Orthodox Aroman Church in Ebrary
| Orthodox Aroman Church in Ebrary | |
|---|---|
| Ecclesia Aroman Orthodoxe de Ebraria | |
| Abbreviation | EAOE |
| Classification | Aroman |
| Scripture | Septuagint, New Testament |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Primate | Jon Baran Archbishop of Laverna and All Ebrary |
| Language | Ebrarese, Laimiaic |
| Liturgy | Ebrarian |
| Origin | 1939 |
| Separated from | Church of Ebrary |
The Orthodox Aroman Church in Ebrary (Ebrarese: Ecclesia Aroman Orthodoxe de Ebraria), abbreviated EAOE and also known in Ebrary simply as the Ebrarian Aroman Church, is an autonomous Christian church located in Ebrary. It is headed by the Archbishop of Laverna and All Ebrary and headquartered in the Church of the Pentecost in Ceres. As an autonomous church and not an autocephalous church, the Archbishop of Laverna is confirmed by Patriarch of Europatorion, head of the Aroman Church.
The Aroman church has a long tradition in Ebrary, but its presence was effectively ended after the Amendant Reformation in Ebrary. Most ancient and medieval cathedrals and churches are today used by the Ecclesiastical Amendant Church (formerly the Church of Ebrary), which evolved from an autocephalous Christian church into a state church and then again into an independent, Amendant denomination. However, priests and churchgoers with sympathies to the Orthodox (sic) tradition persisted in the church for centuries, under the moniker Ebraro-Orthodox. The Ebraro-Orthodox parishes and priests continued to use various forms of Aroman liturgy, and the practice was tolerated to varying degrees by the church hierarchy. Due to this history, the EAOE is sometimes referred to as the Ebraro-Orthodox Aroman Church
During the Republic of Ebrary, the Church of Ebrary became disestablished and there was, for the first time in centuries, no established church in the country. In 1939, the Ebraro-Orthodox iconoclast elements of the church and the more traditionally Amendant elements voted to separate the majority of Ebraro-Orthodox, iconoclast dominated parishes and the historic Church of the Pentecost in Ceres from the main Church of Ebrary to form the new Orthodox Aroman church. The separation was largely amicable due to the differences between the two factions in the church, and separation was arguably postponed for decades due to the fact the Church of Ebrary was under the control of the government which opposed such a move. Those Ebraro-Orthodox who supported the usage of icons continued to remain in the Church of Ebrary until 1940 when this faction went on to form the Ebrarian Orthodox Catholic Church.
Theology
The EAOE believes in the trinitarian view of God, which is three distinct and divine persons with one essence. They believe that mankind has a fallen nature because man chose to participate in evil, as illustrated in the Biblical story of Adam and Eve. The intent and the action of this choice were separate from God's will, and it is that separation that defines and marks any action as sinful. The church believes the virgin birth, death, and resurrection of Christ were real, historical events. They also believe that when a person passes away, the soul is separated from the body for a temporary period. After the Temporary Judgment, the soul is then ultimately escorted either to Heaven or Hell. The experience of the soul in either of these realms is only a precursor to the Last Judgement when the soul and body will be reunited. The Bible and sacred tradition are both seen as equally valid sources of authority in the church.
Iconography
As part of the Aroman Communion, the EAOE strictly adheres to aniconism and takes a pro-iconoclasm stance. Many churches are ornately decorated, but avoid the depiction of people in their artwork. The usage of icons in worship is viewed as idol worship, and is strictly forbidden.
Liturgy
The liturgy of the EAOE is an adaptation of the old Aroman Rite used by the Christian church in Ebrary before the Amendant Reformation. After the Reformation, the liturgy was informally maintained for centuries until it was codified by a council of Ebraro-Orthodox ministers in the Church of Ebrary during the 19th century, which created an Ebraro-Orthodox form of the main Ebraricist liturgy. This was codified in the Ebraro-Orthodox Prayer Guide. In 1950, the EAOE published an updated version of the liturgy which attempted to bring the liturgy of the church back in line with the mainstream Aroman church while simultaneously preserving the Ebrarian character inherited from the liturgy of the Church of Ebrary. This liturgy, outlined in the "Prayer Guide for the Orthodox Aroman Church in Ebrary", has continued to be used up to the current year with only minor revisions and is known as the Ebrarian Rite. Service is permitted to be conducted in both Ebrarese and Laimiaic, but Ebrarese predominates in the vast majority of places.