Orthodox Questions. (Jesus Christ, priest, Creator, Earth, crucified)

[Mister Emu]

I have a few questions about orthodoxy.

I am an independent person, were I to join the Orthodox church would I be required to accept all points, or just the major ones?

What is involved in the process of joining the Eastern church?

[No*s]

1). You must accept all Seven Ecumenical Councils

2). There are more/less beliefs, but those aren't clearly outlined. Believing in the Real Presence is a must, but it isn't outlined in one of the Seven. This is essential. There are other beliefs, but what would be required of you is quite likely to change from parish to parish.

How do you join?

You talk to a priest and become a catechuman. The priest, then, will assign more or less requirements. I'm in the process of converting myself .

Orthodoxy is a very pastoral religion .

[No*s]

One thing, the services, if you attend some will mess with your mind and your view of Scripture . It begins to take on a whole different form lol.

[Mister Emu]

You must accept all Seven Ecumenical Councils

Do you have (a) link(s) to where I could read the decisions met by the councils?

[No*s]

Yes, the councils are here:

http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-14/TOC.htm

and an earlier online edition:

http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-14/TOC.htm

The Councils in outline are:

First Ecumenical Council, condemned Arianism and affirmed that the Son was of the same nature as the Father, in contradistinction to the doctrine Arius had created.

The Second Ecumenical Council condemned Arianism applied to the Holy Spirit, and produced the Nicene Creed in its final form. The Creed is an essential part of the Council.

The Third Ecumenical Council condemned Nestorianism and declared that Mary was, indeed, the Theotokos, or "Mother of God."

The Fourth Ecumenical Council condemned Monophysitism, and affirmed that Christ had two natures united in one person.

The Fifth Ecumenical Council basically reaffirmed the preceding with some force.

The Sixth Ecumenical Council affirmed that Jesus was fully human and had a human will as well as divine will united in one person, in contrast to theologians that tried to assert that His human will was "swallowed up as a drop in the ocean."

The Seventh Ecumenical Council affirmed the use of icons, and laid down stipulations for their use. In the theology, Iconoclasm is essentially denying the validity of Christ's incarnation, becuase that is an image.

Those are the seven in brief.

[No*s]

The Nicene Creed in its original form (translated of course):

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages.

Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father through whom all things were made.

For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man.

He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and he suffered and was buried.

On the third day he rose according to the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom will have no end.

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.

In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

I expect the resurrection of the dead.

And the life of the ages to come. Amen.

This creed is imlicit in all the Ecumenical Councils. The term "Catholic" in it doesn't mean all Chrsitian Churches, but merely the Orthodox Church.

[Mister Emu]

Thanks

[No*s]

Welcome .

[Linus7]

I would like to chime in to recommend three books.

They are:

1. Introducing the Orthodox Church, by Father Anthony Coniaris (Light and Life Publishing, 1982)
2. The Orthodox Church, by Timothy Ware (Penguin Books, 1997)
3. The Way: What Every Protestant Should Know About the Orthodox Church, by Clark Carlton (Regina Orthodox Press, 1997).

There are a lot of other good books, but these three make a splendid introduction to the Orthodox Church.

[Mister Emu]

Thank you Linus, I will shortly be reading those books.