Orthodoxy: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 03:57, 13 February 2025

Orthodoxy[edit]

Orthodoxy refers to the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically the creeds and doctrines that are established by religious authorities. In the context of Christianity, orthodoxy is often associated with the Nicene Creed, which was formulated at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.

Historical Background[edit]

The term "orthodoxy" is derived from the Greek words "orthos" meaning "right" or "correct," and "doxa" meaning "opinion" or "belief." It signifies the "correct belief" as opposed to heresy, which denotes beliefs that are contrary to the accepted doctrine.

The establishment of orthodoxy in Christianity was significantly influenced by the early ecumenical councils, such as the First Council of Nicaea, which addressed the Arian controversy and affirmed the divinity of Jesus Christ.

The First Council of Nicaea[edit]

The First Council of Nicaea was convened by Emperor Constantine I in 325 AD. It was the first ecumenical council of the Christian church and aimed to achieve consensus in the church through an assembly representing all of Christendom.

The council is best known for its formulation of the Nicene Creed, which established the foundational tenets of Christian orthodoxy, particularly the doctrine of the Trinity.

Key Doctrines of Orthodoxy[edit]

Orthodox Christianity is characterized by several key doctrines:

The Trinity: The belief in one God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
The Incarnation: The belief that Jesus Christ is both fully divine and fully human.
The Resurrection: The belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead, which is central to Christian faith.

Orthodoxy in Different Christian Traditions[edit]

Orthodoxy is a term that is used differently across various Christian traditions:

Eastern Orthodoxy: Refers to the body of modern churches, including the Greek Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, which follow the traditions and practices established by the early ecumenical councils.
Oriental Orthodoxy: Includes churches such as the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church, which accept only the first three ecumenical councils.
Roman Catholicism: While not typically referred to as "Orthodox," the Roman Catholic Church considers itself to be the custodian of Christian orthodoxy through its adherence to the creeds and councils.

Related Pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Orthodoxy''' refers to adherence to correct or accepted creeds, especially in religion. In the Christian sense, the term means "conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early Church." The first seven ecumenical councils were held between the years of 325 and 787 with the aim of formalizing accepted doctrines.
+== Orthodoxy ==
-== Definition and etymology ==
+[[File:Nicaea_icon.jpg|thumb|right|Icon depicting the First Council of Nicaea]]
-The word '''orthodoxy''', from the Greek ortho ('right', 'correct') and doxa ('thought', 'teaching'), is typically used to mean the correct theological or doctrinal observance of religion, as determined by some overseeing body. The term did not convent into use in English until the 17th century, when it was applied by Sir Thomas Browne to Christian beliefs and practices.
-== Varieties of orthodoxy in Christianity ==
+'''Orthodoxy''' refers to the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically the creeds and doctrines that are established by religious authorities. In the context of Christianity, orthodoxy is often associated with the [[Nicene Creed]], which was formulated at the [[First Council of Nicaea]] in 325 AD.
-In the context of Christianity, the term '''orthodoxy''' is used to refer to the body of doctrines which were formulated in the early ecumenical councils. These doctrines, collectively known as the '''Nicene Creed''', represent the benchmark for orthodoxy in most Christian churches.
-=== Eastern Orthodoxy ===
+=== Historical Background ===
-[[Eastern Orthodoxy]] is the large body of Christians who follow the faith and practices that were defined by the first seven ecumenical councils. The word is used to contrast with Roman Catholic and Protestant forms of Christianity, as they accept the teachings of the first seven councils, but do not follow the traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
-=== Oriental Orthodoxy ===
+The term "orthodoxy" is derived from the Greek words "orthos" meaning "right" or "correct," and "doxa" meaning "opinion" or "belief." It signifies the "correct belief" as opposed to [[heresy]], which denotes beliefs that are contrary to the accepted doctrine.
-[[Oriental Orthodoxy]] refers to the communion of Eastern Christian Churches that recognize only three ecumenical councils — the First Council of Nicaea, the First Council of Constantinople and the Council of Ephesus. They rejected the dogmatic definitions of the Council of Chalcedon.
-== See also ==
+The establishment of orthodoxy in Christianity was significantly influenced by the early ecumenical councils, such as the [[First Council of Nicaea]], which addressed the [[Arian controversy]] and affirmed the divinity of [[Jesus Christ]].
-* [[Heresy]]
-* [[Heterodoxy]]
-* [[Iconoclasm]]
-* [[Orthopraxy]]
-== References ==
+=== The First Council of Nicaea ===
-<references />
-== External links ==
+The [[First Council of Nicaea]] was convened by [[Emperor Constantine I]] in 325 AD. It was the first ecumenical council of the Christian church and aimed to achieve consensus in the church through an assembly representing all of Christendom.
-* [http://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodoxy OrthodoxWiki]
-[[Category:Christian terminology]]
+The council is best known for its formulation of the [[Nicene Creed]], which established the foundational tenets of Christian orthodoxy, particularly the doctrine of the [[Trinity]].
-[[Category:Christianity]]
-[[Category:Religious belief and doctrine]]
-[[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy]]
-[[Category:Oriental Orthodoxy]]
-{{stub}}
+=== Key Doctrines of Orthodoxy ===
+Orthodox Christianity is characterized by several key doctrines:
+* '''The Trinity''': The belief in one God in three persons: [[God the Father]], [[God the Son]], and [[God the Holy Spirit]].
+* '''The Incarnation''': The belief that [[Jesus Christ]] is both fully divine and fully human.
+* '''The Resurrection''': The belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead, which is central to Christian faith.
+=== Orthodoxy in Different Christian Traditions ===
+Orthodoxy is a term that is used differently across various Christian traditions:
+* '''Eastern Orthodoxy''': Refers to the body of modern churches, including the [[Greek Orthodox Church]] and the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], which follow the traditions and practices established by the early ecumenical councils.
+* '''Oriental Orthodoxy''': Includes churches such as the [[Coptic Orthodox Church]] and the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]], which accept only the first three ecumenical councils.
+* '''Roman Catholicism''': While not typically referred to as "Orthodox," the [[Roman Catholic Church]] considers itself to be the custodian of Christian orthodoxy through its adherence to the creeds and councils.
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Nicene Creed]]
+* [[First Council of Nicaea]]
+* [[Arianism]]
+* [[Trinity]]
+* [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]
+* [[Oriental Orthodox Churches]]
+[[Category:Christian theology]]
+[[Category:Orthodox Christianity]]