Sarah Mitchell
The Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are two of the three major doctrinal and jurisdictional groups of Christianity, with both churches claiming to be the oldest and original Christian church. The Eastern Orthodox Church, also known as the Orthodox Catholic Church, claims that it is the continuation of the early church established by Jesus Christ, while the Catholic Church includes a variety of traditions such as the Byzantine, Antiochian, Coptic, Syrian, Ethiopian, and Armenian traditions, among others. The debate over which church is the oldest is complex, with arguments focusing on the translation of texts, the location of the churches, and the nature and divinity of Jesus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of origin | The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church were unified until the Great Schism of 1054. |
| Original name | The early Church was called both "Orthodox" and "Catholic" as early as AD 107. |
| Language | The Orthodox Church traditionally used Greek, the language in which the New Testament was written. The Catholic Church used Latin. |
| Location | The Orthodox Church is prominent in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The Catholic Church is based in Rome. |
| Membership | The Eastern Orthodox Church has approximately 230 million baptised members. The Catholic Church includes the Byzantine, Antiochian, Coptic, Syrian, Maronite, Ethiopian, Malankar, Armenian, Chaldean, and Roman and Gallican traditions. |
| Leadership | The Orthodox Church has no central authority but recognises the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as "first among equals". The Catholic Church is led by the Pope. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Syriac Church: The oldest continuous Christian community
- The Eastern Church: Older than the Coptic and Armenian churches
- The Greek language: The primary liturgical language of the church
- The Great Schism: The event that split the Catholic and Orthodox churches
- The Pope: The Catholic Church has a central authority, the Orthodox Church does not
The Syriac Church: The oldest continuous Christian community
The debate surrounding the oldest Christian church is a complex one, with several arguments for and against both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. While the Catholic Church is considered to be the "universal" church, with a wide range of traditions and a long history, the Orthodox Church, particularly the Eastern Orthodox Church, is often seen as the oldest due to its roots in the East and the Greek language used by the early fathers of the church.
However, when it comes to the Syriac Church, there is a strong case to be made for it being the oldest continuous Christian community. Syriac Christianity, centred in Syria, has a long and rich history dating back to the early days of Christianity. Classical Syriac was one of the three most important languages of Early Christianity, alongside Greek and Latin, and played a crucial role in the spread of the faith in the Near East and other parts of Asia during late antiquity and the early medieval period.
Syriac Christianity is deeply rooted in the region's history and culture, with the Syriac language being a variety of Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus. The Syriac Orthodox Church, also known as the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, traces its origins to the early Christian communities led by Saint Barnabas and Saint Paul in Antioch during the Apostolic era, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. The city of Edessa, located in Upper Mesopotamia, is believed to have been the first kingdom to officially accept Christianity, and the Syriac form of Aramaic played a significant role in its spread.
The Syriac Orthodox Church has a unique history, surviving under the rule of various empires, including the Arabs, Mongols, Crusades, Mamluks, and Ottomans. Despite facing persecution and violence, particularly during World War I when a quarter of a million Syriac Orthodox Christians were killed, the church persevered and established new communities in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Palestine, and beyond.
The Syriac Church has strong connections to India as well, with Saint Thomas Christians of Kerala committing themselves to the Syriac Orthodox Church in the 17th century, leading to the establishment of the Malankara Syrian Church. The Syriac Orthodox Church has also influenced other denominations, including several Evangelical groups such as the Assyrian Pentecostal Church and the Aramean Free Church.
In conclusion, the Syriac Church, with its deep historical and cultural roots, continuous presence, and widespread influence, has a strong claim to being the oldest continuous Christian community. Its resilience and perseverance through centuries of challenges have ensured the survival of a unique form of Christianity, closely tied to the culture and language of the region where it flourished.
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The Eastern Church: Older than the Coptic and Armenian churches
The debate on the oldest Christian church between the Catholics and the Orthodox has been ongoing. The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church were initially one unified Church, with subdivisions such as the Roman, Greek, Antiochian, Armenian, Georgian, and Coptic Churches. This original church was both "Orthodox" and "Catholic", with the term "Catholic" meaning "universal" in Greek.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is considered older than the Coptic and Armenian churches. The Eastern Church predates the Copts and Armenians, as Christians were in Egypt and Armenia long before they were in Byzantium. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and the Armenian Apostolic Church are part of the Oriental Orthodox Communion, which is one of the oldest branches in Christianity. The Oriental Orthodox Churches are generally considered to be more conservative with regard to social issues. They are in full communion with each other but not with the Eastern Orthodox Church or any other churches.
The Coptic Church, including the Ethiopian Church, the Armenian Church, and the other half of the Antiochian Church, became Oriental Orthodox. These churches were initially in union with each other but later split into four groups. All four claim to be the original church founded by Jesus Christ and see the others as the ones who separated from the "true Church".
The Eastern Orthodox Church, on the other hand, includes several traditions such as the Byzantine, Syrian, Coptic, and Armenian traditions. The Eastern Church based on Constantinople was made an organ of the state, and its daughter churches (Russia, Serbia, Bulgaria, etc.) follow in that vein. The Eastern Orthodox Church also claims the early fathers of the church as saints and holds identical theology with them, appearing to be the oldest of the two bodies.
While there are arguments for the precedence of both the Catholic and Orthodox churches, the truth is complex and multifaceted, dating back to the early days of Christianity and involving various cultural and linguistic factors.
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The Greek language: The primary liturgical language of the church
The debate surrounding the oldest form of Christianity – Catholicism or Orthodox Christianity – is a complex one. While the Syriac Church is considered by some to be the oldest continuous Christian community, with Christianity spreading from Judea to Syria, the question of the oldest form of worship is not so clear-cut.
The early Church was called both "Orthodox" and "Catholic", with St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of the Apostles, using both these names as early as AD 107. The term "Catholic" means "universal", and the early Church was organised based on five main cities: Jerusalem, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome. Each Bishop had authority in their respective area, and the Bishop of Rome was considered "first among equals", a title of respect stemming from Roman history and the city's past importance.
The Greek language has played a significant role in the development of the liturgy. It is considered the essential language of Christianity, with many clergy members of traditional Christian religions studying Greek to enhance their understanding of the faith. Greek was the lingua franca in the eastern half of the Roman Empire until the 4th century AD, and so it was the language of the liturgy in those areas. Even in Rome, Greek was the common language until it was replaced by Latin in the second half of the 4th century.
The Greek used in the liturgy is Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament, which differs significantly from Modern Greek. This has led to some criticism, with arguments that the liturgy should be in a language that is commonly spoken and understood by parishioners. However, others argue for preserving the beauty of the original Greek liturgy, and some parishes have maintained the use of Koine Greek for their services.
In conclusion, while the question of the oldest form of Christianity between Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity is a matter of ongoing debate, the Greek language has undoubtedly played a crucial role in the development of the liturgy and continues to be an important liturgical language, particularly in Orthodox Christian churches.
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The Great Schism: The event that split the Catholic and Orthodox churches
The Catholic and Orthodox churches were once unified under a single "Catholic" (a Greek term meaning "universal") and "Orthodox" (meaning "correct believing") Church. This original Church was organised based on five main cities: Jerusalem, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome. While each Bishop had authority in their respective area, the Bishop of Rome was considered "first among equals", a title of respect rooted in Roman history and the past importance of Rome.
Over time, however, theological and political differences emerged between the Greek East and the Latin West, leading to the Great Schism, also known as the East-West Schism, in 1054. This event marked the formal split between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, though the causes behind it had been developing for centuries.
One significant point of contention was the procession of the Holy Spirit (Filioque). The Roman churches added "and the Son" (in Latin, "Filioque") to the Nicene Creed without consulting the East, causing a major disagreement. The Eastern theology, rooted in Greek philosophy, and the Western theology, based on Roman law, led to two distinct ways of interpreting this important doctrine.
Another issue was the question of episcopal authority. The Pope in the West claimed universal jurisdiction, while the East followed a combination of the patriarchal superstructure with an episcopal and synodal communion ecclesiology. The coronation of Charlemagne as Emperor of the Romans in 800 further highlighted this dispute, as did the place of Constantinople in relation to the pentarchy. In 1053, Patriarch Michael I Cerularius of Constantinople ordered the closure of all Latin churches in the city, and the following year, mutual excommunications by the Pope and the Patriarch occurred, solidifying the schism.
The Eastern Orthodox Church also resented the Roman enforcement of clerical celibacy, the limitation of the right of confirmation to the bishop, and the use of unleavened bread in the Eucharist. Cultural and linguistic differences between Latin and Greek-speaking Christians also contributed to the growing divide.
While the Great Schism resulted in the formation of two distinct churches, attempts at reconciliation have been made over the centuries. In 1964, Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I met in Jerusalem, and in 1965, they nullified the mutual excommunications of 1054 and revoked the excommunication decrees. The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church was established in 1979 to foster continued dialogue and improved relations.
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The Pope: The Catholic Church has a central authority, the Orthodox Church does not
The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church were once unified under one church. The early Church was called both "Orthodox" and "Catholic". The term "Catholic" means universal, and the Church was organised and based on five main cities: Jerusalem, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome. Each Bishop had authority in their respective area, and none were above one another. The Bishop of Rome was considered "first among equals" as a title of respect, more so out of Roman history and the importance of Rome in the past.
Over time, the Catholic Church came to be headed by the Pope, who is considered to have teaching and governing authority. The Pope is considered by Catholics to be the earthly leader of the Church in Jesus' absence. The Orthodox Church, on the other hand, does not recognise the Pope's authority. While they acknowledge the Pope as the "'first among equals', they do not view the Bishop of Rome's "primacy of honour" as a "supremacy of jurisdiction". The absence of a pope in the Orthodox Church has led to a kind of magisterial paralysis, with no central authority capable of settling new theological controversies.
The Catholic Church includes various traditions such as the Coptic, Syrian, Maronite, Ethiopian, Malankar, Armenian, Chaldean, Byzantine, Antiochian, Roman, and Gallican. The Orthodox Church is currently composed of Achaean Greeks, Antiochian Greeks, and Slavs, and does not represent the totality of Greek Christianity.
The question of which is older is a matter of debate. Some argue that the Orthodox Church is older as the term "orthodox" was adopted first, and because the majority of the early fathers of the church wrote in Greek and came from Eastern Europe, Asia, or Africa. Others argue that the Catholic Church is older, as the patriarchate of Rome outranks Constantinople in age and dignity.
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Frequently asked questions
It is not accurate to say that the Catholic Church is older than the Orthodox Church. Both churches were unified under one church until the Great Schism of 1054, after which they split and grew apart.
The Great Schism was the breaking point between the Western (Latin) and Eastern (Greek) churches, caused by growing differences in opinion on a range of matters from at least the second century. The two churches had disagreements over the nature and divinity of Jesus, as well as church authority.
The Catholic Orthodox Church agreed that Jesus was God and that God was made up of three parts. However, they disagreed on Jesus's relationship with his humanity and divinity. The church in Constantinople taught that Mary was theotokos or God-birther, while the Nestorian church based in Antioch disagreed.
The Western fathers favoured Rome, while the Eastern fathers favoured Constantinople. The two cities also struggled for control of parts of southeastern Europe, resulting in some churches converting to Catholicism.
It is difficult to say as both churches claim to be the oldest and trace their origins to the early church and the Apostles. The Eastern Orthodox Church is considered one of the oldest surviving religious institutions in the world.
