C
ConstantineTG
Guest
Not entirely. Some of the reasons are political, but from ancient times. Some are cultural. Being self governing means they can set up their own rules and safeguard their own traditions. This is not to say the Pope doesn’t know or doesn’t care about their traditions, but like all traditions there should be a careful balance of keeping the old and integrating the new. Those who lived those traditions and live in the cultures where those Churches are now understand that better as the Pope would know how to do that for the Roman Catholic Church. Can you imagine the Pope making decisions on things like the Dormition Fast or the 12 Great Feasts when those either don’t exist or doesn’t hold the same relevance in the Roman Church?
Let me just first make it clear that I am still a Roman Catholic and I’ve just begun my “journey East”. I’m just probably a step or two ahead of you in understanding the East. But to the best of my abilities, let me share what I know.
The teachings per se is the same. The focus and thrust is different. The difference in emphasis and approach came about from early theologians who has different approaches to understanding and teaching the faith. These developed through the years and continues today.
One thing I noticed is that there are more fasting days in the Byzantine Calendar as supposed to the Roman Calendar. Again you can refer to the Byzantine Fasting thread for that.
Experience the Liturgies and you’ll realize how the same all the Liturgies are. JREducation has mentioned in another thread (forgot where it is exactly right now) that liturgies have essential parts, and non-essential parts. You can have any different form and have the essential parts and you make it a valid Catholic Liturgy. This is how we have adopted the Anglican Mass and inserted the essential parts and turned it into a Catholic Mass. In the Eastern Liturgies you will find the same parts, the Gloria, Sanctus, Anaphora, Epistle, Gospel, Communion. Thats not the complete list, just those off the top of my head. Liturgy is not a matter of difference of teaching but a difference of tradition. The essential parts make you realize how similar they are. Don’t expect to walk into a Divine Liturgy and experience a completely alien form of worship. You’ll be surprised how familiar it is.
Like I said, canonical enrollment. You do not have to ask permission to attend their Liturgies or receive the Sacraments. Although Baptisms, Confirmation and Matiromony are strongly encouraged to be in your own Rite, but not enforced if your own Rite is not available in your area (for those who migrate). Holy Orders is absolutely must be in your own canonical Rite, although you can still become a bi-ritual or tri-ritual priest later on.
Canonical enrollment is similar to citizenship. We are all humans. Are Americans better than Canadians? Of course not. But it simply means that Americans are subject to American law and Canadians are subject to Canadian law. We we travel we follow the law of that land but there are certain things that follow us when we are in a different land.
No, the tradition of imposed celibacy never prospered in the East. But there are many celibate priests. All Bishops are celibate, it is a requirement mandated by both East and West.
Celibacy is not a doctrine or dogma, but rather a discipline. And this discipline was only ever imposed on the Roman Church. I believed this developed after the Great Schism and when Eastern Catholics reunited with Rome, Rome never saw it fit to impose such discipline on them.
We both journey in understanding the East, I’m happy to share the things that I have learned.
and there’s also this Byzantine Catholic Orthodox Church. None of them really in communion with the Pope or the Orthodox. Although after a quick scan I never found any women clergy.