Why not Eastern Orthodox?

[Kullervo]

Hi,
I’m a Christian because I believe the tradition that Jesus Christ is God and that he established a Church which teaches authoritatively. That rules out all the Protestant denominations, but how do I know that the Catholic Church is the one true Church and not one of the Orthodox ones? Thanks for any answers.

 

[Kullervo]

I’ve never really understood the concept of Schism. They don’t view each other as heretical, they view each other as 2 sides of the same coin, is that correct?

 

[Kullervo]

I read something about the great schism and it seems to me that both were pretty angry, both had good arguments and both were the same age.

 

[niceatheist]

Rome had the throne of Peter, the Eastern churches had the Emperor. The Papacy had a certain pre-eminence in the Imperial Church, but by the same token the Christian Roman Emperors had the power to summon Ecumenical Councils, and certainly had more direct authority over Eastern churches than Rome ever had. So it was a sort of Rome vs Constantinople.

I should add that as far as the Filioque, I’ve read some strong arguments that the theological aspects of the Schism could simply come down to issues of Greek versus Latin, in particular trying to translate the very complex Chistological formulations into the two languages; and, quite frankly, a rather dim view in the Eastern Church of Latin, which was viewed as a barbaric language. So you have political clashes for primacy (and what that primacy actually even meant), debates over detailed and complex Christology in Greek and Latin, and well, probably some good old fashioned prejudice between the Eastern Roman Empire and the Western Church with its newly-civilized Germanic (in particular Frankish) princes.

 

[Vico]

I’ve never really understood the concept of Schism. They don’t view each other as heretical, they view each other as 2 sides of the same coin, is that correct?

The apostolic churches that are not in full communion with Rome are many. Schism is defined in the canon law (CIC):

Can. 751 Heresy is the obstinate denial or obstinate doubt after the reception of baptism of some truth which is to be believed by divine and Catholic faith; apostasy is the total repudiation of the Christian faith; schism is the refusal of submission to the Supreme Pontiff or of communion with the members of the Church subject to him.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

For me, the orthodox churches are missing oneness. They are divided and sectarian. God is not the author of confusion. I couldn’t make it make sense to trade Protestant disunity for Orthodox disunity.

The Catholic Church, for all its challenges, is still trying to live out the imperative to be one. It is 24 churches in communion with the pope and constantly trying to reunite the body of Christ here on earth.

 

[Isaac14]

To be fair, the Orthodox Church does not deny the Papacy. The disagreement is over just what powers belong to the Pope as Bishop of Rome and first among the churches. Although we Orthodox say “first among equals” as if the primate of a church (e.g. the Pope as Primate of the Roman Church) has no more power or authority beyond any bishop, that’s not entirely fair. Every Orthodox primate (whether titled Patriarch, Metropolitan, or Archbishop) does indeed have duties and responsibilities over and above those of a diocesan bishop; these are, however, exercised in a spirit of collegiality.

For me, the orthodox churches are missing oneness. They are divided and sectarian.

I’d love to have you elaborate on this. For as much as we Orthodox squabble about jurisdiction (and we do, a lot), we are remarkably united in one faith.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

For as much as we Orthodox squabble about jurisdiction (and we do, a lot), we are remarkably united in one faith.

Agreement in matters of faith is not really at question for me. It’s more about how the various orthodox churches are or are not in communion with one another.

 

[Isaac14]

It’s more about how the various orthodox churches are or are not in communion with one another.

Broadly speaking, the Chalcedonian churches (i.e. Eastern Orthodox, byzantine rite) are all in communion, Russia’s temporary break with Constantinople not withstanding. The non-Chalcedonian churches (i.e. the Oriental Orthodox, Coptic, Ethiopian, Syriac, Armenian, etc.) are in communion. There’s also, if memory serves, and Assyrian (or Ancient) Church of the East who’s status I’m not so familiar with, but they split off before the non-Chalcedonians. For what it’s worth, the Chalcedonian and Non-Chalcedonian churches have agreed the disagreements were primarily of a linguistic nature, but the inertia of 1400 years of separation is not quickly overcome.

Out of pastoral necessity, my Eastern Orthodox parish communes both Copts & Ethopians as they have no nearby parishes. No one is under the illusion we’ve healed this schism, but we also look to what is most beneficial for the salvation of all involved.

 

[mrsdizzyd]

I sincerely hope and pray that all schisms will be heal whether they are amongst the churches in the East or they are between the East and the West. The body of Christ should be one here on earth.

 

[ziapueblo]

It takes two to tango! :dancer:t3:

The Orthodox Churches are “True” particular Churches and “Sister“ Churches with apostolic succession and the Eucharist. The Catholic Church teaches this.

ZP

 

[adamhovey1988]

Because I can have historic orthodoxy (with full communion with the Pope) and Byzantine worship by being Catholic. I have a lot of respect for the Holy Orthodox Church, but, I can not give my assent to lack of unity, (Especially with what happened recently with Constantinople, Russia,and Ukraine)

 

[ziapueblo]

I couldn’t make it make sense to trade Protestant disunity for Orthodox disunity.

Like what was said earlier, the Orthodox are united in faith. The canonical Orthodox Bishops in the US still include the Russian Orthodox Church as well as Churches under the EP. When Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America was enthroned representatives of the MP were there.

The MP broke Eucharistic communion with the EP but not the other way around by the way. Greeks are allowed to communion in a Russian Church although the Russian will probably not commune them. I agree this is sad but it is an age old way of dealing with things. It happened between Rome and Constantinople several times during the first millennium.

ZP