More than three-fourths of Moldovans identified as Russian Orthodox

More than three-fourths of Moldovans identified as Russian Orthodox

The Russian Orthodox Church is the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world. While 78 percent of Moldovans claim to be Orthodox, it is more of a cultural identification than a religious one. Most do not attend church regularly or adhere to all of the practices. A “good” Orthodox in Moldova may attend church six or seven times a year.

Orthodox is the “official” government religion. The government builds the churches, supports the priests and constructs elaborate icons of Jesus on the cross. Moldovan Orthodox associate Christianity with heritage. They are Orthodox Christian because their parents are and it is the tradition of their family.
Relationship ‘not necessary’

Russian Orthodoxy can by summarized by three “M”s — mysterious, mystical and magical. The sacraments are referred to as mysteries, and much of the popular understanding of a person’s relationship to God through rituals is akin to mysticism and magic. Just as a child might believe his rabbit’s foot brings good luck, so is the popular understanding of faith in Orthodoxy. 

A personal relationship with God is not considered important or even necessary.
But the images that make up the Orthodox religion are important.
Orthodox church buildings are enriched with sacramental objects, including holy icons, which are hung on the walls, while murals often cover most of the interior. These images represent saints and scenes from their lives.
Gold is a color of the heavenly kingdom and is found all over the church, from golden candleholders to inlaid gold to gold frames.

All Orthodox churches have an “iconostasis” that separates the large hall of the church from the holy altar, which signifies the heavenly kingdom. Covered with icons, it is positioned in such a way to stop physical sight but to allow the spiritual sight of the worshipers through.

On the ceiling of many churches (inside the main dome) is the iconography of Christ. Such images emphasize Christ’s humanity and divinity, signifying that Christ is a Man and yet is also the God without beginning or end.
There are no pews. Most churches are lit with candles rather than electric light. Virtually all churches have multiple votive candle stands in front of the icons. It is customary for worshipers to purchase candles in the church store, light them and place them on the stands. This ritual signifies a person’s prayer to God or to the saints or angels, asking for help on the difficult path to salvation and to freedom from sin. As long as the candle is burning, it is believed that the saint intercedes for them.

Orthodox services are sung nearly in their entirety. Services consist in part of a dialog between the clergy and the people (often represented by the choir). The text is sung or chanted following a prescribed musical form. Almost nothing is read in a normal speaking voice with the exception of the homily.

Heaven through ‘good works’
Progress toward salvation is accomplished in the earthly life only by God’s grace. Man cooperates freely with this through prayer, asceticism, participation in the sacraments, following the commandments of Christ and above all, repentance of sin.

The way to heaven is through the “good works” one does.
Salvation is thought of in terms of theosis or deification (becoming god). The goal is to reclaim the path of theosis forfeited at the fall. Participation in the sacraments, prayer, fasting and other works are necessary means for this goal. There is little concern over the broken relationship with God due to sin in our lives.
Blessings or hardships are attributed to the way a person lives and the favor shown to him or her by the saint he or she is most fond of or has been praying to.

Crosses for Orthodox differ from crosses seen by most evangelicals. These crosses feature three crossbars. The Byzantine-style cross is usually shown with a small top crossbar representing the sign that Pontius Pilate nailed above Christ’s head.

The next crossbar is where Jesus’ arms were spread apart and nailed.
At the bottom of the cross is a slanting bar. This appears for a number of reasons. First, many believe there was a small wooden platform for the crucified to stand on in order to support his or her weight. This slant represents the very real agony which Christ experienced on the cross. Second, the slanted bar signifies that the thief on Christ’s right chose the right path, while the thief on the left did not.  (WMU)