In researching a talk about Orthodox Christianity and the Benedict Option, I came across this passage from Orthodox Spirituality by Dimitru Staniloae, pp 205-06.: So it is a main idea of St ...

The church divided into Orthodox and Catholic in 1054 over the primacy and infallibility of the pope and other issues. What is known as the East-West schism in Christianity remains.

But after the Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity in the 4th Century, crucifixion was abolished as a punishment, and the cross was promoted as a symbol of the Son of God.

Crosses and fish became common symbols for Jesus. In the context of Orthodox Christianity, women would write pysanky during the last week of Lent, a 40-day season of preparation for Easter.