It may come as a surprise for you to hear this, but the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church are very much alike. Differences in custom and practice, such as how to administer the Eucharist, lie not between Catholic and Orthodox churches but between the Western and Eastern Churches in general. Whereas Catholic churches often include statues and carved or otherwise 3-dimensionally shaped crucifixes, within the Orthodox tradition religious imagery is carefully controlled and for the most part is produced on a flat surface using paint or something similar. Rejects the Filioque out right, as the original text does not include “and the Son.”. Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy The Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism are organized using a hierarchical system. Copyright © 2021 | ScriptureCatholic.com | All rights reserved, Which Countries are Prominently Orthodox Catholic, What do Catholics and the Orthodox Have in Common. It serves an important purpose within the Orthodox system by marking off the boundary between the common area and the sanctuary. Catholics use the same ‘New’ Roman Catholic calendar that the rest of the world uses. Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox venerate the same god, Jesus Christ, considered as the Messiah, and relies on the same sacred book, the Bible. And like Roman Catholicism, Orthodoxy regards the Church as the authoritative interpreter of Scripture (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation 2.10; Ware, The Orthodox Church, 199–200). The sanctuary is sometimes compared to the “Holy of Holies” in the Jewish Temple. Churches of the Eastern Orthodox pay homage to icons, while Roman Catholic ones have statues. The two biggest differences between the Catholic faith and the Eastern Orthodox faith, boils down to two main disputes: Here are a few minor differences for your convenience: who proceeds from the Father and the Son. When one walks into an Eastern Orthodox church, one of the first things a non-Orthodox person will notice is a large screen or iconostasis at the front of the nave or auditorium. I know that Orthodox christians split from catholicism around 500 years before the Reformation and don’t have the … We have tried to state what might be called the 'representative' view of each tradition, though there are obviously differing views within each of them e.g. One feels of unifying, the other of scrutinizing. Moreover, the Pope has supreme authority over all churches and can, for example, contradict or usurp the power of a lower ranking church leader (e.g., a priest, bishop or cardinal). This means that Catholic and Orthodox Easter could be celebrated up to five weeks apart. Over time the cultural and geopolitical differences between the two would result in disputes that only strained their relations further, adding to the distrust, resentment and hostilities both sides had for one another. The Filioque Controversy – in which the text of the Nicene Creed was altered during the 6th century, to include “and the Son”. However, within Orthodoxy Scripture is just one of many religious authorities. These areas have to do with the Lord’s Supper, the use of images or icons, and religious authority. Much less familiar to most westerners is the other main branch of non-Protestant Christianity—Eastern Orthodoxy. The motto of the Catholic Church is “The faith is the same, but we express it differently.” In the following article we will take a closer look at the differences between the two branches of the Catholic Church – the Byzantine Catholic Church and the Roman Catholic … Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit comes from both the Father and the Son in the Holy Trinity. Many Orthodox Churches now use the same modern calendar as the rest of the world making most of their feasts and seasons coincide with Catholics. Differences between Orthodox and Catholic Christmas start with the designated day of celebration. It is a means by which one enters into the sacrifice of Christ in some (rather mysterious) way. Roman Catholics priest cannot marry while Orthodox priests could marry prior to being ordained as priests. Marriage is seen as an unbreakable contract with God and the Church. McGuckin further explains the relationship between Scripture and tradition this way: “The Scriptures stand as far greater in moment, and richness, than any writing of the saints. Many of us have Roman Catholic friends, neighbors, and even family members. Both church traditions also make use of relics for similar purposes. Eastern Orthodox Catholics and Roman Catholics are the result of what is known as the East-West Schism (or Great Schism) of 1054, when medieval Christianity split into two branches. The Filioque ; Purgatory ; Indulgences So I just made one myself: I know you said to keep it simple. But there is not a profound difference in order, and not a dissonance of quality, for it is the same Spirit who inspires his saints in each generation, and inspires in them the same mind of the self-same Lord…. ... Eastern Orthodox religions believe the Virgin Mary was a virtuous woman selected to be Jesus’ mother. 5. Roman Catholic theology teaches both uncreated grace (God) and created grace, which , when granted or conferred upon the believer, gives him “merit”. Catholic–Orthodox ecclesiastical differences are differences between the organizational structure and governance of the Eastern Orthodox Church and that of the Catholic Church. The Orthodox feel of redemption, mysticism and are geared toward a more realistic mind set about every day life, including marriage, personal relations and formalities. The Sacrifice and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many differences exist between Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism. the diverse range … Divorce is generally granted in cases of adultery, though there can be other exceptions. Within the Roman Catholic Church, Scripture and tradition are held up as twin sources of revelation or authority (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation 9–10). Both faiths have a deep and rich history of theological and scholarly traditions, that have been passed down from one generation to the next. The Eastern Orthodox Catholics believe that our salvation can be found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Pope is recognized as holding a position of honor but no true authority. Andrew Stephen Damick lists 5 differences between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church – can you think of any more? This alone sets up entirely different undertones and social interactions between the clergy and the parishioners. The Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic, are two variations of the same religion, that due to some disagreements over certain ideas and religious teachings leads to the great Schism in 1054 AD. After scouring the internet I was surprised to find not a single decent flowchart demonstrating a modern perspective of the different churches. And many believers have been saved out of Roman Catholicism. Any hope of the two Churches reuniting were quashed in 1204 following the sacking of Constantinople. A place where we can atone for any venial sins we may not have repented at the time of our death. Or perhaps it would be better to say that tradition is the real source of religious authority within Orthodoxy, and Scripture is viewed as one part of that tradition. On the other hand, both Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches view the Lord’s Supper as a Eucharist, a sacrament, and a sacrifice. This gives the following countries the highest population of Eastern Orthodox Catholics: Aside from the cultural differences that appear region to region, there is very little difference in the way Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Catholics practice their faiths. Most Catholics tend to kneel in during prayers. 2. In the West, most Protestants are at least somewhat familiar with Roman Catholicism. ... Roman Catholics like the Poles follow the Gregorian Calendar. The two biggest differences between the Catholic faith and the Eastern Orthodox faith, boils down to two main disputes: The Papal’s Supremacy and the use of a centralized spiritual authority. The existence of an intermediate state between heaven and hell is recognized. The Eastern Orthodox Church tolerates a greater independence, with a number of self-governing churches that form a council much like the Seven Ecumenical Councils, deciding on what is best for their members for themselves. 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