ORTHODOX_CHURCH

With about 240 million members, the Orthodox Churches of Russia, Eastern Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean continue a tradition of Christian worship and belief that goes back to the earliest days of Christianity. The word orthodox means 'right belief' or 'right worship.'

The Orthodox Churches are named after the countries where they are found, i.e. the Russian Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, etc. The most senior leaders of these Churches are called Patriarchs, and on matters of belief the senior Patriarch is the Patriarch of Constantinople [ modern Istanbul in Turkey]. Until 1453 Constantinople [ 'the city of Constantine' in Greek, Constantine being the first Christian Roman Emperor] was the centre of the Christian eastern Byzantine Empire.

Orthodox Christianity came into being when the Eastern [Greek speaking] Church split from the Western [Latin speaking] Church in 1054 AD. This happened because Constantinople would not accept second place to Rome.

ORTHODOX PRIESTS

An Orthodox priest, who is always male, leads the worship. He should normally be at least 30 years old before he can become a priest. Priests in the Orthodox Church may marry but bishops may not. Bishops and priests in the Orthodox Church usually have beards. Priests wear a black cassock and a round black hat, often with a scarf over it. It would be usual for him to wear these things every day.

An Orthodox bishop wears elaborate clothing for special occasions. His hat is like a crown with a cross on top and holy pictures around the sides. As in other types of Christianity, the bishop has a shepherd's crook which may have the Chi-Rho symbol and the Greek letters Alpha and Omega. Around the bishop's neck a special medallion, an enkolpion, will be worn. The enkolpion usually has a picture of Mary, the Mother of God ['theotoko in Greek] on it.

Orthodox church buildings are basically square in shape [see right], and topped by a dome. The main part of the church, where the congregation stands, is called 'Earth', while the area behind the iconostasis [or icon screen], where only the priests may go, is called 'Heaven.'

As an Orthodox Christian enters a church for worship, he or she will usually buy a candle, light it and place it in a candle-stand before an icon. They will make the sign of the cross and kiss the icon.

Men traditionally stand on one side of the church while women stand on the other. Often the only seats will be by the wall for those too old or unwell to stand. The beautifully decorated dome above is also called 'Heaven' and has a central picture of Christ, Ruler of All ['Christ Pantocrator' in Greek]. Around the walls are paintings of saints, and the worshipper feels surrounded by Christians of both past and present.

The iconostasis [see right] is a wooden or stone sceen dominating the front of the church.It symbolises the boundary between 'Heaven' and 'Earth'. The screen is covered with icons. These show Christ, his mother Mary, John the Baptist and the disciples.

In the centre of the iconostasis are the Royal Doors, which are open for most of the service.The Book of the Gospel is carried out through them to be read to the people. The doors are usually closed during the blessing of the bread and wine.