NotChrysostomYet wrote:Regarding the Old Believers (a.k.a. Old Ritualists), you'd be surprised what they are alright with. (I'm referring mainstream, priested Old Believers, FYI.) Their issue with the Nikonian reforms has far more depth than the English-language articles on them imply. They rejected Nikon's reforms primarily for canonical and theological reasons, not just a mere attachment to ritual.
First for all, they insisted upon the two-finger sign of the cross because to use three fingers would be a form of monophysitism (a crucifying of the Trinity rather than Christ). St. John Chrysostom and other saints backed them up on this.
Second, they rejected polyphonic singing because it was demonstrably against the canons and spirituality of the Orthodox Church.
Third, Nikon's reforms flew in the face of the Stoglavy Synod of 1551, which had been overseen by multiple great Russian saints and had specifically defended the two-finger sign of the cross as Orthodox. Furthermore, they rejected Nikon's reforms because during the implementation dozens of Russian saints were de-canonized who had defended the Russian rite, including saints who died with their hand making the two-finger sign of the cross. (The rest of the Orthodox Church was also started issuing indulgences at the time, which the Old Believers rejected. In fact, it wasn't until the mid-20th century that Constantinople stopped issuing indulgences.)
I could go on. But ultimately the interesting thing about the Old Believers is that they were dead right. Virtually all their arguments are technically correct. Their arguments, however, led to them losing the priesthood for a time. (Basically discrediting them in my eyes). So no, they have no problem with pews, because the externals of Orthodoxy is not actually their chief concern (and never has been). The canons and the theology expressed in some externals, however, are a matter of concern to them.
NVY,
I have granted you permission to post in the Private Forum: Intra-TOC Polemics
Maria
AdministratorEdit: Thanks Maria.
But when saints Cyril and Methodius converted the Slavic people, they used the three fingered sign of the cross. That doesn't make any sense as it would imply the sign of the cross evolved into the Old Believer style and was eventually changed back into it's original form. Also wasn't polyphonic singing instigated in Greece at that time? if so, why would it be heresy to replace something with something else used by another Orthodox jurisdiction? Also, pews only came in during the Protestant reformation and are uncanonical in Orthodoxy.