Eastern Catholicism: Orthodox in communion with Rome

[Punchy]

This is a good article for better understanding the relationship between the Eastern Rite Churches and the Catholic Church as a whole:

Married Byzantine priest to serve as administrator of downtown parish
Father Frank to offer both Latin and Eastern-rite liturgies at St. Elizabeth Church
Roxanne King

For the last four years, a married priest has taught at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, and now, he will also serve as a parish administrator.

And it's all in keeping with the teaching of the Church.

Byzantine Catholic Father Chrysostom Frank, 48, a professor of Church history at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, is assigned to serve as administrator of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish located on the Auraria campus downtown, beginning July 1. His wife, Marica, a native of South Africa, teaches Greek and Latin at the seminary. The couple has three children...
http://www.archden.org/dcr/news.php?e=27&s=4&a=595

 

[kepha31]

I'm not sure if you are emphasizing the fact that he is Byzantine in a Catholic parish (we recognize their sacraments) or if he is a married priest in a Catholic parish.(celicacy is not a doctrine)

 

[QuantaCura]

Great article

As an aside, the idea of Orthodox in Communion with Rome is a good statement. The position of Rome is that the doctrines of Eastern Orthodoxy are valid, orthodox, expressions of the deposit of faith with the exception of the authority of the Bishop of Rome. An Eastern Catholic can profess the same faith as the EO, but also be in full communion with the Apostolic See. When Pope Leo XIII explained this fact to the EO patriarchs, they unfortunately responded that they had a different view of the orthodoxy of our faith.

 

[Punchy]

I'm not sure if you are emphasizing the fact that he is Byzantine in a Catholic parish (we recognize their sacraments) or if he is a married priest in a Catholic parish.(celicacy is not a doctrine)

Being Orthodox in communion with Rome makes one both Orthodox and Catholic. That's the point of the story.

 

[Punchy]

I hope that the members of this forum are at least aware that the Eastern Rite exists.

 

[stivvy]

after the past year of me baggering them, I am sure they do. I and others have paved a clean road for you to wonder down here in OBOB with its veterens

 

[WarriorAngel]

I knew.

And I find the EC to be quite a special blend.
Holding both Cultural Traditions...or rather blending them rather well.

 

[Punchy]

Our traditions are more than cultural, they are spiritual. I believe in Orthodox theology and Orthodox worship, yet recognize the authority of the Pope and the need for unity in the Church.

 

[Punchy]

With the Second Vatican Council came a call, as a prerequisite for true ecumenical dialogue with the Orthodox Churches, for the Eastern Catholic Churches to rediscover every element of their authentic Tradition and theology. The Armenian Catholic Church, as one of these Eastern Catholic Churches, is thus at a turning point in her history. Now, Elder Rome herself, is calling us to continue this process of self rediscovery, the full recovery of our authenticTradition and the continuing removal of all foreign elements and latinizations within our Chruch (e.g., the loss of giving infants Holy Communion, etc.).

A major step in this process was taken with the restoration of our authentic Havadamk or Creed -eliminating the added "Filioque" ("and from the Son"). But more still remains to be done. It is important for Armenian Catholics to recall that the Armenian Church, which reunited with the Latin Church during the Cilician Kingdom, "did not call itself 'Catholic' for the simple reason that such a name could have equivocality [having two or more meanings], confounding them with the Franks and Latins. This Church preferred to call itself 'Orthodox' [Ooghapar, Arm.] in the full sense of the term rather than 'Catholic'." ("The Armenian Church and its Future," H.E. Garabed Amadouni). The time has come for us to rediscover our authentic Orthodox heritage and perspective which was so zealously maintained by our forefathers of the Cilician era.

Realizing that our call is to be "Orthodox in Communion with Rome," we must not be content to be latinized, Armenian Catholics. Formerly it was believed by some that the mission of Eastern Catholics would be to bring the Orthodox "back into the fold" of the Catholic Church. But now it is becoming increasingly obvious that our true service to unity is by familiarizing our Latin brethren with the authentic theology and Tradition of the East. It is only when we, as AUTHENTIC Eastern Churches, can in peace, equality and Communion, co-exist with the Latin Church, will there ever be reason for our Orthodox Mother Churches to consider resumption of full Communion. Orthodox Bishop Kallistos Ware once remarked that when he heard the Melkites make the Eastern Church's case at Vatican II, he felt that this was the voice of Orthodoxy being made known at the Catholic Council. THIS IS OUR CALLING: to be the voice of Orthodoxy within the Communion of the Catholic Church.
http://www.geocities.com/wmwolfe_48044/Who_are_we.html

Peace.

 

[Rising_Suns]

after the past year of me baggering them, I am sure they do. I and others have paved a clean road for you to wonder down here in OBOB with its veterens

I think the road was already paved years ago. Most Catholics in OBOB have considered Eastern Catholics as, what pope John Paul II coined, the other half of our lung, breathing together in unison.

I think where discussions have become somewhat abrasive in the past, it when it is said--or at least implied--that west/Latin Rite spiritualiy is inferior to eastern spirituality.

-Davide

 

[Punchy]

I think where discussions have become somewhat abrasive in the past, it when it is said--or at least implied--that west/Latin Rite spiritualiy is inferior to eastern spirituality.

Pre or post-Vatican II?

 

[salt_of_the_earth]

Wait I minute here... I am confused. People are saying that Eastern Catholics adhere to Orthodox doctrine. How could that be? Why would the Catholic Church accept Churches into communion with them if they don't believe in the same doctrines... I always thought that Eastern Catholics adhered to the same doctrine as the Catholic Church but practiced Eastern Orthodox style mass as well as other traditions....

I am confused right now.

 

[Rising_Suns]

Wait I minute here... I am confused. People are saying that Eastern Catholics adhere to Orthodox doctrine. How could that be? Why would the Catholic Church accept Churches into communion with them if they don't believe in the same doctrines... I always thought that Eastern Catholics adhered to the same doctrine as the Catholic Church but practiced Eastern Orthodox style mass as well as other traditions....

I am confused right now.

To paraphrase Vatican II, Orthodoxy is so closely united to Catholicism, that it takes very little to bring them together (this is why the Catholic Church permits the Orthodox to receive communion in our Churchs--a profound gesture being the sign of union). They may express their beliefs in different ways, and with different terms. But the same basic principles are present nonetheless.

Pre or post-Vatican II?

I meant more in terms of discussion on OBOB. But I think I can expand to say post-Vatican II.

-Davide

 

[AMDG]

Our traditions are more than cultural, they are spiritual. I believe in Orthodox theology and Orthodox worship, yet recognize the authority of the Pope and the need for unity in the Church.

Don't forget that there are Eastern Rite Catholic priests (and Roman Rite Catholic priests) that are bi-ritual. They can celebrate Mass and the Divine Liturgy. But yes, the Eastern Rites are very spiritual and very Marian.

 

[Anhelyna]

And sadly largely unknown

 

[Punchy]

Wait I minute here... I am confused. People are saying that Eastern Catholics adhere to Orthodox doctrine. How could that be? Why would the Catholic Church accept Churches into communion with them if they don't believe in the same doctrines

Canon 28
A rite is the liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony, culture and circumstances of history of a distinct people, by which its own manner of living the faith is manifested in each Church sui iuris.
§2. The rites treated in this code, unless otherwise stated, are those which arise from the Alexandrian, Antiochene, Armenian, Chaldean and Constantinopolitan traditions.
http://www.jgray.org/codes/cceo90eng.html

Part of the conditions of reunion was that the Eastern Churches would retain their theological, as well as liturgical, identity. The Byzantine Catholic Church has its own canons and its own catechism.

 

[AMDG]

Part of the conditions of reunion was that the Eastern Churches would retain their theological, as well as liturgical, identity. The Byzantine Catholic Church has its own canons and its own catechism.

But technically they have the same seven Sacraments--just use different words--like "Mysteries". My friend is actually Eastern Rite (although now she worships at a closer Roman Rite Parish) and although much of my spirituality comes to me from the teaching of a bi-ritual Eastern Rite Chaplain, I am Roman Rite.

Notice my avatar--it's real special to me--an icon of the Blessed Theotokos embracing the late Pope John Paul II. East and West are together as I think they should be.

 

[Punchy]

East and West are together as I think they should be.

There are only 12 million Eastern Catholics, as opposed to 500 million Orthodox Christians. True and final unity is still a long way from happening.

 

[Punchy]

The only substantial difference I've found between Eastern Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy is the acceptance of Roman Catholics to communion. The Pope of Rome is recognized as having the same authority that he possessed before the Great Schism.

Documentation: The Melkite Initiative with the Antiochian Orthodox Church

1. I believe everything which Eastern Orthodoxy teaches.
2. I am in communion with the Bishop of Rome as the first among the bishops, according to the limits recognized by the Holy Fathers of the East during the first millennium, before the separation.
http://www.byzcath.org/faith/documents/melkite_initiative_2.htm

 

[zhilan]

The only substantial difference I've found between Eastern Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy is the acceptance of Roman Catholics to communion. The Pope of Rome is recognized as having the same authority that he possessed before the Great Schism.

If they believe everything the Orthodox Church teaches they are not Catholic.