Rachel Evans
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 does not accept the authority of the Pope, does not believe in Purgatory, and disputes the addition of the filioque clause to the Latin Nicene Creed. The two churches also differ in worship, clergy, and spirituality, with the Orthodox Church emphasising monasticism, asceticism, and rigorous fasting. While the Catholic Church believes in the development of doctrine over time, the Orthodox Church asserts that new dogmas have been introduced, diverging from the early Church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for schism | Historical, linguistic, and theological differences |
| Date of schism | 1054 |
| Theological differences | Papal primacy, Filioque clause, neo-Palamism, theosis |
| Liturgy | Catholics use unleavened bread in Eucharist, Orthodox use leavened bread |
| Worship | Orthodox do not use instruments in worship |
| Clergy | Orthodox priests can be married |
| Spirituality | Catholics believe in absolute divine simplicity, Orthodox believe in divine simplicity but not in absolute form |
| Monasticism | More prominent in Orthodoxy |
| Fasting | Orthodox fasting is longer and more rigorous |
| Crossing | Orthodox cross from right to left shoulder, Catholics cross from left to right |
| Canon | Orthodox OT canon based on ancient translation of OT to Greek in 3rd century BC |
| Beliefs | Catholics believe in Purgatory, Orthodox do not |
| Authority | Catholics recognise the authority of the Pope, Orthodox do not |
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What You'll Learn
- The Eastern Orthodox Church does not accept the authority of the Pope
- The Eastern Orthodox Church does not believe in Purgatory
- The Eastern Orthodox Church uses leavened bread in the Eucharist
- The Eastern Orthodox Church does not believe in transubstantiation
- The Eastern Orthodox Church has not experienced the same liturgical changes as the Catholic Church
The Eastern Orthodox Church does not accept the authority of the Pope
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have been officially divided since the East-West Schism of 1054, which was caused by historical, linguistic, and theological differences. One of the primary theological differences between the two churches is the question of papal primacy, or the authority of the Pope.
The Catholic Church attributes "full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church" to the Pope, a power that is also attributed to the body of bishops united with the Pope. In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox Church understands the primacy of the Bishop of Rome to be "first among equals", without effective power over other churches. While the Eastern Orthodox Church does accept the primacy of the Bishop of Rome at a universal level, it does not accept the Pope's authority over other churches or his power to exercise primacy unilaterally. This difference in understanding has been a major source of conflict between the two churches and has proven to be an obstacle to reunification attempts.
The Eastern Orthodox Church's view of the Pope's primacy is influenced by its understanding of the nature and structure of the Church. The Orthodox Church sees the Church as a federation of local churches, each with its own authority and autonomy. In this understanding, the Pope is not seen as the head of the Church but as the first among equals. On the other hand, the Catholic Church views the Church as an organic communion, with the Pope, as the successor of Peter, being an essential component. This difference in ecclesiology, or the understanding of the nature and structure of the Church, is a key factor in the disagreement over papal primacy.
The Eastern Orthodox Church's rejection of papal authority is also related to its belief that the Catholic Church has introduced new dogmas over the years that are not compatible with traditional doctrine. The Orthodox Church asserts that the Catholic Church has introduced new dogmas, such as the immaculate conception and papal infallibility, that were not present in previous centuries. This belief that the Catholic Church has deviated from traditional doctrine further contributes to the Eastern Orthodox Church's refusal to accept the authority of the Pope.
Additionally, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have different liturgical practices and spiritual traditions, which have evolved separately over the centuries. The Eastern Orthodox Church has experienced slower and more subtle reforms compared to the significant changes introduced by the Second Vatican Council in Catholic liturgical life. These differences in worship and spiritual practice further emphasize the distinct nature of the two churches and the Eastern Orthodox Church's independence from papal authority.
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The Eastern Orthodox Church does not believe in Purgatory
In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox Church teaches that after death, the soul undergoes judgement after 40 days and is then sent to either Heaven or Hell. This belief is based on the understanding that death is an unnatural state, as man was created in the image of God, and that a disembodied soul is not a complete human being. The Eastern Orthodox Church also holds that the soul's final destination is determined by the individual's actions and faith during their lifetime, rather than by a period of purification after death.
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have had a long history of theological differences, dating back to the East-West Schism of 1054. One significant difference is their understanding of the Pope's authority, or "papal primacy". The Catholic Church attributes "full, supreme, and universal power" to the Pope, while the Eastern Orthodox Church considers him as "first among equals", without effective power over other churches.
Another difference lies in their interpretation of the Holy Spirit and the procession of the Holy Spirit. The Eastern Orthodox Church holds that the Holy Spirit proceeds "out of only the Father", while the Catholic Church includes the Son in the procession, believing that everything the Son has is from the Father. Additionally, the Eastern Orthodox Church emphasizes the importance of experiencing God directly and understanding the distinction between God's essence and energies.
Furthermore, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church differ in their liturgical practices. The Eastern Orthodox Church uses leavened bread and offers both bread and wine during the Eucharist, while the Catholic Church uses unleavened bread and only offers bread. The Eastern Orthodox Church also practices a more rigorous and prolonged fasting period compared to the Catholic Church.
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The Eastern Orthodox Church uses leavened bread in the Eucharist
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have been in a state of official schism since the East-West Schism of 1054. This was caused by historical and linguistic differences, which led to theological differences between the two churches. One of the key theological differences is the Catholic Church's belief in the primacy of the Pope, or "papal primacy". The Eastern Orthodox Church, on the other hand, views the Bishop of Rome as "first among equals", without effective power over other churches. This difference in understanding has been a major source of conflict between the two churches.
With regard to the Eucharist, the Eastern Orthodox Church uses leavened bread, while the Catholic Church uses unleavened bread. The use of leavened bread in the Eastern Orthodox Church is based on ancient apostolic practice and the understanding that leavened bread was used in the first-fruit sacrifice of the Old Testament. The Orthodox Church does not focus on recreating the exact type of bread used by Christ at the Last Supper but rather on participating in an event beyond time and space. The Eucharist is about the Resurrection and the Crucifixion, and leavened bread is used to symbolize Christ within the Church.
The Orthodox Church holds that the epiclesis, rather than the words of institution, changes the substance into the Body and Blood during the Eucharist. In addition, the Orthodox Church allows its priests to be married, practices monasticism and asceticism, and has longer and more rigorous fasting periods compared to the Catholic Church.
While there are differences between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, they also share many similarities, and both churches believe in the real presence in the Eucharist. The Eastern Orthodox Church has experienced slower and more subtle liturgical changes compared to the significant revisions in the Catholic Church in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
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The Eastern Orthodox Church does not believe in transubstantiation
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church have been officially split since the East-West Schism of 1054. This schism was caused by historical, linguistic, and theological differences. One of the key theological differences between the two churches is their understanding of transubstantiation.
Transubstantiation is the doctrine that, during the Eucharist, the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ. The Catholic Church holds that this transformation occurs at the exact moment of the priest's invocation of the Holy Spirit. This is known as the doctrine of transubstantiation.
The Eastern Orthodox Church, on the other hand, does not have a uniform belief regarding transubstantiation. Some members of the Eastern Orthodox Church accept transubstantiation as a valid explanation for the change that occurs during the Eucharist, while others reject it. They believe that the Eucharist is the real, literal body and blood of Christ, but they do not believe in defining the manner in which this change occurs. They see it as a mystery that cannot be fully understood by humans. This view is reflected in the words of St. Philaret of Moscow in the 19th century: "transubstantiation is not a reference to the change itself—since none can possibly understand exactly how/when this takes place—but that it is merely a reference to our Lord being 'truly, really, and substantially' present in the Eucharist."
The Eastern Orthodox Church emphasizes the "real presence" of Christ in the Eucharist, but does not provide a mechanical description of how this occurs. They see the change as a mystery, and focus on the reality of the transformation rather than the specifics of how it happens. This is in contrast to the Catholic Church, which has a more detailed and specific doctrine surrounding transubstantiation.
The difference in approaches to transubstantiation between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church highlights their differing approaches to doctrine and theology. The Eastern Orthodox Church tends to emphasize mystery and spiritual experience, while the Catholic Church has a more scholastic and prescribed approach to theological concepts.
In summary, while both the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the Eastern Orthodox Church does not believe in transubstantiation as a specific doctrine. They see the change as a mystery that cannot be fully understood or explained by humans. This difference in belief reflects the broader theological and philosophical differences between the two churches.
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The Eastern Orthodox Church has not experienced the same liturgical changes as the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church have been in a state of official schism since the East-West Schism of 1054. This was caused by historical and linguistic differences, which led to theological differences. The Eastern Orthodox Church has not experienced the same liturgical changes as the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church has seen significant changes in its liturgical life over the last 70 to 80 years. The Second Vatican Council introduced contemporary revisions to the worship life of the average Roman Catholic. The structure and language of the mass changed, along with other aspects of worship. In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox Church has not experienced such drastic reforms. Any changes that have occurred have been subtle and gradual over centuries.
The Eastern Orthodox Church views the Bishop of Rome as 'first among equals', without effective power over other churches. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, attributes to the Pope "full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church". This difference in understanding the primacy of the Bishop of Rome has been a major source of conflict between the two churches.
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church also differ in their doctrines. The Catholic Church believes that its understanding of doctrine can grow and develop over time, while the Eastern Orthodox Church asserts that new dogmas have been introduced by Rome, which are not "backwards compatible".
In addition to these theological differences, there are also variations in worship practices. For example, the Eastern Orthodox use leavened bread in the Eucharist, while the Roman Church changed to unleavened bread before the schism. The Eastern Orthodox receive both bread and wine in the Eucharist, while Catholics receive only bread.
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Frequently asked questions
The Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches have been in a state of official schism from one another since the East-West Schism of 1054. The primary cause of this schism was the question of papal primacy, or the authority of the Pope, which is accepted by Catholics but rejected by the Eastern Orthodox.
The Eastern Orthodox Church does not believe in Purgatory, whereas Catholics do. The Eastern Orthodox also believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father, whereas Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. Additionally, the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches have different liturgical practices, such as the use of leavened bread in the Eucharist by the Eastern Orthodox, and the use of only bread by Catholics.
The Catholic Church believes that its understanding of doctrine can develop over time, growing from the "seed" that existed in the early Church. In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox Church asserts that the Catholic Church has introduced new dogmas over the years that are not "backwards compatible".
The divide between the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches is primarily ecclesiological, relating to their differing perceptions of the nature and structure of the Church. The Eastern Orthodox view the Church as a federation of local churches, while Catholics see it as an organic communion with the Pope as an essential component.
Despite their differences, the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches share many similarities. They have similar views on the Eucharist and both believe in the real presence of God. They also have a mutual cultural and liturgical tradition, especially between Eastern-rite Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox.
