Differences between Coptic Church and Orthodox Church

[MichaelNZ]

I was wondering, what are the main differences between the Coptic Church and the Orthodox Church (meaning the Antiochian, Greek, Russian Churches among others)?

The Coptic Liturgy of St. Basil is quite different to the Orthodox one. The priest doesn't wear any vestments except the sticharion (alb) and a white veil over his head. Why is this? The way it is done is completely different as well, with Communion being given separately (first the Body of Christ, then the Blood with a spoon). Why do women and men sit on different sides of the church?

I've heard that Copts believe that Christ had only one nature, but Abouna Felimoun and others told me that Christ was fully God and at the same time fully man. I don't see where the dispute is.

With regard to Sacraments, what are the main differeneces? Are there seven Sacraments in the Coptic Church? Do you confess your sins to a priest who will then absolve you? Do Copts practice Chrismation/Confirmation? Is marriage forever, or is divorce permitted? Can Coptic priests be married? And does the Coptic Church practice Extreme Unction?

Any help on these issues would be much appreciated.

 

[GabrielWithoutWings]

I was wondering, what are the main differences between the Coptic Church and the Orthodox Church (meaning the Antiochian, Greek, Russian Churches among others)?

The Oriental Churches recognize three Ecumenical Councils, whereas the Eastern Churches recognize Seven Ecumenical Councils.

The Oriental Churches follow a Miaphysite christology, whereas the Eastern Churches follow a Dyophysite christology.

The Coptic Liturgy of St. Basil is quite different to the Orthodox one. The priest doesn't wear any vestments except the sticharion (alb) and a white veil over his head. Why is this?

Not sure. I'll let a more experienced poster answer this.

The way it is done is completely different as well, with Communion being given separately (first the Body of Christ, then the Blood with a spoon).

I believe they do it that way because that's how Jesus did it.

Matthew
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed[b] and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new[c] covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Why do women and men sit on different sides of the church?

If I remember correctly, in some Eastern European countries, they do that there as well. I think it may be a cultural thing, but I'm not sure.

I've heard that Copts believe that Christ had only one nature, but Abouna Felimoun and others told me that Christ was fully God and at the same time fully man. I don't see where the dispute is.

Welcome to my world.

The Oriental churches are accused of monophysitism, which states that Jesus' humanity was swallowed up by His divinity. The Oriental churches, however, excommunicated Eutyches, and instead, use Saint Cyril's miaphysite christology.

Mia Physis tou Theou Logou Sesarkomene

One Nature of the Word (Logos) Incarnate

Trust me, it's a big mess.

With regard to Sacraments, what are the main differeneces? Are there seven Sacraments in the Coptic Church? Do you confess your sins to a priest who will then absolve you?

Not sure, but I believe there are seven sacraments. Let someone else to you, though, just to make sure.

Do Copts practice Chrismation/Confirmation?

Not sure. They seem picky about baptisms, as I said earlier.

Is marriage forever, or is divorce permitted?

If I understood Father Boutros correctly, there may be divorce in the Coptic Church, but it is VERY rare. Speak to the priest about this one.

Can Coptic priests be married? And does the Coptic Church practice Extreme Unction?

Yes, and not sure.

Any help on these issues would be much appreciated.

I don't know if I helped, but I typed a lot.

 

[copticorthodoxy]

Our church is called the Orthodox Church and the other is the Greek Church or the Chalcedonian Church

 

[GabrielWithoutWings]

Our church is called the Orthodox Church and the other is the Greek Church or the Chalcedonian Church

To go into a little more detail, the word Oriental also means Eastern. Therefore, you have two churches who are the "Eastern" Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox will usually refer to Oriental Orthodox as such (though some will say monophysite and monothelite). The Oriental Orthodox will refer to themselves as such when both churches may post in the same thread. However, among themselves, they call themselves the Eastern Orthodox Church and call the other church the Byzantine Orthodox Church, or the Chalcedonian Church. HH Pope Shenouda III does this in several of his books and writings.

Are you confused yet?

 

[Yeznik]

Our church is called the Orthodox Church and the other is the Greek Church or the Chalcedonian Church

That very interesting because in Armenian they are called the Greek Churches.

 

[copticorthodoxy]

That very interesting because in Armenian they are called the Greek Churches.

 

[zhilan]

That very interesting because in Armenian they are called the Greek Churches.

Hey a non-Coptic OO! Now we just need to recruit an Ethiopian, Syrian, and British, right? (I'm probably leaving someone out...??)

 

[GabrielWithoutWings]

Hey a non-Coptic OO! Now we just need to recruit an Ethiopian, Syrian, and British, right? (I'm probably leaving someone out...??)

Eritrean and Indian (that's not under the Syriac patriarchate).

 

[a_ntv]

To go into a little more detail, the word Oriental also means Eastern. Therefore, you have two churches who are the "Eastern" Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox will usually refer to Oriental Orthodox as such (though some will say monophysite and monothelite). The Oriental Orthodox will refer to themselves as such when both churches may post in the same thread. However, among themselves, they call themselves the Eastern Orthodox Church and call the other church the Byzantine Orthodox Church, or the Chalcedonian Church. HH Pope Shenouda III does this in several of his books and writings.

Are you confused yet?

To add some confusion, the use of Catholics is still different (see the vatican site http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/index.htm)

The EO (here on CF) are called: Orthodox Churches of Byzantine Tradition
The OO (here on CF) are called:Ancient Churches of the East

And the term 'Church' is typically not used for protestants (due to their lack of valid Eucharist), while the term used is 'ecclesial comunity'

What is the feelings of the OO to be called Ancient Churches of the East ?

 

[copticorthodoxy]

To add some confusion, the use of Catholics is still different (see the vatican site http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/index.htm)

The EO (here on CF) are called: Orthodox Churches of Byzantine Tradition
The OO (here on CF) are called:Ancient Churches of the East

And the term 'Church' is typically not used for protestants (due to their lack of valid Eucharist), while the term used is 'ecclesial comunity'

What is the feelings of the OO to be called Ancient Churches of the East ?

Personally i don't accept to be called " Ancient Churches of the East "
We Are " The Anceint Orthodox Church of the East "

 

[CopticPhalanx]

This word "oriental" is not a correct word to describe Coptic Orthodox Christians or Arabic Christians. There are many Greek Orthodox Christians in Lebanon and there are also other Arabic Orthodoxies such as the Palestinian Orthodox Church, Syrian Orthodox Church, Chaldean Christians who are mostly Iraqi I believe, and although Maronites(Lebanese) are a 22nd Denomination of the Catholic Church they seem to share more similarities with Coptics than they do with Catholics in terms of traditional/cultural aspects.

 

[a_ntv]

This word "oriental" is not a correct word to describe Coptic Orthodox Christians or Arabic Christians. There are many Greek Orthodox Christians in Lebanon and there are also other Arabic Orthodoxies such as the Palestinian Orthodox Church, Syrian Orthodox Church, Chaldean Christians who are mostly Iraqi I believe, and although Maronites(Lebanese) are a 22nd Denomination of the Catholic Church they seem to share more similarities with Coptics than they do with Catholics in terms of traditional/cultural aspects.

The Maronite is an indipendent church in full communion with Rome. It is has not similitaries with the Coptics, because this Church is a Syrian Church. It was founded in the VII century to be differentiate both from the 'calchedonian' Bizantine Church (EO) and from the 'not-calchedonian' Syrian Church (OO). Probably this church was in origin 'monothelite' (a heresy by which Chirst had only one will with two nature). In a few time this church moved away from this heresy, but remained in between the EO and OO, and on about the 1520 estabilished communion with Rome.
The Chaldean (IRAQ) is an other indipendent church in full communion with Rome, but its heritage is from the Assirian (sometime wrongly said Nestorian) Church: because of that this Church is away from the OO Churches (even if the Liturgy, the spirituality are not too far from the Syrian OO Church).

 

[copticorthodoxy]

The love is the main base of the christianity , i have never seen a coptic think about forming a milita