Throughout its existence, the Christian Church has experienced many upheavals and schisms. In 1054, the united church split into two branches: Greek Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. The Orthodox hierarchs managed to maintain the relative integrity of their church, but the Catholic hierarchs had to endure another major upheaval - the Reformation. The Reformation is an ideological movement that arose in Europe in the 16th century. His main task was to eradicate the shortcomings of Catholicism, limit the power of the Pope, as well as democratize social and political life. As a result of the activities of the reformers, a new branch of Christianity arose - Protestantism.
In France in the 16th and 17th centuries, Protestants were called Huguenots. The exact origin of this word is still unknown; it is quite possible that it goes back to a distorted German - “Eidgenossen” (“ally”). At the same time, France remained a predominantly Catholic country and one of the main strongholds of the Pope in the fight against the rapidly spreading Protestantism.
Dogmatic and ritual differences between Huguenots and Catholics
Representatives of the Protestant and Catholic branches of Christianity had different views on religious sacraments and faith in general. In particular, they were distinguished by:
- Attitude to divine salvation. Catholics were pragmatic about salvation and believed that it could only be achieved through good works. The Huguenots believed that for God, the thoughts of a person and his sincerity are much more important.
- Sources of Christian doctrine. The Huguenots believed that the Bible contained all the information necessary for a believer, and Catholics drew information about the essence Christian faith not only from the Holy Scriptures, but also from the works of modern authors.
- Attitude to the very institution of the church. The Huguenots believed that a person could be saved outside the church, that a truly believer did not need magnificent and complex rituals. They also denied the need to venerate saints and did not consider the Pope to be a mediator between earth and heaven. Catholics believed that without the church, believers cannot be saved and that through the Pope, God sends a blessing to all adherents of Catholicism.
Clashes between Huguenots and Catholics
Conflicts between Catholics and Huguenots resulted in a series of religious wars between 1562 and 1598. The culmination of these events was the Night of St. Bartholomew (1572), during which several thousand Huguenots were killed. End religious wars laid down the Edict of Nantes on religious tolerance, issued by Henry IV of Bourbon, however, the confrontation between adherents of the Protestant and Catholic churches did not stop.
In 1685, Henry IV's grandson, Louis XIV, revoked the Edict of Nantes. This event was accompanied by persecution of the Huguenots and the destruction of their churches and schools. Protestants began to flee France en masse. Many of them subsequently crossed the Atlantic and began to establish their settlements on the North American continent.
How did the separations happen?
The Orthodox Church has preserved intact the truth that the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the apostles. But the Lord Himself warned His disciples that from among those who would be with them there would appear people who would want to distort the truth and muddy it with their own inventions: Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep clothing, but inside they are ravenous wolves(Matt. 7:15).
And the apostles also warned about this. For example, the Apostle Peter wrote: you will have false teachers who will introduce destructive heresies and, denying the Lord who bought them, will bring upon themselves quick destruction. And many will follow their depravity, and through them the path of truth will be reproached... Having left the straight path, they have gone astray... the darkness of eternal darkness is prepared for them(2 Pet. 2, 1-2, 15, 17).
Heresy is understood as a lie that a person follows consciously. The path that Jesus Christ opened requires dedication and effort from a person so that it becomes clear whether he really entered this path with firm intention and love for the truth. It is not enough to just call yourself a Christian; you must prove with your deeds, words and thoughts, with your whole life, that you are a Christian. He who loves the truth, for its sake, is ready to renounce all lies in his thoughts and his life, so that the truth may enter into him, cleanse and sanctify him.
But not everyone embarks on this path with pure intentions. And their subsequent life in the Church reveals their bad mood. And those who love themselves more than God fall away from the Church.
There is a sin of action - when a person violates the commandments of God by deed, and there is a sin of mind - when a person prefers his lie to the Divine truth. The second is called heresy. And among those who called themselves different times Christians identified both people devoted to the sin of action and people devoted to the sin of mind. Both people resist God. Either person, if he has made a firm choice in favor of sin, cannot remain in the Church and falls away from it. So throughout history from Orthodox Church everyone who chose sin left.
The Apostle John spoke about them: They left us, but they were not ours: for if they were ours, they would have remained with us; but they came out, and through this it was revealed that not all of us(1 Jn. 2 , 19).
Their fate is unenviable, because the Scripture says that those who surrender heresies... will not inherit the Kingdom of God(Gal. 5 , 20-21).
Precisely because a person is free, he can always make a choice and use freedom either for good, by choosing the path to God, or for evil, by choosing sin. This is the reason that false teachers arose and those who believed them more than Christ and His Church arose.
When heretics appeared, introducing lies, the holy fathers of the Orthodox Church began to explain to them their errors and called on them to abandon fiction and turn to the truth. Some, convinced by their words, were corrected, but not all. And about those who persisted in lies, the Church pronounced its judgment, testifying that they were not true followers of Christ and members of the community of the faithful founded by Him. This is how the apostolic council was fulfilled: After the first and second admonition, turn away from the heretic, knowing that such a one has become corrupted and sins, being self-condemned(Tit. 3 , 10-11).
There have been many such people in history. The most widespread and numerous of the communities they founded that have survived to this day are the Monophysite Eastern Churches (they arose in the 5th century), the Roman Catholic Church (which fell away from the Ecumenical Orthodox Church in the 11th century) and Churches that call themselves Protestant. Today we will look at how the path of Protestantism differs from the path of the Orthodox Church.
Protestantism
If any branch breaks off from a tree, then, having lost contact with the vital juices, it will inevitably begin to dry out, lose its leaves, become fragile and easily break at the first onslaught.
The same is evident in the life of all communities that separated from the Orthodox Church. Just as a broken branch cannot retain its leaves, so those who are separated from true church unity can no longer maintain their inner unity. This happens because, having left God’s family, they lose touch with the life-giving and saving power of the Holy Spirit, and that sinful desire to resist the truth and put themselves above others, which led them to fall away from the Church, continues to operate among those who have fallen away, turning already against them and leading to ever new internal divisions.
So, in the 11th century, the Local Roman Church separated from the Orthodox Church, and at the beginning of the 16th century, a significant part of the people already separated from it, following the ideas of the former Catholic priest Luther and his like-minded people. They formed their own communities, which they began to consider as the “Church”. This movement is common name Protestants, and their separation itself is called the Reformation.
In turn, Protestants also did not maintain internal unity, but began to divide even more into different currents and directions, each of which claimed that it was the real Church of Jesus Christ. They continue to divide to this day, and now there are already more than twenty thousand of them in the world.
Each of their directions has its own peculiarities of doctrine, which would take a long time to describe, and here we will limit ourselves to analyzing only the main features that are characteristic of all Protestant nominations and which distinguish them from the Orthodox Church.
The main reason for the emergence of Protestantism was a protest against the teachings and religious practices of the Roman Catholic Church.
As Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) notes, indeed, “many misconceptions have crept into the Roman Church. Luther would have done well if, having rejected the errors of the Latins, he had replaced these errors with the true teaching of the Holy Church of Christ; but he replaced them with his own errors; Some of Rome’s misconceptions, very important ones, were fully followed, and some were strengthened.” “The Protestants rebelled against the ugly power and divinity of the popes; but since they acted on the impulse of passions, drowning in depravity, and not with the direct goal of striving for the holy Truth, they did not turn out to be worthy to see it.”
They abandoned the erroneous idea that the Pope is the head of the Church, but retained the Catholic error that the Holy Spirit comes from the Father and the Son.
Scripture
Protestants formulated the principle: “Scripture alone,” which means that they recognize only the Bible as its authority, and they reject the Holy Tradition of the Church.
And in this they contradict themselves, because the Holy Scripture itself indicates the need to honor the Holy Tradition coming from the apostles: stand and keep the traditions that you were taught either by word or by our message(2 Thess. 2 , 15), writes the Apostle Paul.
If a person writes some text and distributes it different people, and then asks you to explain how they understood it, you will probably find that someone understood the text correctly, and someone incorrectly, putting their own meaning into these words. It is known that any text has different options for understanding. They may be true, or they may be wrong. The same is true with the text of Holy Scripture, if we tear it away from Holy Tradition. Indeed, Protestants think that Scripture should be understood the way anyone wants. But this approach cannot help to find the truth.
Here is how Saint Nicholas of Japan wrote about this: “Japanese Protestants sometimes come to me and ask me to explain some passage of Holy Scripture. “But you have your own missionary teachers—ask them,” I tell them. “What do they answer?” - “We asked them, they say: understand as you know; but I need to know the true thought of God, and not my personal opinion”... It’s not like that with us, everything is light and reliable, clear and solid - because we are apart from the Sacred We also accept the Holy Tradition from the Scriptures, and the Holy Tradition is the living, uninterrupted voice... of our Church from the time of Christ and His Apostles to this day, which will be until the end of the world. The whole of Holy Scripture is based on it.”
The Apostle Peter himself testifies that no prophecy in Scripture can be resolved by oneself, for prophecy was never pronounced by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke it, being moved by the Holy Spirit(2 Pet. 1 , 20-21). Accordingly, only holy fathers, moved by the same Holy Spirit, can reveal to man a true understanding of the Word of God.
Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition form one inseparable whole, and have been so from the very beginning.
Not in writing, but orally, the Lord Jesus Christ revealed to the apostles how to understand the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament (Luke 24:27), and they taught the same thing orally to the first Orthodox Christians. Protestants want to imitate the early apostolic communities in their structure, but in the early years the early Christians had no New Testament scriptures at all, and everything was passed on from mouth to mouth, like tradition.
The Bible was given by God for the Orthodox Church; it was in accordance with the Holy Tradition that the Orthodox Church at its Councils approved the composition of the Bible; it was the Orthodox Church, long before the appearance of Protestants, that lovingly preserved the Holy Scriptures in its communities.
Protestants, using the Bible, which was not written by them, not collected by them, not preserved by them, reject the Holy Tradition, and thereby close to themselves the true understanding of the Word of God. Therefore, they often argue about the Bible and often come up with their own, human traditions that have no connection either with the apostles or with the Holy Spirit, and fall, according to the word of the apostle, into empty deception, according to human tradition..., and not according to Christ(Col. 2:8).
Sacraments
Protestants rejected the priesthood and sacred rites, not believing that God could act through them, and even if they left something similar, it was only the name, believing that these were only symbols and reminders of those left in the past historical events, and not a holy reality in itself. Instead of bishops and priests, they got themselves pastors who have no connection with the apostles, no succession of grace, as in the Orthodox Church, where every bishop and priest has the blessing of God, which can be traced from our days to Jesus Christ Himself. The Protestant pastor is only a speaker and administrator of the life of the community.
As Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov) says, “Luther... passionately rejecting the lawless power of the popes, rejected the legal power, rejected the episcopal rank itself, the consecration itself, despite the fact that the establishment of both belonged to the apostles themselves... rejected the Sacrament of Confession, although all Holy Scripture testifies that it is impossible to receive remission of sins without confessing them.” Protestants also rejected other sacred rites.
Veneration of the Virgin Mary and saints
The Most Holy Virgin Mary, who gave birth to the human race of the Lord Jesus Christ, prophetically said: from now on all generations will please Me(OK. 1 , 48). This was said about the true followers of Christ - Orthodox Christians. And indeed, from then until now, from generation to generation, all Orthodox Christians have revered Holy Mother of God Virgin Mary. But Protestants do not want to honor and please her, contrary to Scripture.
The Virgin Mary, like all the saints, that is, people who have walked to the end along the path of salvation opened by Christ, have united with God and are always in harmony with Him.
The Mother of God and all the saints became the closest and most beloved friends of God. Even a person, if his beloved friend asks him for something, will definitely try to fulfill it, and God also willingly listens and quickly fulfills the requests of the saints. It is known that even during his earthly life, when they asked, He certainly responded. So, for example, at the request of the Mother, He helped the poor newlyweds and performed a miracle at the feast to save them from shame (John 2:1-11).
Scripture reports that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for with Him all are alive(Luke 20:38). Therefore, after death, people do not disappear without a trace, but their living souls are maintained by God, and those who are holy retain the opportunity to communicate with Him. And Scripture directly says that departed saints turn to God with requests and He hears them (see: Rev. 6:9-10). Therefore, Orthodox Christians venerate the Most Holy Virgin Mary and other saints and turn to them with requests that they intercede with God on our behalf. Experience shows that many healings, deliverances from death and other help are received by those who resort to their prayerful intercession.
For example, in 1395, the great Mongol commander Tamerlane with a huge army went to Russia to capture and destroy its cities, including the capital, Moscow. The Russians did not have enough strength to resist such an army. Orthodox residents of Moscow began to earnestly ask the Most Holy Theotokos to pray to God to save them from the impending disaster. And so, one morning Tamerlane unexpectedly announced to his military leaders that they needed to turn the army around and go back. And when asked about the reason, he answered that at night in a dream he saw a great mountain, on the top of which stood a beautiful shining woman, who ordered him to leave the Russian lands. And, although Tamerlane was not Orthodox Christian, out of fear and respect for the holiness and spiritual power of the appeared Virgin Mary, he submitted to Her.
Prayers for the dead
Those Orthodox Christians who during their lifetime were unable to overcome sin and become saints do not disappear after death either, but they themselves need our prayers. Therefore, the Orthodox Church prays for the dead, believing that through these prayers the Lord sends relief for the posthumous fate of our deceased loved ones. But Protestants do not want to admit this either, and refuse to pray for the dead.
Posts
The Lord Jesus Christ, speaking about his followers, said: the days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days(Mark 2:20).
The Lord Jesus Christ was taken away from His disciples the first time on Wednesday, when Judas betrayed Him and the villains captured Him to take Him to trial, and the second time on Friday, when the villains crucified Him on the Cross. Therefore, in fulfillment of the words of the Savior, Orthodox Christians have fasted every Wednesday and Friday since ancient times, abstaining for the sake of the Lord from eating animal products, as well as from various types of entertainment.
The Lord Jesus Christ fasted for forty days and nights (see: Matt. 4:2), setting an example for His disciples (see: John 13:15). And the apostles, as the Bible says, with worshiped the Lord and fasted(Acts 13:2). Therefore, Orthodox Christians, in addition to one-day fasts, also have multi-day fasts, of which the main one is Lent.
Protestants deny fasting and fasting days.
Sacred images
Anyone who wants to worship the true God should not worship false gods, which are either invented by people or by those spirits who have fallen away from God and become evil. These evil spirits often appeared to people in order to mislead them and distract them from worshiping the true God to worship themselves.
However, having commanded the construction of the temple, the Lord, even in these ancient times, also commanded that images of cherubim be made in it (see: Ex. 25, 18-22) - spirits who remained faithful to God and became holy angels. Therefore, from the very first times, Orthodox Christians made sacred images of saints united with the Lord. In the ancient underground catacombs, where Christians persecuted by pagans gathered for prayer and sacred rites in the 2nd-3rd centuries, they depicted the Virgin Mary, the apostles, and scenes from the Gospel. These ancient sacred images have survived to this day. In the same way, in modern churches of the Orthodox Church there are the same sacred images, icons. When looking at them, it is easier for a person to ascend in soul to prototype, concentrate your efforts on prayer appeal to him. After such prayers in front of holy icons, God often sends help to people, and miraculous healings often occur. In particular, Orthodox Christians prayed for deliverance from Tamerlane’s army in 1395 at one of the icons of the Mother of God - the Vladimir icon.
However, Protestants, due to their error, reject the veneration of sacred images, not understanding the difference between them and between idols. This stems from their erroneous understanding of the Bible, as well as from the corresponding spiritual mood - after all, only someone who does not understand the difference between a holy and an evil spirit can fail to notice the fundamental difference between the image of a saint and the image of an evil spirit.
Other differences
Protestants believe that if a person recognizes Jesus Christ as God and Savior, then he already becomes saved and holy, and no special works are needed for this. And Orthodox Christians, following the Apostle James, believe that Faith, if it does not have works, is dead in itself(James 2 , 17). And the Savior Himself said: Not everyone who says to Me: “Lord! Lord!” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven(Matt. 7:21). This means, according to Orthodox Christians, that it is necessary to fulfill the commandments that express the will of the Father, and thus prove one’s faith by deeds.
Also, Protestants do not have monasticism or monasteries, but Orthodox Christians do. The monks work zealously to fulfill all the commandments of Christ. And in addition, they take three additional vows for the sake of God: a vow of celibacy, a vow of non-covetousness (not having their own property) and a vow of obedience to a spiritual leader. In this they imitate the Apostle Paul, who was celibate, non-covetous and completely obedient to the Lord. The monastic path is considered higher and more glorious than the path of a layman - a family man, but a layman can also be saved and become a saint. Among the apostles of Christ there were also married people, namely, the apostles Peter and Philip.
When Saint Nicholas of Japan late XIX centuries were asked why, although the Orthodox in Japan have only two missionaries, and the Protestants have six hundred, nevertheless, more Japanese converted to Orthodoxy than to Protestantism, he answered: “It’s not about the people, but about the teaching. If a Japanese, before accepting Christianity, thoroughly studies it and compares it: in the Catholic mission he recognizes Catholicism, in the Protestant mission he recognizes Protestantism, we have our teaching, then, as far as I know, he always accepts Orthodoxy.<...>What is this? Yes, that in Orthodoxy the teaching of Christ is kept pure and whole; We did not add anything to it, like Catholics, and did not subtract anything, like Protestants.”
Indeed, Orthodox Christians are convinced, as Saint Theophan the Recluse says, of this immutable truth: “What God has revealed and what He has commanded, nothing should be added to it, nor anything taken away from it. This applies to Catholics and Protestants. Those are adding everything, but these are subtracting... The Catholics have muddied the apostolic tradition. The Protestants set out to correct the matter - and made it even worse. Catholics have one pope, but Protestants have one pope, no matter the Protestant.”
Therefore, everyone who is truly interested in the truth, and not in their own thoughts, both in past centuries and in our time, certainly finds their way to the Orthodox Church, and often, even without any effort from Orthodox Christians, God Himself leads such people to the truth. As an example, here are two stories that happened recently, the participants and witnesses of which are still alive.
US case
In the 1960s, in the American state of California, in the cities of Ben Lomon and Santa Barbara, a large group of young Protestants came to the conclusion that all the Protestant Churches they knew could not be the real Church, since they assumed that after the apostles the Church of Christ had disappeared , and it was supposedly revived only in the 16th century by Luther and other leaders of Protestantism. But such a thought contradicts the words of Christ that the gates of hell will not prevail against his Church. And then these young people began to study the historical books of Christians, from the earliest antiquity, from the first century to the second, then to the third, and so on, tracing the continuous history of the Church founded by Christ and His apostles. And so, thanks to their many years of research, these young Americans themselves became convinced that such a Church is the Orthodox Church, although none of the Orthodox Christians communicated with them or instilled such thoughts in them, but the history of Christianity itself testified to them this truth. And then they came into contact with the Orthodox Church in 1974, all of them, more than two thousand people, accepted Orthodoxy.
Case in Benin
Another story happened in West Africa, in Benin. In this country there were no Orthodox Christians at all, most of the inhabitants were pagans, a few professed Islam, and some were Catholics or Protestants.
One of them, a man named Optat Bekhanzin, suffered a misfortune in 1969: his five-year-old son Eric became seriously ill and suffered from paralysis. Bekhanzin took his son to the hospital, but doctors said that the boy could not be cured. Then the grief-stricken father turned to his Protestant “Church” and began attending prayer meetings in the hope that God would heal his son. But these prayers were fruitless. After this, Optat gathered some close people at his home, persuading them to pray together to Jesus Christ for Eric’s healing. And after their prayer a miracle happened: the boy was healed; it strengthened the small community. Subsequently, more and more miraculous healings occurred through their prayers to God. Therefore, more and more people came to them - both Catholics and Protestants.
In 1975, the community decided to form itself as an independent church, and the believers decided to pray and fast intensely in order to find out the will of God. And at that moment, Eric Bekhanzin, who was already eleven years old, received a revelation: when asked what they should call their church community, God answered: “My Church is called the Orthodox Church.” This greatly surprised the Benin people, because none of them, including Eric himself, had ever heard of the existence of such a Church, and they did not even know the word “Orthodox.” However, they called their community the "Orthodox Church of Benin", and only twelve years later were they able to meet Orthodox Christians. And when they learned about the real Orthodox Church, which has been called that way since ancient times and dates back to the apostles, they all together, consisting of more than 2,500 people, converted to the Orthodox Church. This is how the Lord responds to the requests of all who truly seek the path of holiness leading to the truth, and brings such a person to His Church.
Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov). The concept of heresy and schism.
St. Hilarion. Christianity or Church.
Saint Ignatius (Brianchaninov). Lutheranism.
Due to prevailing historical circumstances, in 1054 the Universal Church was divided into Western and Eastern. In the 16th-17th centuries, a part of the believers separated from the Catholic Church and expressed their disagreement with some of the dogmas of the faith and innovations of the Pope. Such Christians began to be called Protestants.
Definition
Catholics – Christians belonging to the Western Rite (Catholic) Church, which was formed as a result of the division of the Universal Church into two branches.
Protestants – Christians belonging to religious Christian movements that, as a result of the Reformation, broke away from the Catholic Church.
Comparison
Internal organization of the church
Catholics recognize the organizational unity of the church, sealed by the unconditional authority of the Pope. The Protestants of the Lutheran and Anglican churches maintain centralization, while the Baptists are dominated by federalism. Their communities are autonomous and independent of each other. The unconditional and only authority for Protestants is Jesus Christ.
Pope Francis
Catholic priests do not marry. The Protestant clergy is no different from ordinary citizens in this regard.
Catholics have monastic orders (one of the forms of monasticism). Protestants do not have this way of organizing spiritual life.
The Catholic clergy consists exclusively of men. In many Protestant movements, women also become bishops and priests.
Catholics accept new members into the church through baptism. The age of the person being baptized does not matter. Protestants are baptized only at a conscious age.
Creed
Catholics preach the cult of the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God and Intercessor of the human race. Protestants reject the dogmas of the Catholic Church about the Mother of God.
Catholics have seven sacraments: baptism, Eucharist, confirmation, penance, priesthood, marriage, and unction. Protestants accept only two sacraments - baptism and communion. Quakers and Anabaptists have no sacraments at all.
Catholics believe that after death, a private judgment is carried out on a person’s soul for sins committed during life, as a precursor to the Last Judgment. They pray for the dead. Protestants reject the doctrine of the existence of the soul before the Last Judgment. They don't pray for the dead.
Church practice
For communion, Catholics use unleavened, unleavened bread - unleavened bread. For Protestants, the type of bread does not matter in this case.
Confession at least once a year in the presence of a priest is mandatory for Catholics. Protestants do not recognize intermediaries in communication with God.
Catholics celebrate Mass as the main worship service of the church. Protestants do not have a special form of worship.
Catholics venerate icons, crosses, paintings, and sculptural images of saints and their relics. For Catholics, saints are intercessors before God. Protestants do not recognize icons and the cross (with very rare exceptions) and do not venerate saints.
Catholic icon. Jesus Conclusions website
- In Catholicism, there is an organizational unity of believers, cemented by the authority of the Pope. Protestants have no unity, and there is no head of the church.
- Catholics can only have men as clergy; Protestants also have women among their clergy.
- Catholics are baptized at any age, Protestants - only in adulthood.
- Protestants deny the Holy Tradition.
- Catholics recognize the cult of the Virgin Mary. For Protestants, the Virgin Mary is just a perfect woman. There is also no cult of saints.
- Catholics have seven sacraments of the church, Protestants have only two, and in some movements, none.
- Catholics have a concept of posthumous suffering of the soul. Protestants believe only in the Last Judgment.
- Catholics receive communion on unleavened bread; for Protestants, the type of communion bread is unimportant.
- Catholics confess in the presence of a priest, Protestants - without an intermediary before God.
- Protestants do not have a special form of worship.
- Protestants do not recognize icons, the cross, or venerate the relics of saints, as is customary among Catholics.
Until 1054, the Christian Church was one and indivisible. The schism occurred due to disagreements between Pope Leo IX and the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cyroularius. The conflict began due to the closing of several Latin churches by the latter in 1053. For this, the papal legates excommunicated Kirularius from the Church. In response, the patriarch anathematized the papal envoys. In 1965, the mutual curses were lifted. However, the schism of the Churches has not yet been overcome. Christianity is divided into three main directions: Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism.
Eastern Church
The difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, since both of these religions are Christian, is not very significant. However, there are still some differences in teaching, performance of sacraments, etc. We'll talk about which ones a little later. Let's do it first short review main directions of Christianity.
Orthodoxy, called the orthodox religion in the West, is currently practiced by about 200 million people. Approximately 5 thousand people are baptized every day. This direction of Christianity spread mainly in Russia, as well as in some CIS countries and Eastern Europe.
The baptism of Rus' took place at the end of the 9th century on the initiative of Prince Vladimir. The ruler of a huge pagan state expressed a desire to marry the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Vasily II, Anna. But for this he needed to convert to Christianity. An alliance with Byzantium was extremely necessary to strengthen the authority of Rus'. Late summer 988 great amount Kyivans were baptized in the waters of the Dnieper.
Catholic Church
As a result of the schism in 1054, a separate denomination arose in Western Europe. Representatives of the Eastern Church called her “Catholicos”. Translated from Greek it means “universal”. The difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism lies not only in the approach of these two Churches to some dogmas of Christianity, but also in the history of development itself. The Western confession, compared to the Eastern one, is considered much more rigid and fanatical.
One of the most important milestones in the history of Catholicism was, for example, the Crusades, which brought a lot of grief to the common population. The first of them was organized at the call of Pope Urban II in 1095. The last - the eighth - ended in 1270. The official goal of all crusades was the liberation of the “holy land” of Palestine and the “Holy Sepulcher” from the infidels. The actual one is the conquest of lands that belonged to Muslims.
In 1229, Pope George IX issued a decree establishing the Inquisition - a church court for apostates from the faith. Torture and burning at the stake - this is how extreme Catholic fanaticism was expressed in the Middle Ages. In total, during the existence of the Inquisition, more than 500 thousand people were tortured.
Of course, the difference between Catholicism and Orthodoxy (this will be discussed briefly in the article) is a very large and deep topic. However, in relation to the Church towards the population in general outline its traditions and basic concept can be understood. The Western confession has always been considered more dynamic, but also aggressive, in contrast to the “calm” Orthodox one.
Currently, Catholicism is the state religion in most European and Latin American countries. More than half of all (1.2 billion people) modern Christians profess this particular religion.
Protestantism
The difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism also lies in the fact that the former has remained united and indivisible for almost a millennium. In the Catholic Church in the 14th century. a split occurred. This was connected with the Reformation - a revolutionary movement that arose at that time in Europe. In 1526, at the request of German Lutherans, the Swiss Reichstag issued a decree on the right of free choice of religion for citizens. In 1529, however, it was abolished. As a result, a protest followed from a number of cities and princes. This is where the word “Protestantism” comes from. This Christian movement is further divided into two branches: early and late.
At the moment, Protestantism is widespread mainly in the Scandinavian countries: Canada, USA, England, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. In 1948, the World Council of Churches was created. The total number of Protestants is about 470 million people. There are several denominations of this Christian movement: Baptists, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Calvinists.
In our time, the World Council Protestant churches conducts an active peacekeeping policy. Representatives of this religion advocate easing international tension, support the efforts of states to defend peace, etc.
The difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism and Protestantism
Of course, over the centuries of schism, significant differences have arisen in the traditions of the churches. They did not touch upon the basic principle of Christianity - the acceptance of Jesus as the Savior and Son of God. However, in relation to certain events of the New and Old Testament There are often even mutually exclusive differences. In some cases, the methods of conducting various kinds of rituals and sacraments do not agree.
Orthodoxy | Catholicism | Protestantism |
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Control | Patriarch, Cathedral | World Council of Churches, councils of bishops |
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Organization | Bishops depend little on the Patriarch and are mainly subordinate to the Council | There is a rigid hierarchy with subordination to the Pope, hence the name “Universal Church” | There are many denominations that have created the World Council of Churches. Sacred Scripture is placed above the authority of the Pope |
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Holy Spirit | It is believed that it comes only from the Father | There is a dogma that the Holy Spirit comes from both the Father and the Son. This is the main difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism and Protestantism. |
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The statement is accepted that man himself is responsible for his sins, and God the Father is a completely impassive and abstract being | It is believed that God suffers because of human sins |
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Dogma of Salvation | The Crucifixion atoned for all the sins of mankind. Only the firstborn remained. That is, when a person commits a new sin, he again becomes the object of God’s wrath | The person was, as it were, “ransomed” by Christ through the crucifixion. As a result, God the Father changed his anger to mercy regarding original sin. That is, a person is holy by the holiness of Christ himself |
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Sometimes allowed | Prohibited | Allowed, but frowned upon |
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Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary | It is believed that the Mother of God is not free from original sin, but her holiness is recognized | The complete sinlessness of the Virgin Mary is preached. Catholics believe that she was conceived immaculately, like Christ himself. In relation to the original sin of the Mother of God, therefore, there are also quite significant differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism | |||
Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven | It is unofficially believed that this event may have taken place, but it is not enshrined in dogma | Assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven physical body refers to dogmas | The cult of the Virgin Mary is denied |
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Only liturgy is held | Both a mass and a Byzantine liturgy similar to the Orthodox can be celebrated | The mass was rejected. Divine services are held in modest churches or even in stadiums, concert halls, etc. Only two rites are practiced: baptism and communion |
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Clergy marriage | Allowed | Allowed only in the Byzantine rite | Allowed |
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Ecumenical Councils | The decisions of the first seven | Guided by 21 decisions (the last one passed in 1962-1965) | Recognize the decisions of all Ecumenical Councils if they do not contradict each other and the Holy Scriptures |
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Eight-pointed with crossbars at the bottom and top | A simple four-pointed Latin cross is used | Not used in religious services. Not worn by representatives of all faiths |
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Used in large quantities and equated with Holy Scripture. Created in strict accordance with church canons | They are considered only decoration of the temple. They are ordinary paintings on a religious theme | Not used |
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Old Testament | Both Hebrew and Greek are recognized | Greek only | Only Jewish canonical |
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Absolution | The ritual is performed by a priest | Not allowed |
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Science and religion | Based on the statements of scientists, dogmas never change | Dogmas can be adjusted in accordance with the point of view of official science | |||
Christian cross: differences
Disagreements regarding the descent of the Holy Spirit are the main difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. The table also shows many other, albeit not very significant, but still discrepancies. They arose a long time ago, and, apparently, none of the churches expresses any particular desire to resolve these contradictions.
There are also differences in the attributes of different directions of Christianity. For example, the Catholic cross has a simple quadrangular shape. The Orthodox have eight points. Orthodox Eastern Church believes that this type of crucifix most accurately conveys the shape of the cross described in the New Testament. In addition to the main horizontal crossbar, it contains two more. The top one represents a tablet nailed to the cross and containing the inscription “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.” The lower oblique crossbar - a support for Christ's feet - symbolizes the “righteous standard”.
Table of differences between crosses
The image of the Savior on the crucifix used in the Sacraments is also something that can be attributed to the topic “the difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism.” The western cross is a little different from the eastern one.
As you can see, with regard to the cross there is also a very noticeable difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. The table shows this clearly.
As for Protestants, they consider the cross to be a symbol of the Pope, and therefore practically do not use it.
Icons in different Christian directions
So, the difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism and Protestantism (the table of comparisons of crosses confirms this) with regard to attributes is quite noticeable. There are even greater differences in these directions in icons. The rules for depicting Christ, the Mother of God, saints, etc. may differ.
Below are the main differences.
The main difference Orthodox icon from the Catholic is that it is written in strict accordance with the canons established in Byzantium. Western images of saints, Christ, etc., strictly speaking, have nothing to do with the icon. Typically, such paintings have a very broad subject and were painted by ordinary, non-church artists.
Protestants consider icons to be a pagan attribute and do not use them at all.
Monasticism
With regard to leaving worldly life and devoting oneself to serving God, there is also a significant difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism and Protestantism. The comparison table above shows only the main differences. But there are other differences, also quite noticeable.
For example, in our country, each monastery is practically autonomous and subordinate only to its own bishop. Catholics have a different organization in this regard. The monasteries are united into so-called Orders, each of which has its own head and its own charter. These associations may be scattered throughout the world, but nevertheless they always have a common leadership.
Protestants, unlike Orthodox and Catholics, completely reject monasticism. One of the inspirers of this teaching, Luther, even married a nun.
Church Sacraments
There is a difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism in relation to the rules for conducting various kinds of rituals. Both of these Churches have 7 sacraments. The difference lies primarily in the meaning attached to the main Christian rituals. Catholics believe that the sacraments are valid whether a person is in tune with them or not. According to the Orthodox Church, baptism, confirmation, etc. will be effective only for believers who are completely disposed towards them. Orthodox priests even often compare Catholic rites with some pagan magical ritual, acting regardless of whether a person believes in God or not.
The Protestant Church practices only two sacraments: baptism and communion. Representatives of this trend consider everything else superficial and reject it.
Baptism
This main Christian sacrament is recognized by all churches: Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Protestantism. The only differences are in the methods of performing the ritual.
In Catholicism, it is customary for infants to be sprinkled or doused. According to the dogmas of the Orthodox Church, children are completely immersed in water. Recently there has been some movement away from this rule. However, now the Russian Orthodox Church is again returning in this rite to the ancient traditions established by Byzantine priests.
The difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism (crosses worn on the body, like large ones, may contain the image of an “orthodox” or “Western” Christ) in relation to the performance of this sacrament is therefore not very significant, but it still exists.
Protestants usually perform baptism with water. But in some denominations it is not used. The main difference between Protestant baptism and Orthodox and Catholic baptism is that it is carried out exclusively for adults.
Differences in the Sacrament of the Eucharist
We have examined the main differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. This refers to the descent of the Holy Spirit and the virginity of the birth of the Virgin Mary. Such significant differences have emerged over centuries of schism. Of course, they also exist in the celebration of one of the main Christian sacraments - the Eucharist. Catholic priests administer communion only with unleavened bread. This church product is called wafers. In Orthodoxy, the sacrament of the Eucharist is celebrated with wine and ordinary yeast bread.
In Protestantism, not only members of the Church, but also anyone who wishes, are allowed to receive communion. Representatives of this direction of Christianity celebrate the Eucharist in the same way as the Orthodox - with wine and bread.
Modern relations of the Churches
The split in Christianity occurred almost a thousand years ago. And during this time, churches of different directions failed to agree on unification. Disagreements regarding the interpretation of Holy Scripture, attributes and rituals, as you can see, have persisted to this day and have even intensified over the centuries.
The relations between the two main faiths, Orthodox and Catholic, are also quite ambiguous in our time. Until the middle of the last century, serious tension remained between these two churches. The key concept in the relationship was the word “heresy.”
Recently this situation has changed a little. If earlier the Catholic Church considered Orthodox Christians almost a bunch of heretics and schismatics, then after the Second Vatican Council it recognized the orthodox Sacraments as valid.
Orthodox priests did not officially establish a similar attitude towards Catholicism. But the completely loyal acceptance of Western Christianity has always been traditional for our church. However, of course, some tension between Christian directions still remains. For example, our Russian theologian A.I. Osipov does not have a very good attitude towards Catholicism.
In his opinion, there is a more than worthy and serious difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Osipov considers many saints of the Western Church to be almost crazy. He also warns the Russian Orthodox Church that, for example, cooperation with Catholics threatens the Orthodox with complete subjugation. However, he also repeatedly mentioned that there are wonderful people among Western Christians.
Thus, the main difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism is the attitude towards the Trinity. The Eastern Church believes that the Holy Spirit comes only from the Father. Western - both from the Father and from the Son. There are other differences between these faiths. However, in any case, both churches are Christian and accept Jesus as the Savior of mankind, whose coming, and therefore Eternal life for the righteous, is inevitable.
Confessional features of Catholicism. Throughout the 1st millennium, the main Christian denominations had a common history. The most prominent theologians of that era, called the church fathers (Basily the Great, Gregory the Theologian, Gregory of Nyssa, John Chrysostom, Ambrose of Milan, Jerome, Augustine, Leo the Great, etc.), preached in Rome, Constantinople and Jerusalem. However, around the 4th century. Serious differences emerged between the Christianity of the West and the East, which over time led to the division of churches.
The word "Catholic" comes from the Greek. “katholikos” - “comprehensive”, “universal”, “universal”, already in ancient times denoting one of the most important attributes of the Church of Christ. This is exactly how this word “katholikos” is understood and translated by Catholic theologians in the Nicene-Constantinople Creed (325-381): “I believe... in the universal Church.” Later, when the difference between the Western and Eastern ways of Christianity was realized, the name “Catholicism” was assigned to the Western Church. Catholicism has a monolithic doctrine, unique to all its followers and set out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic, or Roman Catholic Church, according to the faith of its followers, is the church founded and headed by Jesus Christ, which he intended for all humanity for its salvation and in which there is all the fullness of the means of salvation (correct and complete confession of faith, performance of all church sacraments , priestly ministry by ordination according to apostolic succession). According to Catholics, Jesus Christ rules the church through the Pope and the bishops, and provides infallibility (infallibility) to the Pope. Catholics recognize that the Pope is also a human being, and therefore can sin, and even admit that some Popes have behaved unworthily. The Catholic dogma of infallibility is that, thanks to the help of God, the Pope does not make mistakes, but only when the final decision proclaims the position of the doctrine of faith and morals.
The Catholic Church traces the beginning of its history to the community of the apostles (the 12 closest disciples of Christ). Bishops are considered the successors of the apostles. Catholic Church teaches that Jesus Christ entrusted the Apostle Peter with a special role - to be the foundation and shepherd of the entire church. Jesus Himself said to Peter: “And I say to you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Saint Peter preached in Rome and suffered martyrdom there in 67 during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero. The Bishops of Rome (Roman Popes) are considered to continue the work of the Apostle Peter. After the church schism of 1054, the Pope remained the supreme hierarch of the Catholic Church.
The center of the Catholic Church is in Rome. Within the city of Rome is the Vatican, the smallest state in the world where the residence of the Pope is located. Currently, the Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination. The number of Catholics has exceeded a billion, representing more than half of all Christians. The number of Catholic parishes in the world has exceeded 200 thousand.
Spread throughout the world, the Catholic Church is a single global organism uniting citizens of different states. One of the principles of Catholic morality is loyalty and respect for state power in one’s own country, compliance with its laws, if they do not contradict moral standards, concern for the well-being and development of one’s people and one’s country. The Catholic Church has always defended the highest dignity of man, regardless of his economic and social status, nationality, color, religion, gender: all people are created in the image and likeness of God; for each of them Christ gave his life.
The Catholic Church considers abortion to be murder and categorically condemns it, condemns suicide and euthanasia, and rejects human cloning as unacceptable manipulation of human life. Homosexuality is also rejected and traditional family values are protected.
Hierarchy of the Catholic Church. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church dates back to the apostolic times of the ancient church. There are three levels of priesthood: bishops, priests and deacons. Entry into the church hierarchy occurs as a result of the sacrament of the priesthood. However, a special role in governance belongs to the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. The official title of the Pope is: Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, High Priest (or Supreme Pontiff) of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Province of Rome, Monarch of the Vatican City State. The main thing in his ministry is preaching the word of God. The Pope addresses the faithful during Sunday services, trips abroad, and every Wednesday to pilgrims in Rome.
In 1978, Polish Cardinal Karol Wojtyla was elected pontiff, taking the name John Paul II. He made significant contributions to strengthening peace and expanding dialogue between religions and civilizations. After the death of John Paul II in 2005, German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was elected to the post of head of the Catholic Church, taking the name Benedict XVI.
The Catholic Church is composed of local churches, which are dioceses, the boundaries of which generally coincide with the boundaries of countries or administrative units within states. Several dioceses make up a metropolitanate (ecclesiastical province), headed by a bishop with the rank of metropolitan. There is also a conference of bishops, which has the authority to decide many issues concerning the Catholic Church in a given country. The basis of the local church is the parish, which is cared for by the priest - the parish rector, who reports to the bishop. Most often, a parish gathers believers from one area. Deacons help bishops and priests, and their work is especially important where there is a shortage of priests. Members of the church hierarchy constitute the clergy (clergy), while ordinary believers are called laity.
Most Catholics belong to the Latin Rite. In addition, the Catholic Church includes the Eastern Catholic Churches, which have sui iuris (self-governing) status.
Features of rituals in the Catholic Church. The Church performs liturgical actions, the most important of which are the sacraments - visible signs of the invisible grace of God. The sacraments are the actions established by Jesus Christ for the good and salvation of people. The Catholic Church, like the Orthodox Church, recognizes seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation (or confirmation), Eucharist, repentance (confession), consecration of oil, priesthood and marriage.
According to Catholic doctrine, the sacrament is performed by none other than Jesus Christ; it is only carried out through the mediation of an earthly servant - a bishop or priest.
Christian worship arose in the first centuries of Christianity out of the need for corporate prayer. The main worship service in the Catholic Church is the Mass. The word "Mass" is a slightly modified Latin word missa, which originally denoted the last moment of the service, when the priest dismissed the people in peace. The most important event in the renewal of church life was the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). Along with various problems of church life, the issue of worship was also discussed. It was decided that the Mass could be celebrated not only in Latin, but also in native language believers. The text of the service became clear to every parishioner. The role of Holy Scripture has increased.
During services, the organ usually sounds, accompanying the singing of choristers and parishioners. Unlike Orthodoxy, the Catholic Mass is celebrated not only on Sundays and holidays, but also on weekdays. For Catholics, it is considered obligatory to attend Mass on Sunday - the Lord's Day and during solemn services in honor of the Nativity of Christ, Epiphany, Easter and other holidays.
In the Catholic Church, worship can be performed outside the church. If necessary, any religious services are held in an ordinary house, any table is used as an altar. This practice is widespread in places where there are few temples. Today, in many countries, divine services under open air, especially during a pilgrimage or if the temple cannot accommodate all the worshipers.
Spirituality in Catholicism. There is monasticism in the Catholic Church. But, as a rule, this name is applied to the life of not only individuals, but also to the community. Monasticism originated in Egypt in the 3rd century, and Saint Anthony the Great is considered its founder. The original form of monasticism was hermitage. Monasticism became an important factor in Christian life and found numerous followers in the West and in the East.
Now monastics who take vows of chastity, poverty (non-covetousness) and obedience play a special role in Christian life. Monks are organized into orders or congregations, which are governed by their own rules. The most famous monastic orders are: Benedictines (founded in the 5th century by Saint Benedict), Franciscans (founded in the 13th century by Saint Francis of Assisi), Dominicans (or the Order of Preachers, founded in the 13th century by Saint Dominic), Jesuits (or the Society of Jesus , founded in the 16th century by Saint Ignatius of Loyola). All of the above orders are still preserved in the Catholic Church. There are both male and female monasteries.
The Catholic Church has accepted the dogma of the Dormition and Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. Catholics revere images of Jesus Christ, the cross and saints. In this case, only prayer in front of the icon is allowed, and not prayer to the icon. Prayers for the dead are accepted, and there is also a belief in the judgment of the dead (preceding the final, Last Judgment) and in purgatory, where the dead are cleansed of their sins.
The main holidays are Easter (the date changes annually, and rarely coincides with Orthodox Easter, since Catholics use the Gregorian calendar) and Christmas (December 25).
The saints and blessed ones are revered and prayed to as intercessors before God. The most revered saints and blessed, besides the Virgin Mary, include Joseph, Peter and Paul, Luke, Ignatius of Antioch, Agnes, Agatha, Lucia, Francis of Assisi, Monica, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, John Bosco, Teresa Minor , as well as Padre Pio, Mother Teresa of Calcutta and others.
Starting from the 4th century. Pilgrimages, the veneration of sacred images (icon veneration), relics (the remains of saints) and relics (objects related to the life of Jesus Christ or saints) became common forms of Christian spirituality. One of the most precious and most revered relics of the Catholic Church to this day is the Shroud of Turin, in which the body of the deceased Jesus was wrapped before he was laid in the tomb. Believers make pilgrimages to holy places, for example, Jerusalem, Rome, Lourdes (France), Fatima (Portugal), Santiago de Compostella (Spain), etc.
At all times, the Catholic Church has sought not only to convey the teachings of Christ, but also to apply them to living issues of our time. In the XIX-XX centuries. The social teaching of the Catholic Church was developed, that is, the official teaching on issues of social life. The basic principles of this teaching are respect for human dignity and the pursuit of the common good. Work plays a huge role in a person’s life, but a person should not be enslaved by his work: he should have time for rest, family, cultural, social and religious life.
Of particular importance in the activities of the Catholic Church was caring for the poor, including the sick, strangers and prisoners. Nowadays, charity is actively developing in the activities of the international organization Caritas. Among contemporary devotees of Catholic charity is the world famous Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who became a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
Prerequisites for the reform of the Protestant Church. The third major variety of Christianity, along with Catholicism and Orthodoxy, is Protestantism. Protestant churches are those that arose during a broad religious and social movement XVI-XVII centuries, known as the Reformation (from Latin reformatio - transformation, correction).
The Reformation marked the beginning of the formation of dozens of Protestant movements operating in different countries and regions. Today, Protestantism is the most influential religion in the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, Canada, Australia and many other countries.
The reason for the emergence of Protestantism was the internal processes taking place in the Catholic Church. The Reformation began as a process of correcting doctrine and returning to the original ideals of Christianity. The movement's leaders condemned the immoral behavior and abuses of Catholic priests and called on their followers to restore the principles of the church of the time of Jesus.
Changes in religious consciousness in Western Europe Many reasons contributed. In the 16th century the economy and trade are booming, cities are growing. This contributed to the desire for independence of states that were dependent on papal power. The rulers of principalities scattered throughout Europe did not want to give their wealth to Rome and transfer funds.
Society has approached a new understanding of man as an individual, free in his actions and judgments. Humanism elevated the individual as the highest creation of God, and the spread of literacy contributed to the fact that more and more people received a deep knowledge of the doctrine of Christianity and understood that the ideals and principles of their religion were at odds with reality.
The Catholic Church, in the opinion of many, has moved away from its teachings on the equality of people. Moreover, the religious practices of the era contributed to public disillusionment with the church. It was no secret to anyone that the clergy was mired in matters that did not meet basic moral standards. Religious activities became increasingly formal. The sale of indulgences - documents of remission of sins - was widely practiced. Church positions were openly sold, and the authority of many monasteries and clergy dropped significantly.
Long before the beginning of the Reformation (back in the 14th-15th centuries), the English theologian John Wycliffe (1320-1384) and the rector of the University of Prague in the Czech Republic, Jan Hus (1369-1415), called for a return to true Christian principles.
John Wycliffe condemned the extortions of the Catholic clergy and opposed the institution of monasticism. He believed that the church should not forgive sins and issue indulgences. He also argued that believers should have the right to read and interpret the Bible for themselves. The Holy See condemned Wycliffe's views and decided to burn his books.
Similar ideas were expressed by Jan Hus, who condemned the secular power of the papacy and the sale of church positions. He called for the reorganization of the church on the model of the communities of the early Christians and significant changes in the sacraments and other rituals. For his ideas, Hus was declared a heretic and excommunicated, then he was burned alive at the stake.
Although Wycliffe and Hus were condemned by the Catholic Church, their ideas spread and gained support throughout Europe. Germany and Switzerland became centers of the anti-Catholic movement.
Sermon by Martin Luther. Reformation. The most odious manifestation of the formalization of religious worship and the church’s desire for enrichment was, in the opinion of many believers, the trade in indulgences. The Reformation began with the speech of the German monk Martin Luther (1483-1546) against the sale of indulgences. On October 31, 1517, Luther posted his famous 95 theses on the doors of the cathedral in the city of Wittenberg, which became the first manifesto of the new movement. In the 32nd thesis, Luther wrote: “He who believes that indulgences secure his salvation will be condemned forever along with his teachers.” He also stated that the Pope does not have the right to forgive sins, since he has not been given such power. He called the actions of the priests a violation of the gospel covenants. The Catholic Church accused the rebel monk of heresy, but he refused to stand trial, and in 1520 he publicly burned the papal bull excommunicating him.
In the further development of his teaching, Luther rejected the mediation of the clergy in the matter of soul salvation, refusing to recognize papal authority and all decisions emanating from it. Having rejected Holy Tradition, Luther called on Christians to return to the traditions of the early church and rely only on the authority of Holy Scripture, that is, the Bible.
In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church allowed only priests to read and comment on the Bible, and its text was published exclusively in Latin. Services were also performed in Latin. Luther translated the Bible into German, and every believer had the opportunity to become acquainted with its text and give its interpretation.
Luther's ideas gained wide popularity throughout Germany. The heads of many German principalities took his side. In 1526, the Reichstag met in the town of Speer, uniting the monarchs of all of Germany, then divided into large and small states. The Reichstag adopted a resolution on the right of every prince to choose a religion for himself and his subjects. However, in 1529, Speer's second Reichstag, the majority of whose participants were Catholics, overturned this decree. In response, 5 princes and 14 imperial cities that supported Luther’s teachings drew up the so-called “Protestation” - a protest against the decision made by the majority of the Reichstag. The origin of the term “Protestantism” is connected with this event, which denotes all directions of Christianity that began their history with the Reformation.
After 1530, persecution of Protestants by the Catholic Church intensified. Only in 1555 did Emperor Charles V (a Catholic) sign a peace agreement with the Protestant princes, in which the principle “whose country is his religion” was proclaimed. Based on it, the ruler could now freely choose a religion, which his subjects should also adhere to. As a result, Germany split into two camps - Catholic and Protestant. The principalities in the north of the country became supporters of Lutheranism, while Catholicism dominated in the south.
Further development of the Reformation. The Reformation very soon spread beyond the borders of Germany. Advocates for the transformation of the church began in Switzerland, France, Poland, and the Scandinavian countries. The largest centers of the Reformation in Switzerland were the cities of Geneva and Zurich. Here, theologians John Calvin (1509-1564) and Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) preached for a radical transformation of the structure of the church. In England, the initiators of the Reformation were the ruling elite who wanted to get rid of the power of the Pope.
From its very inception, Protestantism was divided into a number of independent faiths. Lutheranism took shape in Germany, Calvinism in Switzerland, and Anglicanism in England. These movements are called “early or primary Protestantism.” Subsequently, a large number of new movements and sects arose, quite different from each other. Some of them, including Baptists, Methodism, and Adventism, became quite influential and gained millions of followers. These movements are called “late Protestantism.”
Features of the doctrine of Protestantism. Despite all their diversity, the following general principles of doctrine are characteristic of Protestant movements.
The only source of doctrine is the Bible ( Holy Bible). The authority of Holy Tradition (decisions of Ecumenical Councils, documents of popes and other patriarchs of the church) is rejected. Every believer not only has the right, but also the obligation to independently read the Bible and understand its content. The Bible can be translated into local languages.
According to the teachings of Protestantism, salvation is achieved only by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. All other ways to achieve salvation (rites, fasts, godly deeds, etc.) are considered unimportant.
The mediation of the church in the relationship between man and God is rejected. Based on this, it is recognized that the church hierarchy and priests are not needed for salvation. Thus, in Protestantism there is no division between laity and clergy.
Most Protestants recognize only two sacraments: baptism and communion. Other sacraments are considered simple rites. In reformed churches there is no worship of saints, veneration of icons, or sculptural images. Protestantism rejects the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, celibacy of the clergy and the institution of monasticism.
Main directions of Protestantism. Protestantism is a broad religious movement that has given rise to many trends and movements. The process of formation of new Christian churches which began in the 16th century continues to this day. Each of the movements has formed independent organizational structures; they have quite significant differences in their understanding of religious doctrine. Let's take a closer look at the largest Protestant movements.
Lutheranism. Historically, the term “Protestants” was applied to Lutheranism. The Evangelical (Lutheran) Church was formed during the Reformation under the influence of the ideas of Martin Luther. The fundamentals of the doctrine are set out in the book “Augsburg Confession”. The basic principles of Protestantism were embodied in this work: justification by personal faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, achieving salvation without the mediation of the church, the source of doctrine is only the Bible, the abolition of monasticism and the worship of saints and their relics, etc. The Lutheran Church recognizes all three Ecumenical Creeds (Apostolic, Niceno-Constantinople, Athanasiev).
In Lutheran dogma and in religious practice, many elements inherited from Catholicism have been preserved. Followers of Luther recognize two sacraments: baptism and communion, and infants are baptized, like Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Five other traditional sacraments for Catholicism and Orthodoxy are considered as simple rites: confirmation, marriage, unction, ordination (ordination to the clergy) and confession are classified as sacred rites. In the Lutheran Church there is a clergy whose functions are to organize religious life, preach the Holy Scriptures, and perform the sacraments. Bishops and other clergy are distinguished by their special attire. This belief is most widespread in Germany, the USA, Austria, Hungary, and the Scandinavian countries.
According to available sources, the first Lutherans appeared in our country back in the 19th century. The first communities were created in Aktyubinsk, Petropavlovsk, Akmola. The first Lutheran community after Stalin's repressions was registered by official bodies in Kazakhstan in 1955.
Calvinism. Calvinism, like Lutheranism, is one of the early movements of Protestantism. The decisive role in its formation was played by the concept of John Calvin (1509-1564), which he tried to put into practice in Geneva. On the basis of Calvinism, the Reformed and Presbyterian churches emerged.
Calvinism is considered one of the most radical movements of Protestantism. Of great importance here is the doctrine of predestination, according to which God chose some people to eternal bliss and others to destruction. Calvin taught that the life of each person should be understood not as pleasure, but as the fulfillment of duty and movement towards a goal set from above.
In Calvinism there is no universally binding creed; the Bible is considered the only source of doctrine. Religious objects such as icons, candles, and crosses are not recognized. Baptism and communion are not understood as sacraments, but only as symbolic rites. Clergy (pastors and elders - presbyters) are elected from among the members of the community.
Calvinism is widespread in Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Germany and the USA.
Anglican Church. In 1534, the English parliament declared the independence of the church from the Pope and declared King Henry VIII the head of the church. All monasteries in England were closed, and their property was confiscated in favor of the royal power. But at the same time, Catholic rituals and dogmas were preserved. In 1571, Parliament adopted a document called the 39 Articles, which became a creed for the English Church. On its basis, Anglicanism emerged as an independent movement of Protestantism.
Like other Protestant movements, Anglicanism rejects the Holy Tradition, and the Holy Scripture is considered the primary source of doctrine. The English monarch is recognized as the head of the church.
Anglicanism is a kind of compromise teaching, combining features of Protestantism and Catholicism. Thus, the provision about salvation by personal faith operates along with the provision about the saving role of the church. Priests are considered mediators between man and God, and the church hierarchy with an episcopal structure is preserved. Divine services are close in form to Catholic masses.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, appointed by the British monarch, is considered the spiritual leader of Anglicans in Great Britain. In addition to England, independent Anglican churches exist in Scotland, the USA, Canada, Australia and other countries.
Baptistism. The first Baptist communities arose at the beginning of the 17th century. in England and Holland. The name of this teaching is associated with the Greek word “baptizo” - to immerse in water, to baptize. The basis of Baptist doctrine is the Bible. Faith in Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice is considered a sufficient basis for salvation. Only those whom God has chosen believe. A special place among Baptists is occupied by the doctrine of “spiritual rebirth”, which occurs under the influence of the Holy Spirit entering a person, which means the unity of the spirit of every believer with Jesus Christ.
Baptism and communion in Baptistism are understood not as sacraments, but as symbolic rites of spiritual unity with Christ. Baptism is seen as an act of spiritual rebirth of a person. Therefore, this ritual has a number of features. Only adults (over 16 years of age) who consciously turn to faith can be baptized. Before baptism, a person must undergo a probationary period for a year.
Baptists recognize only those general Christian holidays that are associated with the biography of Jesus Christ: Christmas, Epiphany, Resurrection, etc. They also have their own holidays, such as the Harvest Festival and Unity Day. Missionary work occupies a significant place in religious life: every believer must bring his relatives, friends, colleagues, and neighbors to the community.
Ritual and religious practice in Baptistism is characterized by modesty and simplicity. The house of prayer is not much different from ordinary secular premises; there are also no religious objects. Baptists gather for prayer meetings two to three times a week. During the meetings, a sermon is usually heard, fragments from the Bible are read, and religious songs are sung.
Baptistism is one of the most widespread areas of Protestantism in the world, including in Kazakhstan. There are more than 350 Baptist associations in our country.
Adventism. The religious movement of Adventists (from the Latin adventus - advent) emerged from Baptistism in the early 30s. XIX century in USA. The founder of this church, William Miller, referring to the prophetic books of the Bible, predicted that the second coming of Jesus Christ was expected on March 21, 1843. The prophecy did not come true, and the date was postponed to the next year.
Ultimately, Adventists refused to name the exact date the second coming, claiming only that it is inevitable and will happen very soon. Miller's followers believe that the world will soon be destroyed, after which a new earth will appear and the thousand-year reign of Jesus will be established. Unlike other denominations of Christianity, Adventists do not consider the human soul to be immortal. According to their ideas, during the Last Judgment, only the righteous, that is, followers of Adventism, will be resurrected body and soul.
Several trends have developed in Adventism. The most famous among them were the Seventh-day Adventists. The founder of this church was Ellen White (1827-1915), who put forward a number of new conceptual positions. In particular, she proclaimed the celebration of Saturday instead of Sunday and “sanitary reform.” Like the Jews, Adventists consider Saturday to be the last, seventh day of the week and declare it a holiday, the day of God (hence the name of their movement). It is prohibited to work on Saturday. As for the “sanitary reform,” it involves taking care not only of spiritual, but also of physical preparation for the imminent coming of Christ. Therefore, believers are instructed to spend more time in the sun and fresh air, lead an active lifestyle, do not consume meat of “unclean animals” (pork), as well as tea, coffee, alcoholic drinks, etc. It is prohibited to take many medications.
Adventists recognize baptism only for adults, but, unlike Baptists, teenagers from 12 years of age are allowed to participate in this rite. Followers of the community are active in missionary activities.
As of January 1, 2013, there were 42 Seventh-day Adventist communities operating in Kazakhstan.
Pentecostalism. Pentecostalism, which emerged in the United States at the end of the 19th century, is another major branch of Protestantism. According to the included New Testament In the book “The Acts of the Holy Apostles”, on the fiftieth day after the death of Christ, the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles. As a result, they acquired nine gifts: wisdom, knowledge, faith, the gift of healing, the ability to perform miracles, prophesy, discern spirits, speak different languages and interpret them.
Pentecostals believe that believers can gain the ability to prophecy and “speak in other tongues.” This is achieved through a special cult practice, including long fasts, isolation from the world, and immersion in a trance. Pentecostal prayer meetings take place in an atmosphere of extreme excitement and religious exaltation. In a state of ecstasy, believers begin to mutter, scream, and utter incomprehensible phrases, which is interpreted as “speaking in tongues.” According to Russian religious scholars V. Ilyin, A. Karmin and N. Nosovich, ““other speaking” is the result of colossal nervous excitement: this special shape a hysterical attack, the manifestation of which is speech activity in the absence of control by consciousness.”
Among Pentecostals at the beginning of the twentieth century. the so-called charismatic movement arose (its representatives are also called neo-Pentecostals or Pentecostal reformists). Representatives of this movement are characterized by very emotional sermons. The descent of gifts here can be understood as any, including uncontrolled, manifestation of emotions, for example, loud laughter, tears, screams, etc. As far as doctrine is concerned, there are significant differences among the various directions of neo-Pentecostalism.
The rapid rise of the charismatic movement in the West was noted in the 1960s. Thanks to active preaching activities, various branches of Pentecostalism have spread throughout the world, including the USA, Latin America, Europe and the CIS countries.
In Kazakhstan they have spread in the last two decades. Currently, there are 189 Pentecostal communities in all regions of the country (Evangelical Christians in the Spirit of the Apostles, Union of Christians of the Evangelical Faith, etc.) and 55 Presbyterian communities.
In addition to those discussed above, many other Protestant movements have formed in the world. Among them are Mennonites, Methodists, Quakers, etc. Some of them have deviated so much from traditional Christianity that scientists and theologians doubt whether they can be considered Christian movements. Similar assessments apply, for example, to Jehovah's Witnesses or Mormons.