History
What is the Great Schism?
The split between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054.
What is the Nicene Creed?
A statement of faith that summarizes Orthodox Christian beliefs.
What is the most important festival in Orthodox Christianity?
Easter
Who is the Theotokos?
The Virgin Mary, Mother of God.
What is the name of the famous Orthodox cathedral in Moscow?
St. Basil's Cathedral.
Who is the founder of Christian Orthodoxy?
Christian Orthodoxy does not have a single founder; it traces its origins to Jesus Christ and the Apostles.
What is the Orthodox belief regarding the Holy Trinity?
The Holy Trinity consists of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, three persons in one God.
What does the Feast of Theophany celebrate?
The baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River.
Name a prominent Orthodox saint known for his theological writings.
St. John Chrysostom.
What is a distinctive feature of Orthodox church architecture?
The use of domes, often onion-shaped.
What was the role of the Byzantine Empire in the development of Orthodox Christianity?
The Byzantine Empire was instrumental in the spread and development of Orthodox Christianity, particularly through the establishment of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
What is the purpose of fasting in Orthodox Christianity?
Fasting is a spiritual discipline meant to purify the soul, increase prayer, and foster self-control.
What is Great Lent?
A period of fasting and penitence leading up to Pascha.
What is an iconostasis?
A wall of icons and religious paintings separating the nave from the sanctuary in a church.
What is the Hagia Sophia?
A former Orthodox basilica in Istanbul, Turkey, now a museum.
Name the first Ecumenical Council.
The First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
What is the significance of the Divine Liturgy?
The Divine Liturgy is the central worship service in Orthodox Christianity, equivalent to the Mass in the Roman Catholic Church.
What is the significance of the Nativity Fast?
It is a period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
What is the Feast of All Saints?
A celebration of all the saints, known and unknown, observed on the first Sunday after Pentecost.
What is the significance of Mount Athos?
A monastic community and important center of Orthodox monasticism.
What is the significance of the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD?
It was an important council that defined the two natures of Christ (fully God and fully man).
What is the Orthodox view on icons?
Icons are considered windows to heaven and are used to aid in worship and veneration, not worshipped themselves.
When is the Feast of the Transfiguration celebrated?
August 6th
Who is considered the Patron Saint of Russia?
St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Name an important Orthodox monastery outside of Greece.
The Monastery of St. Catherine in Sinai, Egypt.