What are the differences between any of the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Catholic Church?

Question

Also what are any of the similarites between any of the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Catholic Church?

Answer 1

The Eastern Orthodox Church is not a single church but rather a family of 13 self-governing bodies, denominated by the nation in which they are located (e.g., the Greek Orthodox Church, Russian Orthodox Church, etc.). They are united in their understanding of the sacraments, doctrine, liturgy, and church government, but each administers its own affairs.

The head of each Orthodox church is called a "patriarch" or "metropolitan." The patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey) is considered the "ecumenical," or universal, patriarch. He is the closest thing to a counterpart to the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church. Unlike the Pope, who is known as VICARIUS FILIUS DEI (the vicar of the Son of God), the bishop of Constantinople is known as PRIMUS INTER PARES (the first amongst equals). He enjoys special honor, but he has no power to interfere with the 12 other Orthodox communions.

The Orthodox Church claims to be the one true church of Christ, and seeks to trace its origin back to the original apostles through an unbroken chain of apostolic succession. Orthodox thinkers debate the spiritual status of Roman Catholics and Protestants, and a few still consider them heretics. Like Catholics and Protestants, however, Orthodox believers affirm the Trinity, the Bible as the Word of God, Jesus as God the Son, and many other Biblical doctrines. However, in doctrine, they have much more in common with Roman Catholics than they do Protestant believers.

The doctrine of justification by faith is virtually absent from the history and theology of Orthodoxy. Rather, Orthodoxy emphasizes theosis (literally, "divinization"), the gradual process by which Christians become more and more like Christ. What many in the Orthodox tradition fail to understand is that “divinization” is the progressive result of salvation…not a requirement for salvation itself. Other Orthodox distinctives that are in conflict with the Bible include:
The equal authority of church tradition and Scripture
Discouragement of individuals interpreting the Bible apart from tradition
The perpetual virginity of Mary
Prayer for the dead
Baptism of infants w/o reference to individual responsibility and faith
The possibility of salvation after death
The possibility of losing salvation

Answer 2

Most people would like to delude themselves into believing that the two churches are "almost" the same. A thousand years of Latin innovation makes this belief ridiculous. A thousand years of historical events condoned by the Popes against the Orthodox churches makes this belief impossible. Study the history and the theology and it becomes apparent that it isn't even close to the same faith. It would take volumes to describes all of this. It certainly can't be done in a paragraph on this forum.

Bishops in recent years have made statements indicating how close they are. However, just because a Bishop writes a book in this modern age or happens to be the head bishop of one of the branches of Orthodoxy doesn't make him right and negate a thousand years of theology. Heretical bishops have existed in the church since the beginning. There is no reason to believe they still don't exist today. This is why unlike the Catholics, Orthodox theology is not decided on by one man.

Answer 3

The biggest difference is in where the two groups believe the source of the Church's unity lies. For Catholics it is the see of Peter, whereas for the Orthodox it is the collective successors of the Apostles.

We also differ on the procession of the Holy Spirit. Whereas in the West we believe that the Father and the Son share one will, which is the Holy Spirit, in the East they believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone.

The East also does not believe in original sin. The doctrinal emphasis on attaining divine union in the east is contrasted by the more devotional emphasis in Catholicism.

We share the same sacraments and the same priesthood, however. Through the Eastern Rites, we even share many of the same liturgies. We are really more alike than different.

Answer 4

Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics separated from one another in 1054. There are very few theological differences. The main difference is that the Eastern Orthodox Churches (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11329a.htm) use the Byzantine Rite (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04312d.htm) and the Roman Catholic Church use the Roman or Latin Rite.

Pope John Paul II said of the Eastern Orthodox Churches in Orientale Lumen, "A particularly close link already binds us. We have almost everything in common." (see http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_02051995_orientale-lumen_en.html )

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

1) No Pope in the East. He is just the "Bishop of Rome - the First Amongst Equals"

2) The Filioque clause in the Nicene Creed...the words "and the Son" were added by the West. This is the reason most give for the Great Schism between Wast and West.

Answer 6

Orthodox, following Gregory Palamas, affirm the Uncreated Energies of God. Catholic theology, following the Aristotelian-derived philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, holds that God's energies had to have been created.

Answer 7

Christianity is Christianity just like salt is salt.It's just a different flock that became separated.EOC priests marry ,but then the priests in the Catholic church used to marry centuries ago too.

Answer 8

Both think they are the One and Only True Church.
Both use arcane rites and ancient language in the service
Both put a lot of attention on Vrigin Mary and various Saints.
Both believe in miracles.
Both spend a ton on decorating the church buildings
Both are rigid hierarchichal structures, with those higher up living in considerable luxury

Differences:

Orthodox priests are allowed to marry, and in fact expected to. Catholics priests ... well, you read the news.

Orthodox priest grow beards, catholic ones shave.

Many orthodox churches do not have pews (to keep congregation from falling asleep)