What the difference between Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox?

Answer 1

One of the great sorry misfortunes of education in the West is that we teach nothing about the East.

4Xbrbe -- Orthodox are a lot more strict than Latins. Ever since Vatican II, they became upset at the West because we stopped being as strict.

Puppy Zwolle -- There has always been a difference in each apostolic Church due to the apostles and the cultures that went to. G.Orth are very Greek in their thought and R.Caths. are very Latin in their thought. What most people don't realize is that Emperor Constantine had a LOT more effect on the East than the West. He is considered to be a Saint in the Greek Orthodox and Greek Catholic Churches

Shaun T -- The East had pretty much entered into an unofficial off again on again schism with Rome as early as the 5th century. There are tons of theological differences, but most are minor such as whether or not the host can be made out of leavened or unleavened bread. The Schism of 1054 is really two people talking past each other. Not all agree that the Bishop of Rome is the Successor of Peter. (There are also plenty of Christian's that split not from the Reformation....both pre and post 1500)


blackmonster -- Simply put, no, not at all. Icons had nothing at all to do with the split.

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ANSWER TO QUESTION

There is a book worth of differences between Roman Catholics and Orthodox. However, there are almost no differences between Greek (Byzantine Rite) Catholics and Greek Orthodox. The way you have to look at things is that there is a small separation between G.Orth being Catholic, and a large separation from them being Roman Catholic.

The differences (Between Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox (and for the most part Greek Rite Catholics))break down into

Liturgical
--The structure of the Rites are different as are the prayers, but there is the same basic concepts occurring -- Penance, Thanksgiving, Scripture Readings, Homily, and most importantly the Sacrifice of the Mass, the Eucharist.

Clergy
Married priests in G.Orth.

Spiritual
--Vastly different. Some examples. Western mystics tend to get stigmata, Eastern tend to under go transfiguration (glowing). Spirituality of Icons, which is more in-depth and involved than how we use statues. Icons are windows into heaven and are very much revered. Spirituality can be very Oriental almost yogaish and Buddhist.

Theological
Orthodox understand things from a medicinal standpoint. Everything is about how God is healing the human race. Theology also relies upon "mystery", which doesn't mean hidden, but rather unable to approach exactly, when they talk theology (so things can be vague, prosy, and contradictory) whereas the West wants to go for the details. The West (after St. Aquinas) tends to see God as pure act (essence and act are the same). The Orthodox see a difference between God's essence and His energies (activities). The Holy Spirit does not proceed from the Son.

Miss. stuff.
The Sign of the cross is done backwards (or forwards depending on how you look at it) (and the positioning of the hand is different). Believe it or not this was a big deal way back when.

That is just general. There is more.


But you know at the end of the day, these differences are not that much. The difference between a Catholic/Orthodox and a Protestant is vast compared to the difference between Cath. and Orth. Catholics, and Orthodox have the same faith, it is just different in how it is expressed, theologically and its forms. There is also minor differences in how the Church is structured (such as the papacy....).

Answer 2

All have a real priesthood, rooted contained in the succession of the Apostles. Roman (or Latin) ceremony Catholics and Byzantine (or jap) Catholics are all Catholic and lower than the authority of the Pope. There are something like 17 Rites listed lower than the Byzantine Catholic. many of the Byzantine Catholics have an Orthodox "counter-section" who're no longer in union with the Pope. An celebration must be Ukranian Catholic and Orthodox Catholic. in case you went to their Divine Liturgies, the important element that ought to face out is a prayer that consists of the Pope contained in the Ukranian Catholic church. there is an complete heritage right here it extremely is a procedures too a lot for this talk board!

Answer 3

Very small. The Catholic Church is the one founded by Christ and established in 33 AD. Those in the east remained true to Rome until a schism in 1054. They all agree that the Pope, as the successor to St Peter, has a place of primacy among the bishops. Those who broke off simply dispute the extent to which he can exercise his authority.

All other Christian denominations split from Rome beginning in the sixteenth century.

Answer 4

Hard one.

They have about 1000 years of separate history so... they are not much alike in any way. On the other hand... They are all Christians. Like big churches and have priests.

It is mainly management that is different but Don't know enough to really be able to explain that.

Answer 5

in a nut shell ROME. the Greek church doest follow the Popes orders. As the Roman Church does

Answer 6

A Pope and a couple hundred years to make it quick. A church conflict originally, having to do with the use of icons, if I remember my history right.

Answer 7

Roman catholic is much more strict & they speak in latin during mass.