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

my Baptist seminary is quite orthodox in Christology and view of Scripture, does that count? oh, and don't forget, I was there, the Russian Orthodox in communion with Rome.
Much Love,
Jonn
:rolleyes:

Dear Friends,

A ROCOR monastic once told me this, "There are few today who practice the true Orthodoxy of the heart!"

What does this mean?

Alex

Ya might be safer with just fish oil from the health food store... mercury content in fish can be high. I think the recomemdation for Tuna is no more than two cans per week.

But then again - who knows? ? ? Butter was once pronoounced bad for us - and then the butter substitutes were pronounced worst - so - back to butter.

I have taken to one teaspoon of olive oil a day in the winter - certainly counteracts winter dry skin and that ugh feeling in the throat in the morning.

Boy - it is heck - when ya get older
-ray

Since getting old is hell, give it to everyone else. (hell, that is)

Like all human signs and symbols - the word orthodox presents variations of experience to the mind.

The word itself has variations of meaning depending upon which circle of people it is used in.

So there is no universal meaning to the word orthodox - that all are required to adopt. A fixed universal meaning is not possible because humans just do not work that way. Country to country - culture to culture - God obviously decided on differences and variations - and did not choose one language over the other or one ethnic to be a measure of all others.

So to 'nail' it down... all words are signs of an experience had in the mind. While some group can select a name (in this case - orthodox) based upon past usage of the word or whatever - ultimately anyone who has a mental meaning of the word �orthodox� associated with any group - has for its meaning - their experience - of that group.

In American - I believe just about anyone knows the word and the association with the church and its members. But I would suspect that only those who are orthodox or deal with the orthodox church in some way - may know its Greek heritage meaning of �right worship�. So for the majority of Americans it does not mean �right worship� but it rather means - whatever experience of Orthodox people and the Orthodox church - they have had.

Certainly it is clear to most Americans that the religious use of �orthodox� as among the Jews - brings up images of Hassidic. Wide brim hats - beards - long black coats - etc� and so there would be an association of experience with the word as - a strictness of external codes of act and behavior.

Not being Orthodox myself - I note my intuitive definition for Orthodox - is one of it being like a banner to live up to. I know it means - right worship - and so it seems to me to be - something - that all Orthodox people - try to live up to. A constant - goal. And so in many ways it represents a - perfection - of the Christian spiritual life - that members of the Orthodox church and Eastern Catholic churches - have always in their minds and hearts to continue to live up to throughout life�s events and situations. A strictness - but one of loving flexibility (as strict as a father in laying out guidance - but as flexible as a father in the application of that guidance to his children).

Bottom line is that the word �Orthodox� (as in church) has no universal meaning - except that experience that other may have and gain - through an experience of the Orthodox church and its members.

I am reminded of the word - body - which in English cultures may have a few variations of meaning (body building, larger foundation, largest part, inner frame, etc..) but in the Spanish cultures has a primary meaning of dead-body. And so the Ford motto �Body by Fisher� had the meaning �Corps by Fisher� in Spanish lands and had be withdrawn. I shutter at the image of �body-building� would have drawn in their minds.

Of course - for the sake of bringing some stability to language - there is the dictionary - so there must be - among cultures who use them - a guide to the 1) proper use of a word within such and such culture and 2) common popular use.

Ortho: straight, right, correct.

Not exactly the use of the Orthodox Church for its name. �correct opinion� - �right reasoning� - close but I do not think the Orthodox church sees itself as just an �opinion� or simply based upon powers of correct human reasoning.

(2) Orthodox Christian: Adhering to the Christina faith as established in early Christian ecumenical councils.

Orthodox Judaism believes that the Mosaic laws that were applicable in ancient times are applicable today.

So 'orthodox' - practice - customs - traditions - or beliefs - are those items believed by a group - to be right ways of thinking and acting - back then as well as now.

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

The � Mexican Word Police... of course.

Any church may name itself as it wishes. Free will.

-ray

Dear Byzantines,

During the lifetime of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, (Greek Orthodox) when the East and West were ONE, they "worked with" the Patriarchs in the East and the Patriarch of the West, (concelebrating with the Pope in Rome)therefore we were both Orthodox (Catholics in the East) and Catholic (in ALLEGIANCE WITH Romans in the West)... we were properly termed Orthodox and Orthodox Catholic. During Cyril and Methodius later years, the local Roman bishops did not follow the Pope's instructions for our particular Church (two Roman bishops were excommunicated) ..but still being persecuted, Cyril and Methodius then worked only with the Patriarch of the East and were properly termed Catholic Orthodox (still in allegiance WITH the Pope during their lifetime). However, after 1054, history of our particular Church was one of a more severe persecution in our homeland. Otec Josafat Timkovic (recent hegumen of the Presov seminary) delineated the years 863 to 1646... His book has resulted in his persecution by our own Presov bishop...however, he is supported by a cardinal in Rome on its historical credibility.

Log in to the website www.timkovic.narod.ru... [timkovic.narod.ru...] also an english (his) summary of his (po nashemu) book is available via email..jpbonchonsky@snowcrest.net

S BOHOM,
JPB

Joseph,
If I may on behalf of my Eastern brethren, welcome you to the forum.
I couldn't help but notice your reference to Sts. Cyril and Methodius. It is my understanding that these Saints were not Greek, but Macedonian Slavs that evangelized the Slavs, and also translated the Bible using their own Cyrillic alphabet ("Cyrilitsa")

Brad

Dear Brad,

Yes, that is a touchy subject.

Cyril and Methodius were Thessalonians, to be sure.

They had a gift for languages and defended the right of the Slavs to have the liturgy in an understandable language.

I've never heard any other source ever refer to them as anything other than "Greeks."

But, then again, I'm not Macedonian!

Alex