Is it appropriate to call the Eastern Orthodox ...

[Peter_J]

Is it appropriate for us Catholics to refer to the Eastern Orthodox Church as “the Orthodox Catholic Church” (as they do)?

 

[AlegreFe]

I’m not sure. All I know is that parts of the Eastern Orthodox church (or perhaps I should say rites?) obey our Pope. One of them being the Byzantine Catholics.

As for myself, I would not call them that. I don’t even think the Roman Catholic Church calls them that.

 

[Peter_J]

I’m not sure. All I know is that parts of the Eastern Orthodox church (or perhaps I should say rites?) obey our Pope.

Glad to hear it. (I suppose there might also be parts of the Catholic Church who obey the Patriarch of Constantinople. I’ve never heard mention of any, but there could be.)

One of them being the Byzantine Catholics.

As for myself, I would not call them that. I don’t even think the Roman Catholic Church calls them that.

I don’t think so either. I’ve never read any papal statements that do so.

 

[JMJ_coder]

Is it appropriate for us Catholics to refer to the Eastern Orthodox Church as “the Orthodox Catholic Church” (as they do)?

I have yet to meet any Orthodox in person who refer to their Church as the Orthodox Catholic Church - and very few online who do; and the official Orthodox web pages that I have visited don’t have that as their title.

 

[Nicholas82]

I have yet to meet any Orthodox in person who refer to their Church as the Orthodox Catholic Church - and very few online who do; and the official Orthodox web pages that I have visited don’t have that as their title.

We certainly consider ourselved to be Orthodox and catholic, however.

 

[ralphinal]

No, it is not. Yes, they consider themselves orthodox and catholic, and in some ways they are both. However, you will not conveince me that with all the politics and hate that was floating around that they did not name themselves that to insult Catholics.

I do not think that they call themselves that for any reason other than to differintiate themselves from the UNORTHODOX (incorrect practicing) Catholic Church.

 

[Peter_J]

^^ It is a bit new to me too. I was aware that they consider themselves “the Catholic Church”, and obviously they also call themselves “the Eastern Orthodox Church” and “the Orthodox Church” (which is what most non-Orthodox call them). But I don’t think I have heard the term “the Orthodox Catholic Church” except on the internet.

 

[JMJ_coder]

We certainly consider ourselved to be Orthodox and catholic, however.

Though the Orthodox claim of catholicity is questionable and debatable. Orthodoxy only believes in one expression of faith - Byzantine. It is also very ethnic - only Greek or Slavic.

Now certainly there are some other cultures and there is an experiment going on currently with a “Western Rite” under the patronage of the Antiochian Orthodox, but not enough to make me consider Orthodoxy to be truly catholic (universal).

 

[Peter_J]

Though the Orthodox claim of catholicity is questionable and debatable.

Well of course it’s questionable. If claims like that weren’t questionable, why would we be divided?

Orthodoxy only believes in one expression of faith - Byzantine. It is also very ethnic - only Greek or Slavic.

Hmm, I think I’ve heard that about 1001 times.

 

[bpbasilphx]

The terminology has varied over time.

Orthodox Catholic is correct (from the Orthodox view point).

So is Eastern Orthodox.

So is Orthodox Christian (a bit more common today).

 

[bpbasilphx]

**Orthodoxy only believes in one expression of faith - Byzantine. It is also very ethnic - only Greek or Slavic. **

**Not true, as there are Western Orthodox, especially under the Antiochians and ROCOR.

Until there was an Ethiopian bishop in the USA, I know of an OCA bishop who was considering forming an Ethiopian mission in his see city.

And Orthodoxy is so Greco-Slavic ethnic that there are flourishing Japanese, Finnish, and African Orthodox Churches.

The OCA has several convert bishops who are NOT of Greek or Slavic extraction. And even the Greek Archdiocese has many convert priests.**

 

[JMJ_coder]

**Orthodoxy only believes in one expression of faith - Byzantine. It is also very ethnic - only Greek or Slavic. **

**Not true, as there are Western Orthodox, especially under the Antiochians and ROCOR.

Until there was an Ethiopian bishop in the USA, I know of an OCA bishop who was considering forming an Ethiopian mission in his see city.

And Orthodoxy is so Greco-Slavic ethnic that there are flourishing Japanese, Finnish, and African Orthodox Churches.

The OCA has several convert bishops who are NOT of Greek or Slavic extraction. And even the Greek Archdiocese has many convert priests.**

If you read the rest of my post, I made mention of the Western Rite. But, in my opinion, it is still a relatively new experiment (I think less than half a century) - one that may or may not last.

Also, I mentioned some exceptions - which the Japanese, Finnish, etc. would fall into. But tell me, do these Orthodox communities express the faith according to their cultures or do they express it according to the Byzantine tradition (which is Greco-Slavic)?

 

[Peter_J]

If you read the rest of my post, I made mention of the Western Rite.

True, there are Western Rite Orthodox, and you did mention them. On the other hand, there are also Eastern Catholics, so I guess I’m not really sure what point you’re trying to make.