I watched for a while but had to leave. Did the people from the Orthodox Church receive the Eucharist?
Not even having seen it I can say quite positively the answer is “no”. Even if your Church would allow it ours doesn’t for much the same reason you wouldn’t approach for communion in an Anglican church.
i don’t understand this. we wouldn’t approach the communion rail in an anglican church because we aren’t sure the sacrament is valid. are you saying the orthodox church doubts the validity of the catholic sacrament? really?
Captainmike, we are indeed sure that the Anglican Church’s sacrament is not valid. If you would like to read the document, I’ll look for it on the web. The Anglican Church’s orders are invalid ergo their communion is invalid. The Orthodox Church’s orders are valid, ergo their sacraments are valid.
i have read it. very familiar with it, having been an episcopalian for 22 years. thanks.
Many of the Eastern Orthodox doubt the validity of the Catholic Church in total; officially, or at least as officially as anything in Eastern Orthodoxy gets, their answer has been “We don’t know one way or the other, and since we don’t, we act as if they are invalid.”
According to our Church we can fulfill our Sunday obligation by attending an Orthodox Church if there is no Catholic Church available within reasonable distance. Even if I were to visit Greece, I would not attend an Orthodox Church because they do no want me to do so. The situation in the in the Holy Land, I think may be the exception rather than the rule. But I’m not sure that things haven’t changed a bit since I last heard.
There is also a similar relationship between the Catholic Church as a whole and the Copts. Pope Shenouda III and Pope John Paul II came to a limited intercommunion. Coptic Orthodox may approach the Communion table in any Catholic Church if they have no opportunity to recieve in a Coptic church.
His Eminence’s vestment had a rather long train. Can those familiar with that vestment say something about it? It reminded me of the cappa magna. I’ve been in Liturgy with Orthodox bishops, but don’t remember this vestment.
Mantiya
We’re very happy to have you attend, however only Orthodox Christians in good standing are permitted to commune. Please understand that even a visiting Orthodox Christian unknown to the priest would need to speak to the priest before approaching the chalice. It certainly has nothing to do with anyone not wanting you there.
In short, yes. I wish it could be otherwise. See post #8 by Aramis.
I have to say, even though I can only see the back, Pope Benedict’s vestments are quite beautiful- very tasteful.
Just for clarity of the Orthodox position, as far as we are concerned, the Orthodox Church is the Catholic church, possessing the Catholic Mysteries. We simply cannot “validate” sacraments outside of the Church, and what is called the Roman Catholic Church is not considered to be a part of the Church, but rather schismatic and in error.
Thank you! The stripes seem to be a normal part of the mantiya and they are familiar. So probably when I’ve been at an Orthodox Liturgy and the bishop was present I just did not notice the train part. Thanks also for the “choir dress” language which has given me additional information.
)“Although all heretics wish to be styled Catholic, yet if any one ask where is the Catholic place of worship none of them would venture to point out his own conventicle.” - St. Augustine.