1. The Orthodox Church

2. Orthodox Church Orthodox Christians liver mainly in Eastern Europe.
In Ireland, there are two many Orthodox communities, Russian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox.
Orthodox Christians are inspired by Jesus’s commandment to “love God and ones neighbour as oneself”.

3. Leadership
There is no overall leader. Each Church is led by a Patriarch and bishops.
Patriarch: the leader of the Orthodox church in a country. The Patriarch of Constantinople is the most senior Patriarch but he is not he overall leader. He guides other patriarchs in important matters.
Bishop: leader in the diocese
Priest: ordained by bishop. Leads parish. Looks after spiritual needs by celebrating sacraments and preaching the message if Jesus.

4. Orthodox Leaders
Patriarch Bishop Priest

5. Religious Commitment
Religious Commitment: the decision to make a sincere effort to put one’s religious belief into practice.
Orthodox Christians show their religious commitment by:
Attending the Divine Liturgy on Sunday
Celebrating the sacraments
Living good Christian lives
Clergy and lay people are called by God to follow Jesus’s teaching.

6. Sunday Worship
Sunday worship is called Divine Liturgy. The parts of Divine Liturgy are:
Prayers
Bible readings
Sermon
Holy Eucharist
Final blessing

7. Sunday Worship
Holy Eucharist is the most important part of worship. Like Catholics, Orthodox Christians believe that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Incense is used a lot.
A male singer signs the hymns with no organ.

8. sacraments The Orthodox Church celebrates seven sacraments: Baptism
Chrismation (Confirmation)
Holy Communion
Confession
Marriage
Ordination
Holy Unction (Anointing of the Sick)

9. Baptism
Every child in an Orthodox family receive three sacraments when they are eight days old.
Baptism: the child is dipped three times into the water in the baptismal font.
Chrismation: when the child is dried and dressed he/she is confirmed. The priest puts chrism on the baby
Holy Eucharist: the priest gives the child communion on a spoon.

10. Orthodox church
In an Orthodox church, the altar is behind a large screen decorated with icons (iconostasis).
Icon: a sacred image used as an aid in prayer.
Icons cover the pillars and walls of an Orthodox Church.
Orthodox Christians use icons to help them communicate with the world of sacred.
The iconostasis is pulled back for Sunday worship to show the altar.

11. Inside an Orthodox Church

12. Inside an Orthodox Church

13. icons