Do Orthodox have a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?

[Sunflower15]

Or if not…something similar?

And, I have heard that Orthodox do the sign of the cross on themselves, like Catholics do, but from the right to the left, signifying from East to West. Is this true or just a tale?

Also, what are priests called in the Orthodox tradition and are they all male, as in our Latin tradition?

I don’t personally know any Orthodox, and since the Internet is used to learn about so many things, I think I should also use it to learn more about the other Christians I have no personal contact with.

Thanks!

 

[Harpazo]

Or if not…something similar?

The Orthodox do not have a devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and here is why:

In connection with this decree of the Council it may be seen how out of harmony with the spirit and practice of the Church is the cult of the “sacred heart of Jesus” which has been introduced into the Roman Catholic Church. Although the above-cited decree of the Fifth Ecumenical Council touches only on the separate worship of the Divinity and the Humanity of the Saviour, it still indirectly tells us that in general the veneration and worship of Christ should be directed to Him as whole and not to parts of His Being; it must be one. Even if by “heart” we should understand the Saviour’s love itself, still neither in the Old Testament nor in the New was there ver a custom to worship separately the love of God, or His wisdom, His creative of providential power, of His sanctity. All the more must one say this concerning the parts of His bodily nature. There is something unnatural in the separate of the heart from the general bodily nature of the Lord for the purpose of prayer, contrition and worship before Him. Even in the ordinary relationships of life, no matter how much a man might be attached to another – for example, a mother to a child – he would never refer his attachment to the heart of the beloved person, but will refer it to the given person as a whole.
Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Fr. Michael Pomazansky p. 187

And, I have heard that Orthodox do the sign of the cross on themselves, like Catholics do, but from the right to the left, signifying from East to West. Is this true or just a tale?

I’ve heard various reasons why it’s done different in the East and in the West. But the manner in which they form their hands is different than the Latin way. They touch their thumb, index finger and middle finger together and leave their ring finger and pinky tucked in. The three fingers that are joined is symbolic of the Holy Trinity and the two tucked in are symbolic of the dual natures of Christ.

Also, what are priests called in the Orthodox tradition and are they all male, as in our Latin tradition?

They refer to their priests as “Father” just as Catholics do. All of the priests are male, as are the deacons, bishops and so on. They also maintain the practice of using only males to serve at the altar as women are not allowed behind the iconostas.

I don’t personally know any Orthodox, and since the Internet is used to learn about so many things, I think I should also use it to learn more about the other Christians I have no personal contact with.

Thanks!

Hope this helped!

In Christ,
Andrew

 

[Mickey]

And, I have heard that Orthodox do the sign of the cross on themselves, like Catholics do, but from the right to the left

If I am not mistaken, the Latin Church also crossed themselves from right to left until the 15th or 16th century. I am wondering why they changed it?

 

[Sunflower15]

If I am not mistaken, the Latin Church also crossed themselves from right to left until the 15th or 16th century. I am wondering why they changed it?

I didn’t know that…I wasn’t even sure it was true that Easterns do it reversed [relative to us]…If you ask me, in my humble opinion, it is the witness that we believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that matters, whichever way R to L, or L to R…

 

[Mickey]

I didn’t know that…I wasn’t even sure it was true that Easterns do it reversed [relative to us]…If you ask me, in my humble opinion, it is the witness that we believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that matters, whichever way R to L, or L to R…

Not too long ago someone asked me why I make the sign of the Cross from the right to the left. It was pointed out to me that, in the West, it is from the left to the right. I pointed out to this person that in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, the Sign of the Cross was always from the right to the left: “I will go to the right,” “Thine own right hand can save thee,” “Thy right hand is full of righteousness,” and “Thy right hand hath upheld me.” These are but a few references to the right hand as the hand of honor. I am sure that we can all think and quote many more references well known from Scripture. Also, it was the Good thief, who confessed Christ and was crucified with Him on His right side. It is interesting that when the Church was undivided, both East and West shared many things in common; one of them was the Sign of the Cross.
http://nektarios.home.comcast.net/~nektarios/1472.html

 

[dixibehr]

In the Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic traditions, monks are addressed as Father, whether or not they are ordained.

In the same way, tonsured nuns are addressed as Mother.

 

[Sunflower15]

In the Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic traditions, monks are addressed as Father, whether or not they are ordained.

In the same way, tonsured nuns are addressed as Mother.

Are any or all of these monks and nuns celibate?

 

[The_Iambic_Pen]

I believe I remember the Latin change in the direction of the sign of the cross had something to do with the priest mirroring the congregation.

 

[Right_Glory]

Are any or all of these monks and nuns celibate?

They had better be!

 

[Sunflower15]

They had better be!

I ask because the priests and deacons do marry, right? So, I was wondering why would the monks be celibate.

 

[theistgal]

I ask because the priests and deacons do marry, right? So, I was wondering why would the monks be celibate.

Priests and deacons may marry in the Eastern churches, but they must be married before they are ordained. But because they can marry doesn’t mean they have to.

Also (and the “real” Easterners here can correct me if I’m wrong! ) but it’s my understanding that Bishops must be unmarried - correct?

Also, that monks and nuns are always celibate, just as in the West.

 

[Sunflower15]

Priests and deacons may marry in the Eastern churches, but they must be married before they are ordained. But because they can marry doesn’t mean they have to.

Also (and the “real” Easterners here can correct me if I’m wrong! ) but it’s my understanding that Bishops must be unmarried - correct?

Also, that monks and nuns are always celibate, just as in the West.

Is this for both the Orthodox and the Eastern Catholics?

 

[dixibehr]

Theistgal did not express herself precisely.

A priest or deacon may NOT marry after ordination. Period.

A married man may be ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in the Orthodox and most Eastern Catholic Churches. I know several married EC priests.

If a clergyman’s wife dies (or worse, divorces), he must remain unmarried henceforth, or else be deposed should he wish to remarry.

Bishops in the Orthodox Church are theoretically chosen from among the monks, though frequently an unmarried priest, or even a widower, is summarily tonsured as a monk and then ordained as a bishop.

 

[theistgal]

Theistgal did not express herself precisely.

A priest or deacon may NOT marry after ordination. Period.

A married man may be ordained to the diaconate and priesthood in the Orthodox and most Eastern Catholic Churches. I know several married EC priests.

If a clergyman’s wife dies (or worse, divorces), he must remain unmarried henceforth, or else be deposed should he wish to remarry.

Bishops in the Orthodox Church are theoretically chosen from among the monks, though frequently an unmarried priest, or even a widower, is summarily tonsured as a monk and then ordained as a bishop.

I think I expressed myself precisely enough. I just wasn’t accurate enough.

 

[dzheremi]

I believe I remember the Latin change in the direction of the sign of the cross had something to do with the priest mirroring the congregation.

According to the video “Understanding the Eastern Churches” (Eparchy of Parma, 1992), this is precisely it. It is said that the practice of signing left to right is a mistake, from the incorrect observance of the priest’s signing before the congregation. Why a mistake has become the standard way that Latins do it, I have no idea.

 

[Sunflower15]

I think I expressed myself precisely enough. I just wasn’t accurate enough.

Between both of you, I can now explain in detail all the possibilities!
Thanks! Great job of dispelling my ignorance!