos of Talantio (Livadeia). And in the Grand Exodus of Messolonghi, Bishop Joseph of Rogon, aid to Metropolitan Porphyrios of Arta, was sacrificed while blowing the windmill.

All who lived at that time were confessors: Bishops, priests, simple monastics, all proclaimed their “presence”. Our Freedom is owed primarily to the Blood-stained Cassocks.

- By Konstantinos Holevas, Political Scientist

Translated by John Sanidopoulos
#Orthodoxy      #Christianity      #history      #Greece      #Greek Orthodox     
February 24th
6:46 AM
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A message from Anonymous
What is the Greek Orthodox view of the Oriental Orthodox Church a.k.a. the church in Alexandria, Egypt? I've always thought that they were the same church until an Egyptian told me recently that they weren't in Communion with the Greek, Ukrainian, Russian, or Bulgarian Orthodox Christians but were part of a different communion entirely. This was a shock to me.

Hello dear!

There are two big Orthodox families: the Eastern Orthodox (Greek, Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Romanian, etc etc etc) and the Oriental Orthodox (Coptic, Armenian etc etc). Currently, they are not in communion, since the schism that happened circa 1500 years ago (correct me if I am mistaken about the date).

I copy-paste the first paragraph from the “Orthodox Answers”:

“Today, it is recognized that the theology of both groups (Eastern and Oriental Orthodox) is essentially the same and that the disagreement over the wording used at Chalcedon could be overcome. In practice, Oriental Orthodox lay people are often allowed to receive communion in Eastern Orthodox parishes. An agreement was also signed between the Orthodox (“Eastern / Greek / Rum / Chalcedonian”) and Oriental Orthodox Patriarchates of Antioch which only applies to this specific area (mostly Syria), not to the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox communions worldwide.”

Daniel has also added the following on the past: “Coptic and Greek Orthodox in Egypt can now also marry eachother and at either Church. After this, the married couple can recieve communion at either. So that is two Sacraments which can be shared by the EO and OO under Alexandria. Both Patriarchs and have signed and accepted this Pastoral agreement also.”

I personally I have all the Coptic Christians in my heart and I pain for all the Coptic persecutions. Though we don’t have yet complete unity, it is very possible to happen, even if my lifetime, God willing. To me, the Christian unity is of the essence, it’s something I pray daily.

God bless you!

——————————-

kkatyaa said: the Oriental Orthodox accept the first three ecumenical councils, while the Eastern Orthodox accept the first seven.

#Orthodoxy      #Eastern Orthodox      #Coptic Orthodox      #Christianity      #history     
May 27th
7:19 AM
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Sunday of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council (May 27)

On the seventh Sunday of Pascha, we Orthodox Christians commemorate the holy God-bearing Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council.

The First Ecumenical Council was held in 325 A. D. in the city of Nicaea. This Council condemned the heresy of Arius, who denied the divinity of Jesus Christ and was teaching that our Lord was a God’s creature. This heresy provoked much unrest in the Church. Besides proclaiming true teaching concerning God Father and God Son, Jesus Christ, as it is presented in the first seven articles of the Creed, the Council made some canons, regulating the life of the Church.

May the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, the defenders of our faith, pray for us!

#Orthodoxy      #Christianity      #Christian      #history     
May 19th
4:36 PM
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19 May Pontian-Greek Genocide

Greek genocide also known as the Pontic genocide, was the systematic killing of the Greek population of the Ottoman Empire during World War I and its aftermath (1914–1923). It was instigated by the government of the Ottoman Empire against the Greek population of the Empire and it included massacres, forced deportations involving death marches, summary expulsions, arbitrary executions, and destruction of Christian Orthodox cultural, historical and religious monuments.

Other ethnic groups were similarly attacked by the Ottoman Empire during this period, including Assyrians and Armenians.

May God rest in peace the victims…

#Greek      #Genocide      #pontic      #history     
March 25th
5:40 AM
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Traditional Greek song for the Greek Revolution of 1821

#Greek      #Greece      #History      #Tradition      #1821     
March 24th
4:53 PM
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Metropolitan Germanos of Patras blessing the flag of the Greek resistance at Agia Lavra Monastery (painting by Theodoros Vryzakis, 1865).

Metropolitan Germanos of Patras blessing the flag of the Greek resistance at Agia Lavra Monastery (painting by Theodoros Vryzakis, 1865).

#Orthodoxy      #Greece      #1821      #history     
March 4th
5:07 AM
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Everyone, have a blessed Sunday of Orthodoxy! “O Christ our God, begging forgiveness of our sins, we venerate your pure image O Good One. Of Your own will You condescended to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh and delivered those you created from the bondage of the enemy. Wherefore, thankfully we cry out: When You came to save the world You filled all things with joy, O our Savior.”

Everyone, have a blessed Sunday of Orthodoxy!

“O Christ our God, begging forgiveness of our sins, we venerate your pure image O Good One. Of Your own will You condescended to ascend upon the Cross in the flesh and delivered those you created from the bondage of the enemy. Wherefore, thankfully we cry out: When You came to save the world You filled all things with joy, O our Savior.”

#Orthodoxy      #Christianity      #Christian      #history     
February 24th
4:30 PM
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A photo from inside the imperial palace that lived the Holy Martyrs Romanov

A photo from inside the imperial palace that lived the Holy Martyrs Romanov

#Orthodox      #Christian      #Romanov      #history     
February 4th
2:29 PM
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Theodore Kolokotronis and his deep faith in God

 

Like today, at 1843 died the national hero of Greece, Theodore Kolokotronis. He was the pre-eminent leader of the Greek War of Independence.

Theodore Kolokotronis had this deep faith. And when the Revolution began, and he ascended to the mountains he was almost alone. And he says, “…I was alone in the mountains with God”. And he made the first revolutionary flag. With tow tree branches which he united crosswise. And this was his banner. And he said, “the preeminence to the cross”. “The preeminence to the cross”. The Cross is the trophy of victory. The Cross is the weapon against the devil. The Cross is the sign of tree joy. The Cross is the proof of God’s love to humanity. For this reason Theodore Kolokotronis used to say “preeminence to the Cross”. And glory to the crucified ones unto the ages.

Theodore Kolokotronis was God-loving, philanthropic and homeland-loving. And once when they asked him to what party he belongs, to the French, the Russian or the English, he said: “I am not either French-loving, nor Russian-loving, nor English-loving, rather only I am God-loving, a friend of God, I belong to the party of God, I belong to the Church of Christ. I love my homeland the Orthodox and glorious one. And I will give all for her”. So how much a man is vivified by these, how much his soul fills and afterwards he comes out and want to also struggle. To love God, to love the homeland, to love people, to correct his own self, to become better and to fill with the grace of this love and of this majesty.

#Orthodoxy      #Catholic      #Christian      #history     
October 31st
2:10 PM
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Sisoes the Great and the Contemplation of Death as a Means to True Life in Christ

Sisoes, the great ascetic, before the tomb of Alexander, King of the Greeks, who was once covered in glory. Astonished, he mourns for the vicissitudes of time and the transience of glory, and tearfully declaims thus:

“The mere sight of you, tomb, dismays me and causes my heart to shed tears, as I contemplate the debt we, all men, owe. How can I possibly stand it? Oh, death! Who can evade you?”

(Read more here)

#History      #Orthodoxy      #Christianity      #Death      #Philosophy     
October 24th
12:48 PM
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The Romanovs- REAL MIRACLES and Memories

#Romanovs      #Orthodoxy      #Christianity      #History      #Miracle     
September 24th
5:06 AM
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The Historicity and Reliability of Acts of the Apostles

To read the full post click the “read more” link

SEVENTEEN REASONS TO ACCEPT THE TRADITIONAL EARLY DATE THAT WOULD PLACE THE RESEARCH AND WRITING OF ACTS DURING THE LIFETIME OF MANY PARTICIPANTS. THESE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE HISTORICITY OF ACTS AND, INDIRECTLY, THE GOSPEL OF LUKE (Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1).

1. There is no mention in Acts of the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, an unlikley omission, given the content, if it had already occured.

2. There is no hint of the outbreak of the Jewish War in A.D. 66, or of any drastic or specific deterioration of relations between Romans and Jews, which implies it was written before that time.

3. There is no hint of the deterioration of Christian relations with Rome involved in the Neronian persecution of the late 60’s.

Read More

#Acts      #Apostles      #Bible      #Christianity      #History      #Religion      #Orthodoxy     
September 8th
4:42 AM
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What do you get when…

… you superimpose the [Shroud of Turin] with the [Mt Sinai icon of Christ]?

#Catholic      #Christ      #Christianity      #Icon      #Orthodoxy      #Shroud of Turin      #history      #Religion     
3:39 AM
31 notes
Via
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When i was an awkward turtle

agia petroupoli

clickhereformore:

So my Irish-American, Catholic teacher asked me if I was Muslim as people so often do. (SO many times people were all “Ramadan kareem!”)

I said that I was Orthodox. And he said “Oh.” 

No one really knew what Orthodoxy was, so they asked him and he told them that the Holy Roman Empire split in half. Orthodox and Catholic.

Naturally, I corrected him (which people tell me not to do, because I come off as a smartass. whatevs.) and he responded nicely! Which is not something teachers do often! He said, verbatim, “Oh, that’s right. And that wsa when the West and East formally split. Yeah, the Orthodox church is sort of the originial Christian church there was a divide because the West wanted to modernize and the East believed that religion didn’t just change at whim.”

Every time any denomination of Christians say that the Orthodox Church was the original church of Christ headed by His disciples I always think: then why aren’t you Orthodox?

#Catholic      #Catholicism      #Orthodoxy      #Religion      #history      #Papacy      #Christianity     
August 22nd
12:14 PM
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What is the difference between the orthodox and roman catholic faith?

Greece 2007 327

inthequiet replied to your post: I can’t become Orthodox because…

Oh um, tumblr isn’t sending my messages, it seems, so I’ll just leave a question here :p I was just wondering, what are the differences between Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy?

Hello!

Over the centuries, many lists of ‘differences’ have been established and the importance given to particular issues has varied with each era.

A comprehensive historical list would certainly include:

  • The filioque clause in the Creed and its associated theology
  • The Papacy as defined by Roman Catholicism (Vatican I)
  • The discipline of presbyteral celibacy
  • The concept of annulment vs. divorce
  • The use of unleavened bread
  • The priest facing the people (heavenly vs. communal worship)
  • The use of altar girls
  • The ‘absence’ of epiclesis in the Roman Mass
  • The doctrine of purgatory and indulgences
  • The Augustinian view of original sin
  • The Augustinian idea of ‘created grace’ vs. Palamite theology
  • The new ‘Marian dogmas’ of 1854 and 1950 
  • Variations in devotional practices (Sacred Heart, Adoration, etc.)

Some of these differences are liturgical or disciplinary in nature and do not affect the essentials of the Faith.  Each of these topics deserves its own answer, if not its book!

God bless you!

#Orthodoxy      #Catholic      #Catholicism      #Roman Catholic      #Pope      #History      #Religion      #Purgatory      #filioque