Validity of Eastern Orthodox Sacraments and Eucharist

  • Thread starter Thread starter CrucisLucia
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
C

CrucisLucia

Guest
What is the position of the Catholic Church on the validity of Orthodox Eucharist, sacraments, baptism, et cetera? Do the Catholic Church believe that the Eucharist and sacraments offered by the Eastern Orthodox churches are valid as well and also confer grace?

In a framework of a Catholic perspective, what are the differences in the nature and validity of the Sacraments and Eucharist offered by the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Church?
 
The Catholic position is that all of the Orthodox sacraments are valid, and that they have the same seven sacraments.
 
The Eastern Orthodox Churches have all seven valid Sacraments. We should all pray for the resumption of communion between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches.

vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a9p3.htm
838 "The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter."322 Those "who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church."323 **With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound “that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.”**324
catholic.com/tracts/eastern-orthodoxy
One of the most tragic divisions within Christianity is the one between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox churches. Both have valid holy orders and apostolic succession through the episcopacy, both celebrate the same sacraments, both believe almost exactly the same theology, and both proclaim the same faith in Christ. So, why the division? What caused the division? ,
 
The Orthodox practice a closed communion, and to my knowledge don’t generally admit Catholics. The RCC advises that you should respect their church laws regarding the subject. You shouldn’t receive in an Orthodox Church unless you get permission to by their priest, not because their sacraments are invalid (on the contrary, they are valid) but out of respect for their laws.
 
All the Orthodox Church’s have valid seven sacraments and a valid priesthood to include apostolic succession.

The Latin Rite allows the Orthodox members to partake of holy communion in the Latin Rite, as she practices her biblical principles that no man can separate what God has joined together, especially in Eucharista.

For an Orthodox member to practice his/her Catholic faith in the Latin Rite, all is needed is a profession of faith. The Latin rite rejects re-baptism to those who have been validly joined to Jesus Christ through water baptism.

For a Latin Rite Catholic to practice his/her Catholic faith in the Byzantine Rite or an Orthodox Church, may require re-baptism.

For confession and reception of the Holy Eucharist in an Orthodox Church, the Latin rite member would need to inform his/her bishop or priest and get permission from the Orthodox priest or bishop. These are special circumstances.

A Latin Rite Catholic should not just up for Communion in an Orthodox Church without being well informed of the Orthodox Church’s standards of Holy Communion and practices.
 
All the Orthodox Church’s have valid seven sacraments and a valid priesthood to include apostolic succession.

The Latin Rite allows the Orthodox members to partake of holy communion in the Latin Rite, as she practices her biblical principles that no man can separate what God has joined together, especially in Eucharista.

For an Orthodox member to practice his/her Catholic faith in the Latin Rite, all is needed is a profession of faith. The Latin rite rejects re-baptism to those who have been validly joined to Jesus Christ through water baptism.

For a Latin Rite Catholic to practice his/her Catholic faith in the Byzantine Rite or an Orthodox Church, may require re-baptism.

For confession and reception of the Holy Eucharist in an Orthodox Church, the Latin rite member would need to inform his/her bishop or priest and get permission from the Orthodox priest or bishop. These are special circumstances.

A Latin Rite Catholic should not just up for Communion in an Orthodox Church without being well informed of the Orthodox Church’s standards of Holy Communion and practices.
So, in theory, all Sacraments and Eucharist by Orthodox priests and Catholic priests are considered valid and the same by both camps?

So, if for example, in death or in emergency situations, Catholics can receive Sacraments or Eucharist conferred by Orthodox clergy and the Eastern Orthodox can do the same?
 
So, in theory, all Sacraments and Eucharist by Orthodox priests and Catholic priests are considered valid and the same by both camps?

So, if for example, in death or in emergency situations, Catholics can receive Sacraments or Eucharist conferred by Orthodox clergy and the Eastern Orthodox can do the same?
Valid, yes. Same would require , ISTM, consideration of liciety.
 
Just a not for clarity’s sake: Orthodox Christianity, as an entirety, does not claim that there are seven sacraments. For instance, Fr. Alexander Schmemann believed that a “sacrament” was anything which the lord uses to offer grace, which makes it difficult to quantify the number of sacraments.
 
So, in theory, all Sacraments and Eucharist by Orthodox priests and Catholic priests are considered valid and the same by both camps?
Catholics consider the Eastern Orthodox sacraments to be valid. The Orthodox, however, do not all agree on the validity of Catholic sacraments. Some, like the Patriarch of Constantinople, are friendly to the Catholic Church, some are hostile.
 
Wait, I thought the understanding was that even though the Catholic Church considers Orthodox sacraments as valid, that it is still not permitted or Catholics to partake in the Eucharist in Orthodox parishes and for Orthodox to partake in Catholic parishes since the Orthodox aren’t in communion with the Pope? From some of the posts here I am getting the impression that Catholics would be OK if it wasn’t for the fact that the Orthodox don’t permit it? Can someone clarify?
 
Wait, I thought the understanding was that even though the Catholic Church considers Orthodox sacraments as valid, that it is still not permitted or Catholics to partake in the Eucharist in Orthodox parishes and for Orthodox to partake in Catholic parishes since the Orthodox aren’t in communion with the Pope? From some of the posts here I am getting the impression that Catholics would be OK if it wasn’t for the fact that the Orthodox don’t permit it? Can someone clarify?
The Catholic Church admits Orthodox Christians to communion. However, it is generally the case that Orthodox bishops do not permit the Orthodox to receive communion in the Catholic Church. As far as the Catholic Church permitting Catholics to receive communion in the Orthodox Church, that is permitted from the Catholic point of view in certain circumstances. However, the Orthodox generally to not permit it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top