Dating Christian Churches

Our new PBS special, Mediterranean Mosaic (named with help from readers of this blog), is now airing all over the USA. In it we tackle subjects a bit more challenging than you’d see on a typical travel show. For instance, in the episode on Greece’s Peloponnese, I was determined not only to show a Greek Orthodox church in action, but to explain how that brand of Christianity differed from Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. It’s a challenge in a short script to write both accurately and clearly. It brings positive and negative comments like these:

I just finished watching “Rick Steves’ Europe: Peloponnese Greece” on PBS in Atlanta. As a Greek Orthodox Christian living in America I wanted to thank you for including an excellent summary of Orthodoxy in your show. Rather than gloss over this element of Greek Culture you choose to educate your viewers to the roots of Christianity and how it’s a part of traditional Greek living. It was an excellent reminder of why I enjoy watching your program. Jerry D. Odenwelder

Hi Rick, I was watching your Mediterranean Mosaic PBS Special when you were speaking about the History of the Orthodox Church. I thought I heard you state that the History of the Orthodox Church went back much further than that of modern day Protestantism and Catholicism? If you perform a simple Google search you’ll find the list of Popes dates back to the Apostle Peter. Many Churches and Religions in this day and age that want to lay claim to the origins of Christianity, but the historical facts indicate that all present day churches are indeed an off-shoot of the Catholic Church. Of course former Catholic Priest, Martin Luther didn’t appear on the scene until the 16th century. He was excommunicated from the Catholic Church due to his Heretical Theology. God bless, Michael.

Here was our response to the last comment:

Dear Michael, Thanks for your interest in our TV shows. Here is the line that you’re thinking of, from our Peloponnese show: “Orthodox churches follow the earliest traditions of the Christian faith — these date from a time before the reforms created today’s Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions.” As you can see, we did not suggest that the Orthodox Church actually predates Catholicism, but that the liturgy and other facets of the Orthodox faith reflect the earliest traditions of organized Christianity. In fact, today’s Orthodox people carry on many of the same traditions that Roman Catholics once did, before Catholicism changed over time. I hope this helps clear things up. And thanks for watching! Happy travels.