No, he is wrong. The Greek tradition is considered eastern. It might be part of the western world in other senses but when it comes to tradition in Christianity it is considered eastern. East vs. west was basically a division of language. The west spoke Latin and the east spoke Greek and Syriac and a few other languages.
But they are talking about Eastern Christianity and Western Christianity, in that sense the Greeks are very much Eastern.Definately West!Greece is called the cradle of western civilization
In fact I am talk both.
Sorry Jimmy, his friend may not be right, but I don’t think he is wrong. Perspective plays a big part. Funny that when you say “The west spoke Latin and the east spoke Greek and Syriac and a few other languages.” you rather sound more like a Westernener in lumping everyone East of Rome as an “Easterner”… “Greek and Syriac” or “Greek or Syriac”? We aren’t a monolithic easy to define “non-Latin” catch all.
The Greek Byzantine Church (both the Catholic and the Orthodox) is considered to be an “Eastern Church” for purposes of Canon Law and Theology.
It’s quite possible that the Maronite in question may have been translating the term roum catholique (or roum orthodoxe). While the word “roum” does mean “Rome,” it is only used in reference to “New Rome,” i.e., Constantinople.
Everything West of the Euphrates is Western from our viewpoint. And East of it is Church of the East. Yeh, it depends on perspective. According to the Church of the East everyone else would be western but if you look at the way it is generally understood the Greeks would be eastern. Take for example the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. It is the canons for all the Catholic Churches except for the Latin Church. You can think of it in degrees but in general the Greeks are eastern.
I don’t mean to nit-pick or be trifling on this one, but the weasel words of “it is generally understood” don’t help us a lot. Generally understood in some contexts not others… If they were discussing if Greece is part of “western culture” that is another answer altogether than a discussion about “E & W” from the standpoint of patristics or classification of churches.
I will have to read up on the Ethiopian Church and it’s origins. I love history O
The Ethiopian Church is Alexandrene by origin and you were right: it was tied to the Copts. And as bpbasilphx has already pointed out, Ethiopia was outside the Roman Empire.I’m sorry that I don’t know much about the Ethiopian Church. I thought that it was tied into the Alexandrian {Coptic} Church at the beginning… I guess not? If so, it would make sense.
In my opinion, this is a very salient point in understanding the sad division of our church. It can also be a very ‘touchy’ point! I will be happy to elaborate upon my views if there is any response/interest–(pro or con). Greece is referred to as the ‘cradle of western civilization’ due to it’s introduction of forms of democracy, it’s philosophers, mathematicians, commerce, forms of literature, etc.! However, all of these contributions to our ‘western heritage’,for which we will always be most grateful and live with us today, pretty much had been completed by the time of Christ. Generally speaking, within the past 2000 years, Greece & the Greeks—though located within the fringe of modern Europe & a member of the European Union—have become increasingly EASTERN in no uncertain terms. The to/fro invasions—the 400+yr Ottomon Empire influence, the co-joining of Greeks with the Armenians, Assyrians, Syrians, etc. within the Byzantine Empire and the ‘melding’ of an Eastern identity/culture/eastern thought process among them verses the ‘WEST’ and ‘western thought’ is well documented historical fact. Greek food is really a slight variation of Turkish food. Their type of recreational music and dance is most certainly difficult to distinguish from that of middle-eastern peoples. Greece did not take part at all in the Rennaissance, which further defined ‘western civilization’. Greece–as we have known it for a long time–and most certainly today is part of the East.