11 May, 2012

Orthodoxy


The word orthodox, from Greek orthos ("right", "true", "straight") + doxa ("opinion" or "belief", related to dokein, "to think"), is generally used to mean the adherence to accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion.
In the narrow sense the term means "conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early Church". The Orthodox Churches in Slavic-language countries (Macedonia,Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria, etc.) use a word derived from Old Church Slavonic, Правосла́виѥ (pravosláviye) to mean Orthodoxy. The word derives from the Slavonic roots "право" (právo, true, right) and "славить" (slávit, to praise, to glorify), in effect meaning "the right way to praise God".
And orthodoxy comes in many forms. Like the orthodox Jew in the picture on top with his full beard and peyes, the Greek, Georgian, Russian and Armenian Orthodox priests/monks (from top down). 
But, all have (long) beards!

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