The first church

[Tasha]

I have a dear friend that suddenly became interested in the Catholic Church and started studying about it. She attended Mass with me once and expressed an interest in attending more Masses. Yesterday I spoke to her and I asked when she would like to go again. She told me that her studying led her to the fact that the first church was “Orthodox” and the Catholic Church branched off of the Orthodox church. I’m assuming she means Greek Orthodox, because she mentioned there was a falling out over the Papacy. She was adamant that she wanted to attend the “first church” and Catholic was a branch. I did not have a chance to ask her for her references. I admit I am no scholar and I don’t know a thing about the Orthodox church. I’ve never even heard of this theory before. Do Greek Orthodox believe in the Eucharist? Do their priests have the authority to consecrate the Host? Do they claim to be the first church? So sorry for my ignorance.

 

[adam_in_ohio]

I have a dear friend that suddenly became interested in the Catholic Church and started studying about it. She attended Mass with me once and expressed an interest in attending more Masses. Yesterday I spoke to her and I asked when she would like to go again. She told me that her studying led her to the fact that the first church was “Orthodox” and the Catholic Church branched off of the Orthodox church. I’m assuming she means Greek Orthodox, because she mentioned there was a falling out over the Papacy. She was adamant that she wanted to attend the “first church” and Catholic was a branch. I did not have a chance to ask her for her references. I admit I am no scholar and I don’t know a thing about the Orthodox church. I’ve never even heard of this theory before. Do Greek Orthodox believe in the Eucharist? Do their priests have the authority to consecrate the Host? Do they claim to be the first church? So sorry for my ignorance.

Here is the long and short of it. The Orthodox church wrather it be Greek, Russin,ect. has all seven scraments just as the Catholic Church does. So yes they believe in the Eucharist and there priest do have the authority to consecrate the Host.
If I rember corectly, there are (for the most part) 2 major issues the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church dissagree upon.
1)The primacy of Peter (Papal Infallibility)
2)The Filioque (and the Son) This will give a quick explnation on the Filioque catholic.com/library/Filioque.asp

 

[Tasha]

Thanks, Adam. More questions—so then does their Eucharist have the Real Presence in the eyes of the CC? And do their priests have the same authority if they are not under the Pope? Also what makes them think they are the first church, and Catholics are a branch of them? Thanks in advance.

 

[Awake]

More questions—so then does their Eucharist have the Real Presence in the eyes of the CC?

Yes.

And do their priests have the same authority if they are not under the Pope?

Not sure what you mean.

Also what makes them think they are the first church, and Catholics are a branch of them? Thanks in advance.

The same reason that Catholics think they are the first church. Both can trace their lineage back to the early church and ultimately the apostles. The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church were one church until 1054 when the two split. The split (called the Great Schism) was largely cultural, but also included some doctrinal disputes, such as papal primacy - (not infallibility, this was not a Catholic doctrine until Vatican I) and the fillioque.

There were times when it looked like the two may have joined back again, but all hope was lost in the Fourth Crusade when Catholics crusaders pillaged the city of Constantinople (which can be considered the Orthodox equivalent to Rome).

 

[adam_in_ohio]

Thanks, Adam. More questions—so then does their Eucharist have the Real Presence in the eyes of the CC? And do their priests have the same authority if they are not under the Pope? Also what makes them think they are the first church, and Catholics are a branch of them? Thanks in advance.

The teachings on the Eucharist have been taught since the last supper. The split between east and west happened around 1000AD give or take. So up untill that time the east and west were considered One.
In order for ordnation to be valid, the ordnation has to be done by someone that has Apostolic succession. catholic.com/library/Apostolic_Succession.asp
Those someone’s are the Bishops. The Bishops of the Orthodox Church have Apostolic succession.

If you ask a Catholic who broke away from who, a Catholic would say the Orthodox broke away from Rome. If you ask an Orthodox who broke away from whom thay would say Rome broke away from the Orthodox. Bishops from both East and West can trace there Apostolic succession back to one of the 12 apostles.

 

[Wowbagger]

Just a suggestion: it might be worth posting this over in the Eastern Catholicism forum. They’ve got Orthodox of all kinds, and would, no doubt, have rather interesting perspectives on your question–in addition to lots and lots of knowledge.

Or not. Just an idea I had while passing through tonight.