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Soviet Union [USSR] Orthodox
Orthodox Christians constituted a majority of believers in the
Soviet Union. They hold that the Orthodox Church is the true, holy,
and apostolic church and that it traces its origin directly to the
church established by Jesus Christ. Orthodox beliefs are based on
the Bible and holy tradition as defined by the seven ecumenical
councils held between A.D. 325 and 787. Orthodox teachings include
the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the inseparable but
distinguishable union of the two natures of Jesus Christ--one
divine, one human. Mary is revered as the mother of God but is not
regarded as free from original sin. Other saints are also highly
revered. Persons become saints simply by being recognized over a
long period of time by the whole church. No official canonization
is required.
Orthodox believers recognize seven sacraments and punishment
after death for sins committed but do not recognize the concept of
purgatory. Baptism and the Eucharist are the two most important
sacraments. After the ninth century, the sacrament of marriage
became requisite for a valid marriage. Holy orders are conferred on
both married and unmarried men, but only the latter are eligible to
become bishops.
Worship is an essential part of Orthodoxy and is centered on
the liturgical celebration every Sunday and holy day. Laity fully
participate in the liturgy, responding in unison to the priest and
singing hymns a cappella (organs and other musical instruments are
not allowed). Church services are notable for their splendor,
pageantry, profusion of candles, and bright colors. Priests'
garments, as well as altars and church vestments, are ornate and
colorful. Icons--pictures of Christ, Mary, and the saints, as well
as representations of biblical events--adorn church walls. An
ornate screen of icons, the iconostasis, separates the altar from
the worshipers. Icons, often lit by candles, also adorn the homes
of most Orthodox faithful. Icons are venerated but not worshiped.
Worship is reserved for God alone.
In the late 1980s, three Orthodox churches claimed substantial
memberships in the Soviet Union: the Russian Orthodox Church, the
Georgian Orthodox Church, and the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox
Church. They, together with the much smaller Belorussian
Autocephalous Orthodox Church, were members of the major
confederation of Orthodox churches in the world, generally referred
to as the Eastern Orthodox Church. The first two churches
functioned openly and were tolerated by the regime. The Ukrainian
and Belorussian autocephalous Orthodox churches were not permitted
to function openly.
Orthodox churches that make up Eastern Orthodoxy are autonomous
bodies, sometimes referred to as autocephalous or self-governing.
The highest authority in each church is either a patriarch or an
archbishop who governs in conjunction with the Holy Synod, an
assembly of bishops, priests, monks, and laity. The Holy Synod
elects the head of its church, the patriarch or archbishop, and in
concert administers the church. Matters of faith or other matters
of importance are decided by ecumenical councils in which all
member churches of Eastern Orthodoxy participate. Decisions of the
councils regarding faith are accepted by the followers as
infallible.
Eastern Orthodoxy does not have a strict hierarchical order
with one head, but the ecumenical patriarchate in Istanbul is
generally recognized as the leading official. Individual churches,
however, share the same doctrine and beliefs.
Data as of May 1989
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