Orthodox and Roman Catholic differences part 1 by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick-ancient Faith Radio

[josie_L]

So … you decided that you should be offensive to Catholics yourself?

I saw nothing offensive in his replies, none whatsoever. Ghosty, on the other hand, has been the recipient of some unkind replies.

 

[Art321]

Perhaps our differences were ordained by God in order for us to come together. Instead of each Church insisting on the other Church to change we need to let the other Church to be. If we work by this platform unity will come overnight.

If only such things could happen with such ease… but I’m afraid that things will take a lot longer for unity to occur. On the contrary, I don’t believe that the Church of Rome requires the Orthodox to change anything ultimately but only to acknowledge the Papacy how we understand it. But that in itself is something that will require us to look back in history and even the Gospels to reflect if at all Christ choose Peter to lead all Christians in some special way. Of course, Catholics say yes in this regard…

Still, I do wish peace for my Orthodox brothers and sisters. May they continue to flourish in their traditions and faith! God bless them!

 

[chimo]

If only such things could happen with such ease… but I’m afraid that things will take a lot longer for unity to occur. On the contrary, I don’t believe that the Church of Rome requires the Orthodox to change anything ultimately but only to acknowledge the Papacy how we understand it. But that in itself is something that will require us to look back in history and even the Gospels to reflect if at all Christ choose Peter to lead all Christians in some special way. Of course, Catholics say yes in this regard…

Still, I do wish peace for my Orthodox brothers and sisters. May they continue to flourish in their traditions and faith! God bless them!

They (the Churches coming into unity) can happen (with much ease) if we had better understanding. There is too much misunderstandings at this time of our dialogue. These misunderstandings will be healed when we will take the time to know each other. That will be the simple way but who is doing this? You are never going to get unity until the Laity from each Church will come to seek knowledge from the other. No Pope can do this and no Patriarch. It must come from the Laity. The problem today is hardly anyone from the Laity is working on this. I tell you why the Laity must involve themselves more than the Bishops and priests. Simply it is because the Bishops and priests do not give themselves time to know each other’s Church. They can’t because they do not have the time to do it. They are committed to be with their own. They have no time to deal with other matters. They have other responsibilities.Than who has the time? Well it must be the Laity. They have the time and they don’t have the responsibilities as do their Bishops and priests. Once the Laity come aboard than when some of them become Bishops and priests you have this excellent recipe of people understanding each other. This is how unity will come. It must come not from the top but from those who had taken the time to come to know the riches of each other’s Churches and that can come only from the Laity.

 

[Art321]

They (the Churches coming into unity) can happen (with much ease) if we had better understanding. There is too much misunderstandings at this time of our dialogue. These misunderstandings will be healed when we will take the time to know each other. That will be the simple way but who is doing this? You are never going to get unity until the Laity from each Church will come to seek knowledge from the other. No Pope can do this and no Patriarch. It must come from the Laity. The problem today is hardly anyone from the Laity is working on this. I tell you why the Laity must involve themselves more than the Bishops and priests. Simply it is because the Bishops and priests do not give themselves time to know each other’s Church. They can’t because they do not have the time to do it. They are committed to be with their own. They have no time to deal with other matters. They have other responsibilities.Than who has the time? Well it must be the Laity. They have the time and they don’t have the responsibilities as do their Bishops and priests. Once the Laity come aboard than when some of them become Bishops and priests you have this excellent recipe of people understanding each other. This is how unity will come. It must come not from the top but from those who had taken the time to come to know the riches of each other’s Churches and that can come only from the Laity.

I do LOVE your optimism dear brother! And yes while I completely agree that this is the path that we must take together. We must learn from our own history, theology, and even from each other’s liturgies will help tremendously!!

And while I’m at it, this is a great opportunity to start! I hope you may answer some questions I have!

1. In the Catholic Church, there is a rich intellectual tradition that spans back centuries! There must be something similar in the Orthodox Church, no? Do you have any references to someone like St. Thomas Aquinas, but that speaks through the theology of the Orthodox?
2. Anything that goes into the philosophical lens of the Orthodox?

That’s it for now! If you wish please don’t be afraid to pm me! It may be better than to derail this thread! Thank you so much!

 

[chimo]

I do LOVE your optimism dear brother! And yes while I completely agree that this is the path that we must take together. We must learn from our own history, theology, and even from each other’s liturgies will help tremendously!!

And while I’m at it, this is a great opportunity to start! I hope you may answer some questions I have!

1. In the Catholic Church, there is a rich intellectual tradition that spans back centuries! There must be something similar in the Orthodox Church, no? Do you have any references to someone like St. Thomas Aquinas, but that speaks through the theology of the Orthodox?
2. Anything that goes into the philosophical lens of the Orthodox?

That’s it for now! If you wish please don’t be afraid to pm me! It may be better than to derail this thread! Thank you so much!

Thank you my Catholic brother for your response and to your question. Yes there are saints from the Orthodox Church which have the similar approach as does the Catholic saint, Thomas Aquinas. One which I see often and is quoted often in the Orthodox Church is St. Maximus the Confessor who lived in the years 580 AD to 662 AD. You will be able to check him out in the Internet. Yes we must first learn from our own if we want to learn from others.

 

[Art321]

Thank you my Catholic brother for your response and to your question. Yes there are saints from the Orthodox Church which have the similar approach as does the Catholic saint, Thomas Aquinas. One which I see often and is quoted often in the Orthodox Church is St. Maximus the Confessor who lived in the years 580 AD to 662 AD. You will be able to check him out in the Internet. Yes we must first learn from our own if we want to learn from others.

My sincerest apologies for late reply! Thank you and I’ll check him out! Are you familiar with any good books for me on the Eastern Church? May I help you with questions on the Catholic Faith?

I’m by no means an expert as I’m still learning but I’ll do what I can! God bless!

 

[Ghosty]

I’ll add that St. John of Damascus is very similar to Aquinas, in substance and approach, not style. Aquinas was a big fan of John Damascene.

Peace and God bless!