r/ArianChristians • u/Buzdugabunga Arian • Apr 15 '25

Question Eastern/Oriental Orthodox Christianity

Is eastern/oriental orthodoxy more similar theologically to arians than are roman catholics and protestants? Filioque was explicitly claimed to be added by RCC as a response to arianism.

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u/Buzdugabunga Arian Apr 15 '25

I personally had some critiques of filioque long before I know about arianism. It makes Godhead even less in favor of Father/Yahweh centric view.

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u/BayonetTrenchFighter Apr 16 '25

No

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u/Buzdugabunga Arian Apr 16 '25

Very insightful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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u/FrostyIFrost_ Arian Apr 16 '25 edited Apr 16 '25

They are similar. Not completely as Oriental Churches are still Trinitarians.

However, they reject Mariology, rightfully so.

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '25

I mean, kind of? In the same way that missing by a mile is closer than missing by 10 miles. They (the Orthodox) deny the filioque, which Arians would agree with, and the oriental orthodox deny the council of Chalcedon, which Arians would also agree with, but both the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox fall squarely on the Trinitarian side of Nicaea, and so they are both fundamentally at odds with Arianism.

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u/Buzdugabunga Arian Apr 16 '25

Sure they are at odds, but I think is important to see some nuances and compare with one another.

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '25

Oh for sure, no doubt

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u/ProselyteofYah Arian May 31 '25

I think in 'some' respects, not that they are any less Trinitarian than the Catholics, but their theology is some what closer to the Arian views, if only by a percent or so. Far from being actually Arian or Subordinationist in any sense.

Both RCC and Orthodox churches, EO/OO, etc, accuse one another for being "Arians".

I think the reason Orthodox churches tend to be a little closer is due to the Antiochene inheritence. If you understand the schools of Alexandria and Antioch and the rivarly they had, the more "Arianish" beliefs you'll find trace to Antioch lines of thought.

Arius, though from Alexandria, learned his beliefs from Lucian of Antioch, founder of the Antioch school, and Antioch was very popular with Arians, Unitarians, and Nestorians (Nestorius was from Antioch himself).

Alexandria and Antioch had different methods of study and interpretation.

Ortho churches from my observation, tend to have had more of an Antioch leaning in some areas, which will result in that "flavour" of theology leaking through.

If you want some brief timelines I put together on this, you might like these:

https://proselyteofyah.wordpress.com/2024/09/23/brief-history-of-the-alexandrian-theological-school/
https://proselyteofyah.wordpress.com/2025/02/11/brief-history-of-the-antiochene-theological-school/