Orthodox Christian Questions and Answers Cleveland Parish

A collection of popular questions and answers, provided by Fr. John Memorich

An open Bible displayed in a church setting, symbolizing Christian teachings and differing traditions of Orthodox and Evangelical churches

If the Orthodox Church is the “true Faith,” why are Evangelical Protestants more successful in making converts?

A man preaching and teaching, symbolizing religious instruction and explanation of concepts such as dendrites in the brain

What is a “dendrite?”

An early Christian ascetic saint, shown praying on top of a tall pillar with a cross, symbolizing extreme devotion and solitude

What is a “stylite?”

Psalter Book

Why does the Psalter Book contain an additional 151st psalm when the Bible only contains 150?

A Christian bishop preaching while holding a pastoral staff topped with two intertwined serpents, symbolizing authority and spiritual guidance

Why does the Bishop’s staff have two serpents around the top?

People gathered in front of a church during a religious procession, symbolizing communal worship, celebration, and public expression of faith

Pascha / Easter Worship

Why do we have processions?

A man standing wearing a mantiya (Orthodox clerical cloak), a flowing black garment symbolizing monastic humility and spiritual authority.

What is a Mantiya?

Church bells mounted in a church bell tower

Why do churches have bells?

Parishioners in an Orthodox church bowing and gently touching the priest’s vestments

While on vacation, we attended an Orthodox Church where, during the Great Entrance, parishioners bent down and touched the priest’s robe as he walked by. Why did they do this?

st photios shrine greek orthodox national shrine

What is a shrine?

“Why do we greet the bishop with bread and salt?”

christ pantocrator

What does “Pantocrator” mean?

A monk wearing the Great Schema in Eastern Orthodox Christianity

What is a Great Schema?

retired Orthodox priest

When Orthodox priests retire, are they actually “retired,” as in no longer having to be at church on Sundays celebrating liturgy?

A pair of scissors

Why do we celebrate the Lord’s circumcision on January 1st?

wood

Can you give me a logical answer about people’s ages in the Book of Genesis? Some of them lived to be 900 years old! What is our Church’s teaching about this?

“A depiction of the Magi riding on horseback, traveling to visit the Christ Child and bring symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Why did the Magi bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ Child?

Holy town

Why do so many towns in the Holy Land begin with “Beth?”

Pravoslavná svatba

If someone gets married outside the Orthodox Faith, what do they have to do to remain a member in good standing?

Father Alexander Schmemann Orthodox theologian and liturgical scholar portrait

What is a “Protopresbyter?”

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