Sarah Mitchell
Byzantine Catholics are followers of Jesus Christ, who believe that he is the Son of the Living God and that he assumed human nature to save humanity from sin. The Byzantine Catholic Church traces its foundation to the 12 Apostles of Christ and shares the inheritance of the first Greek-speaking Christian communities of the Eastern Mediterranean world. The Byzantine Catholic Church is also referred to as the Eastern Catholic Church and is centred in Constantinople. While the Roman Catholic Church and the Byzantine Catholic Church share dogmatic and universally Catholic beliefs, they approach these beliefs from different angles. This means that converting from Roman Catholicism to Byzantine Catholicism involves adopting a new understanding of concepts like original sin, the makeup of the human person, and the afterlife.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Theology | Byzantine spirituality involves a different approach to theology, including concepts like original sin, the makeup of a human, and the afterlife. |
| Relationship with God | It requires consistent, long-term practice and experience of the liturgical year to develop a relationship with God. |
| Liturgy | Attendance at Divine Liturgy (the equivalent of Mass) every Sunday is expected. |
| Community | Small congregations can offer more personal time with the priest and fellow parishioners. |
| Misconceptions | The Byzantine church's minority status does not denote exclusivity. |
| Spiritual Heritage | The Byzantine Catholic Church traces its foundation to the 12 Apostles of Christ and the spiritual heritage of the Christian Church of the Byzantine Empire. |
| Orthodox Christians | Byzantine Catholics are Orthodox Christians who are in communion with the Church of Rome and Pope Francis. |
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What You'll Learn
Understand the differences between Roman and Byzantine spirituality
While Byzantine spirituality may seem to be cosmetically different from Roman spirituality, it involves a vastly different approach to theology. Some basic concepts that differ between the two include original sin, the makeup of the human person, and the afterlife. Byzantine spirituality also involves a different approach to developing a relationship with God, and it takes consistent, long-term practice as well as experience of the entire liturgical year to understand this spirituality well.
The Byzantine liturgy, or "Divine Liturgy", is more musical than the Roman Mass, and there is no "Low Mass" in the Byzantine patrimony. While musical instruments are not used, the liturgy involves a continual dialogue in song between the priest and the congregation. Throughout the Byzantine service, the priest faces the East, towards the altar, along with the people. Traditionally, Byzantine churches did not have pews, and the faithful milled around rather than being lined up in formation. Concelebration is encouraged, so the priests do not all face in one direction but surround the altar on multiple sides.
The Byzantine view of sin is more of a spiritual sickness from which to be healed, rather than instances of laws or rules being broken. As such, Byzantine prayer life is centred around praying for Christ's mercy and guidance. The most commonly used devotional or sacramental item is a prayer rope to recite the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
In terms of aesthetics, Byzantine churches are elaborately adorned with artwork, particularly figures of the saints. The sanctuary is separated from the congregation by an "iconostasis", a wall or screen covered with icons. Leavened bread is consecrated at a Byzantine Eucharist, and holy Communion is distributed under both species and administered by the priest with a spoon. Communicants are instructed not to let the spoon touch their mouth.
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Learn about the history of the Byzantine Catholic Church
The Byzantine Catholic Church shares in the inheritance of the first Greek-speaking Christian communities of the Eastern Mediterranean world, founded by the Apostles of Jesus Christ. The Eastern Roman or "Byzantine" Empire centred on Constantinople was a Christian empire that flourished for over 1,000 years and engendered a new and unique culture infused with Christianity. The Church based in Constantinople gradually came to have a pre-eminent influence in the Christian East, spreading a religious culture that was a synthesis and dynamic restatement of the existing strands of Eastern Christian culture that had been cultivated in the Greek-speaking world.
The Byzantine Catholic Church traces its foundation to the 12 Apostles of Christ, the companions of Jesus, from some 2,000 years ago. The spiritual heritage of the Byzantine Catholic Church matured in the Christian East during the period of the Byzantine Empire. This heritage includes the doctrines, liturgical practices, and underlying theology and spirituality that come from the Christian Church of the Byzantine Empire.
The Byzantine Rite is one of several Eastern rites recognised by and in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. Its origin can be traced to the ancient city of Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul), renamed Constantinople when the emperor Constantine relocated his capital city there from Rome in AD 330. Byzantine churches are adorned with icons, and the sanctuary is separated from the congregation by an iconostasis, a screen covered with icons. Leavened bread is used for the consecration of the body of Christ in the liturgy.
Most Eastern Catholic churches arose when a group within an ancient church in disagreement with the See of Rome returned to full communion with that see. Byzantine Catholics are Orthodox Christians who embrace full communion with the Church of Rome and its primate, Pope Francis, the successor of St. Peter, the first among the Apostles. From the First Millennium, Christians of the Byzantine tradition have referred to themselves as "Orthodox Christians".
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Attend Divine Liturgy regularly
If you are a Roman Catholic considering converting to Byzantine Catholicism, it is important to understand that Byzantine spirituality is not just cosmetically different from Roman spirituality. It involves a vastly different approach to theology and developing a relationship with God. It takes consistent, long-term practice and experience of the entire liturgical year to truly understand this form of spirituality.
Attending Divine Liturgy regularly is a crucial part of this. Divine Liturgy is the Byzantine equivalent of the Roman Catholic Mass. As a Byzantine Catholic, you should aim to attend every Sunday. This will help you to fulfil your Sunday obligation.
Attending Divine Liturgy will allow you to experience the unique culture of the Byzantine Catholic Church, which is infused with Christianity. The Byzantine Catholic Church is centred on Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. This church gradually gained influence in the Christian East, spreading a religious culture that was a synthesis and dynamic restatement of the existing strands of Eastern Christian culture in the Greek-speaking world.
By attending Divine Liturgy, you will be able to immerse yourself in the liturgical practices and theology of the Byzantine Catholic Church. You will learn about the underlying spirituality, which includes the belief that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, became human to save humanity from sin through his passion, death, resurrection, and ascension to Heaven. The Byzantine Catholic Church traces its foundation to the Apostles of Jesus Christ, who were his companions over 2000 years ago.
Through regular attendance at Divine Liturgy, you will be able to connect with other Byzantine Catholics and develop a sense of community. It is important to remember that, while the community may be welcoming, this should not be the sole reason for your conversion. The Byzantine Catholic Church is a spiritual community that welcomes all Christian peoples, regardless of ethnicity or nationality, who trace their spiritual roots to Constantinople.
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Recognise common misconceptions about the Byzantine Church
The Byzantine Catholic Church is one of 23 Eastern Catholic churches worldwide. It is in full communion with the bishop of Rome and recognises the pope as the head of the church. While the Byzantine Church shares many similarities with the Roman Catholic Church, there are also significant differences and misconceptions that people may encounter when considering joining the Byzantine Church.
One misconception is that Byzantine spirituality is only cosmetically different from Roman spirituality. However, this is not the case. Byzantine spirituality involves a vastly different approach to theology, including concepts like original sin, the makeup of the human person, and the afterlife. It also requires a different approach to developing a relationship with God, which takes consistent, long-term practice and experience of the liturgical year.
Another misconception is that the Byzantine Church is a holier place than the Roman Church. This idea stems from the perception that the Byzantine Church has more reverence in its Divine Liturgy than the Roman Mass. However, every rite approved by the Catholic Church is reverent, and the perceived difference may be due to the unique way in which the priest celebrates the Liturgy or simply because it is different from one's normal routine.
Additionally, there is a misconception that the Byzantine Church is free from the problems and sins that exist in other communities. While the Byzantine Church has a rich spiritual tradition, it is still made up of normal sinners, just like any other Catholic community.
Furthermore, people may mistake the close-knit nature of small Byzantine congregations for a solid community. While small parishes can offer more personal time with the priest and fellow parishioners, they can also have their share of disadvantages, including drama and conflicts that may be harder to avoid in a smaller setting.
It is important to recognise these misconceptions and understand the significant theological and spiritual differences between the Byzantine and Roman Catholic Churches before making an informed decision about joining the Byzantine Catholic Church.
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Understand the spiritual heritage of the Byzantine Catholic Church
The Byzantine Catholic Church is one of 23 Eastern Catholic churches worldwide. It is in full communion with the bishop of Rome and recognizes the pope as the visible head of the church. The origin of the Byzantine Catholic Church can be traced to the ancient city of Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul).
The spiritual heritage of the Byzantine Catholic Church is the same as that given by the Apostles, which matured in the Christian East during the Byzantine Empire. This heritage includes doctrines, liturgical practices, and underlying theology and spirituality, which come from the Christian Church of the Byzantine Empire. This heritage is shared among all Christian peoples, regardless of ethnicity or nationality, who trace their spiritual roots to the Great Church of Constantinople and the Byzantine religious culture that grew from that Church. From the First Millennium, Christians of the Byzantine tradition have referred to themselves as "Orthodox Christians". Byzantine Catholics are Orthodox Christians who embrace full communion with the Church of Rome and its primate, Pope Francis, the successor of St. Peter, the first among the Apostles.
The Byzantine Catholic Church shares in the inheritance of the first Greek-speaking Christian communities of the Eastern Mediterranean world, founded by the Apostles of Jesus Christ. As the Christian Church grew, each nation and culture that received the Gospel influenced the growth of the Church. Even at a relatively early stage in the history of the Church, two major heritages developed and remain today: the Eastern or "Greek" tradition and the Western or "Latin" tradition. The Church in the West had its principal center at the Imperial capital of Rome and is known today as the Roman Catholic Church. The Church in the East grew and developed from the Churches in Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria. These three Eastern centers shared a common language—Greek—and a similar mode of discourse, which formed the basis for the subsequent development of the Eastern Christian tradition.
The Byzantine Church, following the command of the Lord to 'let the little children come to me' (Mt 19:14), administers the Holy Mysteries of Baptism, Chrismation, and Eucharist to infants on the same day, so that they become full members of the Body of Christ, fully integrated into the Church. All three sacraments of initiation—baptism, first Communion, and confirmation—are administered in a single ceremony when either infants or adults are being received into the Byzantine Catholic Church. Priests in the Byzantine Catholic Church are permitted to be married.
Byzantine spirituality is not simply cosmetically different from Roman spirituality. It involves a vastly different approach to the theology that one has always known as a Roman, meaning one will have to learn a new understanding of some seemingly basic concepts like original sin, the makeup of the human person, and the afterlife. It also involves a vastly different approach to developing a relationship with the Lord, and it takes consistent, long-term practice, as well as experience of the entire liturgical year, to know this spirituality well enough—especially coming from Roman Catholicism—to make a sound decision about how God is calling one's heart.
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Frequently asked questions
The Byzantine Catholic Church is an Eastern Christian tradition with roots in the Greek-speaking Christian communities of the Eastern Mediterranean world, founded by the Apostles of Jesus Christ.
One misconception is that Byzantine spirituality is only cosmetically different from Roman spirituality. In reality, the two spiritualities have distinct approaches to theology, including concepts like original sin and the afterlife, and developing a relationship with God.
Yes, anyone can become a Byzantine Catholic. The Byzantine Catholic Church welcomes individuals from all nations and cultural backgrounds, and it is not an exclusive club.
Becoming a Byzantine Catholic involves a commitment to learning and practicing Byzantine spirituality, including attending Divine Liturgy (the equivalent of Mass) regularly and participating in the life of a Byzantine community.
You can find more information by visiting Byzantine Catholic websites, forums, and message boards, such as byzcath.org and catholicmom.com, where you can connect with other Byzantine Catholics and seek guidance.
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