www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West What does "Orthodox" REALLY mean?

Dear Friends,

What does the term "Orthodox" really mean? What does it mean to be "Orthodox?"

And WHO may use that term? Is it strictly reserved to the Byzantine Orthodox? Who decides on that?

Alex

Easy! Orthodx = Greek or Russian! :p

Σώσον, Κύριε, καί διαφύλαξον η�άς από τών Βασιλιάνικων τάξεων!

Dear Alex,

You and Father Gregory are offering such thought provoking questions. What have you both been eating lately?

I do not think any one group has a right to it, but sometimes titles evolve?

The same question might be asked of the title 'Catholic'!

Ofcourse, being Orthodox Catholic takes care of all bases!

Fondly,
Alice

Well, like other words, the word 'Orthodox' is defined by usage. It's really one of the most democratic things I can think of. Of course, people with printing presses and big or important audiences get more votes, but the internet is doing a lot to make language more egalitarian, I would guess.

When they use 'Orthodox', most people mean the club of thirteen or so eastern churches that call each other canonical and allow each other communion. So again the meaning of the word depends upon usage of other words and upon practices.

We could just start using it differently, and as Alice mentioned the other word, we could use 'Catholic' differently, too, and just use them both interchangeably to refer to the apostolic churches. But who do you include? Who do you leave out. I'd probably say the Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox, but people are going to disagree with me for good reasons and unless you have a real criterion (communion with the Pope, communion with a certain group of churches)how do you argue?
Maybe you don't argue. Maybe we just call anyone Orthodox and Catholic who is so according to the definitions taught by any of these Churches. Sounds good to me.

I don't think there is any satisfactory answer until the end of schism. Nothing makes sense when the Body of Christ is torn asunder.

David

Dear David,

Well said!

In Christ,
Alice

Dear David,

How very "Orthodox" of you to say that!

Alex

Alex, Alice, David,and all,

Greetings.

What about the Orthodox Jew, as compared to the Conservative, or Reformed Jew? That right there shows a loophole in who can use it. This then logically leads us to possibly redefine the term to not only "right believer", but to allow the use for a fundamentalist or extreme right-wing group, for instance, the Hasidic movement is very orthodox, and extremely fundamental, therefore orthodox=fundamentalist.

Then, if there is agreement as to the definition potential and use of Orthodox, would we start to have Orthodox Episcopalians, Reformed Episcopalians, and Conservative ones (regarding the issues of women priests, gay clergy, etc), and in the same venue, Orthodox Catholics , Conservative Catholics, and Reformed Catholics (are they not the Dutch movement?).


Very thought provoking indeed!

Michael

Dear Michael,

Excellent point!

There are on record "Orthodox Greek Catholics" "Orthodox Old Catholics" "Assyrian Orthodox" and even "Orthodox Anglicans" who, at one time or another, were united to Eastern Orthodoxy.

An American friend of mine travelling through the U.S. came upon an "Orthodox Presbyterian" church.

He was convinced this was a Presbyterian group that had joined Orthodoxy!

In addition, the Oriental Churches do call themselves Orthodox - and the Byzantine Orthodox, although not all, tend to deny that they are since, even if they agree on Christology, they are still separated from the Orthodox Christian Church.

Alex

Alex,

Yes, the Orthodox Presbyterians are an interesting clan. They are "exclusive psalmodists" and have their own psalter with unique musical settings. No musical instruments, and VERY Calvinist.

Good People.

DL

Dear David,

All Orthodox Christians are!

Alex

Dear Alice, Personally, I've been eating more fish lately...mostly swordfish, tuna, and salmon. Also a LOT of flan (got a new receipt)! It might be the fish oil??? I'm hearing that this is VERY good for everyone...and it's 'brain food' or something. Thanks for the compliment. I'm tryin.

Your brother in Christ,
+Gregory, priestmonk

Well a lot of Catholics refer to themseves as orthodox Catholics

They just don't mean they are Orthodox, but Catholics true to the faith.

So it would not be too far off to use catholic Orthodoxy, universal and of the true faith.

Now I am confused. :p

I do know for sure is that we firmly believe in the Triune God, his Word, and his Sacramental Churches. Allaluiah!

In the 70's all Russian Orthodox patriachal churches had signs, which read: Orthodox Catholic Church of _______________ in front of them...and before the Tomos of Autocephaly, the OCA (former Metropolia) parishes were always know as Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of ______________ . It must get confusing to non-Christians and non-Catholics all this? Imagine what Our Lord thinks of it all...when He looks down upon what He began as His Body and sees it all separated by our pride and sin! Lord have mercy!

In that same mercy,
+Fr. Gregory

So THAT's it!!!!

Do you have any ideas for me about foods that help the memory?!?

In Christ,
Alice

Alice, Try GINSENG and Ginkgo Biloba? Both seem ta help me a bit...well, sometimes, I think...can't remember?! Hehehe

Love you!

Your brother,
+Fr. Gregory