Sarah Mitchell
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. While both churches share many of the same beliefs, they disagree on several key theological issues, including the role of the Pope, the Immaculate Conception, the nature of Mary's passing, the use of leavened bread in the Eucharist, and the Filioque Controversy. These differences have resulted in distinct liturgical practices and spiritual lives for members of the two denominations. Despite their differences, both Catholics and Orthodox Christians worship the same Lord and share a common foundation in the apostles and their teachings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Liturgical changes | Catholics experienced significant changes in the late 1960s and early 1970s, while the Orthodox Church typically undergoes slow, subtle reforms. |
| Papal supremacy | Catholics attribute "full, supreme, and universal power" to the Pope, with the ability to define doctrine and make infallible statements. The Orthodox Church rejects this primacy, viewing the Pope as "first among equals" without effective power over other churches. |
| Augustine's teachings | The Catholic Church incorporates Augustine's teachings, including Platonic mysticism, which the Eastern Orthodox Church rejects and considers pagan mysticism. |
| Essence-energies distinction | Eastern Orthodox theologians regard this distinction as real, while some Western theologians see it as introducing an inadmissible division within God. |
| Salvation | Catholics and Orthodox Christians generally affirm the virgin birth but diverge on the concept of perpetual virginity, with Catholics believing in the Immaculate Conception of Mary. |
| Nature of baptism | Both denominations value the teachings of the Church fathers but differ on the role of tradition, with Catholics and Orthodox Christians elevating tradition to be on par with scripture. |
| Eucharist | Both churches believe in the Eucharist as the body and blood of Christ, but they differ in their approaches, with Catholics using unleavened bread and a specific set of prayers, while the Orthodox use leavened bread and slightly different rituals. |
| Schism | The Catholic and Orthodox Churches have been in official schism since the East-West Schism of 1054 due to historical, linguistic, and theological differences. |
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What You'll Learn
The Pope's authority
The Eastern Orthodox Church, on the other hand, has never accepted the Pope as the de jure leader of the entire Church. They regard the Bishop of Rome as "first among equals", without effective power over other churches. They believe that all bishops are equal "as Peter", and that every church under every bishop is fully complete. The Orthodox Church teaches that the twelve apostles were completely equal among themselves in terms of dignity, authority, and grace. While the See of Rome had primacy, it was a position of honour rather than power or magisterial authority.
The schism between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church occurred in 1054 due to historical, linguistic, and theological differences. The Eastern Church and the Western Church used Greek and Latin, respectively, as their primary languages, and translations did not always correspond exactly. The Eastern Orthodox Church also rejected the Catholic Church's teachings on the filioque clause and the papal primacy and infallibility. The two churches have since experienced different liturgical changes, with the Catholic Church undergoing more significant reforms in the late 1960s and early 1970s compared to the slower and more subtle changes in the Orthodox Church.
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The Immaculate Conception
The Eastern Orthodox Church holds that "Mary is conceived by her parents as we are all conceived". Church historian Frederick Holweck writes that Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Cyril of Jerusalem developed the idea of Mary as the New Eve, drawing a comparison to Eve before the Fall – that is, not subject to original sin. This idea of Mary's purity and immaculateness was affirmed by Severus, Bishop of Antioch, and extended by John Damascene, who suggested that Mary's parents were purified by the Holy Spirit during her generation.
The teaching on the Immaculate Conception among Oriental Orthodoxy varies: the Coptic Orthodox Church and the Syriac Orthodox Church oppose it, while the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church and Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church accept it.
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The Eucharist
The Catholic Church believes in transubstantiation, that the bread and wine become the literal body and blood of Christ when the priest says, "this is my body". The Orthodox disagree, believing that the change takes place during prayer. They do not believe in transubstantiation, instead, they view the Eucharist as a mystery. While the bread and wine remain bread and wine, Christ is invisibly present in them. This is similar to how "red-hot iron becomes fire, and just as the Lord Jesus Christ is simultaneously God and man".
The Orthodox Church uses leavened bread, while Catholics use unleavened bread. The frequency of communion also differs, with the Orthodox partaking in the Eucharist weekly, while Catholics do so daily. The Orthodox also have a stricter schedule of fasting and confession before partaking in the Eucharist.
Despite these differences, there is a desire for unity among some members of both groups, who wish to see the Orthodox and Catholic Churches reunite.
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The Filioque Controversy
The controversy centres around the question of whether the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone or from both the Father and the Son. The Western Church, including the Catholic Church, commonly uses a version of the Nicene Creed with the addition of "Filioque", indicating that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. This addition was made to the Creed in the late 6th century by some Latin Churches. However, the Eastern Orthodox Church maintains that the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father, and that adding "and the Son" is a departure from true faith.
The controversy over the Filioque clause is not just a matter of theology but also involves questions of authority and power within the Church. The Pope's approval of the insertion of "Filioque" into the Nicene Creed in the 11th century became linked to the dispute over his authority to define orthodox doctrine and his primacy within the Church. The disagreement over the Filioque clause contributed to the East-West Schism of 1054, which formally divided the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.
While there have been attempts to resolve the conflict, the two churches have not reached an agreement on the Filioque clause. Some Eastern Orthodox accept the expression "from the Father through the Son", which led to a brief reunion with the Catholic Church in 1439 at the Council of Florence. However, this union was short-lived, as the Eastern Orthodox withdrew from the Church again in the 1450s due to pressure from the Muslims who had conquered them.
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The Virgin Birth
Catholics believe in the doctrine of "original sin", which states that Adam and Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden burdened humanity with a sinful nature. They teach that Mary was born without original sin due to a special act of God, known as the "immaculate conception". This doctrine is rejected by Orthodox Christians, who do not believe in the concept of original sin. However, both Catholics and Orthodox Christians agree that Mary lived a sinless life.
Orthodox Christians view Mary as the "Theotokos," or "God-bearer," and see her role as the mother of the savior. They believe that Mary remained a virgin after giving birth to Jesus and that she did not die but went directly to heaven. While they venerate and honor Mary, they do not worship her and do not believe she was born without sin.
Catholics, on the other hand, refer to Mary as "Co-Redemptrix" with Christ and as a mediator between humanity and God. They have many prayers and rituals that honor Mary, such as the popular Rosary prayer. They also celebrate the Feast of the Assumption, which commemorates their belief that Mary ascended directly into heaven.
The differences in the veneration of Mary between Catholics and Orthodox Christians can be observed in their respective depictions of her. In Orthodox icons, Mary is almost always depicted with Jesus, while Catholic traditions often display images of Mary without her son.
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Frequently asked questions
Both Catholics and Orthodox Christians share many of the same beliefs, but they have different ways of practising them. They agree on the importance of scripture and tradition, and they share views on the Eucharist, but disagree on which traditions to follow.
No, they do not. Catholics believe in the Immaculate Conception, that Mary was conceived without original sin and remained sinless throughout her life. The Orthodox Church rejects this, believing that only Christ was born without sin.
The Orthodox Church does not recognise the Pope's authority. They believe in the conciliar nature of the Church, where all bishops are equal in authority. Catholics, on the other hand, believe in the Pope's primacy and infallibility.
Yes, there are several. The Orthodox Church does not believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation, and they use leavened bread in the Eucharist. They also have different views on salvation and the nature of baptism.
The East-West Schism of 1054 caused the official split between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. This was due to historical and linguistic differences, as well as theological disagreements.
