Could someone please explain...

[Flamingo]

What’s the difference between Western/Eastern/Latin/Ukrainian Catholics?

Are there differences in belief?

I’m quite confused.

 

[ConstantineTG]

What’s the difference between Western/Eastern/Latin/Ukrainian Catholics?

Are there differences in belief?

I’m quite confused.

There is one deposit of faith by Christ to the Aposltes, therefore one faith only. But the faith from the beginning has been “incultured” among people who receive the faith.

West and East points mostly to the Roman Empire which has split by the time Christianity has taken over. The Western half is centered on Rome, the old capital. The Eastern half is centered on Byzantium, later renamed Constantinople and referred to as New Rome. So the Roman Catholic Church is the Western faith, while the Byzantine Churches are the Eastern faith.

The Western “model” of the Church is very centered on Rome. So all Churches that were built in the West belonged to Rome. In the East, it was more de-centralized as many patriarchical Churches were set-up. That is why you have what we refer to in the Catholic Church as sui juris Churches, or self-governing Churches. Because they have their own authority, own Canon Laws. Although ultimately the fall under Rome. Think of the States in the US. California has its own governor, its own laws. Same for every other state. But ultimately they are subject to the US Constitution and are a part of the United States. The Church is somewhat like that, except that the Pope is not only the equivalent of the President of the Union, but he’s also Governor of his own State, the Roman Catholic Church.

Ukrainians are just one of 14 Byzantine Rite Catholic Churches. Plus there are also Syrian Rite Churches and Alexandrian Rite Churches and Armenian Churches, all referred to as the Eastern Catholics. All Eastern Catholic Churches except for the Maronites have an Orthodox Church counterpart.

 

[Flamingo]

Thank you, your answer helped a lot!

So why do they exist?

 

[Evan]

Thank you, your answer helped a lot!

So why do they exist?

Because Jesus sent the apostles to establish local Churches throughout the world. These Churches can trace their origins back to the apostles.

BTW the Latin rite is traced to Peter and Paul.

 

[Flamingo]

Because Jesus sent the apostles to establish local Churches throughout the world. These Churches can trace their origins back to the apostles.

BTW the Latin rite is traced to Peter and Paul.

Alright, thanks.

So are these different…I don’t know the proper word to use (local Churches?)…a result of location and/or differences in culture?

I heard once that Ukrainian Catholic Churches distribute the Eucharist differently? Supposedly by mixing the bread and wine?

 

[thistle]

Alright, thanks.

So are these different…I don’t know the proper word to use (local Churches?)…a result of location and/or differences in culture?

I heard once that Ukrainian Catholic Churches distribute the Eucharist differently? Supposedly by mixing the bread and wine?

Distribution is either by Host alone, Chalice alone, Host and then Chalice, or Intinction (priest dips the host in the chalice). It does not matter which of these methods of distribution is used.

 

[kitkatty]

Constantine gave you a really good explanation but why not visit the Eastern Catholic forum here on Catholic Answers, lots of good answers to questions you would have are there in recent threads. As topthe reception of the Eucharist, we Byzantines receive the host as cubes of bread soaked in wine distributed by the priest from a golden spoon.Hope this helps.

 

[Flamingo]

Constantine gave you a really good explanation but why not visit the Eastern Catholic forum here on Catholic Answers, lots of good answers to questions you would have are there in recent threads. As topthe reception of the Eucharist, we Byzantines receive the host as cubes of bread soaked in wine distributed by the priest from a golden spoon.Hope this helps.

I have never heard of that until now…! That’s so interesting!

I think I’m starting to understand this now,

but why does this variety of Churches exist today? What’s the puprose of having Western/Eastern?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Being a Ukrainian (in faith), the method of the Byzantine Rite of giving Communion is that the Precious Body is placed in the chalice with the Precious Blood. Then a golden spoon or Liturgical spoon is used to serve the Sacred Species to the communicant. This is only for the laity. The clergy will self communicate the Precious Body and Precious Blood separately.

I heard some Byzantines do not use the spoon but instead the priest will by hand intinct the Precious Body into the Precious Blood in the chalice and give it to the communicant.

Why do they exist? The Apostles never intended to establish a single liturgical tradition. They always taught within the context of the culture of the place they established the Church. They want the faith to be relevant to the people. East and West is just a monicker because the Roman Church is in the Western half of the Roman Emprire. The Byzantine Churches are on the Eastern half. Constantinople was their center and before it was called Byzantium.