S
"WHAT DOES THE ORTHODOX CHURCH BELIEVE?
-- And How Do Roman Catholic Belief & Practice Differ? --
DOCTRINE
"ORTHODOX The Bible
"The Bible is the central written source of doctrine and belief, inspired in its writing by the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Scriptures must be accepted and interpreted in accordance with the belief which has been handed down by the Holy Fathers and which the Holy Orthodox Church has always held and down now hold. The Canon of the Scriptures includes the Old Testament (including several "Deuterocanonical" books) and the New Testament.
"ORTHODOX Creeds & Councils
"The major creedal statement of the Orthodox Church is the Nicene Creed (literally, the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, drawn up by the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea [325] and the Second Ecumenical Council in Constantinople [381]). The Orthodox Church had not altered this creed in any way over the centuries, and objects to any additions to it. The most important councils, which received universal approval of the entire Churhc in all places, are called the Seven Ecumenical Councils."
"ORTHODOX The Trinity
"The prime doctrinal dogma of the Trinity defines God as One God (one Divine Nature, with one Divine action and will) in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father is
the Fountainhead and source of the Trinity. God the Son is eternally begotten of the Father. Through His Incarnation and the hypostatic union, Christ is one Divine Persons, but has two natures; He is both fully God and fully Man. The Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father (the phrase "and the Son" (filioque) is not added.)
"ROMAN CATHOLIC The Bible
"The basic belief regarding the Bible is essentially the same, except taht there are differences in interpretation of the Scriptures in several areas, and differing tradition accepted by the two Churches. There are also a few differences in which Deuterocanonical books are included in the Old Testament canon.
"ROMAN CATHOLIC Creeds & Councils
"All of the Seven Ecumenical Councils are accepted, but the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed was changed by the addition of the filioque clause (see "Trinity" section). The Roman Catholic Church accepts as binding the decrees of several later councils which are not recognized by the Orthodox Church, and vice versa. Papal decrees have in some instances been set above or against the decisions of earlier councils and creeds.
"ROMAN CATHOLIC The Trinity
"In regards to the dogma of the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father, the Roman Catholic Church, in about the ninth century, added the filioque clause. (This addition contradicts the precise revelation of Scripture [John 15
6] and confuses the inner relations of the Persons of the Trinity.)WORSHIP
"ORTHODOX The Virgin Mary
"Mary is venerated as Ever-Virgin Mother of God. She is given the title "Theotokos", meaning "God-bearer", because He who is born of her is from all eternity God. Her human nature is in every way the same as that of other men and women. Believers request the special prayers and intercessions of Mary, as one who was and is close to Christ in a unique manner. Feast days celebrated in her honor include: Conception, Nativity, Presentation, Dormition (Falling Asleep), and the Annunciation."
"ROMAN CATHOLIC The Virgin Mary
"The Roman Catholic Church shares with the Orthodox Church a deep love for and veneration of the Virgin Mary. There is, however, a significant difference in emphasis and belief. In Catholic belief, from the first moment of her conception, the Virgin Mary was, by the singular grace of God, kept free from all stain or original sin (the Immaculate Conception). There is also an understanding that all graces flow from God through Mary, as "Mediatrix"."
(pages 12-13: Orthodoxy and Catholicism: What Are the Differences? by Fr. Theodore
Pulcini. Copyright 1995, Conciliar Press, Ben Lomond, California.).
God save us all in Christ Jesus our Saviour: AMEN. In Erie PA Scott R. Harrington July 9, 2011 AD