Eastern Orthodox Church

[mwmroe]

Does anyone know a simple to understand book, written by a Catholic, who explains the differences between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church? So much of what I’ve found seems to be written from an Orthodox perspective with an attitude of dislike or contempt for the Catholic Church very similar to many Protestants. I thought they’d be a little more respectable. But there seems to be a lot of bad blood there. And I also get the impressions that Catholic’s don’t feel the same way about them. They would prefer to see unity between the two faiths. I haven’t found much of anything from a Catholic point of view that would be considered contemptuous towards the Orthodox Church. There’s just seems to be silence on the part of Catholic Church. At least that’s my impression.

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

you might want to hop on over to the Eastern Catholic board here…I posted a question very similar to yours there:

here is the linkforums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=380497

I also agree with you in that I think that the Orthodox don’t think too highly of the Catholics but I have found more Catholics who think very highly of the Orthodox

Edit: there are lots of differences btween the Eastern Orthodox and the Latin/Roman Catholic Church…but the differences between the Orthodox and the various Eastern Churches are far less…again I’m a novice at Eastern Catholicism and someone more knowledgeable than I would be able to explain it better

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Does anyone know a simple to understand book, written by a Catholic, who explains the differences between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church? So much of what I’ve found seems to be written from an Orthodox perspective with an attitude of dislike or contempt for the Catholic Church very similar to many Protestants. I thought they’d be a little more respectable. But there seems to be a lot of bad blood there. And I also get the impressions that Catholic’s don’t feel the same way about them. They would prefer to see unity between the two faiths. I haven’t found much of anything from a Catholic point of view that would be considered contemptuous towards the Orthodox Church. There’s just seems to be silence on the part of Catholic Church. At least that’s my impression.

I haven’t found, although have looked for, a book written by Catholics regarding the Orthodox Faith - specifically something the reverse of Clark Carlton’s book called The Truth What Every Roman Catholic Should Know About the Orthodox Church.

I have learned that the reason for this is because the Catholic Church as a whole sees Orthodox Christians as a part of The Church in such a close relation, that only the Patriarchs of the Orthodox and the Pope (and the Eastern Catholic Patriarchs) are to really dig into possible reunification. The Catholic Church recognizes the validity of all of the Sacraments/Mysteries of the Orthodox Church as well as their Apostolic Succession. The Catholic Church, just as she’s welcomed them in the past is ready to welcome home the remaining Orthodox Churches.

For me personally, it is a bit confusing because I am a Greek Orthodox Christian, but have come back to the Catholic Church. I am told that as a Greek Orthodox Christian, I can receive validly the Sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church - the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law allows for this. I consider myself Catholic, but according to the Catholic Church, I’m an Orthodox Christian - unless the Patriarch of Constantinople (since I’m Greek Orthodox) reunites with the Pope of Rome I remain Orthodox - according to Catholic Teaching, but according to Orthodox Teaching, I am now a heretic.

I wonder if I have another child, will the Catholic Church then Chrismate my infant with Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist since they still consider me Orthodox and that’s what the Orthodox do, or will my baby be forbidden all but Baptism?

When I became Orthodox, I was brought into the Church through Chrismation. I would have thought coming back to the Catholic Church would be somewhat similar.

I have a video of the Pope visiting the Patriarch of Constantinople. The Patriarch held a Divine Liturgy and the Pope was with him in the Bishop’s Chair. At some point our two Churches will be fully united.

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

I haven’t found, although have looked for, a book written by Catholics regarding the Orthodox Faith - specifically something the reverse of Clark Carlton’s book called The Truth What Every Roman Catholic Should Know About the Orthodox Church.

I have learned that the reason for this is because the Catholic Church as a whole sees Orthodox Christians as a part of The Church in such a close relation, that only the Patriarchs of the Orthodox and the Pope (and the Eastern Catholic Patriarchs) are to really dig into possible reunification. The Catholic Church recognizes the validity of all of the Sacraments/Mysteries of the Orthodox Church as well as their Apostolic Succession. The Catholic Church, just as she’s welcomed them in the past is ready to welcome home the remaining Orthodox Churches.

For me personally, it is a bit confusing because I am a Greek Orthodox Christian, but have come back to the Catholic Church. I am told that as a Greek Orthodox Christian, I can receive validly the Sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church - the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law allows for this. I consider myself Catholic, but according to the Catholic Church, I’m an Orthodox Christian - unless the Patriarch of Constantinople (since I’m Greek Orthodox) reunites with the Pope of Rome I remain Orthodox - according to Catholic Teaching, but according to Orthodox Teaching, I am now a heretic.

I wonder if I have another child, will the Catholic Church then Chrismate my infant with Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist since they still consider me Orthodox and that’s what the Orthodox do, or will my baby be forbidden all but Baptism?

When I became Orthodox, I was brought into the Church through Chrismation. I would have thought coming back to the Catholic Church would be somewhat similar.

I have a video of the Pope visiting the Patriarch of Constantinople. The Patriarch held a Divine Liturgy and the Pope was with him in the Bishop’s Chair. At some point our two Churches will be fully united.

If you were Greek Orthodox and became Catholic, why did you become Roman Catholic and not Greek Catholic? Was it by choice? The Catholic Church accepts any Orthodox Sacrament/Mystery as valid, so your Chrismation is a valid Chrismation and doesn’t need to be repeated…

 

[Cluny]

<<that only the Patriarchs of the Orthodox and the Pope (and the Eastern Catholic Patriarchs) are to really dig into possible reunification.>>

Forgive me, but this shows a naive misunderstanding about how the Orthodox Church operates. There were two attempts at union–Lyons and Florence–and the faithful rejected them both.

Reconciliation will never be achieved from the top down by executive action.

<<I have a video of the Pope visiting the Patriarch of Constantinople. The Patriarch held a Divine Liturgy and the Pope was with him in the Bishop’s Chair.>>

In the Greek and Arabic use, the Bishop’s chair–or rather, stall–is on the liturgical SOUTH–not north, where the Pope was sitting.

 

[ThurifAcolyte]

For me personally, it is a bit confusing because I am a Greek Orthodox Christian, but have come back to the Catholic Church. I am told that as a Greek Orthodox Christian, I can receive validly the Sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church - the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law allows for this. I consider myself Catholic, but according to the Catholic Church, I’m an Orthodox Christian - unless the Patriarch of Constantinople (since I’m Greek Orthodox) reunites with the Pope of Rome I remain Orthodox - according to Catholic Teaching, but according to Orthodox Teaching, I am now a heretic.

I wonder if I have another child, will the Catholic Church then Chrismate my infant with Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist since they still consider me Orthodox and that’s what the Orthodox do, or will my baby be forbidden all but Baptism?

When I became Orthodox, I was brought into the Church through Chrismation. I would have thought coming back to the Catholic Church would be somewhat similar.

Monica, this sounds a little weird. Did you convert from Orthodoxy to Catholicism? From what I understand, if you convert, you are not considered Eastern Orthodox anymore, but Catholic. The issue is that technically, when an Eastern Orthodox converts, they should be part of the church that is the Catholic counterpart. So, if you were Antiochian Orthodox and you convert, you should technically be in the Melkite Catholic church.

If you were Catholic, left for Orthodoxy, and want to come back to Catholicism, you would be received through a Profession of faith and possibly Confession.

Yes, Orthodox Christians are allowed to partake in the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. However, if you haven’t actually gone through RCIA and converted, you are still Orthodox, even if you hold Catholic views and partake in the Eucharist, as you are allowed to. However, you are still outside the unity under the Bishop of Rome, and aren’t considered Catholic.

Not sure if I understood your situation though.

 

[Cluny]

<<
Yes, Orthodox Christians are allowed to partake in the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. However, if you haven’t actually gone through RCIA and converted, you are still Orthodox,>>

According to various statements from Rome, should an Orthodox or non-Chalcedonian Christian become Catholic, only the bare minimum of profession of the Catholic faith is required.

Nothing about RCIA.

 

[John_Larocque]

I have a video of the Pope visiting the Patriarch of Constantinople. The Patriarch held a Divine Liturgy and the Pope was with him in the Bishop’s Chair. At some point our two Churches will be fully united.

Would this be the evening vigil where they professed the Nicean Creed (minus of course the filioque) together?

I get the impression from other posters here that you are no longer a member in good standing with the Orthodox church. I read elsewhere there was quite a stir when a Romanian Orthodox bishop received communion in a Romanian Greek Catholic church. Whatever it is you do, you should probably resolve this so that you are either one or the other. I know that the RCC strongly discourages Eastern Catholics from switching to the Roman Rite, but don’t know the policy on Orthodox. Joining the Roman rite might even be as simple as confession, you should probably talk this over with your (Catholic) pastor - although (pedo) chrismation and pedocommunion are not part of the Latin rite.

You were originally an adult convert to the OC?

 

[ThurifAcolyte]

<<
Yes, Orthodox Christians are allowed to partake in the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. However, if you haven’t actually gone through RCIA and converted, you are still Orthodox,>>

According to various statements from Rome, should an Orthodox or non-Chalcedonian Christian become Catholic, only the bare minimum of profession of the Catholic faith is required.

Nothing about RCIA.

Interesting. Then the fact remains that until some official act is done, an Orthodox remains Orthodox, outside of union with the Bishop of Rome, until the Profession of Faith is made.

 

[SingleMomMonica]

If you were Greek Orthodox and became Catholic, why did you become Roman Catholic and not Greek Catholic? Was it by choice? The Catholic Church accepts any Orthodox Sacrament/Mystery as valid, so your Chrismation is a valid Chrismation and doesn’t need to be repeated…

By Choice: I tried the Greek Catholic Church early on, but it’s what took me out of the Catholic Church to begin with. I don’t know how to explain it…other than to say, I’d rather be in the Orthodox Church attending Divine Liturgy experiencing “the real thing” than in a Greek Catholic Church. I sure hope I’m not stepping on anyone’s toes here. It’s just how I felt. When I first came back to the Catholic Church I did go to the Greek Catholic Church and within a month I returned to the Orthodox Church for about a year or so.

Plus the Greek Catholic Priest made it clear to me that if I attended his Church to receive the Sacraments, I would not be allowed to attend the Roman Catholic Church. I’m not much of a morning person either, so with Greek Catholic only offering morning liturgy, there would be many weeks I’d go without Mass and it’s different in the Catholic Church - it’s a mortal sin to miss Liturgy, in the Orthodox & Greek Catholic, it’s not.

 

[ThurifAcolyte]

Plus the Greek Catholic Priest made it clear to me that if I attended his Church to receive the Sacraments, I would not be allowed to attend the Roman Catholic Church.

Why? We’re all one Church…

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Monica, this sounds a little weird. Did you convert from Orthodoxy to Catholicism? From what I understand, if you convert, you are not considered Eastern Orthodox anymore, but Catholic. The issue is that technically, when an Eastern Orthodox converts, they should be part of the church that is the Catholic counterpart. So, if you were Antiochian Orthodox and you convert, you should technically be in the Melkite Catholic church.

I agree, my spiritual journey has been “a little weird”! I did not convert to the Catholic Church, the priest said that according to Roman Catholic Canon Law, I am still officially an Orthodox Christian who simply chooses to attend Roman Catholic Mass and Confession. This is valid according to the Canons. I am Greek Orthodox, I consider myself Catholic though since I attend Catholic Churches and validly receive the Sacraments there.

If you were Catholic, left for Orthodoxy, and want to come back to Catholicism, you would be received through a Profession of faith and possibly Confession.

Now that I’m Catholic again (at least in my mind) I do attend Confession about once a week or once every two weeks.

Yes, Orthodox Christians are allowed to partake in the Eucharist in the Catholic Church. However, if you haven’t actually gone through RCIA and converted,

I know, but because I’m an Orthodox Christian I can’t attend RCIA, because the Catholic Church has agreed not to prostelatize Orthodox Christians because Orthodox are considered part of the same Church as Catholics - as PJII called it “the other lung”, so we can’t really convert like Protestants and people of Non-Christian Faiths can through RCIA.

you are still Orthodox, even if you hold Catholic views and partake in the Eucharist, as you are allowed to.

Yep, that’s what they say.

However, you are still outside the unity under the Bishop of Rome,
I don’t think this last part is right. I don’t think I’m outside the unity of the Pope because I am attending Roman Catholic Mass.

and aren’t considered Catholic.

I know isn’t that weird?

Not sure if I understood your situation though.

I think you do as much as anyone can

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Would this be the evening vigil where they professed the Nicean Creed (minus of course the filioque) together?

I get the impression from other posters here that you are no longer a member in good standing with the Orthodox church.

I am considered a heretic for leaving the Orthodox Church, the Church Christ established through His Apostles, by receiving the Mysteries/Sacraments in the Catholic Church, the very Catholic Church that separated itself from the rest of the Orthodox Church around the year 1000 by adding the Filioque and assuming Papal Authority not established by Christ - namely Papal Supremacy - a Church which has futher separated itself from Christ’s Church by accepting heretical teachings of the Immaculate Conception, Purgatory and Papal Infallibility. - this is the view the Orthodox Church has of me and anyone else who has done as I have. Naturally, I don’t believe those accusations about the Catholic Church or I wouldn’t be attending and receiving Sacraments there.

I read elsewhere there was quite a stir when a Romanian Orthodox bishop received communion in a Romanian Greek Catholic church. Whatever it is you do, you should probably resolve this so that you are either one or the other. I know that the RCC strongly discourages Eastern Catholics from switching to the Roman Rite, but don’t know the policy on Orthodox. Joining the Roman rite might even be as simple as confession, you should probably talk this over with your (Catholic) pastor - although (pedo) chrismation and pedocommunion are not part of the Latin rite.

I’ve spoken with the Pastor as I was considering it and he read me the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law and told me all I need to do is receive the Sacraments and that I will remain Orthodox and further that I *should *remain Orthodox.

As far as reciting the Creed, I do that every Sunday, and sometimes daily, at Mass.

You were originally an adult convert to the OC? Yes

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Why? We’re all one Church…

It’s okay really. Don’t get upset or confused. He just wanted to have us only attend his Parish since the Roman Catholic Church disagrees a little with the teachings of the Greek Catholic or is it visa vera? Either way, I understood what he was getting at. It would be confusing for me to witness this differences in teaching and remain Catholic. He was right which is why within short order, I was back in the Orthodox Church for another year +.

I live closest to a Roman Catholic Church and like their hours of Mass better anyway. And they had more opportunities for children. The Greek Catholic Churches tend to be made up with only 1 nationality of people and tend to be somewhat small. I really enjoy attending Roman Catholic Church which has plenty of nationalities present at each Mass, similar to the Greek Orthodox Church, except they did have about 50 Greeks. For me going Roman meant having more opportunity for Mass and receiving the Eucharist than the Greek Catholic Church which only has Divine Liturgy on Sundays.

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Interesting. Then the fact remains that until some official act is done, an Orthodox remains Orthodox, outside of union with the Bishop of Rome, until the Profession of Faith is made.

Profession of Faith is made each and every Sunday, and sometimes week day, at Mass. The Profession of Faith in the Eastern Catholic Churches is identical to the Profession of Faith made in the Orthodox Churches. There is just the difference of the addition of the Filioque Clause added to the Profession of Faith in the Roman Catholic Church.

Reading the CCC helped me come back to the Catholic Church because it is clear about the Catholic Church teaching of Original Sin - it does not mean what the Orthodox believe the Catholics to mean by it. It is not a sin we are guilty of. The Catholic Church means the same thing as the Orthodox Church means about it. The CCC also cleared up the misunderstanding of the Filioque and other things as well.

 

[Eucharisted]

Does anyone know a simple to understand book, written by a Catholic, who explains the differences between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church? So much of what I’ve found seems to be written from an Orthodox perspective with an attitude of dislike or contempt for the Catholic Church very similar to many Protestants. I thought they’d be a little more respectable. But there seems to be a lot of bad blood there. And I also get the impressions that Catholic’s don’t feel the same way about them. They would prefer to see unity between the two faiths. I haven’t found much of anything from a Catholic point of view that would be considered contemptuous towards the Orthodox Church. There’s just seems to be silence on the part of Catholic Church. At least that’s my impression.

Here’s a good article on the Orthodox Church: catholic.com/library/Eastern_Orthodoxy.asp

Recommended reading:
The Bull of Excommunication of 1054
The Petrine Promise
Primacy of Peter and of his successors
The Authority of the Pope
List of Church Father who mention “the Catholic Church” by name
Proper name of the Church

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

Monica, why didn’t you like the Greek Catholic Church or i guess why didn’t you think it was “the real thing?” were there things left out the the Orthodox did?

 

[SingleMomMonica]

Monica, why didn’t you like the Greek Catholic Church or i guess why didn’t you think it was “the real thing?” were there things left out the the Orthodox did?

Hi, It looks like I’ve opened a can of worms here and I apologize. I will answer your questions privately. Just sent you a PM.

 

[Angel_Gabriel]

Hi, It looks like I’ve opened a can of worms here and I apologize. I will answer your questions privately. Just sent you a PM.

thanks i look forward to it

 

[Madaglan]

Originally Posted by SingleMomMonica:

I haven’t found, although have looked for, a book written by Catholics regarding the Orthodox Faith - specifically something the reverse of Clark Carlton’s book called The Truth What Every Roman Catholic Should Know About the Orthodox Church.

Although I have not read him on the subject, you may want to check out Walter Cardinal Kasper. There also are some decent works by certain Jesuits (e.g. Father Robert Taft, Father George A. Maloney).

For me personally, it is a bit confusing because I am a Greek Orthodox Christian, but have come back to the Catholic Church. I am told that as a Greek Orthodox Christian, I can receive validly the Sacraments in the Roman Catholic Church - the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law allows for this. I consider myself Catholic, but according to the Catholic Church, I’m an Orthodox Christian - unless the Patriarch of Constantinople (since I’m Greek Orthodox) reunites with the Pope of Rome I remain Orthodox - according to Catholic Teaching, but according to Orthodox Teaching, I am now a heretic.

If you become Catholic, you become a member of the corresponding Eastern Catholic Church. For example, a Ukrainian Orthodox becoming Catholic would become a member of the local Ukrainian Catholic jurisdiction. If you declare your desire to become Catholic, you will become a member of a Eastern Church in communion with the bishop of Rome, although I don’t know how it works out with Greek Orthodox–Melkite Catholic perhaps?

When I became Orthodox, I was brought into the Church through Chrismation. I would have thought coming back to the Catholic Church would be somewhat similar.

Differing views on the sacraments of the other is basically what it is.