East Meets West: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Questions about Orthodox Christianity
Orthodox FAQ's on Scripture, Rome and the Papacy, Language, and More
We regularly field questions from inquirers and catechumens at Saint Mark Greek Orthodox Church. In light of the election of a new Pope this week, I thought it might be a good time to share 10 questions we’ve been asked in the past on issues around Roman Catholicism and a few other matters.
1. "What's the deal with the Eastern Orthodox Bible? Do you have your own version?"
The Bible is the fruit of the Orthodox Church. The most commonly used text for the Eastern Orthodox Old Testament is the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament used by many Jews at the time of Christ. However, there is no single official translation of the entire Eastern Orthodox Bible into English.
The Orthodox Study Bible is an excellent option in the English-speaking world, as it uses the New King James Version for the New Testament, which is a Protestant translation, but it is based on a Greek “text family” of manuscripts that are considered reliable by the Orthodox. The Old Testament is based on the Septuagint by “correcting” the NKJV Old Testament in those places where it differs from the Greek. The reason they could do this is that it was a cooperative effort between Orthodox clergy and scholars with the publisher that owns the NKJV translation.
2. "If I'm Greek Orthodox, can I go to a Russian Orthodox church? Are they really that different?"
Both the Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox Churches are part of the Eastern Orthodox Church and share the same core beliefs and sacraments. While there may be some minor cultural and liturgical differences, the essential teachings and traditions are the same.
If a Russian Orthodox Church is closest to you, it would be perfectly fine to attend there—always reach out to the presiding priest at that parish. Other Orthodox administrations exist within Orthodoxy in America, such as Antiochian, Orthodox Church in America, and more.
3. "I keep hearing about ‘Original Sin’—how do Orthodox Christians view this?"
In Orthodox theology, the term "original sin" refers to Adam and Eve's disobedience and its consequences for us, rather than inherited guilt. Many Orthodox scholars prefer the term “ancestral sin” to “original sin” to make a semantical distinction.
Orthodox Christians believe that humanity is affected by the fall of Adam and Eve, but they do not inherit their guilt as much as they inherit the mortality and consequences of this disobedience. Jesus' death on the cross is seen as the means to restore humanity's relationship with God, to conquer sin and death, and to offer salvation to all.
“Sin came into the world through one man, and his sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned” (Rom. 5:12, GNT).
4. "What's the Orthodox take on the Pope and Jesus telling Peter 'On this rock I will build my church'?"
In Orthodox interpretation, "On this rock I will build my church" (Matthew 16:18) refers not only to Peter but to the faith that Peter confessed, which is the belief that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and this Apostolic faith was upheld and taught by all the apostles. Orthodox Christians do not believe that this verse gives Peter exclusive authority over the other apostles or the entire Church. Instead, they understand it as a recognition of Peter's faith and his important role among the apostles.
That said, Saint Peter is associated with multiple apostolic sees. He is believed to have established the Church in Antioch and served as its first bishop before going to Rome. In Antioch, Peter is recognized as the first bishop, and the Church there holds a feast day commemorating his elevation to the bishopric. In Rome, Peter is also traditionally regarded as having served as the first bishop and is considered the “founder” of the Church there, even though there were already Christians there. Indeed, St. Peter was martyred in the late AD 60’s in Rome, but the book of Romans by St. Paul was probably written around AD 57, and there likely was a community of Christians in Rome since at least AD 50.
The belief in Peter's connection to both Antioch and Rome is supported by early Christian writings and traditions, but the Orthodox Church does not view Peter's association with Rome as conferring exclusive authority to the bishop of Rome or establishing a primacy of jurisdiction over other bishops. Instead, the Orthodox understanding emphasizes the unity and collegiality of the bishops within the Church.
5. "What exactly was Peter's role in the early Church according to Orthodox belief?"
The conversation between Jesus and Peter in John 21, where Jesus asks Peter if he loves him and instructs him to care for his sheep, is seen as a restoration of Peter after his threefold denial of Jesus. It is not understood as a singular appointment of Peter as the sole leader of the Church, but rather highlights the importance of love and pastoral care for all the faithful, and seems to be uniquely focused on offsetting his denial.
It is worth nothing that there is nothing particularly special about the Church at Rome making it indefectible or infallible. In fact, St. Paul warns the Romans in Romans 11:17-21 that if they are faithless, they too could cut themselves off from the benefits of the covenant with God like the Jews who rejected Jesus did.
6. "What did people call the Orthodox Church way back in the day?"
Before the Great Schism in 1054, the Church was commonly referred to as the One, Holy Catholic, and Apostolic Church, based on the Creed. The term "catholic" is often said to mean “universal,” but it’s worth noting that Orthodox Christians also understand the word "Catholic" to mean “whole, complete, and lacking in nothing.”
The term "orthodox" (from the Greek orthodoxos, meaning “of the right opinion” or even “right glory”) was used in early Christianity to refer to the set of doctrines believed by the early Christians. It was used to distinguish those who held the true faith from those who held heretical or heterodox beliefs. This term was eventually used with a capital-O after the schism to distinguish the Eastern Orthodox Church from the Roman Catholic Church. We believe the Orthodox Church is the fullness of the Catholic Church and is not missing anything—it is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic…and Orthodox.
7. "How was the early Church organized? Was Rome calling all the shots?"
The Bible does not explicitly outline a specific governance structure for the early Church, nor did the early Church—what we see instead is the Apostles appointed bishops, presbyters, and deacons to continue the Apostolic ministry in each place where the faith took root. As a result, the early Christian communities were led by various bishops who were appointed by the Apostles and their successors. The authority and leadership of bishops were recognized as an expression of unity and continuity with the Apostolic tradition.
There was no rule from Rome until very late in Church history, initially with a bishop in every city and later was consolidated into regional bishoprics. It is also notable that none of the Ecumenical Councils of the Church were called or attended by the bishop of Rome—at best he sent representatives who participated in the council in a similar manner to others.
8. "Do Orthodox Christians believe in Purgatory?"
The Orthodox Church does not believe in the concept of purgatory as understood in Catholicism. While Orthodox Christians believe that the soul's journey after death involves a process of growth, preparation, and purification for the final judgment, it differs in understanding from the Catholic concept of purgatory.
The book of Maccabees has been used as a “support” for purgatory, but really only shows some prayers for the dead. We also pray for the dead, as do many traditional Jews, who likewise don’t believe in purgatory.
9. "What about the Rosary? Do Orthodox Christians use that?"
The Orthodox Church does not typically use the Holy Rosary as practiced in the Catholic Church. Instead, Orthodox Christians often use prayer ropes, also known as komboskini or chotki or even lestovka, to aid in their personal prayer life. The Jesus Prayer is a common prayer used with the prayer rope: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
10. "How can I find an Orthodox church that offers services in English or other languages?"
While many Orthodox churches in America offer services in both English and their traditional liturgical language (like Greek, Slavonic, or Arabic), finding the right fit can feel a bit like a treasure hunt.
A helpful search engine for finding a canonical Orthodox parish in your area can be found on the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops website.
Pro tip: If you're not sure about the language of services at a particular parish, just give them a call! Most parishes are happy to let you know their service schedule and which languages they use. Plus, many churches print their service books with both English and the traditional language side-by-side, so you can follow along easily.