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The Eastern Orthodox Church

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Religion

The Resume

    World's second largest Christian denomination with over 300 million members
    Separated from the Roman Catholic Church in 1054 AD
    Theology is almost identical to Catholicism, the main source of contention between the two groups is authority
    The Catholic Church considers the Pope the head of the earthly Church, the Orthodox consider the Church Councils to be the final earthly religious authority
    Concentrated primarily in eastern Europe and in Muslim dominated countries
    Usually divided up/governed by country; the Greek Orthodox Church, the Russian Orthodox Church etc

Why The Eastern Orthodox Church might be annoying:

    They say the Roman Catholic Church broke off from them. The Catholics say the opposite.
    The Catholic Church allows them to participate in the sacraments at Catholic churches but they don't return the courtesy.
    Since the fall of the Soviet Union and communism in eastern Europe, they have tried to keep other religions out.
    Under communism, their priesthood and ranks of religious brothers and sisters were riddled with informants and secret agents who badly damaged the Church's credibility by informing on the laity and/or urging them to cooperate with the communists.
    Who and what they are and what they believe is little known in the West.
    To add to the confusion, they sometimes refer to themselves as the Catholic Church, so, the Greek Orthodox Church may sometimes be referred to interchangeably as the Greek Catholic Church, which is what the Roman Catholic Church in Greece would also be called!

Why The Eastern Orthodox Church might not be annoying:

    They have suffered horrifically under communism and Islam.
    It's understandable that after suffering under communism, they are opposed to protestant fundamentalists and others now coming into their countries and trying to take their parishioners away from them. Especially when the new comers did nothing to help them in the past.
    Their art, churches, and liturgy are the most beautiful in the world and can genuinely transform you spiritually.
    Their priests and bishops usually wear really cool beards.
    Their theology tends to be very mystical and spiritual, which appeals to many people who seek union with God more than a greater understanding of Him.
    Some of their problems with the Catholic Church, such as the Filioque clause and Church authority, are reasonable points of contention.

Credit: tom_jeffords


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 24 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 46 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 42 Votes: 61.90% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 24 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 25 Votes: 56.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 10 Votes: 30.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 303 Votes: 67.33% Annoying