Ethan Walker
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have been officially divided since the East-West Schism of 1054, caused by historical, linguistic, and theological differences. The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself both orthodox and catholic, deriving its doctrine of Catholicity from the Nicene Creed, referring to the universality of the Christian Church centred around Christ. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, is centred in Rome, with the Pope as its head, exercising full, supreme, and universal power. While the Eastern Orthodox Church recognises its commonalities with the Catholic Church, it does not share a complete union, particularly regarding the primacy of the Pope, which is a primary cause of the schism. The two churches also differ in their beliefs and practices, such as the Eucharist, the age of confirmation, and the ordination of married men. Despite the differences, recent decades have seen a renewal of ecumenical dialogue, with efforts towards reconciliation and healing the rift between the two Christian communions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of schism | The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have been in a state of official schism since the East-West Schism of 1054. |
| Reason for schism | The schism was caused by historical, linguistic, and theological differences. |
| Theological differences | The main theological differences are the papal primacy and the filioque clause. |
| Other differences | The age of confirmation and holy communion, the Eucharist, and the sacrament of holy orders. |
| Catholic Church's view of "ecclesial community" | The Catholic Church uses the term "Church" for itself and the Orthodox Church, and "ecclesial community" for Protestants. |
| Eastern Orthodox view of catholicity | The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself to be both orthodox and catholic, with catholicity referring to the universality of the Christian Church, centred around Christ. |
| Eastern Orthodox view of primacy | The Eastern Orthodox no longer recognize the primacy of the Pope of Rome, instead considering the patriarch of Constantinople as "first among equals". |
| Recent developments | Recent decades have seen a renewal of the ecumenical spirit and dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself catholic
- The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are in official schism
- The Eastern Orthodox Church does not recognise the primacy of the Pope
- The Catholic Church makes a distinction between full and partial communion
- The two churches have different views on transubstantiation
The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself catholic
The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself to be both orthodox and catholic. The term "catholicity" is used to describe the universality of the Christian Church, centred around Christ. The Eastern Orthodox notion of catholicity is not centred around any singular see, unlike the Catholic Church, which has one earthly centre. The Eastern Orthodox Church sees catholicity in terms of complete union in communion and faith with the Church throughout all time.
The Catholic Church makes a distinction between full and partial communion. Full communion exists when there is only one Church, whereas partial communion exists when some elements of Christian faith are shared, but complete unity is lacking. The Catholic Church considers itself to be in partial communion with the Eastern Orthodox Church, as there are some elements of Christian faith that are held in common.
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have been in a state of official schism since the East-West Schism of 1054. This schism was caused by historical, linguistic, and theological differences between the Western and Eastern churches. One of the main theological differences is the issue of papal primacy, or the authority of the Pope. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not recognize the primacy of the Pope of Rome, instead considering the Patriarch of Constantinople to be "first among equals".
Despite the differences between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, there have been efforts to heal the rift between the two communions. Pope John Paul II, for example, emphasized his respect for Eastern theology and considered the differences between Eastern and Western theology to be complementary rather than contradictory.
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The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are in official schism
The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself both orthodox and catholic, deriving its doctrine of Catholicity from the Nicene Creed. This notion of Catholicity is not centred around a singular see, unlike the Catholic Church, which has one earthly centre. The Eastern Orthodox Church does not recognise the primacy of the Pope of Rome, instead considering the Patriarch of Constantinople as "first among equals".
The Catholic Church attributes "full, supreme, and universal power" to the Pope, a power that is also attributed to the body of bishops united with him. This difference in understanding the authority of the Pope is a primary cause of the schism. The Eastern Orthodox Church sees catholicity in terms of complete union in communion and faith, and this sharing remains incomplete when not fully shared.
There are also differences in practices between the two churches. For example, the age of confirmation and holy communion varies, with Orthodox infants receiving chrismation and holy communion immediately after baptism, while Catholic children receive their first communion and confirmation from the age of seven. With regard to the Eucharist, both churches believe in the real presence but differ on transubstantiation. The Orthodox Church holds that it is not the words of institution that change the substance, but the epiclesis. The communion bread also varies, with the Orthodox Church using leavened bread and the Catholic Church using unleavened bread.
Despite the differences, there is a degree of communion between the two churches, and recent decades have seen a renewal of the ecumenical spirit and dialogue. The Catholic Church makes a distinction between full and partial communion, and while there is not full communion with the Eastern Orthodox Church, there is a level of partial communion due to the common elements of Christian faith that are held.
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The Eastern Orthodox Church does not recognise the primacy of the Pope
The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself to be both orthodox and catholic, deriving its doctrine of Catholicity from the Nicene Creed. However, the Eastern Orthodox Church does not recognise the primacy of the Pope of Rome, instead viewing the patriarch of Constantinople as "first among equals". This schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church occurred due to differing interpretations of the role of the Pope, with the Catholic Church asserting the Pope's primacy and infallibility, while the Eastern Orthodox Church rejects these claims.
The Catholic Church holds that the Pope, as the successor of the Apostle Peter, is the head of the whole Church and the vicar of Christ on Earth. He is believed to be infallible when speaking ex cathedra, or officially, and his voice in matters of faith is considered obligatory for all members of the Catholic Church. This teaching on papal supremacy arose in the ninth century and was formalised as dogma in 1870 at the First Vatican Council, despite opposition from some members of the Catholic Church.
In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox Church does not view the Pope as the supreme earthly authority. While they acknowledge the existence of a bishop of Rome and his primacy of honour, they dispute the extent of his authority over other bishops. The Eastern Orthodox Church maintains that each bishop has the right to manage affairs within their local diocese, and they consider full communion an essential condition for the common sharing of the Eucharist.
The Eastern Orthodox Church's rejection of papal primacy stems from their interpretation of the early Church. They argue that the See of Rome was founded by both Peter and Paul, and thus the primacy of Rome was based on honour rather than power or magisterial authority. They also point to the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which ruled on the faith of a pope and expelled him from the church, as evidence that an Ecumenical Council can supersede papal authority.
The schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church has led to a divide between these Christian communities. While the Eastern Orthodox Church recognises its shared beliefs and practices with the Catholic Church, it does not consider itself to be in full communion with the Catholic Church due to their differing views on the role of the Pope. Efforts have been made to heal the rift and restore full communion between the two churches, but the Eastern Orthodox Church's continued rejection of papal primacy remains a significant obstacle.
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The Catholic Church makes a distinction between full and partial communion
The Catholic Church differentiates between full and partial communion. When full communion exists, there is only one Church. However, partial communion exists when some aspects of the Christian faith are shared, but complete unity on fundamental beliefs is lacking. This distinction is expressed in documents such as Unitatis redintegratio, the Second Vatican Council's decree on ecumenism, which acknowledges that "quite large communities came to be separated from full communion with the Catholic Church".
The Catholic Church considers all validly baptized Christians to be "in the Church", even if they are not members of the Catholic Church. Therefore, to the degree that a Christian group affirms the truths of the faith, it can be regarded as "in communion" with the Catholic Church. Consequently, a validly baptized Christian who becomes Catholic is seen as moving from partial to full communion. This viewpoint has significant implications for several other considerations, and understanding the distinction between partial and full communion can clarify many misunderstandings.
The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself both orthodox and catholic, deriving its doctrine of Catholicity from the Nicene Creed. The term "Catholicity of the Church" is used in its original sense, designating the universality of the Christian Church, centred around Christ. The Eastern Orthodox notion of catholicity is not centred around any singular authority, unlike the Catholic Church, which has one earthly centre. Due to the influence of the Catholic Church in the West, the words "Catholic" and "Catholicity" often refer specifically to that church. However, the broader dictionary definition implies breadth and universality, reflecting a comprehensive scope.
The Eastern Orthodox Church does not recognise the primacy of the Pope in Rome, instead considering the patriarch of Constantinople as "first among equals". The Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches share liturgical and cultural traditions, but they are distinct. Eastern-rite Catholics are part of the Catholic Church, despite differences in custom and liturgical practice from Western Catholics. While Eastern Orthodox Christians have much in common with Catholics, they are still in schism, having split from the legitimate authority of the Pope, and therefore are not Catholics.
In conclusion, the Catholic Church's distinction between full and partial communion recognises that validly baptized Christians can hold some elements of the Christian faith in common while lacking complete unity on essential beliefs. This understanding allows for a more nuanced perspective on the relationship between the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations, such as the Eastern Orthodox Church, which shares many similarities with Catholicism but maintains its distinct identity and autonomy.
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The two churches have different views on transubstantiation
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church are distinct from each other. While the two churches share liturgical and cultural traditions, the Eastern Orthodox Church is in schism with the Catholic Church, meaning that it has split off from the legitimate authority of the pope.
The Eastern Orthodox Church does not believe in transubstantiation in the same way as the Catholic Church. While the Eastern Orthodox Church does believe that the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, it does not believe that the change occurs at a specific moment in time. Instead, it is taught that this change takes place anywhere between the Proskomedia (the Liturgy of Preparation) and the Epiklesis, or invocation of the Holy Spirit. The Eastern Orthodox Church considers transubstantiation a Mystery, leaving the specifics of the transformation open.
The Catholic Church, on the other hand, has a more specific doctrine of transubstantiation, formulated after the Great Schism of 1054. This doctrine states that the change occurs at the exact moment of the priest's invocation of the Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church also holds that the "accidents" (physical traits, including chemical properties) of the bread and wine remain, while the Eastern Orthodox Church does not make a clear distinction between the substances, believing that the bread, water, and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ at the invocation of the Holy Spirit.
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Frequently asked questions
The Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have been in a state of official schism from one another since the East-West Schism of 1054. The main theological differences between the two churches are the papal primacy and the filioque clause.
The Catholic Church uses the term "ecclesial community" for Protestants. The term "ecclesial community" can also refer to "ecclesial movements" (lay associations of the faith).
The Catholic Church makes a distinction between full and partial communion. Full communion involves completeness of those bonds of communion – faith, sacraments, and pastoral governance. The Orthodox Church has a similar understanding of what full communion means as the Catholic Church.
Both the Orthodox and Catholic Churches believe in the real presence but differ on transubstantiation. The Orthodox Church holds that it is not the words of institution that change the substance into the Body and Blood, but the epiclesis.
The age of confirmation and holy communion vary between the two churches. Orthodox infants receive chrismation and holy communion immediately after baptism, while Catholic children receive their first communion and confirmation from the age of 7.
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