An Attempt to Date
the Greek Orthodox Church
G.D.O'Bradovich III
May 3, 2014
After reviewing Apprentice Thomas' work on the ordinaries of the western church, I must conclude that England is either a remote island and almost wholly ignorant of continental affairs, or it has only recently been inhabited. Regretfully, the present work does not clarify which one these options is true.
A chronological list of words relating to and derived from the words Greece, Byzantine, Hellene and orthodox are listed below. The dates are from the Oxford English Dictionary. References to the Greek Orthodox church are in bold.
A chronological list of words relating to and derived from the words Greece, Byzantine, Hellene and orthodox are listed below. The dates are from the Oxford English Dictionary. References to the Greek Orthodox church are in bold.
|
Greek 2
Greek 3 Grecian Grecian 2 1 Grecian 3 Grecian 2 2 Greek 3 Grecian orthodoxical orthodox 2 a orthodoxal 2 Orthodox B orthodoxal 1 Grecian 2 orthodoxally Hellenism Hellenian B Grecanize Grecianize orthodox A 1 Hellenist Hellenize Hellenizing orthodoxly Byzantian orthodoxian orthodoxy Hellenic orthodoxism orthodoxness orthodox A b Hellenistically orthodoxalness Hellenistical Hellenism orthodoxility Hellene Grecanic Orthodox Helenist 2 Hellenistic Orthodoxy, Feast of Byzantine A Hellenize 2 Hellenian A Hellenized Hellinic B Byzantine B Hellenism 2 Hellenism 3 Hellenize b Hellenization Hellenistic b |
1380
1382 1422 1547 1547 1557 1560 1577 1577 1581 1585 1587 1592 1600 1605 1609 1611 1611 1611 1611 1613 1613 1613 1615 1619 1621 1630 1644 1644 1644 1645 1646 1654 1656 1659 1660 1662 1669 1679 1680 1706 1727 1744 1799 1813 1844 1847 1848 1862 1865 1869 1873 1874 |
The average of the above dates is 1654 with a standard deviation of 115 years and ranges from 1539 to 1770.
|
Greek 2
Greek 3 Grecian Grecian 2 1 Grecian 3 Grecian 2 2 Greek 3 Grecian Grecian 2 Grecanize Grecianize Grecanic |
1380
1382 1422 1547 1547 1557 1560 1577 1600 1611 1611 1669 |
Byzantian
Byzantine A Byzantine B |
1619
1744 1848 |
The average date for Greek is 1539 with a standard deviation of 90 years and ranges from 1448 to 1628.
|
orthodoxical
orthodox 2 a orthodoxal 2 Orthodox B orthodoxal 1 orthodoxally orthodox A 1 orthodoxly orthodoxian orthodoxy orthodoxism orthodoxness orthodox A b orthodoxalness orthodoxility Orthodox Orthodoxy, Feast of |
1577
1581 1585 1587 1592 1605 1611 1615 1621 1630 1644 1644 1645 1654 1660 1679 1727 |
Hellenism
Hellenian B Hellenist Hellenize Hellenizing Hellenic Hellenistically Hellenistical Hellenism Hellene Helenist 2 Hellenistic Hellenize 2 Hellenian A Hellenized Hellinic B Hellenism 2 Hellenism 3 Hellenize b Hellenization Hellenistic b |
1609
1611 1613 1613 1613 1644 1646 1656 1659 1662 1680 1706 1799 1813 1844 1847 1862 1865 1869 1873 1874 |
The average date for orthodox is 1626 with a standard deviation of 39 years and ranges from 1588 to 1666. The average date for Hellene is 1731 with a standard deviation of 106 years and ranges from 1625 to 1838. The following are words that only relate to the Greek Orthodox Church.
|
Greek 2
Grecian 3 Greek 3 Orthodox B Grecian 2 Othodox Orthodoxy, Feast of |
1380
1547 1560 1587 1600 1679 1727 |
The average date for words only relating to the Greek Orthodox Church is 1583 with a standard deviation of 102 years and ranges from 1481 to 1685.
|
All words Greek orthodox Hellene Orthodox Church Byzantine |
Average Date
1654 1539 1627 1731 1582 1737 |
Standard Deviation
115 90 39 106 102 94 |
Lower Limit
1539 1449 1588 1625 1481 1643 |
Upper Limit
1770 1628 1666 1838 1685 1831 |
Discussion
From dates in the above table, we can state that Greek and related words come first (1449), knowledge of the Greek church arrives next (1481), followed by words derived from orthodox (1588), then words related to Hellene (1625) and, finally, words related to Byzantine (1643).
Words relating to Greek are mostly introduced by 1600. From 1601 to 1700, eleven the words relating to Hellene enter the English language. The 18th century has two words and the 19th century has eight words enter the language.
The adjective Byzantian (1619) is recorded more than a century before Byzantine (1744). We must conclude that either Byzantian has been incorrectly sourced to 1619 or that Byzantine was known before 1619.
Conclusion
The Oxford English Dictionary has been, and will continue to be, a tremendous resource. For example, the history of "horse" spans almost a millennium and covers two pages. Unfortunately, the OED has not been helpful in dating the Greek Orthodox Church. Even by including all reference dates (not only the earliest reference dates), we only have the following paltry table:
From dates in the above table, we can state that Greek and related words come first (1449), knowledge of the Greek church arrives next (1481), followed by words derived from orthodox (1588), then words related to Hellene (1625) and, finally, words related to Byzantine (1643).
Words relating to Greek are mostly introduced by 1600. From 1601 to 1700, eleven the words relating to Hellene enter the English language. The 18th century has two words and the 19th century has eight words enter the language.
The adjective Byzantian (1619) is recorded more than a century before Byzantine (1744). We must conclude that either Byzantian has been incorrectly sourced to 1619 or that Byzantine was known before 1619.
Conclusion
The Oxford English Dictionary has been, and will continue to be, a tremendous resource. For example, the history of "horse" spans almost a millennium and covers two pages. Unfortunately, the OED has not been helpful in dating the Greek Orthodox Church. Even by including all reference dates (not only the earliest reference dates), we only have the following paltry table:
|
Greek
Grecian Greek Greek Orthodox B Grecian Greek Grecian Orthodox B Orthodox Greek Greek Grecian Orthodox Orthodox B Greek Orthodox Greek Orthodox B |
1380
1547 1547 1560 1587 1600 1600 1635 1641 1679 1696 1727 1766 1772 1797 1838 1850 1877 1883 |
As late as the 19th century, English writers are creating new definitions to describe the ancient Greek Orthodox Church.
Gentle Reader, the only conclusion that we can make is that while the Greek Orthodox Church may or may not be ancient, the English language's experience with the Greek Orthodox Church is recent, all too, recent.
Gentle Reader, the only conclusion that we can make is that while the Greek Orthodox Church may or may not be ancient, the English language's experience with the Greek Orthodox Church is recent, all too, recent.
Addendum
Secondary references are in red.
3. The distinctive epithet of that section of the Christian Church (commonly known also as the Eastern Church (Eastern Church n.) or (Holy) Orthodox Church, and now representing the major Christian denominations of Greece, Russia, and other Eastern European countries), which acknowledge the primacy of the Patriarch of Constantinople and which finally formally renounced communion with the Roman see in the 11th cent. a.d. Also applied to its clergy, rites, buildings, etc.
1564 T. Becon New Catech. in Wks. 433,
I passe ouer the other auncient fathers and doctours bothe of the Greke and Latin churches.
1600a R. Hooker Of Lawes Eccl. Politie (1648) vi. 38
The Greek Church first, and in processe of time the Latin altred this order [of public penitence].
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word),
The Romanists call the Greek Church, the Greek Schism.
1838 Penny Cycl. XI. 435/2
The Greek convents follow the strict rule of St. Basilius.
1838 Penny Cycl. XI. 436/1
The Greek church under the Turkish dominion has preserved almost entirely its antient organization.
1877 A. W. Thorold in Good Words 17
The iconostas, or screen, which in Greek churches separates the body of the church from the sanctuary.
2. a. As the designation of a language (see Greek n. 7). Hence, of words, idioms, grammar, etc.: Belonging to or characteristic of the Greek language. Of literary compositions: Written in the Greek language. Greek fathers n. those early Christian fathers (see father n. 3b) who wrote in Greek. (In uses like Greek professor, Greek scholar, the word is perh. in most cases to be regarded as the n. used attrib.)
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. i. Pref. sig. 14v,
The Greke diuines.
1573? L. Lloyd Pilgrimage of Princes f. 71v,
Terentius Varro was almost furtie yere olde, before he tooke a Greeke booke in hande, and yet prooued excellent in the Greeke tongue.
1616a Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) ii. i. 100
This small packet of Greeke and Latine bookes.
1644 Milton Of Educ. 2
The ill habit..of wretched barbarizing against the Latin and Greek idiom, with their untutor'd Anglicisms.
1654 R. Whitlock Ζωοτομία 162
Stout Defenders of the Faith..that..are ready to make their own Testament, if they see a Greek one.
1711 Ld. Shaftesbury Characteristicks III. Misc. v. i. 241 A foreign Protestant Divine, and most learn'd Defender of Religion, making the best Excuse he can for the Greek-Fathers.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. (at cited word), In the living Tongues, are still preserved a vast Number of Greek Terms of Arts.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Accent, Wetstein, Greek Professor at Basil.
1831a J. Stoddart Gram. in Encycl. Metrop. I. 164/1
The Greek or Latin construction.
1838 Penny Cycl. XI. 435/1
Such doctrines as..were confirmed by the Greek fathers of the church.
1866 E. Masson tr. G. B. Winer Gram. New Testament Diction (ed. 6) Introd. 15
The Greek diction of the sacred writers.
1866 E. Masson tr. G. B. Winer Gram. New Testament Diction (ed. 6) Introd. 21
It was in classical Greek philology that this pernicious empiricism was first exploded.
1895 W. A. Copinger in Trans. Bibliogr. Soc. 2 ii. 111
Lascaris's Greek Grammar was probably the first book printed in Greek characters.
Eastern Orthodox adj. Christian Church = orthodox adj. 3.
1701 tr. J. Le Clerc Lives Primitive Fathers 230
The Eastern Orthodox Bishops, especially Meletius of Antioch, Basil of Cæsarea, and Peter of Alexandria, did openly favour him.
1863 Methodist Rev. Apr. 280
The children that may be born of this marriage shall be baptized and educated in the Eastern Orthodox religion.
1923 Science 28 Sept. p. x/1,
Such is a result of the decrees of the ‘Pan-Orthodox Congress’ of the various branches of the Eastern Orthodox Church at a meeting last spring.
2005 S. Hipps Hidden Power of Electronic Culture iv. 76
Much of Eastern Orthodox theology is wrapped around the use of images and icons as a part of worship.
Eastern Rite n. (also with lower-case initial in the second element) R.C. Church an Eastern Catholic church (cf. Eastern Catholic n. and adj.); (with the) such churches collectively; (also) a liturgical rite used in such a church; freq. attrib.
1855 Christian Remembrancer Oct. 369
There are, therefore, in these provinces three distinct rites of the Roman use: the Roman rite, with the Latin language; the Roman rite, with the Slavonic language; and the Eastern rite (Uniat), with the Slavonic.
1886 Johnson's Universal Cycl. (rev. ed.) I. 773/2
There is..an exception made in favor of priests and deacons of the Eastern rites, who are allowed to retain their wives if married before ordination.
1895 Milwaukee (Wisconsin) Sentinel 27 Apr. 2/5
Chicago has a number of Eastern rite Catholics.
1946 Russ. Rev. 5 5
The Red Army invasion of Poland brought out stories of..especially severe restrictions on the Catholics of the Eastern Rite, the Uniats, in Eastern Galicia.
1994 Remnant 15 July 1/1
His permission for female servers does not..affect the Eastern-rite churches.
2004 F. Radecki & D. Radecki Tumultuous Times iii. 38
Iraqis and Kurdistanis who remained faithful to the Council of Ephesus and Catholic teaching belong to the Eastern Rite of the Church known as the Chaldean Catholic Church.
