Sarah Mitchell
The Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholicism are two of the three major branches of Christianity, the third being Protestantism. The Eastern Orthodox Church is often considered to be the original church because it adheres to more of the old traditions than Roman Catholics do. However, the Catholic Church includes the traditions of the East and the West, and the early Church was called both Orthodox and Catholic. The two churches separated in an event known as the East-West Schism, which is traditionally dated to the year 1054.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of followers | Catholic Church: 1.3 billion; Eastern Orthodox Church: 220-230 million |
| Geographical spread | Catholic Church: Worldwide; Eastern Orthodox Church: Southeast Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia |
| Leadership | Catholic Church: Pope; Eastern Orthodox Church: Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople |
| Communion | Catholic Church: Worldwide; Eastern Orthodox Church: Southeast Europe, Eastern Europe, Russia, Central Asia, Greece |
| Origin | Catholic Church: Claims to be the first and original Christian Church; Eastern Orthodox Church: Claims to be the first and original Christian Church |
| Traditions | Catholic Church: Includes Byzantine, Antiochian, Roman, and Gallican traditions; Eastern Orthodox Church: Based on Scriptures and holy tradition, incorporating decrees of seven ecumenical councils and teachings of Church Fathers |
| Separation | Catholic Church: Separation from other churches known as East-West Schism; Eastern Orthodox Church: Ongoing schism between Constantinople and Moscow |
| Historical role | Catholic Church: Decisive spiritual force in Western civilization; Eastern Orthodox Church: Prominent role in history and culture of Eastern and Southeastern Europe |
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What You'll Learn
- The Eastern Orthodox Church is one of the oldest surviving religious institutions in the world
- The early Church was called both Orthodox and Catholic
- The Catholic Church is led by the Pope, the bishop of Rome
- The Orthodox Church has no central authority like the Pope
- The Eastern Orthodox Church has approximately 230 million baptised members
The Eastern Orthodox Church is one of the oldest surviving religious institutions in the world
The Eastern Orthodox Church, also known as the Orthodox Catholic Church or the Greek Orthodox Church, is one of the oldest surviving religious institutions in the world. It is one of the three major doctrinal and jurisdictional groups of Christianity, alongside Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. With approximately 220-230 million adherents worldwide, it is the second-largest Christian communion after the Catholic Church.
The Eastern Orthodox Church operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via local synods. It has no central authority figure like the Pope in the Catholic Church. Instead, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is recognised as the 'primus inter pares' or 'first among equals'. The church has played a prominent role in the history and culture of Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
The roots of the Eastern Orthodox Church can be traced back to the early days of Christianity. The term "Orthodox" refers to the correct belief or the true manifestation of Israel, indicating that the church follows the original Christian faith passed down by holy tradition. According to tradition, the Apostle Andrew established the church in Byzantium in AD 38. His brother, the Apostle Peter, established the church in Rome around the same time. Both churches were connected to the church in Jerusalem, which was important for Jewish Christians.
Over time, differences in opinion and practices emerged between the Eastern and Western branches of Christianity. The Eastern fathers were more speculative, while the Western fathers were more practical. These differences came to the fore at the Council of Nicea in 325 and the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The two churches eventually separated in an event known as the East-West Schism, traditionally dated to the year 1054, although it was a gradual process.
The Eastern Orthodox Church maintains its unique traditions and practices, including its emphasis on the importance of icons and its recognition of seven major sacraments or holy mysteries, with the Eucharist as the principal one. It is worth noting that the Catholic Church includes various traditions such as Byzantine, Antiochian, Roman, and Gallican, while the Eastern Orthodox Church primarily represents the Byzantine-Antiochian tradition.
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The early Church was called both Orthodox and Catholic
The early Christian Church was called both "Orthodox" and "Catholic". The term "Orthodox" means "correct belief", while "Catholic" means "universal". St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of the Apostles, used both these names for the Church as early as AD 107. The early Church was also called "the Way" by Jewish Christians, who saw it as a continuation of Israel, rather than something separate.
The terms "Orthodox" and "Catholic" were used by different groups within the Church. When Jewish Christians addressed their fellow Jews who were not yet Christians, they referred to the Church as "the Way". This term indicated that they saw themselves as the true manifestation of Israel, in contrast to other Jewish sects like the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Zealots. On the other hand, when Gentile Christians spoke of the Church, they emphasised its truth and universality, which is why the terms "Orthodox" and "Catholic" were applied.
The Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church are two of the three major branches of Christianity, along with Protestantism. They have both claimed to be the original and universal Church, with the Eastern Orthodox Church considered the older of the two by some. This is because it follows more of the old traditions than the Roman Catholic Church, which has undergone more changes since the East-West Schism. However, the Roman Catholic Church also sees itself as the original Church, maintaining an unbroken continuity since the days of the Apostles.
The two churches have different organisational structures. The Roman Catholic Church is headed by the Pope, the bishop of Rome, and has a central government, the Holy See, that makes decisions on faith and morality for its members worldwide. In contrast, the Eastern Orthodox Church operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via local synods, without a central authority like the Pope.
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The Catholic Church is led by the Pope, the bishop of Rome
The Catholic Church and Orthodox Christianity are two of the three major branches of Christianity, the third being Protestantism. The Catholic Church, also known as Roman Catholicism, is led by the Pope, who is the bishop of Rome. The Pope, along with the Holy See, forms the central government of the Catholic Church, making decisions on issues of faith and morality for around 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide.
The Catholic Church traces its history back to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. Over the centuries, it has developed a sophisticated theology and an organisational structure headed by the Pope, the oldest continuing absolute monarchy in the world. The number of Catholics in the world is greater than that of nearly all other religious traditions. There are more Roman Catholics than all other Christians combined and more than all Buddhists or Hindus.
The early Church was called both "Orthodox" and "Catholic". St. Ignatius of Antioch, a disciple of the Apostles, used both these terms as early as AD 107. The term "the Way" was used by Jewish Christians to describe the Christian faith to non-Christian Jews. From the Jewish Christian perspective, the Church of Jesus Christ is the true manifestation of the Chosen People, and an unbroken continuation of Israel under the promised King and Messiah of Israel. This is why the Eastern Church refers to the saints of the Old Testament as "St. Abraham" and "St. Moses".
The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, is also one of the three major doctrinal and jurisdictional groups of Christianity, with approximately 220-230 million baptised members worldwide. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via local synods. There is no central authority in the Eastern Orthodox Church, analogous to the Pope in the Catholic Church. However, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is recognised as primus inter pares ('first among equals'), a title held by the patriarch of Rome prior to 1054.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is considered the original church because it follows more of the old traditions than Roman Catholics. More changes occurred in the Catholic Church after the East-West Schism than in the Orthodox Church. The split to Protestantism also came off from the Catholic Church later on, not the Orthodox.
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The Orthodox Church has no central authority like the Pope
The Eastern Orthodox Church, also called the Greek Orthodox Church or simply the Orthodox Church, is one of the three major doctrinal and jurisdictional groups of Christianity, with approximately 230 million baptised members. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via local synods.
The Orthodox Church has no central authority analogous to the Pope of the Catholic Church. Instead, it recognises the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as 'primus inter pares' ('first among equals'), a title held by the patriarch of Rome prior to 1054. The position of 'first among equals' does not grant any additional power or authority to the bishop that holds it, but rather designates them as the organisational head.
The decentralised nature of the Orthodox Church is in contrast to the monarchical and administratively centralised Catholic Church, led by the Pope. This difference in structure has been a significant point of contention between the two groups, along with theological disputes, such as the significance of the Virgin Mary.
The Eastern Orthodox Church has maintained that it has never accepted the Pope as the de jure leader of the entire church. All bishops are considered equal, and each church under every bishop is viewed as fully complete, reflecting the original meaning of 'catholic'.
The Great Schism of 1054 was a pivotal event that highlighted the diverging paths of the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. The schism was precipitated by mounting theological, political, and cultural disputes, with the authority of the Pope being a central issue. The Eastern half grew disillusioned with the Pope's centralisation of power and attempts to exclude them from papal approvals.
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The Eastern Orthodox Church has approximately 230 million baptised members
The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially known as the Orthodox Catholic Church, is one of the three major doctrinal and jurisdictional groups of Christianity. It is estimated to have approximately 230 million baptised members worldwide, making it the second-largest Christian communion after the Roman Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church operates as a union of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops through local synods. It lacks a centralised authority like the Pope in the Catholic Church, but the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is recognised as the 'primus inter pares' or 'first among equals'.
Eastern Orthodoxy is the predominant religion in Russia, where about half of the world's Eastern Orthodox Christians reside. It is also widely practised in other Eastern European countries, including Ukraine, Romania, Belarus, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Georgia, North Macedonia, Cyprus, and Montenegro. Significant minorities exist in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Estonia, Albania, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia, and Finland. Outside of Europe, Eastern Orthodoxy is the dominant religion in northern Kazakhstan and has sizeable communities in several former Soviet republics in Central Asia, such as Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Tajikistan.
The history of the Eastern Orthodox Church dates back to the early days of Christianity. The term "Orthodox" refers to the correct belief, while "Catholic" signifies universality. The early Church, including the Apostle Andrew's church in Byzantium in AD 38 and St. Peter's church in Rome, was considered both Orthodox and Catholic. Over time, the Eastern Orthodox Church preserved many of the old traditions, while the Catholic Church underwent more changes, particularly after the East-West Schism.
Baptism is a crucial sacrament in the Eastern Orthodox Church, marking a person's entry into a new life of salvation and their unification with Christ. It is typically performed through full immersion, followed by chrismation (confirmation) and the Eucharist. The church teaches that all members, regardless of race or nationality, share the same faith and are called to theosis, the fulfilment of God's image in likeness. The Eastern Orthodox Church has played a significant role in the cultural and historical development of Eastern and Southeastern Europe.
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Frequently asked questions
It is not accurate to say that Catholicism is older than Orthodox Christianity. Both the early Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church are considered to be one of the three major branches of Christianity. The Eastern Orthodox Church is officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, and it is one of the oldest surviving religious institutions in the world.
The term "Orthodox" means "correct belief".
The term "Catholic" means "universal".
The Eastern Orthodox Church is governed by bishops via local synods, while the Catholic Church is led by the pope, the bishop of Rome.
There are around 220-230 million Eastern Orthodox adherents worldwide, while the Catholic Church has approximately 1.3 billion members.
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