Eastern Orthodox Church - Revision history

DavidWalker at 15:50, 6 May 2019

2019-05-06T15:50:05Z

DavidWalker at 15:48, 6 May 2019

2019-05-06T15:48:11Z

PeterWilson at 22:58, 7 September 2015

2015-09-07T22:58:56Z

PeterWilson at 17:25, 26 November 2014

2014-11-26T17:25:29Z

DavidWalker at 10:17, 21 September 2010

2010-09-21T10:17:40Z

DavidWalker: New page: The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is one of the major branches of Christianity and comprises a number of Churches in Greece, Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia Minor, and the Middle East...

2010-09-21T10:03:47Z

New page: The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is one of the major branches of Christianity and comprises a number of Churches in Greece, Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia Minor, and the Middle East...

New page

The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is one of the major branches of [[Christian]]ity and comprises a number of [[Church]]es in Greece, Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia Minor, and the Middle East. Each of these [[Church]]es - the best-known are the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] and the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] - is autonomous and covers a distinct geographical area (usually a nation-state), but they are all committed to similar religious doctrines and acknowledge the primacy of the [[patriarch]] of Constantinople. The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' may be contrasted, in one dimension, with Western Christianity (i.e., [[Roman Catholic]]ism and the various [[Protestant]] [[denomination]]s which came into existence during and after the [[Reformation]]) - see further below - and, in another dimension, with the various [[Church]]es of the Middle East and neigbouring regions (e.g., the [[Coptic Church]] and the [[Armenian Church]]) which differ on certain points of doctrine from the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' and, rather confusingly, are said to constitute the '''Oriental Orthodox Church'''. (The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is also known as the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', the '''Orthodox Church''', the '''Byzantine Church''', and the '''Greek Orthodox Church'''.)

The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' came into existence in the eleventh century as a result of the Great (East-West) Schism, which entrenched already existing differences within the [[Christian]] [[Church]]. The Roman emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305) divided the Roman Empire for administrative purposes into two halves: a Latin-speaking western half with Rome as its capital, and a Greek-speaking eastern half with Constantinople as its capital. The [[Christian]] [[Church]], especially after [[Christian]ity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, tended in its organisation and in other ways to reflect these differences, the Western Church using Latin in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[bishop]] of Rome (the Pope), and the Eastern Church using Greek in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[Patriarch]] (i.e., the [[bishop]]) of Constantinople. Over the centuries there were disagreements between the Pope in Rome and the [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople, and in 1054 doctrinal differences and a dispute about the extent of papal authority led to a formal break and mutual [[excommunication]] between the Eastern Church and the Western Church. It was this break, usually referred to as the Great Schism or Great East-West Schism, which brought into existence the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] in the western half of the Roman Empire and the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' in the eastern half.

Like the various [[denomination]]s of Western [[Christian]]ity, the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' recognises the [[Bible]], i.e., the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s, as its primary source of religious truth. However, in the case of the [[Old Testament]] it uses the Greek [[Septuagint]] and accepts as [[canonical]] an additional ten [[book]]s - the so called â€™Î±Î½Î±Î³Î¹Î³Î½Ï‰ÏƒÎºÏŒÎ¼ÎµÎ½Î± (''anagignoskomena'', the (books) that are read) - which are not contained in the 39-book [[Old Testament]] recognised by most western [[Christian]] [[denomination]]s. In interpretating the [[Bible]] the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''', like the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] but unlike many [[Protestant]] [[Church]]es, gives some weight to the traditions of the [[Church]].

In many respects the doctrines of the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' are similar to those of most of the [[denomination]]s of Western Christianity. Thus both branches of [[Christian]]ity accept the [[doctrine of the Trinity]] (i.e., the belief that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, are three 'persons' but one substance) and the belief that Jesus, as the Son of God who lived on earth as a human being, has two natures and was both fully divine and fully human. However, the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' has a relatively benign view of human nature, at least by comparison with the view advanced by St. [[Augustine]] and endorsed by some [[Protestant]] [[denomination]]s: it accepts that as a result of the 'Fall of Man', i.e., the sin of the first man Adam, humanity has inherited a tendency to sin, but denies that human nature is, as e.g., Calvin maintained, utterly 'depraved and corrupt'. It also denies that mankind collectively shares in Adam's guilt, and partly in consequence of this, offers an account of human salvation which differs strikingly from that taught by some [[Protestant]] denominations: it does not interpret Jesus' crucifixion as an instance of 'punitive substitution', i.e., it does not hold that Jesus was an innocent victim who was punished by God as a substitute for the sins of humankind, but rather it sees Jesus' death, descent into hell, and resurrection as effecting a change in human nature, rescuing humanity from a future apart from God, and making it possible for human beings to approach closer to God. For the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' salvation lies not simply in belief in Jesus but in a life in which we become more like God - a process known as Î¸ÎÏ‰ÏƒÎ¹Ï‚ (''theosis'').

A distinctive feature of devotion in the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is the use of [[icon]]s, i.e., representations of Jesus or one of the saints usually painted on wood in a traditional Byzantine style. [[Icon]]s are to be found not only in Eastern Orthodox [[church]]es but in the homes of members of Church. The [[icon]] is not itself venerated, but is nonetheless felt to share in some way in the sanctity of the person it represents. (The English word '[[icon]]' is a transliteration of the Greek word ÎµÎ¹ÎºÏŽÎ½ (''eikon'', likeness or image).)

[[Category:Religion]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:50, 6 May 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is one of the major branches of [[Christian]]ity and comprises a number of [[Church]]es in Greece, Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia Minor, and the Middle East. Each of these [[Church]]es - the best-known are the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] and the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] - is autonomous and covers a distinct geographical area (usually a nation-state), but they are all committed to similar religious doctrines and acknowledge the primacy of the [[patriarch]] of Constantinople. The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' may be contrasted, in one dimension, with Western Christianity (i.e., [[Roman Catholic]]ism and the various [[Protestant]] [[denomination]]s which came into existence during and after the [[Reformation]]) - see further below - and, in another dimension, with the various [[Church]]es of the Middle East and neigbouring regions (e.g., the [[Coptic Orthodox Church\|Coptic Church]] and the [[Armenian Church]]) which differ on certain points of doctrine from the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' and, rather confusingly, are said to constitute the '''Oriental Orthodox Church'''. (The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is also known as the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', the '''Orthodox Church''', the '''Byzantine Church''', and the '''Greek Orthodox Church'''.)	+	The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is one of the major branches of [[Christian]]ity and comprises a number of [[Church]]es in Greece, Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia Minor, and the Middle East. Each of these [[Church]]es - the best-known are the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] and the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] - is autonomous and covers a distinct geographical area (usually a nation-state), but they are all committed to similar religious doctrines and acknowledge the primacy of the [[patriarch]] of Constantinople. The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' may be contrasted, in one dimension, with Western Christianity (i.e., [[Roman Catholic]]ism and the various [[Protestant]] [[denomination]]s which came into existence during and after the [[Reformation]]) - see further below - and, in another dimension, with the various [[Church]]es of the Middle East and neigbouring regions (e.g., the [[Coptic Orthodox Church\|Coptic Church]] and the [[Armenian Orthodox Church\|Armenian Church]]) which differ on certain points of doctrine from the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' and, rather confusingly, are said to constitute the '''Oriental Orthodox Church'''. (The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is also known as the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', the '''Orthodox Church''', the '''Byzantine Church''', and the '''Greek Orthodox Church'''.)

	The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' came into existence in the eleventh century as a result of the Great (East-West) Schism, which entrenched already existing differences within the [[Christian]] [[Church]]. The Roman emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305) divided the Roman Empire for administrative purposes into two halves: a Latin-speaking western half with Rome as its capital, and a Greek-speaking eastern half with Constantinople as its capital. The [[Christian]] [[Church]], especially after [[Christian]]ity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, tended in its organisation and in other ways to reflect these differences, the Western Church using Latin in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[bishop]] of Rome (the Pope), and the Eastern Church using Greek in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[Patriarch]] (i.e., the [[bishop]]) of Constantinople. Over the centuries there were disagreements between the Pope in Rome and the [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople, and in 1054 doctrinal differences and a dispute about the extent of papal authority led to a formal break and mutual [[excommunication]] between the Eastern Church and the Western Church. It was this break, usually referred to as the Great Schism or Great East-West Schism, which brought into existence the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] in the western half of the Roman Empire and the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' in the eastern half.		The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' came into existence in the eleventh century as a result of the Great (East-West) Schism, which entrenched already existing differences within the [[Christian]] [[Church]]. The Roman emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305) divided the Roman Empire for administrative purposes into two halves: a Latin-speaking western half with Rome as its capital, and a Greek-speaking eastern half with Constantinople as its capital. The [[Christian]] [[Church]], especially after [[Christian]]ity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, tended in its organisation and in other ways to reflect these differences, the Western Church using Latin in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[bishop]] of Rome (the Pope), and the Eastern Church using Greek in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[Patriarch]] (i.e., the [[bishop]]) of Constantinople. Over the centuries there were disagreements between the Pope in Rome and the [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople, and in 1054 doctrinal differences and a dispute about the extent of papal authority led to a formal break and mutual [[excommunication]] between the Eastern Church and the Western Church. It was this break, usually referred to as the Great Schism or Great East-West Schism, which brought into existence the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] in the western half of the Roman Empire and the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' in the eastern half.

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:48, 6 May 2019
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is one of the major branches of [[Christian]]ity and comprises a number of [[Church]]es in Greece, Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia Minor, and the Middle East. Each of these [[Church]]es - the best-known are the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] and the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] - is autonomous and covers a distinct geographical area (usually a nation-state), but they are all committed to similar religious doctrines and acknowledge the primacy of the [[patriarch]] of Constantinople. The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' may be contrasted, in one dimension, with Western Christianity (i.e., [[Roman Catholic]]ism and the various [[Protestant]] [[denomination]]s which came into existence during and after the [[Reformation]]) - see further below - and, in another dimension, with the various [[Church]]es of the Middle East and neigbouring regions (e.g., the [[Coptic Church]] and the [[Armenian Church]]) which differ on certain points of doctrine from the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' and, rather confusingly, are said to constitute the '''Oriental Orthodox Church'''. (The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is also known as the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', the '''Orthodox Church''', the '''Byzantine Church''', and the '''Greek Orthodox Church'''.)	+	The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is one of the major branches of [[Christian]]ity and comprises a number of [[Church]]es in Greece, Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia Minor, and the Middle East. Each of these [[Church]]es - the best-known are the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] and the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] - is autonomous and covers a distinct geographical area (usually a nation-state), but they are all committed to similar religious doctrines and acknowledge the primacy of the [[patriarch]] of Constantinople. The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' may be contrasted, in one dimension, with Western Christianity (i.e., [[Roman Catholic]]ism and the various [[Protestant]] [[denomination]]s which came into existence during and after the [[Reformation]]) - see further below - and, in another dimension, with the various [[Church]]es of the Middle East and neigbouring regions (e.g., the [[Coptic Orthodox Church\|Coptic Church]] and the [[Armenian Church]]) which differ on certain points of doctrine from the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' and, rather confusingly, are said to constitute the '''Oriental Orthodox Church'''. (The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is also known as the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', the '''Orthodox Church''', the '''Byzantine Church''', and the '''Greek Orthodox Church'''.)

	The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' came into existence in the eleventh century as a result of the Great (East-West) Schism, which entrenched already existing differences within the [[Christian]] [[Church]]. The Roman emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305) divided the Roman Empire for administrative purposes into two halves: a Latin-speaking western half with Rome as its capital, and a Greek-speaking eastern half with Constantinople as its capital. The [[Christian]] [[Church]], especially after [[Christian]]ity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, tended in its organisation and in other ways to reflect these differences, the Western Church using Latin in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[bishop]] of Rome (the Pope), and the Eastern Church using Greek in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[Patriarch]] (i.e., the [[bishop]]) of Constantinople. Over the centuries there were disagreements between the Pope in Rome and the [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople, and in 1054 doctrinal differences and a dispute about the extent of papal authority led to a formal break and mutual [[excommunication]] between the Eastern Church and the Western Church. It was this break, usually referred to as the Great Schism or Great East-West Schism, which brought into existence the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] in the western half of the Roman Empire and the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' in the eastern half.		The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' came into existence in the eleventh century as a result of the Great (East-West) Schism, which entrenched already existing differences within the [[Christian]] [[Church]]. The Roman emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305) divided the Roman Empire for administrative purposes into two halves: a Latin-speaking western half with Rome as its capital, and a Greek-speaking eastern half with Constantinople as its capital. The [[Christian]] [[Church]], especially after [[Christian]]ity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, tended in its organisation and in other ways to reflect these differences, the Western Church using Latin in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[bishop]] of Rome (the Pope), and the Eastern Church using Greek in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[Patriarch]] (i.e., the [[bishop]]) of Constantinople. Over the centuries there were disagreements between the Pope in Rome and the [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople, and in 1054 doctrinal differences and a dispute about the extent of papal authority led to a formal break and mutual [[excommunication]] between the Eastern Church and the Western Church. It was this break, usually referred to as the Great Schism or Great East-West Schism, which brought into existence the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] in the western half of the Roman Empire and the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' in the eastern half.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is one of the major branches of [[Christian]]ity and comprises a number of [[Church]]es in Greece, Eastern Europe, Russia, Asia Minor, and the Middle East. Each of these [[Church]]es - the best-known are the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] and the [[Russian Orthodox Church]] - is autonomous and covers a distinct geographical area (usually a nation-state), but they are all committed to similar religious doctrines and acknowledge the primacy of the [[patriarch]] of Constantinople. The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' may be contrasted, in one dimension, with Western Christianity (i.e., [[Roman Catholic]]ism and the various [[Protestant]] [[denomination]]s which came into existence during and after the [[Reformation]]) - see further below - and, in another dimension, with the various [[Church]]es of the Middle East and neigbouring regions (e.g., the [[Coptic Church]] and the [[Armenian Church]]) which differ on certain points of doctrine from the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' and, rather confusingly, are said to constitute the '''Oriental Orthodox Church'''. (The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is also known as the '''Orthodox Catholic Church''', the '''Orthodox Church''', the '''Byzantine Church''', and the '''Greek Orthodox Church'''.)
-The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' came into existence in the eleventh century as a result of the Great (East-West) Schism, which entrenched already existing differences within the [[Christian]] [[Church]]. The Roman emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305) divided the Roman Empire for administrative purposes into two halves: a Latin-speaking western half with Rome as its capital, and a Greek-speaking eastern half with Constantinople as its capital. The [[Christian]] [[Church]], especially after [[Christian]ity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, tended in its organisation and in other ways to reflect these differences, the Western Church using Latin in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[bishop]] of Rome (the Pope), and the Eastern Church using Greek in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[Patriarch]] (i.e., the [[bishop]]) of Constantinople. Over the centuries there were disagreements between the Pope in Rome and the [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople, and in 1054 doctrinal differences and a dispute about the extent of papal authority led to a formal break and mutual [[excommunication]] between the Eastern Church and the Western Church. It was this break, usually referred to as the Great Schism or Great East-West Schism, which brought into existence the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] in the western half of the Roman Empire and the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' in the eastern half.
+The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' came into existence in the eleventh century as a result of the Great (East-West) Schism, which entrenched already existing differences within the [[Christian]] [[Church]]. The Roman emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305) divided the Roman Empire for administrative purposes into two halves: a Latin-speaking western half with Rome as its capital, and a Greek-speaking eastern half with Constantinople as its capital. The [[Christian]] [[Church]], especially after [[Christian]]ity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, tended in its organisation and in other ways to reflect these differences, the Western Church using Latin in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[bishop]] of Rome (the Pope), and the Eastern Church using Greek in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[Patriarch]] (i.e., the [[bishop]]) of Constantinople. Over the centuries there were disagreements between the Pope in Rome and the [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople, and in 1054 doctrinal differences and a dispute about the extent of papal authority led to a formal break and mutual [[excommunication]] between the Eastern Church and the Western Church. It was this break, usually referred to as the Great Schism or Great East-West Schism, which brought into existence the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] in the western half of the Roman Empire and the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' in the eastern half.
 Like the various [[denomination]]s of Western [[Christian]]ity, the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' recognises the [[Bible]], i.e., the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s, as its primary source of religious truth. However, in the case of the [[Old Testament]] it uses the Greek [[Septuagint]] and accepts as [[canonical]] an additional ten [[book]]s - the so called ἀναγιγνωσκόμενα  (''anagignoskomena'', the (books) that are read) - which are not contained in the 39-book [[Old Testament]] recognised by most western [[Christian]] [[denomination]]s. In interpreting the [[Bible]] the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''', like the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] but unlike many [[Protestant]] [[Church]]es, gives some weight to the traditions of the [[Church]].

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 The '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' came into existence in the eleventh century as a result of the Great (East-West) Schism, which entrenched already existing differences within the [[Christian]] [[Church]]. The Roman emperor Diocletian (reigned 284-305) divided the Roman Empire for administrative purposes into two halves: a Latin-speaking western half with Rome as its capital, and a Greek-speaking eastern half with Constantinople as its capital. The [[Christian]] [[Church]], especially after [[Christian]ity became the official religion of the Roman Empire, tended in its organisation and in other ways to reflect these differences, the Western Church using Latin in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[bishop]] of Rome (the Pope), and the Eastern Church using Greek in its services and recognising the primacy of the [[Patriarch]] (i.e., the [[bishop]]) of Constantinople. Over the centuries there were disagreements between the Pope in Rome and the [[Patriarch]] of Constantinople, and in 1054 doctrinal differences and a dispute about the extent of papal authority led to a formal break and mutual [[excommunication]] between the Eastern Church and the Western Church. It was this break, usually referred to as the Great Schism or Great East-West Schism, which brought into existence the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] in the western half of the Roman Empire and the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' in the eastern half.
-Like the various [[denomination]]s of Western [[Christian]]ity, the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' recognises the [[Bible]], i.e., the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s, as its primary source of religious truth. However, in the case of the [[Old Testament]] it uses the Greek [[Septuagint]] and accepts as [[canonical]] an additional ten [[book]]s - the so called â€™Î±Î½Î±Î³Î¹Î³Î½Ï‰ÏƒÎºÏŒÎ¼ÎµÎ½Î± (''anagignoskomena'', the (books) that are read) - which are not contained in the 39-book [[Old Testament]] recognised by most western [[Christian]] [[denomination]]s. In interpreting the [[Bible]] the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''', like the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] but unlike many [[Protestant]] [[Church]]es, gives some weight to the traditions of the [[Church]].
+Like the various [[denomination]]s of Western [[Christian]]ity, the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' recognises the [[Bible]], i.e., the [[Old Testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]]s, as its primary source of religious truth. However, in the case of the [[Old Testament]] it uses the Greek [[Septuagint]] and accepts as [[canonical]] an additional ten [[book]]s - the so called ἀναγιγνωσκόμενα  (''anagignoskomena'', the (books) that are read) - which are not contained in the 39-book [[Old Testament]] recognised by most western [[Christian]] [[denomination]]s. In interpreting the [[Bible]] the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''', like the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Church]] but unlike many [[Protestant]] [[Church]]es, gives some weight to the traditions of the [[Church]].
-In many respects the doctrines of the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' are similar to those of most of the [[denomination]]s of Western Christianity. Thus both branches of [[Christian]]ity accept the [[doctrine of the Trinity]] (i.e., the belief that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, are three 'persons' but one substance) and the belief that Jesus, as the Son of God who lived on earth as a human being, has two natures and is both fully divine and fully human. However, the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' has a relatively benign view of human nature, at least by comparison with the view advanced by St. [[Augustine]] and endorsed by some [[Protestant]] [[denomination]]s: it accepts that as a result of the 'Fall of Man', i.e., the sin of the first man Adam, humanity has inherited a tendency to sin, but denies that human nature is, as e.g., Calvin maintained, utterly 'depraved and corrupt'. It also denies that mankind collectively shares in Adam's guilt, and partly in consequence of this, offers an account of human salvation which differs strikingly from that taught by some [[Protestant]] denominations: it does not interpret Jesus' crucifixion as an instance of 'punitive substitution', i.e., it does not hold that Jesus was an innocent victim who was punished by God as a substitute for the sins of humankind, but rather it sees Jesus' death, descent into hell, and resurrection as effecting a change in human nature, rescuing humanity from a future apart from God, and making it possible for human beings to approach closer to God. For the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' salvation lies not simply in belief in Jesus but in a life in which we become more like God - a process known as Î¸ÎÏ‰ÏƒÎ¹Ï‚ (''theosis'').
+In many respects the doctrines of the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' are similar to those of most of the [[denomination]]s of Western Christianity. Thus both branches of [[Christian]]ity accept the [[doctrine of the Trinity]] (i.e., the belief that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, are three 'persons' but one substance) and the belief that Jesus, as the Son of God who lived on earth as a human being, has two natures and is both fully divine and fully human. However, the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' has a relatively benign view of human nature, at least by comparison with the view advanced by St. [[Augustine]] and endorsed by some [[Protestant]] [[denomination]]s: it accepts that as a result of the 'Fall of Man', i.e., the sin of the first man Adam, humanity has inherited a tendency to sin, but denies that human nature is, as e.g., Calvin maintained, utterly 'depraved and corrupt'. It also denies that mankind collectively shares in Adam's guilt, and partly in consequence of this, offers an account of human salvation which differs strikingly from that taught by some [[Protestant]] denominations: it does not interpret Jesus' crucifixion as an instance of 'punitive substitution', i.e., it does not hold that Jesus was an innocent victim who was punished by God as a substitute for the sins of humankind, but rather it sees Jesus' death, descent into hell, and resurrection as effecting a change in human nature, rescuing humanity from a future apart from God, and making it possible for human beings to approach closer to God. For the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' salvation lies not simply in belief in Jesus but in a life in which we become more like God - a process known as θἐωσις‚ ''theosis'', or 'deification'.
-A distinctive feature of devotion in the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is the use of [[icon]]s, i.e.,  representations of Jesus or one of the saints usually painted on wood in a traditional Byzantine style. [[Icon]]s are to be found not only in Eastern Orthodox [[church]]es but in the homes of members of Church. The [[icon]] is not itself venerated, but is nonetheless felt to share in some way in the sanctity of the person it represents. (The English word '[[icon]]' is a transliteration of the Greek word ÎµÎ¹ÎºÏŽÎ½ (''eikon'', likeness or image).)
+A distinctive feature of devotion in the '''Eastern Orthodox Church''' is the use of [[icon]]s, i.e.,  representations of Jesus or one of the saints usually painted on wood in a traditional Byzantine style. [[Icon]]s are to be found not only in Eastern Orthodox [[church]]es but in the homes of members of Church. The [[icon]] is not itself venerated, but is nonetheless felt to share in some way in the sanctity of the person it represents. (The English word '[[icon]]' is a transliteration of the Greek word είκὼ(''or'' ο)ν,''eikon'', 'likeness' or 'image').)
 [[Category:Religion]]