Eastern Catholic/Eastern Orthodox

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RyanJPII

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Ive been increasingly interested in the Eastern Catholic Rite. In my area, there is no Eastern Catholic churches but there is a thriving Eastern Orthodox church. While i know i would still receive sacraments through the Roman Catholic church in my area, would it be permissible to attend the Eastern Orthodox church divine liturgy and enter into community?

I want to understand Eastern Catholicism whithin a community and since there is no eastern catholic church in area the orthodox church is my closest option.

Secondary questions:
beyond papal authority and church hiarchy, are there any differences between the eastern catholic and orthodox churches?
 
One difference is that the Orthodox reject the Filioque clause in the Creed, while Eastern Catholics accept it but do not have to use it during the liturgy.
 
Do you mean convert to Orthodoxy? That could be a mortal sin.
 
I have no intention of converting to orthodoxy. I am catholic and will continue to receive the sacraments at my Latin rite parish. My question is only if it’s permissible to attend an Orthodox Church as an alternative to orthodox catholic as there is not an orthodox Catholic Church in my area.

I am curious about the eastern catholic tradition and would like to explore it more in depth and the only option I have is through the Orthodox Church.
 
I attended regularly for an entire liturgical cycle. There is an anti-Catholic vibe at some Eastern Orthodox parishes, just be aware. I did find a smaller parish that I still visit. It feeds my soul to visit. Like a retreat, only its actually closer than my own parish.

Enjoy.
 
peter26 said:
Its certainly fine to go along once out of academic interest.
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Suddenly I understand the letter I got, all those years ago, informing me that I had used up my “One visit to an Orthodox liturgy” exemption.
 
RyanJPII said:
I have no intention of converting to orthodoxy. I am catholic and will continue to receive the sacraments at my Latin rite parish. My question is only if it’s permissible to attend an Orthodox Church as an alternative to orthodox catholic as there is not an orthodox Catholic Church in my area.

I am curious about the eastern catholic tradition and would like to explore it more in depth and the only option I have is through the Orthodox Church.
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I went to a Russian Orthodox Vespers service a couple of months ago - just to see what it was like. Couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Church was beautiful; slight anti-Catholic vibe but that could have been my imagination. I kissed an icon - hope that was ok. I did not go back. I like sitting as opposed to standing and I like my Mass the way it is; I get it and it is sufficiently holy. I do wish I had understood the service more, maybe had time to read through the prayers before going there, something like that. It all felt a little psychedelic to me, unfortunately, and the priest just seemed to be kind of laughing at us all. Maybe another parish would be better.
 
RyanJPII said:
I have no intention of converting to orthodoxy. I am catholic and will continue to receive the sacraments at my Latin rite parish. My question is only if it’s permissible to attend an Orthodox Church as an alternative to orthodox catholic as there is not an orthodox Catholic Church in my area.

I am curious about the eastern catholic tradition and would like to explore it more in depth and the only option I have is through the Orthodox Church.
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You will give the Lord great pleasure to know of a Church He has personally given for us. There is no mortal sin in doing this rather it is a great grace. I have inherited a Catholic mind while I am an Orthodox Christian and it has given to me more possibilities to witness for Him with this incredible knowledge that both Churches speak to. I will just encourage you with the first words of the late St. Pope John Paul II when he was elected to the See of Peter. Be not Afraid.
 
RyanJPII said:
I have no intention of converting to orthodoxy. I am catholic and will continue to receive the sacraments at my Latin rite parish. My question is only if it’s permissible to attend an Orthodox Church as an alternative to orthodox catholic as there is not an orthodox Catholic Church in my area.

I am curious about the eastern catholic tradition and would like to explore it more in depth and the only option I have is through the Orthodox Church.
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So if you read the link in the other post, then you know that to fulfill the Sunday and other Holy Days of obligation, require attendance at a Catholic (not Orthodox) church (Latin or eastern Catholic).
 
Casilda said:
I attended regularly for an entire liturgical cycle. There is an anti-Catholic vibe at some Eastern Orthodox parishes, just be aware. I did find a smaller parish that I still visit. It feeds my soul to visit. Like a retreat, only its actually closer than my own parish.

Enjoy.
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There is quite a lot of misunderstandings on both sides. I had received quite a lot of Catholics who still misunderstand the Orthodox Church. It is just lack of understanding that is the caused of all these “vibes”. If you have an opened mind and heart than go and face these misunderstandings because it is the only way to heal it. Pope John Paul II went to Greece and faced it and brought closer relations to some. I had faced it when an Orthodox Christian opened up a Catholic bookstore. I was the Orthodox and I came to understand that our lack of understanding of who the other is causes all these “vibes” to come out. Catholics are just as bad as are the Orthodox. To overcome this fear we have inherited from the past we must courageously imitate the great men who have crossed some of these boundaries and here again I mentioned the late Pope John Paul II who is now a saint of the Church. It can be done but once you decide to enter into it you must face the music. If more people will decide to face the music I believe these barriers of misunderstandings will no longer matter.
 
RyanJPII said:
While i know i would still receive sacraments through the Roman Catholic church in my area, would it be permissible to attend the Eastern Orthodox church divine liturgy and enter into community?
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It is certainly permissible to go to Divine Liturgy at an Eastern Orthodox Church. As others have mentioned, some are more welcoming than others, as are Catholic parishes. If you behave respectfully you are likely to be well received.

You might want to see if the service is in English, at least partly. That can vary by jurisdiction, and also by parish. What Church is it that is near to you?

There are plenty of Eastern Catholics, myself among them, who go to Orthodox Churches when it’s not possible to get to our own EC parish, or if our parish isn’t offering services. The Greek Orthodox Cathedral near me was serving DL every day during the Nativity Fast/Advent and I was there most of those days. There are times when I go to a Roman Catholic Church and can’t receive communion, for example a late afternoon Mass, due to the stricter fasting in my Church. Often in the Orthodox Church a number of people do not go up to receive. For both reasons I don’t feel badly not being able to receive when in an Orthodox Church. I do feel badly that we are not in communion period. 🙂
Secondary questions:
beyond papal authority and church hiarchy, are there any differences between the eastern catholic and orthodox churches?
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Beyond the role of the Pope of Rome, or as HH Francis prefers to refer to his role, the Bishop of Rome, there should not be differences between Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches. In practice there often are.

Once we enter Great Lent that parish should be serving the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, or “Presanctified Liturgy” on Wednesdays and on Fridays. That is a beautiful vesperal/evening liturgy and I encourage you to go at least once.
 
Orthodox churches practice a very strict closed communion policy. So if you wish to become a full part of that church, you’d have to undergo baptism again and all that.

I’m not the person to comment, since I’m no longer a practicing RC, but rather a Catholic of the Anglican patrimony, but I see little difference between the two traditions. We’re all apostolic churches that affirm the 3 classical creeds of the church, the first few ecumenical councils as binding, and we affirm 7 sacraments, and the apostolic offices of deacon, priesthood, and bishops. Far more unites us than divides us.
 
I see little difference between the two traditions. We’re all apostolic churches that affirm the 3 classical creeds of the church, the first few ecumenical councils as binding, and we affirm 7 sacraments, and the apostolic offices of deacon, priesthood, and bishops. Far more unites us than divides us.
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👍

Incidentally, I’m not an expert on Orthodoxy, but I’m not sure its right to say that they would re-baptise a Catholic who converted?
 
peter26 said:
👍

Incidentally, I’m not an expert on Orthodoxy, but I’m not sure its right to say that they would re-baptise a Catholic who converted?
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It depends on which Orthodox Church, or perhaps even the individual bishop.
 
peter26 said:
One difference is that the Orthodox reject the Filioque clause in the Creed, while Eastern Catholics accept it but do not have to use it during the liturgy.
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FYI Eastern Catholics reject the Filioque clause.
 
carnes88 said:
This would not be a grave sin.
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Yes actually it would be because you would be committing the sin of schism. I don’t want to weigh on anyone’s conscience but that would be schism. You would be accepting orthodoxy but without the proper authority.
 
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