Eastern Orthodoxy and Christianity have similarities in beliefs and tradition but also have a few major differences. Eastern Orthodoxy is a form of Christianity that developed and evolved in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. The Church originated in the 1st century and since then has branched and evolved into many different forms. Christianity on the other hand, began in the late 1st century in Palestine and since then has grown and branched out into numerous forms of expression. A close analysis of Christianity, in comparison to Eastern Orthodoxy, will help readers to understand the differences between the two.
One of the main differences is the liturgy and how services are conducted in church. Orthodox Cathedrals are lead by an Orthodox Catholic priest and feature a distinctive ritual that includes icons and prayers. On the other hand, Catholic services contain more sermons and music. Furthermore, while Eastern Orthodox priests are allowed to marry, Catholic priests are required to be celibate. Consequently, differently from Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy celebrates the marriage as one of the seven sacraments. In addition, in Eastern Orthodoxy, there is also a custom of baptizing babies three times as part of their initiation into the church.
Monotheism is one of the most important doctrinal differences between Christianity and Eastern Orthodoxy. Eastern Orthodoxy teaches that God is made up of three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Christianity, however, believes that only one God exists, although he is made up of three distinct persons. In the same manner, Eastern Orthodoxy do not consider Jesus to be fully human, while Christianity teaches that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. Consequently, Eastern Orthodoxy focuses on creating unity among ‘all persons in every possible way’, whereas Christianity tends to emphasize the importance of ‘rapture, redemption and creating a felicitous life’.
Moreover, depending on geography, there is a different set of ecclesial regulations for Christianity and Eastern Orthodoxy. The Orthodox Church is self-governing and autonomous in its relations with the government and other religious denominations and does not accept papal authority. Eastern Orthodoxy also has a larger council of bishops compared to Christianity, who have the responsibility of discernment. On the contrary, the Catholic Church is essentially a single supreme authority. In conclusion, Eastern Orthodoxy and Christianity are both considered widely accepted branches of Christianity, however, they differ on several doctrinal and practical aspects.
Interpretation Of Scriptures
The Eastern Orthodox Church adopts a very traditional approach when it comes to the interpretation of scriptures, strongly believing in the literal meaning of the text. It is their belief that the bible should be used as a source of moral guidance, rather than as a source of literary or historical criticism. This makes it at odds with more modern versions of Christianity, which rely more heavily on critical analysis and interpretation of scripture. Furthermore, the Eastern Orthodox Church embraces tradition, which they believe holds a higher authority than the scriptures. For example, the Eastern Orthodox Church has seven sacraments and dozens of feasts, which are seen as more important than the bible. Therefore, the Eastern Orthodox Church places a greater emphasis on tradition over scripture.
Religion And Politics
Eastern Orthodoxy and Christianity differ in their approach to spirituality and religion, but also in their approach to politics. Christianity, generally speaking, views churches as separate from government, advocating strong lines between politics and religion. On the other hand, Eastern Orthodoxy views church and state as closer together. Eastern Orthodox churches may have their own governing bodies, and historically have had closer political ties with their respective governments than other Christian denominations. This includes their involvement in social and political issues, ranging from national leaders to international policy. This is a very different approach to Christianity, which has traditionally had an apolitical approach.
Attitude Towards Non-Adherents
Finally, Eastern Orthodoxy and Christianity differ in their attitude towards non-adherents. Eastern Orthodoxy is known to be much more welcoming and understanding of non-adherents. Its members believe that conversion and evangelism are important, but according to Eastern Orthodoxy, non-adherents are still considered part of the church. On the contrary, Christianity tends to be more demanding and preachy, espousing a ‘convert or be damned’ type of message. This difference in attitude highlights the fact that Eastern Orthodoxy is much more welcoming and understanding towards other faiths and people in general, whilst Christianity is more authoritarian and intolerant.
Organizational Structures
In terms of organizational structures, Eastern Orthodoxy is less centralized and more decentralized than Christianity. Patriarchates, which are local groups of provinces or nations, are led by the Patriarch, who has the authority to make decisions over local matters. They are essentially autonomous communities. Christianity, however, is much more hierarchical. Each local church is led by a Bishop, and all local churches come together to form larger regional sees to determine teachings and practices on a more general scale. This centralized structure gives Christianity much more control over its members than Eastern Orthodoxy has, creating a more authoritarian system.
Worship Practices
The two religions differ slightly in their approaches to worship. Eastern Orthodoxy avoids religious iconography, deeming it idolatrous, whilst Christianity often uses symbols, statues, and figures to illustrate and emphasize their teachings. Therefore, Eastern Orthodoxy relies more heavily on spiritual encounters, and less on the visual stimulation of religious art, when it comes to worship. Christianity, however, places a much greater emphasis on the visual aspects of worship, often relying on art and symbols to illustrate their beliefs.
Communion
One of the major differences between Eastern Orthodoxy and Christianity concerns the administration of communion. Eastern Orthodoxy allows members to take communion only once a year, before Easter, while Christianity allows members to receive communion up to four times a year. Eastern Orthodoxy believes that the consumption of wine and bread during communion is a representation of the Lord’s Passion, and should only be done once a year. Christianity, on the other hand, puts a greater emphasis on frequent consumption of the bread and wine during communion, believing it to be a representation of the Lord’s presence in a person.
Clergy Supervision
Eastern Orthodoxy and Christianity also differ in the way their respective clergies are supervised. Eastern Orthodoxy is much more autonomous in its approach to clergy supervision, although there are general rules in place. Clergy are allowed to do their own interpretation of scripture, as well can deviate from the traditional teachings. Christianity, however, puts a greater emphasis on the supervision of clergy, generally believing in a stronger adherence to traditional teachings and rules. Clergy are monitored much more closely and are expected to adhere to the authority of religious leaders and churches.
