Orthodox Posters?

[guacamole]

So why did the decentralization not protect the Orthodox from contraception, divorce, etc?

maldon, google "orthodoxy" and "economia," at least for a good understanding of what the orthodox approach is to issues like this.  economia means something like bending the normal rule for pastoral reasons.  it is integral to the tradition of the eastern church and is employed with regard to things like fasting and certain moral issues.