Traditional Societies and Eastern Orthodoxy

Uncategorized

Eastern (also called Greek) Orthodox Christianity, which is related but not identical with the Orthodox Church. In many ways, Orthodox Christianity is the ultimate traditional society as is best...

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Noblesse Oblige – Nobility as a Traditional Society

Heraldry, Nobility

“Nobility” is mainly a European and medieval concept, one associated with the monarchical and feudal system. Historically, “nobility” really exists as a privileged legal...

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Ecclesiastical Heraldry: Between Tradition and Compromise

Catholic Church, Ecclesiastical Heraldry, Heraldry

It may be argued that the origins of the ecclesiastical heraldry hark all the way back to the New Testament. After all, symbols of faith such as the cross of Jesus Christ or the keys of St. Peter, in...

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“The Last Samourai” or the demise of Japan as a Traditional Society

Japan, Uncategorized

The movie “The last samurai” featuring Tom Cruise has been acclaimed as one of his best performances as well as a tremendous and moving depiction of traditional Japanese societies at the end of...

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Monasteries as Traditional Societies

Greece, Orthodox Church

As a CBS documentary remarked, life has not changed on Mount Athos for a thousand years. Indeed, the flag of the Byzantine Empire still flies over the ancient fortresses that have been built over...

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The Traditional Art of the Russian Orthodox Gramota

Ecclesiastical Heraldry, Orthodox Church, Traditional Arts

“Gramota” is a Russian word that can be translated as “formal certificate” and which is rightly considered a traditional art form in Russian and Slavic cultures. Gramotas are...

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Reviving a Traditional Society: The Russian Social Experiment and Heraldry

Heraldry, Orthodox Church, Russia

After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the communistic system in Russia in the 1990s, the country found itself in a state of stupor and decline. Life expectancy declined, the GPD of this vast...

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The College of Arms of Canada: A Review

Canada, College of Arms, Commonwealth, Heraldry, Native Cultures, Traditional Arts

The Canadian Heraldic Authority (Autorité héraldique du Canada) was established in 1988. Because Canada is a Commonwealth member State whose head of State is the Queen of England, the authority of...

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