Changes

The '''Orthodox Church''' is the second largest body of Christians, with an estimated membership between 250 million and 350 million people.  The Orthodox Church claims to be the original Church founded by [[Jesus Christ]].  It is notable for its use of  [[icon|icons]], candles, incense, relics of [[saint]]s, and beautiful vestments during its rich liturgical services.  It is often confused with the Byzantine-rite Catholics who are in communion with the Pope of Rome.  The Orthodox are not in communion with the [[Roman Catholics]], whom they view as holding several false doctrines.  While in the west the Orthodox Church thought of as the church in Russia, Greece, and other eastern European countries, it is present on all continents and in most countries of the world.

The '''Orthodox Church''' is the second largest body of [[Christians]], with an estimated membership between 250 million and 350 million people.  The Orthodox Church claims to be the original Church founded by [[Jesus Christ]].  It is notable for its use of  [[icon|icons]], candles, incense, relics of [[saint]]s, and beautiful vestments during its rich liturgical services.  It is often confused with the Byzantine-rite Catholics who are in communion with the Pope of Rome.  The Orthodox are not in communion with the [[Roman Catholics]], whom they view as holding several false doctrines.  While in the west the Orthodox Church thought of as the church in Russia, Greece, and other eastern European countries, it is present on all continents and in most countries of the world.

== Beliefs of Orthodox Christians ==

== Beliefs of Orthodox Christians ==

===Church of Georgia===

===Church of Georgia===

This is the only of of the Local Orthodox Churches to have been established by a woman, St. Nina.  In the 4th century she traveled around Georgia preaching and baptizing.  Priests followed after her organizing parishes and administering the other Holy Mysteries.  In the 18th century the Russian Emperor folded this Church into the Russian Church, but since the dissolution of the Soviet Empire the Georgian Church has reclaimed its autocephalous status.

This is the only of the Local Orthodox Churches to have been established by a woman, St. Nina.  In the 4th century she traveled around Georgia preaching and baptizing.  Priests followed after her organizing parishes and administering the other Holy Mysteries.  In the 18th century the Russian Emperor folded this Church into the Russian Church, but since the dissolution of the Soviet Empire the Georgian Church has reclaimed its autocephalous status.

===Church of Serbia===

===Church of Serbia===

===Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia===

===Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia===

The brothers St. Cyril and St. Methodius estabished this Church in the Czech region of Moravia in the 9th century.  But when the brothers died Pope Stephen V of Rome ordered that their mission be destroyed, and forced all of the people who converted under the Sainted brothers to leave the Moravia and settle in what is now Slovakia.  There , due to the influence of the nearby Orthodox Poles and the Kievan state the Orthodox were able to survive, barely.  In 1921 many people began leaving the Roman Catholic Church and converting to Orthodoxy under a Serbian Bishop.  On of them was a Roman Catholic priest who took the name Gorazd upon his conversion.  A few years after his conversion he was consecrated Bishop of Moravia.  Under his apostolic ministry the Church Bohemia and Moravia, as well as Slovakia experienced tremendous growth.  He was martyred by the Nazis in 1942.  The Church suffered greatly under the [[Nazis]] and the communists and is only now regaining its footing.  It was officially recognized as autocephalous sby the other autocephalous churches in 1998.   

The brothers St. Cyril and St. Methodius established this Church in the Czech region of Moravia in the 9th century.  But when the brothers died Pope Stephen V of Rome ordered that their mission be destroyed, and forced all of the people who converted under the Sainted brothers to leave the Moravia and settle in what is now Slovakia.  There , due to the influence of the nearby Orthodox Poles and the Kievan state the Orthodox were able to survive, barely.  In 1921 many people began leaving the Roman Catholic Church and converting to Orthodoxy under a Serbian Bishop.  On of them was a Roman Catholic priest who took the name Gorazd upon his conversion.  A few years after his conversion he was consecrated Bishop of Moravia.  Under his apostolic ministry the Church Bohemia and Moravia, as well as Slovakia experienced tremendous growth.  He was martyred by the Nazis in 1942.  The Church suffered greatly under the [[Nazis]] and the communists and is only now regaining its footing.  It was officially recognized as autocephalous sby the other autocephalous churches in 1998.   

===Orthodox Church in America===

===Orthodox Church in America===

The account of Brendan’s voyage contains a detailed description of the construction of his boat and the voyage.  The boat was very much like the currachs still made in County Kerry today. And some of the place names match known and current place names, such as the Isle of Sheep in Faeroes Islands (between the Shetland Islands and Iceland).  But several passages in the legend seem incredible— they “passed by crystals that rose up to the sky” (icebergs?), and were “pelted with flaming, foul smelling rocks by the inhabitants of a large island on their route” (lava and ash from the active volcanoes on Iceland?). They finally arrived at the beautiful land they called “Promised Land of the Saints.” They explored until they came to a great river (the Mississippi?) that divided the land. This doesn’t seem like very reliable information.

The account of Brendan’s voyage contains a detailed description of the construction of his boat and the voyage.  The boat was very much like the currachs still made in County Kerry today. And some of the place names match known and current place names, such as the Isle of Sheep in Faeroes Islands (between the Shetland Islands and Iceland).  But several passages in the legend seem incredible— they “passed by crystals that rose up to the sky” (icebergs?), and were “pelted with flaming, foul smelling rocks by the inhabitants of a large island on their route” (lava and ash from the active volcanoes on Iceland?). They finally arrived at the beautiful land they called “Promised Land of the Saints.” They explored until they came to a great river (the Mississippi?) that divided the land. This doesn’t seem like very reliable information.

More conclusive evidence of Orthodox Christian exploration of North America has come to the fore in West Virginia. There, stone carvings have been discovered that have been dated between 500 and 1000. Analysis by archaeologist Dr. Robert Pyle and a leading language expert Dr. Barry Fell indicate that they are written in Old Irish using the Ogham alphabet. According to Dr. Fell, the “West Virginia Ogham texts are the oldest Ogham inscriptions from anywhere in the world.”  Like all scholarly matters, there is a dispute concerning these inscriptions.  See the website ( [http://cwva.org/index.html] ) of the Council of West Virginia Archaeology for articles both supporting and attacking Drs. Bell and Pyle.   

More conclusive evidence of Orthodox Christian exploration of North America has come to the fore in West Virginia. There, stone carvings have been discovered that have been dated between 500 and 1000. Analysis by archaeologist Dr. Robert Pyle and a leading language expert Dr. Barry Fell indicate that they are written in Old Irish using the Ogham alphabet. According to Dr. Fell, the “West Virginia Ogham texts are the oldest Ogham inscriptions from anywhere in the world.”  Like all scholarly matters, there is a dispute concerning these inscriptions.  See the website ( [http://cwva.org/index.html] ) of the Council of West Virginia Archeology for articles both supporting and attacking Drs. Bell and Pyle.   

===The Vikings===

===The Vikings===