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THE   EASTERN   ORTHODOX   CHURCH
LUTHERAN   CHURCHES

Religious Program Specialist 3 & 2, Module 01-Personnel Support
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“primacy   of   jurisdiction”   or   religious   control   over   Christian   churches. They grant the pope the “primacy of honor” but refuse to accept the dogma of   “papal   infallibility.”  Orthodox  sacraments  include:  Baptism,  Anointing (Confirmation  or  Chrismation),  Communion,  Penance,  Holy  Orders, Marriage,  and  Holy  Unction.  They  honor  the  Saints,  the  Virgin  Mary,  and reverence icons and the cross. The use of carved images within the Eastern Orthodox  tradition  is  forbidden.  Eastern  Orthodox  churches  believe  that they continue the tradition of the Christian church founded by the apostles. Eastern  Orthodoxy  has  tended  historically  to  divide  and  subdivide  into independent national and social groups. The churches conduct their worship in their own languages and follow their own customs and traditions. In the United  States  today  Albanian,  Bulgarian,  Greek,  Romanian,  Russian, Serbian,  Ukranian,  Carpatho-Russian,  and  Syrian  churches  carry  forward the Orthodox faith tradition under the supervision of bishops of their respec- tive   nationalities. THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH.—In  1578  when  Sir  Francis  Drake  first came  ashore  in  what  is  now  Virginia,  his  Church  of  England  Chaplain, Francis  Fletcher,  planted  a  cross  and  read  a  prayer  and  Sir  Francis  Drake claimed  the  new  land  in  the  name  of  the  English  queen.  The  Episcopal church,  which  was  established  in  1607,  was  the  first  church  founded  in the  newly  formed  American  colonies.  The  Episcopal  church  is  the  self- governing  American  branch  of  the  Anglican  Communion  with  its  own bishops   and   constitution.   During   the   civil   war,   the   Episcopal   church’s Southern  dioceses  formed  a  separate  organization  that  reunited  with  the church’s  Northern  dioceses  in  1865. The  episcopal  form  of  government  parallels  that  of  the  Federal  Govern- ment  and  consists  of  114  dioceses.  Each  diocese  is  autonomous  in  its  own sphere.  The  diocese  was  established  originally  for  the  maintenance  of  a common  church  doctrine,  church  discipline,  and  church  worship.  The constitution provided for a General Convention which meets every 3 years. It is made up of a House of Bishops and a House of Clerical and Lay Deputies. The  Ministry  is  comprised  of  three  ranks:  bishops,  who  stand  in  the  line  of “apostolic    succession”;    priests,    who   may   marry;   and   deacons.   The Episcopal  church  supports  orders  of  monks  and  nuns  and  follows  a  tradi- tional liturgy. Episcopalians accept the Bible as the divinely inspired word of God.  They  believe  in  the  Trinity,  the  Virgin  Birth,  and  the  Incarnation. Worship  services  within  Episcopal  churches  vary.  The  “High  Church” Episcopalians  (so  called  because  of  their  elaborate  ceremonies)  celebrate mass   similar   to   Roman   Catholics.   The   “Low   Church”   Episcopalians   (so called  because  of  their  less  involved  ritual)  have  matins  as  their  principal service.  Most  Episcopal  churches  have  a  sermon  and  observe  matins. Holy  Communion  or  the  Eucharist  is  considered  to  be  a  sacrament  and Episcopalians  believe  in  the  real  presence  of  Christ  in  the  Eucharistic elements.   Special   handling   may   be   necessary   for   Episcopal   Eucharistic elements. Baptism is also considered to be a sacrament and may be accom- plished  either  by  pouring  or  immersion.  Confirmation,  Penance,  Ordina- tion,   Matrimony,   and   Unction   are   considered   sacramental.   The  Book  of Common  Prayer  contains  the  service  and  prayers  of  the  Episcopal  church. 2-18







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