Orthodoxy and Protestantism: attitudes and opinions about religion, the main differences from the Orthodox Church. Protestants and Catholics: what is the difference

Latest update:
02.June.2010, 04:04

The third question concerns the youngest of the main directions of Christianity - Protestantism (Protestantism), which arose in the 16th century.

What features are inherent in Protestantism and distinguish it from other Christian denominations?

1. Protestantism considers exclusively the Bible as the source of faith. On this issue, Protestants are approaching the views of the Orthodox.

2. Unlike Catholicism, which believes that truth is revealed in three ways: faith, intuition and mind, in Protestant theology the mind is excluded from this triad. When turning to the Holy Scriptures, philosophy should be completely excluded - after all, according to Luther, “the mind is the prostitute of Satan.”

3. Protestants believe that a person’s fate is predetermined even before his birth, therefore the traditional prayer for Catholics and Orthodox Christians and the role of the priest as a mediator between God and man, complex religious practice and organization are not important for Protestants.

4. Protestantism insists on making church rituals cheaper and simpler, refuses images of God and saints, does not recognize sacred relics (such as holy relics, etc.), buying decorative candles is an unnecessary luxury for them.

5. In Protestantism, services are conducted in national languages. It is dominated by sharing psalms and reading the Bible with commentary.

6. Of the seven Christian sacraments, Protestants recognize only two: baptism and communion. Calvinists went further - they recognize only baptism as a sacrament.

8. The pastor is chosen from among the most virtuous and educated parishioners.

The beginning of the 16th century in Europe is an era of radical change in European culture, a time when the matrix of its development is laid for many centuries to come. This is a time of sharp contrasts: noble spirituality - and next to it the burning of heretics at the stake; seizure of ancient heritage - and trials of “witches”; pious disputes - and inquisitorial torture. But all these seemingly incompatible elements, characters, ideological trends, flowing into the general flow of social development, form a worldview and herald the advent of a new, bourgeois era.

In such a situation, the Catholic Church comes out in defense of the ideals of the Middle Ages, confirming the characterization given to the papacy by the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes: “The drive of the dead Roman Empire, sits crowned on its coffin.”

At the beginning of the 16th century. anti-church movements reached their climax. their social base was very colorful: politicians and rulers who sought independence from Rome; traders and industrialists suffered from bribes and feudal fragmentation; impoverished aristocrats and chivalry, which saw the Catholic Church as a competitor in deceiving its subordinates; scientists who resisted church dogma; the peasantry and the urban lower classes, that the entire social pyramid put pressure on them...

In order for these social forces to act together, a single idea was needed that could unite them, some kind of common program. its occurrence is connected with the events that will be discussed.

On October 31, 1517, in Wittenberg, local priest Martin Luther nailed theses on the gates of his cathedral, in which he spoke out against the practice of sales: so-called indulgences - certificates of remission of sins. Indulgence, as a papal charter, absolved both sins already committed and those that could be committed in the future; given out for money or special services to the church.

Luther's speech was not a complete surprise. After all, the Wittenberg priest, back in 1512, began to publish views that only partially coincided with official Catholic doctrine. For example, he tended to contrast the views of such church authorities as Albert and Thomas Aquinas with Augustine's views on free will and other theological issues. In 1517, the reason for Luther’s speech was the cynical activities of the papal commissioner Johann Tetzel, who, with the help of indulgences, collected funds for the construction of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. Tetzel argued that already at the moment when the zenkne coin paid for the indulgence hits the bottom of the money dish, the soul of the sinner flies from hell or purgatory straight to heaven.

The main point of the theses was a refutation of the theory and practice of selling indulgences. There is still no teaching of Protestantism in its entirety, and on issues related to papal power, the Wittenberg priest speaks out very cautiously. “I was alone,” Luther wrote later, “and only through negligence was involved in this matter... I not only conceded to my father in many important dogmas, but also adored him with all my heart, since who was I? an insignificant monk, looking more like a dead man than a living being.”

Rome responded with threats of excommunication and physical harm. The very next year, Luther received an order to appear in Rome, but thanks to the support of the Saxon Elector Frederick III, he managed to avoid the trip. For a long time he simply hid. In 1520 Luther received a papal bull excommunicating him from the church and publicly burning it. This was a challenge not only to Catholics, but also to Roman authorities. Luther allowed himself this challenge because he had powerful support from the masses, the burghers, even aristocrats and officials.

Luther was also criticized by the Catholic idea of the heavenly representation of the church. Between man and God, he argued, there should be no intermediaries: God gives salvation of his own free will, and not under the pressure of the sinner’s requests. A person's destiny is determined not by the church, but by the grace of God; It is impossible to achieve salvation on your own. Salvation is achieved only through unconditional faith in the sacrifice of Christ. The doctrine of “personal” faith as the only and sufficient condition for salvation constitutes the foundation of Protestant dogma and is a prerequisite for rethinking traditional Catholic teaching. Personal faith, which brings salvation, cannot be a consequence of the piety of the believer. It arises under the influence of the Holy Spirit and inspires a person to think about the certainty of her salvation. In the Small Catechism, Luther wrote: “I am confident that it is not with my own strength and mind that I can believe in Christ, the master, or come to him, but the Holy Spirit called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and preserved me in the true faith.”

As a result of such views, Protestantism radically changed the idea of the place and role of religion in human life. All everyday activities were recognized as sacred, church regulation of life was eliminated. What is important is not what a person does, but how she realizes her duty to God, not the result of the activity, but the internal state, the goal that a person sets for himself.

Personal faith, according to Luther, makes a person free “internally.” Therefore, the slogan of love for one's neighbor is equated with service to one's neighbor. A person should not run away from the world like a monk. Protestantism puts forward a special ethics - the ethics of motives.

If in Catholicism and Orthodoxy a believer hopes to achieve salvation, in Protestantism, on the contrary, he must believe that he has already been saved. Thus, a person feels internally free and gets the opportunity to serve God.

Along with the burgher reformation, the popular reformation also intensified; a significant figure in it was Thomas Münzer, who began his activities as a follower of Luther. The significance of Münzer lies primarily in the fact that he embodied the people's sense of the world in eschatological language. Münzer shared the belief in “justification by faith,” but he interpreted man’s earthly destiny primarily as the struggle of zealots chosen by God, who are called to establish a new order on earth in which there will be no evil. His views galvanized the Anabaptists (the name comes from a Greek word that means “rebaptized” - because of the adult baptism they accepted; they demanded the destruction of private property and the introduction of common property). The Anabaptists represented the lower classes of the people in the Reformation. They were opposed by moderate representatives of the reform movement. In general, it should be noted that the diversity of reformation movements began the heterogeneous nature of Protestantism as a religious direction. This was also facilitated by the fact that, moving from country to country, Protestantism acquired ethnic and national characteristics, absorbing the diversity of customs, traditions, and psychology of different peoples.

The next stage of the Reformation is associated with the teachings of Calvin, who perceived Protestant ideas as already established (he was 26 years younger than Luther). His book “Instructions in the Christian Faith” became an encyclopedia of Protestantism. According to Calvin, the structures of the church and secular government should be independent. Calvin put his model into practice, turning Geneva into a kind of monastery city, overcoming the power of pro-Catholic circles and establishing a despotic order. Citizens were required to attend religious services, and the books that were brought into the city and issued there were controlled. Everything was regulated: how to dress, what to eat, even what name to give the baby. Concerts, dance parties, and other entertainment were strictly prohibited. A member of the city magistrate visited the homes of citizens in order to control their thoughts and lifestyle.

The Reformation took on a special form in England, where in the middle of the 16th century. The royal authority approved a compromise Anglican Church. Denying papal power, the doctrine of purgatory and the “reserve” of the good works of the church, monasticism, etc., the Anglican Church simultaneously preserved the doctrine of the church as an indispensable intermediate in salvation, the division into clergy and parish, the episcopal structure and the church hierarchy.

The strengthening of the English bourgeoisie stimulated the Puritan movement (the name comes from “purus” - “pure”). The Puritans called for the further liberation of the church from popery, especially for the recognition of its independence from secular power. On the right flank of the Puritans were the Calvinists (in this case they were called Presbyterians), who recognized the right of the queen’s power to control the church, maintain its financial well-being, persecute heretics, etc. More radical circles, the so-called independents (i.e., independent, this group was headed by the leader of the English bourgeois revolution, Oliver Cromwell) insisted on the complete independence of religious groups, put forward the idea of the church as a “community of visible saints,” and denied the baptism of children.

The emergence of Protestant groups caused a wave of Catholic resistance, which went down in history as the Counter-Reformation. The apogee of the Counter-Reformation was the so-called St. Bartholomew's Night on August 24, 1572 - the brutal extermination of Protestants that swept across all of France and was marked by unheard-of cruelty.

The persecution of Protestants causes their mass emigration, primarily to Orthodox countries. Thus, at the end of the 18th century. The first settlements of Mennonites appear in Ukraine - representatives of one of the oldest Protestant churches, which separated from the Anabaptists (see above). Over the course of a century, numerous settlements of Pentecostals, Baptists, Evangelical Christians (evangelists), Adventists, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. have appeared in Ukraine (this aspect of the religious life of our country will be discussed in more detail in the next topic).

Catholics and Protestants, their intolerance towards each other.

Unlike the crimes of the Inquisition, very little evidence survives of the barbaric persecution of Protestants in Holland that took place at the same time. Philip II of Spain was a Catholic fanatic who decided to eradicate Protestantism in the Netherlands by destroying the supporters of the hated religion - that is, the entire population. The task was incredible, but he set about it with the same determination that Hitler later showed in carrying out the “Final Solution” - the plan for the mass extermination of the Jews.
During the early years of Philip II's reign, tens of thousands of Dutch Protestants were tortured and burned. But it was only in 1567, when he appointed the Duke of Alba to “pacify” the Netherlands, that his “final solution” began to rapidly gain momentum. The Duke needed to exterminate three million people: another almost impossible task, considering that this was happening long before the advent of gas chambers and atomic bombs. But he used his talents in the best (or worst?) way.
When the Duke of Alba eventually left the Netherlands, he estimated that he personally ordered the execution of 18,600 people, a record for his time.
However, the outrages of Philip II in Holland led to his downfall. Queen Elizabeth of England opposed the absolute rule of the Spaniards over the Netherlands and supported the rebellion. Therefore, in 1588, Philip sent the "Invincible Armada" against her. The defeat of the Spanish fleet undermined the power of the Spaniards in Europe. In Holland the news of the Armada's defeat was greeted with even greater joy than in England - and throughout Europe Protestants rejoiced at the fall of the "brutal" Spaniards.
But Elizabeth herself left a dark mark on the history of genocide and religious fanaticism. It was she who decided that the Irish posed a threat to the safety of the English people and sent troops to “calm down” them. Over the next century, the Irish were killed in large numbers - for example, 2,000 people died at the siege of Drogheda in 1649. Irish Catholics, in turn, killed thousands of Protestants - mainly English families sent to settle Northern Ireland. It was nothing less than the massacre of Protestants (the number of victims ranged from 300,000 to 400,000) in 1649 that forced Cromwell to “punish” the Irish in 1649. Now, more than three centuries later, the killing of Protestants by Catholics and Catholics by Protestants continues and there is no sign of religious intolerance abating.

Despite the fact that the Christian faith provides for the worship of one God, there are some differences in denominations. For example, if you take Catholics and Protestants, they not only conduct divine services differently, but sometimes even look at life in general. Before joining any denomination, you need to understand in detail what these people breathe, what they emphasize, and in general, how their faith differs.

A little history

Back in 1054, when the Universal Church was united, division occurred in it. As a result, Eastern and Western were formed. A little later in the 17th century, the well-known theologian Martin Luther carried out a reformation in the Catholic Church, which caused some of the believers to separate. He refuted the teachings and dogmas of the Pope and expressed his disagreement with many innovations. After this, a Protestant denomination was formed, which functions along with the Catholic one to this day. Organization of the church - what is the difference? Catholics consider the Pope of Rome to be their main authority. The unity of all local churches is based on this. As for Protestants, their authority is exclusively Jesus Christ.

Only men can be preachers and confessors in Catholic congregations. But some Protestant branches recognize women as clergy, and they have every right to read and interpret Holy Scripture at services. In both denominations, baptism is required to accept a new person as a member of the church. But the only difference is that Catholics baptize infants or people of any age - from small children to old people. They also recognize such a spiritual way of life as monasticism - separating oneself from earthly temptations. Protestants treat this issue more strictly and accept into their ranks only people of conscious age who can be responsible for their actions and accept faith, regardless of the wishes of their parents or relatives. You can become a Protestant only of your own free will.

Spiritual life

They also do not have monasteries or monastic orders. Spiritual life is based on personal faith, prayer, reading the Bible, but it does not require completely leaving the world and separating yourself from everything earthly. Advice: When entering the Catholic faith and accepting the priesthood (which applies exclusively to men), do not forget about the vow of celibacy. If you disagree with this vow and the statutes of a given denomination, it is better to choose another church, where marriage issues are more liberal and do not prohibit clergy from creating a family. The Protestant Church, in this sense, is more free about the marriage of a priest and even welcomes this step. But in some branches you cannot marry a person of a different faith - you can even be excommunicated for this.

Nuances of doctrine Catholics consider the authority of the Bible and Sacred Tradition to be equal. They recognize these scriptures as sacred, and therefore strictly obey many human laws that are not described in the Bible. Protestants strictly adhere to the authority of Holy Scripture. In the church itself, during services, deacons and elders can interpret it. But there are also so-called home groups, where people gather in a free environment and share their revelations. Protestants at the same time reject the priesthood of the Virgin Mary and do not worship her. They, on the basis of the Holy Scriptures, claim that there is only one mediator between people - Jesus Christ, and there is no other. Catholics extol the Mother of God and consider her an intercessor before God for people. On this basis, representatives of these faiths often have serious disputes and disagreements. We must remember that the Christian faith inclines everyone towards love and peace, so it is better to avoid such questions and “sharp corners” in communication.

Pros of Catholicism:

The strict and unchanging order of worship - the Mass - almost never changes. It creates a special mood of the soul and reverence.
Confession to a clergyman is mandatory, which pushes a person to reform.
Strict dress when in church.

Pros of Protestantism:

They do not attach much importance to the sacraments, believing that rituals should not be part of the life of a true believer. Only sacraments such as communion and baptism are recognized. During communion, any bread is used - while Catholics believe that only unleavened bread is suitable for this.
Variety in the order of worship can be a plus for those who do not value it. This eliminates the feeling of ritualism and allows the common man to touch the divine. Everyone can participate in the meeting, share their spiritual experience and even sing a psalm.
They do not recognize the worship of icons and images of saints. They pray exclusively to God alone.

After the Great Division of the Universal Church, two directions were formed in Christianity - Eastern and Western. Western Rite Christians began to call themselves Catholics. But over time, among them there appeared those who were not satisfied with something in the tenets of faith. This is how a Christian movement arose, which became known as Protestantism.

Orthodoxy – direction in Christianity, the way of life of people who agree with the dogmas of the Orthodox Church.
Protestantism – a direction in Christianity that separated from Catholicism during the Reformation as a sign of disagreement with the dogmas of the Catholic Church.

Comparison of Orthodoxy and Protestantism

What is the difference between Orthodoxy and Protestantism?

Internal organization of the church

In Orthodoxy, there is a territorial division into local churches, which, however, do not have significant differences in liturgical matters. In Protestantism there is either centralization, as in Lutheranism or Anglicanism, or complete independence of communities from each other, as in Baptistism. The Church is an invisible spiritual community of people.
Orthodox white clergy marry, but on the condition that this must happen before accepting the priesthood. Monks observe a vow of celibacy. Only men can be priests. In Protestantism there are no special conditions for the marriage of clergy. They are the same as for ordinary citizens. In some areas, women are allowed to serve in the priesthood.
Monasticism is widespread in Orthodoxy. There is none in Protestantism.
In Orthodoxy, both children and adults are baptized. Godmothers and fathers must be chosen for children. When baptizing adults, the presence of recipients is not necessary. In Protestantism, baptism is performed only on adults.

Creed

The highest authority in matters of the Orthodox faith is Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. In addition, the Creed, the rules and decisions of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, the centuries-old practice of the Church. The unconditional authority in Protestantism is the Holy Scripture. In Orthodoxy, a person himself does not have the right to interpret the Holy Books. In most branches of Protestantism, extreme individualism on this issue is quite acceptable.
In Orthodoxy there is deep veneration of the Most Holy Theotokos. She, according to the teachings of the Church, is devoid of any, even original sin. Many Orthodox prayers are addressed specifically to the Mother of God. In Protestantism, She is just a perfect woman.
In Orthodoxy there are seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, communion, consecration of oil, repentance, marriage, priesthood. In Protestantism there are two sacraments - baptism and communion. Quakers and Anabaptists don't even have them.
In Orthodoxy, there is a doctrine about the posthumous ordeal of the soul, that is, about its suffering for sins committed during life. Orthodox Christians pray for their dead. Protestantism rejects such a teaching. Only belief in the Last Judgment is accepted.

Church practice

Communion of the clergy and laity is celebrated on leavened (yeast) bread. Under the guise of bread, a person receives the Body of Christ, and under the guise of wine, His Blood. In Protestantism, communion is performed only with bread, and its type does not matter.
Confession in the presence of a priest is mandatory in Orthodoxy. In the most exceptional cases, direct confession to God is allowed. Protestants believe that there should be no mediator between God and man and use direct repentance.

Divine service

The main worship service in Orthodoxy is the Divine Liturgy. Protestantism uses various forms of meetings of believers and there is no special one that is the same for everyone.
In Orthodoxy, icons, crosses and relics of saints are revered. Protestantism, with few exceptions, rejects this.

TheDifference.ru determined that the difference between Orthodoxy and Protestantism is as follows:

Orthodox teaching is based on the authority of Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. Protestant teaching is based exclusively on Holy Scripture. Everything else is rejected.
Priests in Orthodoxy can only be men; in some areas of Protestantism this is also allowed for women.
Protestantism rejects monasticism.
In Orthodoxy, both adults and children are baptized. In Protestantism - only adults.
In Orthodoxy there is a cult of the Most Holy Theotokos; in Protestantism, she is considered to be just a perfect woman.
Orthodoxy has seven sacraments, Protestantism has only two. Anabaptists and Quakers do not recognize them either.
Protestantism does not accept the doctrine of posthumous suffering of the soul.
Communion in Orthodoxy is performed by the Body and Blood of Christ, in Protestantism - only by the Body.
Orthodox confess in the presence of a priest, Protestants accept only direct repentance.
Protestants do not have a special form of worship. In Orthodoxy this is the Divine Liturgy.
Protestants do not recognize icons, the cross, and do not venerate the relics of saints.

Definition

Orthodoxy- a direction in Christianity, a way of life of people who agree with the dogmas of the Orthodox Church.

Protestantism- a direction in Christianity that separated from Catholicism during the Reformation as a sign of disagreement with the dogmas of the Catholic Church.

Comparison

Internal organization of the church

Orthodox white clergy marry, but on the condition that this must happen before accepting the priesthood. Monks observe a vow of celibacy. Only men can be priests. In Protestantism there are no special conditions for the marriage of clergy. They are the same as for ordinary citizens. In some areas, women are allowed to serve in the priesthood.

Monasticism is widespread in Orthodoxy. There is none in Protestantism.

Monasticism in Orthodoxy

In Orthodoxy, both children and adults are baptized. Godmothers and fathers must be chosen for children. When baptizing adults, the presence of recipients is not necessary. In Protestantism, baptism is performed only on adults.

Creed

In Orthodoxy there is deep veneration of the Most Holy Theotokos. She, according to the teachings of the Church, is devoid of any, even original sin. Many Orthodox prayers are addressed specifically to the Mother of God. In Protestantism, She is just a perfect woman.

Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In Orthodoxy there are seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, communion, consecration of oil, repentance, marriage, priesthood. In Protestantism there are two sacraments - baptism and communion. Quakers and Anabaptists don't even have them.

In Orthodoxy, there is a doctrine about the posthumous ordeal of the soul, that is, about its suffering for sins committed during life. Orthodox Christians pray for their dead. Protestantism rejects such a teaching. Only belief in the Last Judgment is accepted.

Church practice

Confession in the presence of a priest is mandatory in Orthodoxy. In the most exceptional cases, direct confession to God is allowed. Protestants believe that there should be no mediator between God and man and use direct repentance.

Divine service

The main worship service in Orthodoxy is the Divine Liturgy. Protestantism uses various forms of meetings of believers and there is no special one that is the same for everyone.

In Orthodoxy, icons, crosses and relics of saints are revered. Protestantism, with few exceptions, rejects this.

Conclusions website

Orthodox teaching is based on the authority of Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition. Protestant teaching is based exclusively on Holy Scripture. Everything else is rejected.
Priests in Orthodoxy can only be men; in some areas of Protestantism this is also allowed for women.
Protestantism rejects monasticism.
In Orthodoxy, both adults and children are baptized. In Protestantism - only adults.
In Orthodoxy there is a cult of the Most Holy Theotokos; in Protestantism, she is considered to be just a perfect woman.
Orthodoxy has seven sacraments, Protestantism has only two. Anabaptists and Quakers do not recognize them either.
Protestantism does not accept the doctrine of posthumous suffering of the soul.
Communion in Orthodoxy is performed by the Body and Blood of Christ, in Protestantism - only by the Body.
Orthodox confess in the presence of a priest, Protestants accept only direct repentance.
Protestants do not have a special form of worship. In Orthodoxy this is the Divine Liturgy.
Protestants do not recognize icons, the cross, and do not venerate the relics of saints.

From the school history course we know that Rus' was repeatedly attacked by invaders from Catholic countries under the banner of Christ. How could this happen? Don’t everyone believe in one Savior? This question became especially acute after the return of the Russian people to the Orthodox faith. My friend attends an evangelical church and actively invites me to worship services. I decided to find out the main difference between Orthodoxy and Protestantism and Catholicism by asking a priest and reliable sources about this question. In the article we will touch on the main differences between these faiths in order to get an idea of truth and fiction.

To understand the differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism and Protestantism, you need to take a mental journey into the depths of centuries. At the Seventh Ecumenical Council in 787, a split occurred in the united church, which was finally confirmed in 1054. From that moment on, the Christian world split into two independent branches - Orthodoxy and Catholicism. The head of the Catholic Church remained the Pope, and the head of Orthodoxy was the Patriarch of Constantinople.

The basis of the creed remained the resurrected Christ, and disagreements concerned only rituals and certain beliefs. All Christians (Catholics or Orthodox) believe in the trinity of the divine hypostasis, in the inheritance of the kingdom of God according to the commandments of Jesus, and in his atoning sacrifice. Despite the mutual anathemas of the Catholic and Orthodox churches, the basis of faith remained the same for everyone. And the Crusades against Rus' were the result of anathemas. In 1965, both faiths were reconciled and are not at odds.

Who are Protestants and where did they come from? These were Catholics who protested against the dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church. Protestants have nothing to do with Orthodoxy. If we consider schismatics within the Orthodox Church, then our “Protestants” can be called the Old Believers who did not submit to Nikon’s reform (1650-1660).

Principles of Catholicism

How do the dogmas of the Catholic Church differ from others? The fundamental difference is the dogmas about:

the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God;
posthumous purgatory;
the significance of indulgences for the human soul;
the infallibility of the Pope in his actions;
succession of the Pope from the Apostle Paul;
the indissolubility of the sacred bonds of marriage;
features of the veneration of the holy martyrs.

Other differences include the doctrine of the descent of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son, the prohibition of marriage for an ordained priest, baptism by pouring water on the head, and the rule of imposing the sign of the cross.

A Catholic can be immediately distinguished from an Orthodox by the way he applies the sign of the cross: he touches his hand first to his left shoulder, and then to his right. Also, Catholics cross themselves not with a pinch, but with the whole palm.

Orthodoxy

After the ecumenical schism, the Orthodox branch was under the leadership of the Patriarch of Constantinople. Nowadays, there are several autocephalous (independent) Orthodox churches that resolve their issues at Councils. Orthodox churches do not honor the patriarch as their head, but Jesus Christ himself.

Orthodox priests can marry. The prohibition on marriage exists only among monks. Also on the other points listed in the section on Catholicism, the Orthodox canons differ from the Catholic ones. In particular, in the Orthodox tradition there is no dogma of the infallibility of the Pope.

An Orthodox person can be immediately distinguished from a Catholic by making the sign of a cross on himself: from right to left with three fingers (a pinch). And the Old Believers differ from the Orthodox in their double-fingered overshadowing.

Protestantism

Who are Protestants and is there a difference with Christianity? This movement arose on the European continent in the 16th century as a protest against the all-encompassing dominance of the Roman Catholic Church. There is no single center for the Protestant movement; in this movement there are many churches with different names. The first Protestant churches were:

Anglican Church;
Lutheran Church;
Calvinism.

Later other trends emerged:

Baptists;
evangelists;
methodologists;
Adventists;
Pentecostals;
others.

Some Protestant movements are not recognized as a church and are classified as sects - Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses. Protestants categorically deny the worship of icons, saints and monasticism, but recognize the trinity of God. Protestants firmly believe that the salvation of the soul depends on accepting Jesus Christ as a personal savior, so man does not need intermediaries between him and God.

Protestants do not have Prayer Books, they do not light candles in churches, and at prayer services they sing songs in honor of Jesus Christ. In some Protestant churches it is customary to dance to the praises. This is especially true in neo-Protestant churches, where people clap their hands and dance in praise of Jesus. It is also not customary there to honor the Mother of God as equal to God; she is considered a simple mortal woman.

The Protestant movement is distinguished by active missionary activity, a special (fraternal) way of life and mutual assistance. The communities preach equality between all members and live as one family. The modern Anglican Church adheres to conservatism in its views, and now there is talk about its recognition of the supremacy of the Pope.

In Protestant churches, monasticism is absent as a phenomenon generally subject to consideration. Believers lead a normal lifestyle, but subject to local church regulations. Divorce is allowed, but frowned upon. The head of the community is the pastor, who is considered a role model.

Differences between faiths

Let's look at the fundamental differences between faiths using comparative examples.

Internal organization of churches

In Orthodoxy, there are many autocephalous local churches, which differ in some nuances in rituals and canonical forms.

In Russia, all churches are subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate.

There is no single organizing center in the Protestant movement. Each community exists independently of the other, recognizing the authority of Jesus Christ.

Marriage and monasticism

Orthodoxy has a developed monastic movement, the distinctive feature of which is the vow of celibacy. White clergy (priests) can marry (only once).

In the Catholic Church, all clergy take a vow of celibacy, regardless of monastic vows.

Protestantism completely denies monasticism and recognizes the institution of marriage. Members of the community can marry and divorce. Divorce is acceptable, but not universally welcomed. Some churches prohibit remarriage.

In Catholicism, the highest authority is considered to be the opinion of the Pope and his position on spiritual issues. The authority of holy scripture is also recognized as the basis of religion. Catholics resolve community issues at their Ecumenical Councils.

In Protestantism, the gospel is considered the highest authority. However, there are so many ways to interpret the gospel that believers cannot agree on a single opinion. Each community has its own view of the letters of the apostles, which is considered the only true one.

Doctrine of Saint Mary

In the Orthodox Church, the Mother of God is considered completely sinless, since she did not have original sin. The Orthodox also claim that after the Dormition the Mother of God was taken to heaven.

Catholics support the Orthodox faith in the purity of the Virgin Mary. There was no sin on her.

In Protestant churches, the Mother of Christ is considered an ordinary woman, a model of holiness and righteous behavior.

Dogma of posthumous purgatory

In the Orthodox Church there is a dogma about ordeals, that is, post-mortem trials of the soul.

In the Catholic Church they talk about purgatory, which every soul goes through to be cleansed from sins.

Protestant churches reject both the ordeal of the soul and purgatory.

Church Sacraments

The Orthodox and Catholic churches recognize 7 Church Sacraments:

baptism;
repentance;
Eucharist;
marriage;
anointing;
unction;
priesthood.

In Protestant churches, only two Sacraments are recognized - baptism and communion (Eucharist).

Sacrament of Baptism

In the Orthodox and Catholic churches, newborn children are baptized. In the Protestant Church, baptism is accepted, as a rule, at a conscious age. Immersion in water is not compulsory in Protestant communities. If baptism is carried out with water, then in the river.

Sacrament of Communion

In Orthodox churches they receive communion with yeast bread and wine. This applies to both the clergy and the congregation.

In Catholic churches they receive communion with unleavened bread. The clergy receives communion with bread and wine, the congregation with bread only.

In Protestant churches there is no single custom of communion; everything depends on the charter of the community.

Secret of Confession

In the Orthodox Church, sins are confessed before each communion, and the priest accepts the confession. Repentance can be performed without communion.

In the Catholic faith, confession can take place without the presence of a priest, as well as with his presence - if desired.

In Protestant churches, no mediation between God and man is recognized, so one can repent of sins without witnesses.

Form of worship

In Orthodox churches, ritual services are carried out according to the Eastern (Byzantine) model. There is no musical accompaniment during the service; women and men take part in the choir.

In Catholic churches, services (mass) are conducted according to the Latin or Eastern model. Organ music is played at masses, and only boys (men) participate in the choir.

In modern Protestant churches, services are held without a ritual part, mainly sermons and glorification of God. There is choral singing and accompaniment on various musical instruments, up to a modern drum set. During worship, believers can dance and clap their hands.

Veneration of icons

The Orthodox Church has developed the worship of icons and veneration of the cross (crucifixion). Believers turn directly to the icon with a prayer of faith.

The Catholic Church venerates the crucifix and icons. But during prayer they do not turn to the icon, but only stand in front of it.

Protestant churches recognize only the cross without the crucifix. There are no icons or sculptures; this is considered idolatry.

Veneration of saints and dead

In the Orthodox and Catholic churches, the veneration of saints is customary. It is also customary to pray for the dead.

In Protestant churches, the cult of the dead is rejected and saints are not venerated.

Reconciliation of churches

The schism and subsequent hostility between Christian denominations was eliminated at the Second Vatican Council in 1965. From that moment on, the Roman Catholic Church recognized its beloved sister in Orthodoxy, and called the Protestant movements Christian associations. This was a great progress among the Christians of the world, since all faiths and movements were officially recognized as true and valid.

The centuries-old enmity ended, the anathemas were lifted, and the entire Christian world breathed a sigh of relief to the envy of its enemies. Despite the fact that Orthodoxy and Catholicism continue to consider their teachings the only correct ones, there is no open hostility between them. Today no one persecutes Protestants and Old Believers, considering them schismatics and sectarians. Love and harmony reigned in the world, as Jesus Christ commanded all his followers.