Orthodox Christianity Final Study Guide

Trinitarian controversies

Discussions about the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Nicene Creed

Formulation during the First Council of Nicaea in 325 to address Arianism.

Influence of Constantine

Constantine's support for Christianity and the First Council of Nicaea.

Constantine favored Christianity and convened the First Council of Nicaea.

Arianism

Belief that Jesus was a created being and subordinate to God.

Theological controversies

Debates on Christ's dual nature.

Ecumenical councils

Meetings like the Council of Ephesus to address disputes.

Nestorianism vs monophysitism

Disputes over Christ's humanity and divinity, with Nestorianism advocating distinction and Monophysitism asserting a single nature.

Theotokos

Title affirmed at the Council of Ephesus for the Mother of God.

Iconoclasm controversy

Debate on the veneration versus worship of religious icons.

Orthodoxy

Established doctrine of a religious faith.

Monophysite

Belief in Christ having one nature.

Maphysite

Another term for Monophysite, emphasizes singular nature of christ

Diaphysite

Belief in Christ's two natures, human and divine.

Iconoclast

Opposes veneration of religious icons.

Iconodule

Supports veneration of religious icons.

Latreia

Worship, especially for God.

Proskinesis

Veneration or homage.

The Great Canon of St andrew of crete

Poetic hymns and stories used during Lent.

Eremetic (hermit) and Cenobitic (community-based life) monasticism.

the two ends of the monastic spectrum

Nicene Creed

Formulated during the First Council of Nicaea in 325 to address Arianism and establish orthodox Trinitarian doctrine.

Arianism

Belief that Jesus was a created being and subordinate to God, causing conflicts in the Christian community.

Theological Controversies

Debates on Christ's nature, including his dual human and divine nature.

Ecumenical Councils

Gatherings like the Council of Ephesus and Council of Chalcedon to settle theological disputes and affirm orthodoxy.

Iconoclasm Controversy

Debate over religious icon veneration, with iconoclasts opposing and iconodules supporting it.

Tollhouse Theory

Belief in post-death tollhouses for souls' judgment, popularized by Father Seraphim Rose.

Feast of Annunciation

Celebrates Angel Gabriel's announcement to Mary about Christ's birth, occurring during Lent.

"The Way of the Pilgrim"

19th-century text detailing a pilgrim's spiritual journey focusing on the Jesus Prayer and hesychasm.

Hesychasm

Prayer method emphasizing silence, listening, and spiritual guidance to avoid pitfalls like prelest.

Spread of Christianity to Slavic Lands

Expansion facilitated by rulers' missions to Greater Moravia, Bulgaria, and Rus.

Reformation

Initiated by Luther and Calvin, challenging Catholic doctrines and leading to the Counter-Reformation efforts.