why do orthodox believe they are the only holy catholic church?

Question

the orthodox church says they are the only holy catholic church but i know the separated from Rome why do they say that? Do u think so?

Answer 1

There's so many different religions fighting each other & saying THEY are the true church that I don't let it bug me anymore-after you die you'll know.

Answer 2

First all churches that say the creed (including Protestants) say they believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church (not that they are it). Using the word catholic as universal.

Second correcting some misconceptions on the Great Schism. Orthodox and Roman Catholics BOTH excommunicated each other in 1054 (more over the split of dynasties).

However what people fail to mention is that 22 of the 30 Orthodox branches have come back into communion with the Roman Church (and some never really broke during the Schism like the Maronite). The ones that are not in communion are part of the former Soviet Union. Because of the years of separation they are not unified or in communion with the other Orthodox Churches either.

So Yes they are part of one holy catholic church and still a direct Apostolic succession.


EDIT: Upyr- if your going to go as far as "Orthodox" meaning correct at least get it right. Orthodox does no mean correct doctrine. Ortho (correct) dox ((Greek doxa) means opinion)). *Yawn* sibling rivalry.

Answer 3

They say that Rome separated from them.

1) According to the Councils of Constantinople and Chalcedon, the jurisdiction of the Pope extends only to certain Italian provinces. According to those councils, as well as the Council of Nicea, the Pope is not allowed to exert jurisdiction over any other Bishop without the approval of the local Synod.

2) In 936 the Pope violated ecumenical procedure by rejecting the previously approved council of 879 in favor of the heretical countil of 869. The decision was made outside of any ecumenical council.

3) In 1054, the Patriarch of Constantinople was excommunicated by a bull from a Pope who was already dead when the bull was delivered. The bull was issued by the Roman Catholic Pope, not the Patriarch, and an Orthodox deacon chased the Papal emessary down the street trying to return the bull.

Incidentally, the Orthodox also claim to be the "Roman" Catholic Church, but that is another story.

Answer 4

Trying not to be mean or sarcastic--Orthodox believe the Roman Catholics separated from the Orthodox Church not visa versa. There are alot of Orthodox groups. There is not one spokesman, like the pope. There are individuals who think they are the spokesman for everyone else but that is not how Orthodoxy operates; in fact that is the major objection to the pope. Orthodoxy teaches that when many leaders get together in a council the Holy Spirit speaks through the council. This hasn't happened in over 1,000 years. One man (or woman) doesn't speak for the church.

Answer 5

First the schism...Rome changed Doctrine and as such lost apostolic sucession so by defntion we are the Holy Catholic Apostlic church. The changes most noticably is the Filioque also kneeling on sunday unlevend bread the power of the Papacy...
he did not have the athority to crown Calrgimane Kaiser with out the concent of the Ceaser
Orthodox means correct doctrine in other words others are not correct. Historicaly we both issed bulls of excomuncation
You can read bit about the Great Schism from ur view at
http://www.lasvegasorthodox.com/library/history/articles/Schism-The_Great_Schism_of_1054.htm
as well as here http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/general/greatschism.aspx

Answer 6

People will make excuses to believe whatever they want to believe. Many modern "Catholics" call themselves Catholic too, but they have none of the marks of the Church. They don't follow the teaching of the apostles, they aren't united, they certainly aren't holy and definitely not universal.

Their rites are valid, but they are not in the Church. They are in schism.

Answer 7

Because there can be only ONE true Church. (why? answer: http://www.oodegr.com/english/biblia/episkopos1/perieh.htm )

The "Catholics" cannot be that church, for various reasons:

http://www.oodegr.com/english/papismos/diafores2.htm (text by a metropolitan/bishop of the Orthodox Church..)

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/ecumenism/encyc_1848.aspx
(a text written and signed by almost all of the "Heads" of the Orthodox Christian Church)


The protestants are split to THOUSAND denominations, that mostly contradict each other: http://www.oodegr.com/english/protestantism/protestantism.htm

They all say that they ONLY use the bible, but the all interpret it differently.


You can find more info about these issues, here:

http://www.philthompson.net/pages/faq/index.html
http://www.philthompson.net/pages/becoming/index.htm
http://www.oodegr.com/english/dogma/diafores1.htm

Answer 8

I relatively believe that Christ presence is interior the Eucharist. there's a writing by employing way of Scott Hahn reported as "The Fourth Cup" which much greater proves the extremely purpose of the Eucharist.

Answer 9

Tradition.

Answer 10

Actually Rome separated from them.