• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Monday, August 15, 2022
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
Orthodox Times (en)
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Greek Diaspora
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Greek Diaspora
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
No Result
View All Result
Orthodox Times (en)
No Result
View All Result

Differences with Western Church in clerical marriage and sanctity of the icons

May 14, 2020 | 11:05
in Carousel Front Page, Spirituality
Differences with Western Church in clerical marriage and sanctity of the icons

Orthodox Church in South Italy

The Doctor of Theology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Sotirios Kollias, told us about his research on the abbot of the Orthodox Monastery of Casole in Otranto, Apulia, and ecclesiastical writer Nikolaos of Otranto (1150-1235). The teaching of this important author comes from a manuscript of the 13th century that has not yet been published and that Sotirios Kollias found in the Vatican Apostolic Library.

The Vatican Apostolic Library

As Kollias points out, this manuscript testifies to the most important points of contention between the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, such as the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (also known as ‘Filioque’), the use of leavened or unleavened bread during the Divine Eucharist, the Sabbath fast, the obligation of the clergy in the Latin tradition to practice celibacy, the beards of the clergy, the way of honoring the sacred icons, the entrance of the women in the sacred altar, etc.

Western Church and clerical marriage

We asked Kollias to clarify why the Western Church has opposed clerical marriage. He explained to us, “As early as the 4th century, the Western and the Eastern Church gradually differentiated on this issue. The Eastern Church maintained the freedom of choice, with the sole exception of the celibacy of its bishops, because, on the one hand, they traditionally came from the bosom of monasticism and had decided to follow virginity anyway, and, on the other hand, because of their increased spiritual and pastoral duties, which would not allow them to devote themselves to their family. The western tradition imposed obligatory celibacy on all ranks of the clergy, supporting this custom in the verse of the Apostle Paul, who says: “I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs -how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world —how he can please his wife.” However, Saint Paul never proposes general and obligatory celibacy. Especially when he advises deacons, elders and bishops – who were married in the ancient Church – to live an honest life with their wives.

First reactions to maintaining uncut beard and sanctity of the icons

When asked why Roman Catholic clergy do not have a beard while Orthodox are obligated to, Sotiris Kollias replied: “We, Orthodox, observe the Jewish tradition regarding beards according to the special hierarchical order: “and they shall not shave their beard” (Leviticus 21:5). In the Eastern Church, the custom of maintaining uncut the beard of the clergy prevailed, according to the model of Christ and the Apostles as well.

In the western clergy, however, no firm stance has been taken on this issue. During the first years of the coexistence of Christianity, the tradition was common. We know from papal illustrations that they had a beard. In the 8th century, however, the first reactions against maintaining uncut the beard in the clergy began. And a little later, in the 12th century, the Western Church finally opposed wearing beards with the following argument: Beards must be cut in memory of the martyrdom of the Apostle Peter, who before being crucified suffered the humiliating cut of his beard by the Romans. And because the Catholics believe that Peter was the first bishop of Rome, therefore, every pope automatically becomes his successor, so they consider it necessary to follow in all the footsteps of the Apostle in order to properly observe the faith.

Holiness of persons

We considered it good to have him explain to us why the Roman Catholics do not honor sacred icons in their temples, and he replied that “although our Church with the Seventh Ecumenical Council (aka Second Council of Nicaea), which took place on AD 787, has ruled in favor of the sacred icons, the Latins did not recognize the council. As soon as the decisions of the Council became known in the Frankish state under Charlemagne, he convened a meeting in Frankfurt in 794, attended by papal representatives. This meeting rejected the decisions of the Seventh Ecumenical Council on the sanctity of icons and argued that they were mere adornments of the temples. Thus, Western artists used human models to paint a holy face (Renaissance), as they were not interested in the theological and spiritual significance of the icon and believed that they must have beautiful faces in order to delight our senses. In this way, however, the iconic tradition is circumvented, which in its orthodox perspective, expresses the saving work of the Church, since it has, as its head, the face of Christ. The sacred icons are intended to remind us of the holiness of the depicted persons and to help us mentally and spiritually return to their heavenly originals with the ultimate goal of resembling their works and glorious lives.

*The text was originally published in the newspaper “Orthodoxi Alitheia”

Dr. Sotiris Kolias
Tags: Catholic ChurchOrthodoxySpirituality

Follow OrthodoxTimes.com on Google News and learn all the news about Orthodoxy in Greece and worldwide.

All the latest developments in the Orthodox world, society and humankind, at the moment they happen, at OrthodoxTimes.com


Related Posts

Memory of Martyrs Anicetus and Photius
Spirituality

Memory of Martyrs Anicetus and Photius

August 12, 2022
Commemoration of the Miracle of Saint Spyridon, August 11
Spirituality

Commemoration of the Miracle of Saint Spyridon, August 11

August 11, 2022
Memory of Hieromartyr Archdeacon Laurence
Spirituality

Memory of Hieromartyr Archdeacon Laurence

August 10, 2022
Memory of St. Apostle Matthias
Spirituality

Memory of St. Apostle Matthias

August 9, 2022
Memory of Saint Kallinikos, Metropolitan of Edessa
Spirituality

Memory of Saint Kallinikos, Metropolitan of Edessa

August 8, 2022
The Transfiguration of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ
Spirituality

The Transfiguration of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ

August 6, 2022
Load More
Next Post
You should receive the Eucharist with fear of God, otherwise, stay away

Faithful are banned from receiving Holy Communion in Germany (upd)

Latest News

Bishop of Diokleia, Kallistos Ware, in critical condition (upd)

Bishop of Diokleia, Kallistos Ware, in critical condition (upd)

by NewsRoom
Aug 14, 2022 | 16:28
0

LAST UPDATED 16:39 Bishop of Diokleia, Kallistos Ware, is in critical condition. Earlier today there were rumours about his...

Oslo: 55-year-old Norwegian baptized Orthodox by Romanian Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe

Oslo: 55-year-old Norwegian baptized Orthodox by Romanian Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe

by NewsRoom
Aug 13, 2022 | 14:05
0

55-year-old Norwegian Toma and child Matias are the newest members of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Northern Europe. Romanian...

61 Years of Priesthood of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

61 Years of Priesthood of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

by NewsRoom
Aug 13, 2022 | 13:12
0

The calendar wrote August 13, 1961, when the then 21-year-old Dimitrios Archontonis received the first degree of priesthood. This...

Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon had a meeting with the Patriarch of Georgia

Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon had a meeting with the Patriarch of Georgia

by NewsRoom
Aug 13, 2022 | 13:03
0

Elder Metropolitan Emmanuel of Chalcedon on Thursday visited the Patriarchate of Georgia and had a meeting with the Patriarch...

Archbishop Elpidophoros visits Balikli Greek Hospital following devastating fire

Archbishop Elpidophoros visits Balikli Greek Hospital following devastating fire

by NewsRoom
Aug 13, 2022 | 12:12
0

Archbishop Elpidophoros visited the Balikli Greek Hospital following last week’s devastating fire, and had the opportunity to hear from...

U.S. Senate Commemorates AHEPA’s 100th Anniversary

U.S. Senate Commemorates AHEPA’s 100th Anniversary

by NewsRoom
Aug 12, 2022 | 14:57
0

The U.S. Senate passed by unanimous consent a resolution that commemorates the 100th Anniversary of the Order of AHEPA’s...

Newsletter

Sign up for our weekly newsletter



Quick Links

  • Orthodoxy
  • Politics
  • Society
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • History
  • Press Releases

Get Social

About Us

Advertise

Contact

© 2022 OrthodoxTimes.com
digital world media

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Orthodoxy
    • Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Dioceses of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
      • Mount Athos
      • Archdiocese of America
      • Archdiocese of Australia
      • Church of Crete
    • Patriarchates
      • Patriarchate of Alexandria
      • Patriarchate of Antioch
      • Patriarchate of Moscow
      • Patriarchate of Serbia
      • Patriarchate of Romania
      • Patriarchate of Jerusalem
      • Patriarchate of Bulgaria
      • Patriarchate of Georgia
    • Churches
      • Church of Greece
      • Church of Cyprus
      • Church of Poland
      • Church of Albania
      • Church of Czech and Slovakia
      • Church of Ukraine
  • Politics
    • USA
    • Europe
    • Middle East
  • Society
    • Greek Diaspora
    • Culture
  • Spirituality
  • Christianity
  • Opinions
  • Greek Version

© 2022 OrthodoxTimes.com - All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT