Eastern Orthodox
The Eastern Orthodox communion, reading Scripture within the consensus of the Church Fathers.
Like all the Christian traditions here, this one shares the common faith of the creeds (see what Christians hold in common). What follows is where it reads the contested passages distinctively.
How Eastern Orthodox reads the contested passages
The rock is Peter's confession of Christ — and the faith shared by all the apostles. Peter has a primacy of honor, but no bishop holds universal jurisdiction.
Key points: Conciliarity; every bishop sits on Peter's chair; rejection of papal supremacy.
Sources: The Ecumenical Councils
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The gifts truly become Christ's body and blood by the Holy Spirit — a real change the Orthodox refuse to over-define, guarding it as a mystery.
Key points: The change occurs at the epiclesis; communion is participation in the divine life; reverence over philosophical explanation.
Representative voices: John of Damascus; the Divine Liturgy
Sources: The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
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The Spirit proceeds from the Father ALONE (working through the Son in mission, but eternally from the Father). The East rejects the filioque as an unauthorized addition that blurs the persons.
Key points: "The Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father"; the unaltered Creed of 381.
Representative voices: Photius; the Cappadocian Fathers
Sources: Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creed (381)
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