Please enlighten me on the different “flavors” of Orthodoxy
Discussion
Surely you are aware, are you not?
Here are the branches of Eastern Christianity:
Eastern Orthodox Church
Oriental Orthodox Church
Assyrian Church of the East
Eastern Catholic Church
And all of these have subdivisions too.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is the Eastern Orthodox Church. Really simple. Yes, the Oriental Orthodox Church is schismatic. The other 2 don’t even claim to be Orthodox, Orthodox doesn’t mean eastern
So why do you believe Eastern is correct and Oriental is wrong? And what if you pick the wrong one? Does Christ’s blood still redeem you or only if you are part of the One True Church?
The Oriental Church split off after the council of Chalcedon (mid 5th century).
The council confirmed that Christ has two natures- divine and human but the Oriental Church disagreed (monophysites) and has not been in communion with the Orthodox Church since.
Yes, I read up on this schism and it seemed like splitting hairs over something that is not worth breaking fellowship.
Ultimately, whenever I engage in this sort of discussion I end up with Paul’s words ringing in my ears:
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” - 1 Cor. 1:10-17