Eastern Church

[Zooman77]

I was baptized just last year after Easter. Before my baptism I had studied and always wanted to join the church. I understand most of the church yet the biggest thing I don’t understand is the Eastern Church. I am confused about how the Eastern Church works and why its different. For instance if we are “one” and “universal” then why is there the Eastern and Western church. If some of you could walk me through the ins and outs of the Eastern Church that would be helpful.

 

[Tomdstone]

I was baptized just last year after Easter. Before my baptism I had studied and always wanted to join the church. I understand most of the church yet the biggest thing I don’t understand is the Eastern Church. I am confused about how the Eastern Church works and why its different. For instance if we are “one” and “universal” then why is there the Eastern and Western church. If some of you could walk me through the ins and outs of the Eastern Church that would be helpful.

I also had this question. If we are “one” in belief why then according to the Western creed the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and from the Son, but according to the creed said at the Eastern Churches the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father. When i asked this question, someone tried to give an answer in Greek, but can this be answered in the English language? It seems like if the East and West are “one” then they should have exactly the same creed? Why have different creeds?

 

[WoundedIcon]

I also had this question. If we are “one” in belief why then according to the Western creed the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and from the Son, but according to the creed said at the Eastern Churches the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father. When i asked this question, someone tried to give an answer in Greek, but can this be answered in the English language? It seems like if the East and West are “one” then they should have exactly the same creed? Why have different creeds?

Trust me when I say we (Eastern Catholics) are required to believe what the Western creed says. I think we’re allowed to not say that part at our liturgies because in Greek it implies something different than in English and Latin. Although I’d prefer the English to have “and the Son” in it, but I’m just a recent convert so I’m not the best person to suggest things there.

 

[WoundedIcon]

I was baptized just last year after Easter. Before my baptism I had studied and always wanted to join the church. I understand most of the church yet the biggest thing I don’t understand is the Eastern Church. I am confused about how the Eastern Church works and why its different. For instance if we are “one” and “universal” then why is there the Eastern and Western church. If some of you could walk me through the ins and outs of the Eastern Church that would be helpful.

Basically the whole definition of who’s Eastern and who’s Western is based on the old Roman Empire. Eastern Christianity had its genesis in the eastern Roman empire and Western Christianity in the west. Due to the nature of living back then Christianity developed in different ways according to the different cultures and customs of the regions. So you’ll see among different groups different approachs and emphases in philosophy, theology, mysticism, liturgy, and so on. As time went on schisms happened, groups of Christians left and some came back. The Eastern Orthodox who came back got to keep their customs and became the Byzantine Catholics. Now, I don’t know a whole lot about other Eastern Churches, but generally what I said applies: they had different approaches and emphases. Since we’re all Catholics however, we all agree on the central dogmas of the Faith, and we’re all obedient to the Pope.

 

[suissemissed]

The worldwide Catholic Church is made up of 22 autonomous “particular Churches”, of which the Latin Church is the biggest (about 90% of all Catholics are Latin or “Western”). Each Church has its own laws, but all agree on the fundamentals of Catholic dogma and are in communion with the Bishop of Rome.

After the Latin Church, the various Churches who follow the Byzantine Rite are the most common. These include the Ukrainians, the Melkites, and the Ruthenians, among others. As mentioned, these Churches do not include the “and the Son” clause in the Creed, but that does not mean they do not agree with the western understanding of it. In Latin the term used (Filioque) is ambiguous and can be understood in an orthodox way. It was added to the Creed (outside of an Ecumenical Council) in order to fight off Arian heretics, and Rome eventually came to adopt it, yet without forcing the other Churches to adopt it as well.

In Greek, however, it is very difficult to translate Filioque properly in a way that is orthodox, because the meaning changes. This is another reason why the Greek Churches don’t include it their version (which is actually the original version) of the Creed.

There are other differences between Latins and Easterns… Latins, Maronites and Armenians use unleavened bread in the Eucharist, whereas Byzantines use leavened bread. In the Byzantine tradition, infants are baptised, confirmed and given First Eucharist immediately. In the Latin Church, infants are only baptised, and then when they are older they receive the other two sacraments. In the Latin tradition, Mary being bodily taken up into Heaven is called the Assumption, whereas in the Byzantine tradition it is called the Dormition. The liturgy itself is called the Mass in the Latin Church, but in the Byzantine Churches this term is not used, instead they most often call it the Divine Liturgy.

Catholics can always receive Communion, Confession and the Anointing of the Sick from any Church they attend, whether Latin or Eastern, as long as the Church is in union with Rome. I myself (a Latin) have attended numerous Byzantine liturgies and received the Eucharist there.

If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to ask

Hope all this helps!

 

[5Loaves]

I was baptized just last year after Easter. Before my baptism I had studied and always wanted to join the church. I understand most of the church yet the biggest thing I don’t understand is the Eastern Church. I am confused about how the Eastern Church works and why its different. For instance if we are “one” and “universal” then why is there the Eastern and Western church. If some of you could walk me through the ins and outs of the Eastern Church that would be helpful.

Try these:

Eastern Catholic Theology PART 1 with Abbot Nicholas of Holy Resurrection Monastery
Eastern Catholic Theology PART 2 with Abbot Nicholas

“Who are Eastern Catholics?” PART 1 with Fr. Maximos of Holy Resurrection Monastery
“Who are Eastern Catholics?” PART 2 with Fr. Maximos of HRM

If you click on the “Show More” you can see all the questions Catherine asks the monks in each video. In Eastern Catholic Theology PART 1 she asks:

1. Is there a multiplicity of theologies then accepted among the different Catholic Churches?

1. How can two churches in communion with each other have different theologies?

1. Do Eastern and Oriental Catholics have to affirm dogmas proclaimed by Rome?

1. Do Eastern and Oriental Catholics have to accept all Roman Catholic teachings and theology?

1. May Eastern and Oriental Catholics reject dogmas proclaimed by Rome as being outside their theological patrimony?

For an historical background try “The Eastern Catholic Church An Introduction” “explains the basic historical and theological background to the formation of the Eastern Catholic Church[es].”

 

[5Loaves]

I was baptized just last year after Easter. Before my baptism I had studied and always wanted to join the church. I understand most of the church yet the biggest thing I don’t understand is the Eastern Church. I am confused about how the Eastern Church works and why its different. For instance if we are “one” and “universal” then why is there the Eastern and Western church. If some of you could walk me through the ins and outs of the Eastern Church that would be helpful.

Try viewing these:
“Who are Eastern Catholics?” PART 1 with Fr. Maximos of Holy Resurrection Monastery
“Who are Eastern Catholics?” PART 2 with Fr. Maximos of HRM

If you click on the “Show More” you can see all the questions Catherine asks the monks in each video.

For an historical background try “The Eastern Catholic Church An Introduction” “explains the basic historical and theological background to the formation of the Eastern Catholic Church[es].”

@ Tomdstone try:

Eastern Catholic Theology PART 1 with Abbot Nicholas of Holy Resurrection Monastery
Eastern Catholic Theology PART 2 with Abbot Nicholas

If you click on the “Show More” you can see all the questions Catherine asks the monks in each video.
In Eastern Catholic Theology PART 1 she asks:

1. Is there a multiplicity of theologies then accepted among the different Catholic Churches?

1. How can two churches in communion with each other have different theologies?

1. Do Eastern and Oriental Catholics have to affirm dogmas proclaimed by Rome?

1. Do Eastern and Oriental Catholics have to accept all Roman Catholic teachings and theology?

1. May Eastern and Oriental Catholics reject dogmas proclaimed by Rome as being outside their theological patrimony?

 

[Vico]

I was baptized just last year after Easter. Before my baptism I had studied and always wanted to join the church. I understand most of the church yet the biggest thing I don’t understand is the Eastern Church. I am confused about how the Eastern Church works and why its different. For instance if we are “one” and “universal” then why is there the Eastern and Western church. If some of you could walk me through the ins and outs of the Eastern Church that would be helpful.

There are 23 Catholic ritual churches, the 22 eastern Catholic ritual churches are in full communion with the Holy Father. They are all of the Catholic Church.
http://forums.catholic-questions.org/picture.php?albumid=601&pictureid=11498

 

[Anastasia13]

Try viewing these:
“Who are Eastern Catholics?” PART 1 with Fr. Maximos of Holy Resurrection Monastery
“Who are Eastern Catholics?” PART 2 with Fr. Maximos of HRM

If you click on the “Show More” you can see all the questions Catherine asks the monks in each video.

For an historical background try “The Eastern Catholic Church An Introduction” “explains the basic historical and theological background to the formation of the Eastern Catholic Church[es].”

@ Tomdstone try:

Eastern Catholic Theology PART 1 with Abbot Nicholas of Holy Resurrection Monastery
Eastern Catholic Theology PART 2 with Abbot Nicholas

If you click on the “Show More” you can see all the questions Catherine asks the monks in each video.
In Eastern Catholic Theology PART 1 she asks:

In one of the videos you posted to Tomstone, the Abbot said something about Oriental Churches being even more Eastern than the Byzantine churches, and this was partly because of the earlier shared history and proximity to Rome that the Byzantines had. Do you think that this has affected the Oriental Catholic approach to theology to be different than the Eastern/Byzantine Catholic approach to theology or are they approximately the same?