family member converting to Greek Orthodox

[Rawb]

No my brother-in-law is not of Greek ancestry…and it sounds like this could be a difficulty since from the readings that the liturgy is in Greek in the Greek Orthodox Church (correct me if I am wrong).

Depends. Not always. It can very easily, and perhaps likely, be in English.

I am not so sure about citing this as a reliable source for differences between Orthodox and Catholicism.

It states:

1. “The Orthodox faithful receive both the “body” and “blood of Christ” in Holy Communion; Roman Catholics receive only the “bread,” a wafer.”

Do the Orthodox believe that we only receive a wafer and not the Body and Blood of Christ
and only they have a valid Eucharist?

1. “Roman Catholic theology is customarily legalistic and philosophical. For example, a “valid” (legal term) baptism into Christ is the result of the right intention (having the same understanding of baptism as the Church) and using the correct formula or words during the ceremony or rite. Thus, even an atheist, under certain conditions, could baptize a person. “Sprinkling” of water (effusion) over the head of the baptized is reasonable and sufficient.”

This I am pretty sure is incorrect. This charge that Catholicism is legalistic is one often given by Protestants (again correct me if I am wrong).

Thanks for the (name removed by moderator)ut though

Some Orthodox think you just receive bread during Communion, some think you receive the Body and Blood of Christ, most don’t spend any time thinking about it, and the question wouldn’t have crossed their mind.

Everything said in the second quote is true (except perhaps the legalism is subjective, but I don’t think I’ve ever met an Orthodox who don’t think your church is highly legalistic). Roman Catholicism does teach, however, that even an atheist can baptize if he ‘intends to do what the church does when she baptizes.’ The fact that protestants also think your church is very legalistic doesn’t effect whether or not it also is considered so by Orthodox.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

No my brother-in-law is not of Greek ancestry…and it sounds like this could be a difficulty since from the readings that the liturgy is in Greek in the Greek Orthodox Church (correct me if I am wrong).

In the U.S., the Greek is usually mixed with some English, especially the sermons.

The liturgical Greek is picked up quickly in part to the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom book is in English, Greek & Greek in English phonetics.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

If my brother-in-law becomes Greek Orthodox can he take communion at a Catholic church?

Yes & No. Catholic Canon Law says “Yes” and Orthodoxy says “No”. Orthodox Church doesn’t allow Orthodox to receive communion outside of the Church - similarly, Catholics are not permitted by the Catholic Church to receive communion in a Pentecostal Church, for an example.

 

[sunny422]

Yes & No. Catholic Canon Law says “Yes” and Orthodoxy says “No”. Orthodox Church doesn’t allow Orthodox to receive communion outside of the Church - similarly, Catholics are not permitted by the Catholic Church to receive communion in a Pentecostal Church, for an example.

If I went to an Orthodox Church with my sister and her husband can I take communion?

 

[Jacob50]

Yes. The quote from St. John Chrysostom which Mickey quoted above shows that the early Church’s understanding of Matt 16:18 was that the rock was St. Peter’s confession.This is consistent with the early Church and the other scriptures- like in the book of Revelation which describes that all of the Apostles (through their confession) are the foundation of the Church and Jesus is the corner stone. Do you dispute that Jesus is the Rock?

Yes. All Bishops are shepherds of their laity/sheep and in that passage of the Gospel of St. John Jesus reinstated St. Peter who had fallen from his status as one of His shepherds through his denial of Christ Jesus 3 times. Many recongize the symbolism of Jesus asking St. Peter 3 times if he loved Him as a why Jesus reconciled with St. Peter after his 3 separate denials. When I read the passage, I don’t see an elevation of St. Peter above the other Apostles, but I do see that he was raised back to their status as shepherds. I see this is consistent with the interpretation of the ancient Church. Do you dispute that Jesus is the Shepherd of His flock?

Yes. Orthodox Christians recognize Jesus Christ as the only Head of His Church, the Body as the New Testament confirms. St. Peter, may his soul rest in peace, was one of the 12 Apostles and was the co-founder of the Church in the city of Rome. He certainly is a Saint & a Martyr and now intercedes for those who pray to him. Do you dispute that Jesus is the Head of the Christendom?

Great, Yes to all. I will just have to open up one or maybe 2 threads. It’ll be during the week. I will send you such link, and we will discuss these one by one. Until then.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

If I went to an Orthodox Church with my sister and her husband can I take communion?

No. Only Orthodox Christians may receive.

But not only that, but even an Orthodox Christian is traveling out of town or visiting different Orthodox Church than they usually attend, but does not first meet with the priest first & verifies that he or she is an Orthodox Christian who is going to Confession regularly - they want to know which Church they usually attend & if their married that their marriage was done in an Orthodox Church, they, even though Orthodox, can not receive.

And unless an Orthodox Christian maintains the mid-night to post communion fast of no food or water & if married, does not have relations, they can not receive. There are also many pre-communion prayers said the night before & the morning of reception of Holy Communion.

Only Orthodox Priests dispense the Eucharist in an Orthodox Church and they know us all by name, even is there are hundreds of parishioners. Orthodox Priests don’t just give the Eucharist to anyone who presents him or herself.

I do like this about Orthodoxy. What do you think about it?

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

Great, Yes to all. I will just have to open up one or maybe 2 threads. It’ll be during the week. I will send you such link, and we will discuss these one by one. Until then.

I’m not interested in arguments, but thought the op may benefit from an Orthodox response to your questions.

We believe Jesus Christ holds the place that Catholics give the Pope - Head of the Church & the like.

 

[Rawb]

But not only that, but even an Orthodox Christian is traveling out of town or visiting different Orthodox Church than they usually attend, but does not first meet with the priest first & verifies that he or she is an Orthodox Christian who is going to Confession regularly - they want to know which Church they usually attend & if their married that their marriage was done in an Orthodox Church, they, even though Orthodox, can not receive.

This is true. Whenever my wife and I are going to be out of town we contact the priest of the parish we are planning to attend. We’ve had some tell us we must attend Vespers the night before and receive Confession from them, others just wanted to know who our priest and bishop were. There’ve been times when we just can’t receive Communion one Sunday, because we couldn’t make it to Confession with that priest.

When my wife studied in England in college she brought with her a note from her priest saying she was an active parishioner of his to show to the priest in Oxford.

The one time we didn’t write ahead was when we were visiting my wife’s old college parish before we got married. The priest Communed her and then stopped before me, asked me if I was Orthodox, what parish I went to, the Jurisdiction, and who my Bishop was before he allowed me to receive Communion. He may have asked me if I had confessed recently, I can’t remember.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

This is true. Whenever my wife and I are going to be out of town we contact the priest of the parish we are planning to attend. We’ve had some tell us we must attend Vespers the night before and receive Confession from them, others just wanted to know who our priest and bishop were. There’ve been times when we just can’t receive Communion one Sunday, because we couldn’t make it to Confession with that priest.

When my wife studied in England in college she brought with her a note from her priest saying she was an active parishioner of his to show to the priest in Oxford.

The one time we didn’t write ahead was when we were visiting my wife’s old college parish before we got married. The priest Communed her and then stopped before me, asked me if I was Orthodox, what parish I went to, the Jurisdiction, and who my Bishop was before he allowed me to receive Communion. He may have asked me if I had confessed recently, I can’t remember.

I like that Orthodox Priests are so careful about who they give the Body & Blood of Jesus Christ to since it’s such a serious thing to do to receive Him.

 

[sunny422]

No. Only Orthodox Christians may receive.

But not only that, but even an Orthodox Christian is traveling out of town or visiting different Orthodox Church than they usually attend, but does not first meet with the priest first & verifies that he or she is an Orthodox Christian who is going to Confession regularly - they want to know which Church they usually attend & if their married that their marriage was done in an Orthodox Church, they, even though Orthodox, can not receive.

And unless an Orthodox Christian maintains the mid-night to post communion fast of no food or water & if married, does not have relations, they can not receive. There are also many pre-communion prayers said the night before & the morning of reception of Holy Communion.

Only Orthodox Priests dispense the Eucharist in an Orthodox Church and they know us all by name, even is there are hundreds of parishioners. Orthodox Priests don’t just give the Eucharist to anyone who presents him or herself.

I do like this about Orthodoxy. What do you think about it?

So can my brother-in-law take communion if he converts and his wife stays Catholic (not married in the Orthodox church)?

It is nice to have a community. I have been in parish where the priest knew me, but I also like being able to attend Catholic Mass anywhere and not have to present myself to the priest beforehand.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

So can my brother-in-law take communion if he converts and his wife stays Catholic (not married in the Orthodox church)?

I’m not sure. Their priest will tell them what the Bishop requires.

There was a couple with 6 children that converted recently from the Baptist faith and they had been married by a judge. They were required wait while living as brother & sister until after their chrismation (baptism & confirmation) & they had their Orthodox wedding. I attended. It was beautiful although the bride was self-conscious being about 8 months pregnant. After chrismation while still living as brother & sister before their marriage they were able to receive Holy Communion.

 

[sunny422]

Is birth control allowed in Orthodox Churches?

 

[Jacob50]

I’m not interested in arguments, but thought the op may benefit from an Orthodox response to your questions.

We believe Jesus Christ holds the place that Catholics give the Pope - Head of the Church & the like.

Well in such case, the arguments I want to present which are a good case of Matt 16:18-19 and John 21 are in one way off topic. And since they are many, I’ll just stay off for now. If they OP wants to know how we Catholics explain Papacy, the Rock, etc then sunny442 would have to open another topic. Or if he does not wish to do so, he can message me to explain these things which require a careful study and attention.

No. Catholics dont give the Pope the place which corresponds to Christ. If that was the case, then we wouldn’t be called Christians. The Pope however does represent him on earth, just as a Priest represents him, particularly in the Mass. But this too is off topic.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

Jacob50 had asked if Orthodox deny that the Pope is the Head of Christendom. This was his suggestion, not mine, that the Pope is the Head. I don’t believe Jacob50 was trying to be unhelpful or attempting polemics.

To Jacob50’s question, I answered Yes, we do deny the Pope is the Head of Christendom because Orthodox Church believes Jesus Christ is the Head of His Church. In Orthodoxy all authority ends with Christ Jesus and there is no man on earth that holds.

My intent was to be helpful by clarifying for the op, a Catholic who presumably knows her Faith, what the Orthodox view is as she has a concern about her family member(s) who are looking towards becoming Orthodox.

OP, if my answer was unhelpful, please accept my apologies.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

Is birth control allowed in Orthodox Churches?

goarch.org/ourfaith/controversialissues

There has been another thread opened about this topic, but above is a link to the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America which touches on that topic.

 

[sunny422]

I was wondering about the claim that the Roman Catholic Church broke off from the Eastern Orthodox Church and how I should respond to that? Is this just a matter of whose side your on?

Also what role does the Filioque play in all this? Does this affect how the Trinity is perceived?

Thanks!

 

[shreek]

I am not sure if this is the right place for this post.

My sister (a Roman Catholic) married a Methodist in a Catholic ceremony. He recently told me that **he is converting to being Greek Orthodox because that is the church from the beginning **and that the Roman church is the one that split off. .

in all seriousness is this a joke?
so he is not converting because he had a spritual awakening, or believes their liturgy to be better or their doctrine(s)??. Just who was FIRST?

This reminds me of George Costanza in Seinfeld converting to Latvian Orthodox.

 

[sunny422]

in all seriousness is this a joke?
so he is not converting because he had a spritual awakening, or believes their liturgy to be better or their doctrine(s)??. Just who was FIRST?

This reminds me of George Costanza in Seinfeld converting to Latvian Orthodox.

There might be a deeper belief in their doctrine and an appeal with a lack of the papacy.We haven’t discussed that yet.

What he said to me was: “Did you hear I am converting to Orthodox because they were the first church and the Roman Catholic Church grew in numbers because of the persecution from the Muslims on the Orthodox side.”

So I became curious with this claim as to who broke with who since I have a very limited knowledge of the Orthodox Church and its history.

I wish it were a joke and wish he was converting to being Catholic instead of Orthodox.

 

[Denise1957]

No. Only Orthodox Christians may receive.

But not only that, but even an Orthodox Christian is traveling out of town or visiting different Orthodox Church than they usually attend, but does not first meet with the priest first & verifies that he or she is an Orthodox Christian who is going to Confession regularly - they want to know which Church they usually attend & if their married that their marriage was done in an Orthodox Church, they, even though Orthodox, can not receive.

And unless an Orthodox Christian maintains the mid-night to post communion fast of no food or water & if married, does not have relations, they can not receive. There are also many pre-communion prayers said the night before & the morning of reception of Holy Communion.

Only Orthodox Priests dispense the Eucharist in an Orthodox Church and they know us all by name, even is there are hundreds of parishioners. Orthodox Priests don’t just give the Eucharist to anyone who presents him or herself.

I do like this about Orthodoxy. What do you think about it?

I dunno. The above seems a tad bit ‘legalistic’ to me. I like that the Catholic Church trusts its members more.

 

[ComeHome2Rome]

I dunno. The above seems a tad bit ‘legalistic’ to me. I like that the Catholic Church trusts its members more.

I guess I can see how it may seem legalistic. I see it as being very respectful and careful with a tremendous Gift the Church was given, the Body & Blood of Jesus.