Questions of curiosity about the Orthodox faith

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tommy999
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

Tommy999

Guest
Hello all,
These few questions are mainly for those who belong to the Orthodox Christian faith, although Catholics are welcome as well.

Background:
I am a Methodist who has rarely (if ever) met anyone of the Orthodox faith. However, I saw some during a recent ‘Walk for Life’ event. They reminded me a lot of Catholics in many ways. I respect them very much. I also interact with a lady on the phone at work who told me she is Ukrainian Orthodox.

Questions:
  1. What main things do Orthodox and Catholics have in common?
  2. What are the main differences (I don’t want to start any debates – just wanted to know where the two faith tradition have a parting of the ways). I assume the main one is the authority of the Pope but I don’t know if there are others.
  3. Can an Orthodox validly take communion at a Catholic church and vice-versa?
  4. I’ve heard of Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox, etc. Do these all believe the same basic doctrines? If so, I was curious why they are called different names? I wonder if the different names are based on geographical differences only?
Any light you could shed would be appreciated. I apologize that I may be asking a very elementary question for some of you, but I sincerely would like to know for my own sake to gain more knowledge.
 
Tommy999 said:
Hello all,
These few questions are mainly for those who belong to the Orthodox Christian faith.

Background:
I am a Methodist who has rarely (if ever) met anyone of the Orthodox faith. However, I saw some during a recent ‘Walk for Life’ event. They reminded me a lot of Catholics in many ways. I respect them very much. I also interact with a lady on the phone at work who told me she is Ukrainian Orthodox.

Questions:
  1. What main things do Orthodox and Catholics have in common?
  2. What are the main differences (I don’t want to start any debates – just wanted to know where the two faith tradition have a parting of the ways). I assume the main one is the authority of the Pope but I don’t know if there are others.
Any light you could shed would be appreciated. I apologize that I may be asking a very elementary question for some of you, but I sincerely would like to know for my own edification sake.
Click to expand...
We have many in common…major difference, the big elephant in the room…the Bishop of Rome.

catholicworldreport.com/Item/2223/building_bridges_between_orthodox_and_catholic_christians.aspx

catholicbridge.com/orthodox/index.php
 
Thanks as always, Pablope. Do you happen to know about question #3, by chance?
 
Tommy999 said:
Thanks as always, Pablope. Do you happen to know about question #3, by chance?
Click to expand...
An Orthodox person may receive the Eucharist in a Catholic Church. They are the only non-Catholics officially allowed to do this without converting.

I know this because in my town over the past 10 years we received some Orthodox refugees from the Middle East and we don’t have an EO church. They would have to make a 6hour round trip to worship in the city. The nearest EO Bishop in Brisbane and our Bishop agreed that they would receive in our local Catholic Church.

Catholics may do the same if the two Bishops agree but I don’t know of many towns that don’t have a Catholic Church.
 
SAVINGRACE said:
An Orthodox person may receive the Eucharist in a Catholic Church. They are the only non-Catholics officially allowed to do this without converting.

I know this because in my town over the past 10 years we received some Orthodox refugees from the Middle East and we don’t have an EO church. They would have to make a 6hour round trip to worship in the city. The nearest EO Bishop in Brisbane and our Bishop agreed that they would receive in our local Catholic Church.

Catholics may do the same if the two Bishops agree but I don’t know of many towns that don’t have a Catholic Church.
Click to expand...
Thanks for clarifying that, SavingGrace.
 
Orthodox and Latin Rite Catholics do not have the same canon.

They have anywhere from 76-81 books depending on who you are referring to. Of course we have the same 73 from the Vulgate in 405AD.

The book of Revelation, from my understanding, is not quoted from in their liturgy. You’d have to ask them why that is.

Russians are usually stricter than Greeks overall.

Differences in liturgy.

Differences in understanding of Purgatory and original sin.

And of course the biggies that set off Schism…Papal authority and Filioque.

Praying for unity with our brothers and sisters in the Orthodox church.
 
They are called different names because traditionally the Orthodox faith centred around countries however their theology is the same.

In Catholicism, we have Western Catholicism which is the one the world is most familiar with but we also have other Catholics that most are not familiar with e.g Melkite Catholics, Greek Catholics, Ukrainian Catholics etc

The Eastern Catholics which comprises millions of people are also part of the Catholic Church but their Priests are allowed to marry and their worship is like the EO liturgy. They are in communion with Rome and the Pope is their Pope as well.
 
Scriptures is interpreted by the seven ecumenical councils of their Church and taught to the masses. Like Catholicism, individual interpretation of Scripture is not encouraged as it leads to error. The Patriarch of Constantinople has the honor of primacy, but his title is only “first among equals” and has no real authority over the Church as a whole other than the Constantinopolitan.
 
SIMILARITIES:
  • Our Lady is also honoured and viewed as the Mother of God.
  • The Saints are revered.
  • The Church interprets scripture and teaches the masses, individual interpretation leads to error.
  • One Bishop is viewed as “first amongst equals”. In Catholicism he is the Bishop of Rome, in Orthodoxy it is the Patriarch of Constantinople although the EO Bishop doesn’t hold authority over all the EO churches just Constantinople.
  • Both agree that there are seven principle Mysteries or Sacraments, (Baptism, Confirmation / Chrismation, Eucharist, Penance, Ordination, Marriage, Unction [Healing]).
  • Both agree that Christ is truly present in the Holy Mysteries and that they are grace bearing, transformative encounters with Him.
  • Both agree in baptismal regeneration and the necessity of confession before a priest.
  • Both believe in the charism and grace of ordination within the apostolic succession.
  • Both believe that the material world is a consecrated vehicle for the presence and work of the Holy Spirit and therefore the necessity of a rich sacramental life in the Church as God’s provision for our need.
  • The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scriptures and attested to in the other sacred, inspired, biblical writings.
  • The Seven Ecumenical Councils of the first millennium together with their creeds and definitions, most notably the revised creed of Nicaea (without the ‘filioque’ clause later inserted by Rome, see below) and the Chalcedonian christological definition.
  • The teachings of the fathers and saints of the first millennium within Holy Tradition throughout this period.
  • Orthodox piety in relation to the saints and their invocation, pilgrimages, relics, iconography and, more widely, the Christian patronage of the arts and sciences.
  • Mary as Ever Virgin and Theotokos (Bearer or Mother of God) and her role in the salvation wrought by her Son. She is the Mother of Church and provides the most exalted model of what a Christian should be.
  • The Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Mysteries and the efficacy of sacramental grace.
 
Thanks to everyone for the very helpful replies. Things are coming more into focus for me now
 
SAVINGRACE said:
SIMILARITIES:
  • Both agree in baptismal regeneration and the necessity of confession before a priest.
Click to expand...
Correct me if I’m wrong, I thought the Orthodox priest gives a general absolution during mass without confession. Confession is only for “very grave sins” e.g. murder, adultery etc.
 
Augustine3 said:
Correct me if I’m wrong, I thought the Orthodox priest gives a general absolution during mass without confession. Confession is only for “very grave sins” e.g. murder, adultery etc.
Click to expand...
You are wrong, so consider yourself corrected 🙂
 
prodromos said:
You are wrong, so consider yourself corrected 🙂
Click to expand...
Ok thanks.

So if an Orthodox believer deliberately entertained lustful thoughts in his mind, does that person need to go to confession to be absolved?
 
Augustine3 said:
Ok thanks.

So if an Orthodox believer deliberately entertained lustful thoughts in his mind, does that person need to go to confession to be absolved?
Click to expand...
Any sin which harms our relationship with God and with our brethren needs to be dealt with.
 
True.

It was once common for the Orthodox Church to permit its members to receive communion in Anglican (just Anglican, not Catholic) churches if no Orthodox parish was near them. But even that practice was discontinued in (I think) the 1970s.
 
Peter_J said:
True.

It was once common for the Orthodox Church to permit its members to receive communion in Anglican (just Anglican, not Catholic) churches if no Orthodox parish was near them. But even that practice was discontinued in (I think) the 1970s.
Click to expand...
Okay this is interesting. Do you have any more information?

Edit: But just if no Orthodox Church is near or under "extreme circumstances " or something?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top