ziapueblo
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What do Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics agree on?
Many Catholics believe our churches are closer in beliefs and practice. To an extent, this is true, because we certainly share more in common with one another than we do with the Protestant world. However, there are several differences between our churches, and those inquiring into either of them deserve to know what those differences are."
Differences between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians:
- The first 7 Ecumenical Councils
- Christ's divine and human nature
- Apostolic succession
- Bishops, presbyters, deacons and their ministries
- The broad structure of the visible Church
- Invocation of the saints
- Honor due to the Blessed Virgin Mary as Theotokos
- Acceptance of the 7 sacraments (although the Orthodox doesn't put a limit on the number of sacramnets)
- Confession in the presence of a presbyter
- Use of icons in worship
- Celebration of the Eucharist and affirmation of its sacrificial nature as identical with the sacrifice of Christ
- The Eucharistic bread and wine becoming the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ
Many Catholics believe our churches are closer in beliefs and practice. To an extent, this is true, because we certainly share more in common with one another than we do with the Protestant world. However, there are several differences between our churches, and those inquiring into either of them deserve to know what those differences are."
Differences between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians:
- Development of doctrine
- The catechism of the Catholic Church states in paragraph 94 that the Holy Spirit causes, "the understanding of both the realities and the words of the heritage of the faith is able to grow in the life of the Church.” As Orthodox we would see the Immaculate Conception or Papal infallibility as developments of doctrine.
- The Orthodox Church practices the development of the expression of doctrine. When the early Church declared a dogma, it's purpose was to respond to a heresy at the time. "Orthodox dogma never claims to expound the whole truth about anything. Instead, it only delineates the borders of the mystery, which God Himself revealed to us in the way He chose to reveal it."
- Liturgical reform
- I am not saying that the Orthodox Church has not has not gone through changes in the Liturgy. It has, which can be seen in the liturgical manuscripts. I am also not saying that Vatican II is the reason for bad Liturgy in some Catholic Churches. However, as Orthodox Christians, if we were in communion with the Roman Catholic Church, we would want to go into a Roman Catholic Church, celebrate Mass, and feel at home. I have been to a NO Mass that stuck to the rubrics, which was a sung Mass with Gregorian chant, the priest facing the same direction as the people and the use of incense. But unfortunately, this is few and far between.
- Papal Supremacy (the BIG one)
- The Orthodox do not hold to the ideas that the Pope of Rome has immediate, supreme and universal jurisdiction over the entire Church.
- Papal infallibility
- This dogma of the Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Pope of Rome, when teaching on questions that have to do with faith and morals, due to his office, cannot err.
- The filioque
- This added phrase to the Nicene Creed. Speaking about the Holy Spirit, "who proceeds from the Father and the Son (filioque).
- Absolute divine simplicity
- Created Grace
- The Immaculate Conception
- Purgatory
- Orthodox do believe in purification of the soul, however, the Orthodox have not defined it any further.