7 major sacraments are there in the eastern orthodox church.
7 major sacraments are there in the eastern orthodox church.
how many major sacraments are there in the eastern orthodox church?
7
the number of members of the eastern orthodox church in each country has been subject to a lot of debate. each study performed that seeks to discover the number of adherents in a country may use different criteria, and be submitted to different populations. as such, some numbers may be inflated, and therefore inaccurate. examples of this are greece and russia, where estimates of adherence to eastern orthodoxy may reach 80-98%, but where surveys found lower percentages professing eastern orthodoxy or belief in god. the likely reason for this disparity is that many people in these majority eastern orthodox countries will culturally identify with the eastern orthodox church, especially if they were baptized as children, even if they are not currently practicing. this includes those who may be irreligious, yet culturally identify with the eastern orthodox church, or for whom eastern orthodox christianity is listed on official state records. other cases of incongruent data also might be due to counting ethnic groups from eastern orthodox countries rather than actual adherents. a case of this is the united states, which has large numbers of immigrants from eastern orthodox countries. the eastern orthodox jurisdictions often reported large numbers of members, which together would total 2-3 million across the country. however, a 2010 study by alexei krindatch sought data from each parish, with the specific criteria of annual participation. this study produced the "atlas of american orthodox christian churches", and discovered that there were only about 817,000 eastern orthodox christians actively practicing their faith (that is to say, attending church services on a regular basis) in the united states. the study explained that such a difference was due to a variety of circumstances, for example the higher numbers having counted all people who self-identify as eastern orthodox on a census regardless of active participation, or all people belonging to ethnic groups originating in eastern orthodox countries. this study, while initially controversial, proved groundbreaking, and has since been officially approved for use by the assembly of canonical orthodox bishops of the united states of america.
eastern orthodoxy by country
the catholic church and the old catholic church recognise seven sacraments: baptism, reconciliation (penance or confession), eucharist (or holy communion), confirmation, marriage (matrimony), holy orders, and anointing of the sick (extreme unction). the eastern orthodox church and oriental orthodox church also believe that there are seven major sacraments, but apply the corresponding greek word, μυστήριον ("mysterion") also to rites that in the western tradition are called sacramentals and to other realities, such as the church itself. many protestant denominations, such as those within the reformed tradition, identify two sacraments instituted by christ, the eucharist (or holy communion) and baptism. the lutheran sacraments include these two, often adding confession (and absolution) as a third sacrament. anglican and methodist teaching is that "there are two sacraments ordained of christ our lord in the gospel, that is to say, baptism and the supper of the lord," and that "those five commonly called sacraments, that is to say, confirmation, penance, orders, matrimony, and extreme unction, are not to be counted for sacraments of the gospel."
sacrament