Byzantine Catholics & Vatican 2

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Eastern_Guy

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Ok so I’m an Eastern Orthodox and learned of the Byzantine Catholic Church not too long ago (5 yrs ago). I just watched a video piece on youtube and the person speaking said the Eastern Catholics (whether the Byzantine and/or any other EC) were allowed for the first time to attend a Vatican council?

Weren’t the Byzantine Catholics in communion with Rome since 1400 or 1500s and they were just asked to attend a council meeting some 400-500 yrs later??? Why so late?
 
Not sure where that person got the information, or whether it was misunderstood. The Eastern Churches have participated in all the Councils that they’ve been in Communion for (which varies depending on the individual Eastern Churches, as some are quite new, and some are quite old).

What may have been meant is that Vatican II was the first Council where they were extremely visible and had a relatively strong impact on the Council (in relation to their small numbers when compared to the Latins). The Melkite Church in particular stood out at Vatican II, and took on a very serious responsibility in giving voice to Eastern Orthodox concerns within the Council itself. This wasn’t the first time it was done (especially with the Melkites, who have often stood up for the “Byzantine voice” in the Catholic Communion), but it was the first time it had such notice and affect.

Peace and God bless!
 
Eastern_Guy said:
Ok so I’m an Eastern Orthodox and learned of the Byzantine Catholic Church not too long ago (5 yrs ago). I just watched a video piece on youtube and the person speaking said the Eastern Catholics (whether the Byzantine and/or any other EC) were allowed for the first time to attend a Vatican council?

Weren’t the Byzantine Catholics in communion with Rome since 1400 or 1500s and they were just asked to attend a council meeting some 400-500 yrs later??? Why so late?
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Eastern Catholics were at Vatican I in 1870 as well.
 
Remember some council are local council that may only affect the Latin Church or a region, only Ecumenical Councils do Eastern Catholics need attend.
 
I know that the Council of Florence concluded with a very short reunion with the Eastern Orthodox…so I don’t know if that one counts. Admitting that I don’t know exactly who was at what Councils, I would be surprised if Eastern Catholics weren’t at other Councils since the schism, other than the Second Vatican Council, since they are just as much a part of the Church as any Latin Catholic.

Not every Eastern Catholic is Byzantine, however. Maronites, for example, are Antiochene, I think. Other non-Byzantine Eastern Catholics are Syro-Malabar, Syro-Malankara, and Chaldean, to name a few.
 
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