ORTHODOXY

Is Orthodoxy a mere branch of Christianity? Is it merely confined to Oriental Cultures? Is it a label for the practice of Rites and Traditions? Orthodoxy is often misunderstood and misrepresented particularly in the west. It is commonly misperceived that the Orthodox churches are deeply attached to traditions, trapped by cultural practices and tied up by language [Coptic, Arabic, Greek etc.]

Orthodoxy, however knows not such boundaries for it transcends culture and language. It is an inseparable component of the Christian faith and when correctly understood and properly practiced it is immensely enriching and edifying.

The word Orthodoxy has the double meaning of ORTHO = right and DOXA = glorification thus it’s the church which guards the true belief of God and which glorifies Him which glorifies Him with Right Worship. Orthodoxy therefore is a living continuity of the Christian faith with strong Apostolic roots. Its characterized by a profound treasury of spirituality built upon spirituality well as traditional foundations.

With over 300 churches today many youth ask why is the Orthodox church so conservative? In comparing the Orthodox church with other denominations a writer used the following “parable.” A master departed leaving his teachings to the three disciples. The eldest faithfully preserved all the teachings changing nothing. Of the two younger, one added to the teachings and the other took away from it. At his Return the Master without being angry with anyone said to the younger: ‘Thank your elder brother without Him you would not have preserved the truth which I handed over to you.’ Then he said to the elder: ‘Thank your younger brothers without them you would not have appreciated and understood the truth entrusted to you.’

Orthodoxy is often misrepresented as being too steeped in traditions.

Traditions are not a parrot like repetition of prayers, readings and rites. It is not something mechanical, a dull process of handing down what has been received. Traditions is not static but dynamic, a living experience of the Holy Spirit in the present. Tradition is not only kept by the church – it lives in the church, it is the life of the Holy Spirit in the church. Tradition writes Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty, is the living stream of the one life of the church which brings up the past with all it’s aspects as a living present.

An American Protestant Minister who attended a Coptic Orthodox Christening in Dallas Texas in 1971 said to Fr. Tadros Malaty: ‘During this long baptismal rite I felt that I am living in the apostolic age.’ Such a remark, encapsulates the essence of tradition. The Orthodox Church is characterized by a unique sense of living continuity with the apostolic church.  It sees itself as heir and guardian to a great treasonable spiritual inheritance received from the past and believes it is her duty to transmit His inheritance unimpaired to the future.

Many in the west ask: Does tradition hinder the renewal of the Orthodox Church? Tradition does not simply mean the prevention of the past. Rather it confirms the continuing action of the Holy Spirit in the church, as the church looks towards the future and reshapes its being for the future. “The world alters as we wake in it,” remarked Robert Oppenheimer, “the church lives in the world, although not of the world.” Thus it remains the centre of the changing world. The Orthodox Church expresses this through unity and continuity i.e. traditions.

THE BIBLE

It is sometimes thought that Orthodoxy attaches less importance to the Bible than Western Christians.

All the liturgical and sacramental ceremonies: Worship (including the use of water, oil and incense), Doxologies of hymns, feasts, fasts, icons and even architectural styles of the churches have their origins in the scriptures. Western Christians portray scripture and tradition against each other. For the Orthodox Church the traditions inherited from the apostles complements the scriptures written by the apostles. “Stand firm and hold to the traditions,” says St Paul to the Thessalonians, “which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.” (2 Thess 2:15)

Bible study is a central area of the ministry of the Orthodox Church. Every Coptic Church conducts a weekly Bible study for the congregation. The great Fathers (from whom we inherited many traditions e.g. Canons) wrote extensive commentaries on the scriptures. They constitute the major principles for the interpretations and understandings of the scriptures. According to origin by tradition I knew the fair gospels and that they are the true ones. Similarly, St. Augustine says, “I would not have believed in the gospel unless the voice of the universal church convinced me.” It should be noted that personal meditation of the scriptures is welcomed but not in isolation from the church.

[To be continued]