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The Greek Church

The Greek Church image
Parent Issue
Day
22
Month
June
Year
1877
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In view of the Eastern war, and tlio prominent position of the Oriental countrics now, the following sketch of the Greek Ohurcli from the Chicago Tribune will bo interesting; "The wav uow being waged betweeu the Iwo great European powtrs of Russia and Turkey being a religious one, and in behalf 'of the oppressed Cliristians in the Snltan's dominions - who are votaries of the Greek Ch.ur.ch - tlio question naturally arisös from many, what is the (ïrcvk Chureh '1 We know comparatively nothing of it, and seldom think of it; yet one-third of Ohristjanitv lies in (lic Eai East. There are three great historiad churohes in Christendom; the Eastern, Protestant, and Roman Catholic; and the Greek Chnrch is the mother of theni all. Slie is the olaest chnrch in the world, and stil! claims the boúnds di' primeva! Christianity. All of the apostles except Peter and Paul died in the Huwt, and nearly all tlie eurly fathers belonged to the Greek conimunion. Until about the rlfth century the Greek and Roman churches were nearly idéntica! in belief, both holding the doctrines that had been promulgated by the general councils np to tliat time. Early in the iifth century the troubles arose which ended in complete separation. In the year 866 Christianity was iutroduoed into Russia from Constantinople, and the Church of Russia thns received its creed and ritu:il from before the schism. Litf the Catloli, Ihe Eastern Chnrch recognizes two sourecs of doctrine, the Bible and tradition - not only those doctrines delivered oivlly to the apostles, but those approvcd by the fathers of the chnrch. It lias se.ven sacramenta, baptism, chrism, the euöhai'cat, preceded by confession, ordination, marriage, and extreme unction. It performs baptism by triune immersion, and gives the eaerament of conflrmation and communion fco children immediately alter baptism. The liturgy used at mass is ascribed to the apostle James, eompilod byBasil the (nat. In Tnrkey the adherentK of the Chnrch approximate 12,000,000; in Greece and Montenegro about 800,000; Austriau dominions, 2,800,000; Alexandria, 5,000; Asia Minor and Cyprus, 150,000, and Jerusalem, 15,000. Russia absorba the balance, making au aggregate of abont 80,000,000 souis, one-half the numérica! strengtli of the Roman Catholic Church."

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus