Difference between Eastern and Western Orthodox

[GodsGrace101]

I have many questions I'd like answered by those on this specific forum.
The reason is that I'm thinking of converting to the Orthodox faith but feel
I don't know enough.

The first question would be the difference between Eastern and Western.
I live in Italy and the orthodox faith is available here, but I'm not sure which one.

There's an Orthodox church about 45 minutes from me....
It's the Orthodox church from Romania....my friend doesn't know which type it is.

Any help?

 

[Goodhuman]

Differences are many. For example here is not allowed to be priest if they are not married first.
Not allowed to be bishop if are not monk. Fasting at least three days with strict fast without cooking oil before receive holy communion, don't have catechumens, but baptize and chrismate instantly, etc.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Differences are many. For example here is not allowed to be priest if they are not married first.
Not allowed to be bishop if are not monk. Fasting at least three days with strict fast without cooking oil before receive holy communion, don't have catechumens, but baptize and chrismate instantly, etc.

Would this be the Eastern or the Western?

Also, it would be good to know WHY this difference.

 

[Arcangl86]

My understanding is that the Western Rite is mostly a North American thing, so any Orthodox parish you encounter would be Eastern. That being said, the differences between Western and Eastern Orthodox is more a matter of liturgy then fundamental theology.

 

[AMM]

This is a good question! All of the Orthodox churches make up the one Orthodox Church. There are occasionally differences in practice (as Goodhuman noted), but these are not doctrinal differences. They're more like a cultural difference.

For example: I go to a church in the United States. But it is in the "Bulgarian Diocese" which means that, at the end of the day, it is governed by the decisions of the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria. There are also churches in the United States that are governed by the Orthodox Church in America, Antioch, Constantinople, Greece, Moscow, and so on. They will practice some things differently, but the faith is the same.

There are "Western Rite" Orthodox churches that are still part of the Orthodox Church, but they use the old western liturgical rites (so this would be more similar to the rites in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Lutheran churches).

 

[AMM]

And for counter-example to Goodhuman, I know priests who are married and who are monks, all the churches I have been to have catechumens, and we do not require that same sort of fasting before receiving the Eucharist. But these are cultural differences.

 

[AMM]

I would guess that the Romanian Church near you follows the Byzantine or Slavic style of Liturgy. Part of it may be in Greek, Romanian, Russian (or Slavonic), or even another language, while other parts of it might be in Italian.

 

[GodsGrace101]

This is a good question! All of the Orthodox churches make up the one Orthodox Church. There are occasionally differences in practice (as Goodhuman noted), but these are not doctrinal differences. They're more like a cultural difference.

For example: I go to a church in the United States. But it is in the "Bulgarian Diocese" which means that, at the end of the day, it is governed by the decisions of the Orthodox Church in Bulgaria. There are also churches in the United States that are governed by the Orthodox Church in America, Antioch, Constantinople, Greece, Moscow, and so on. They will practice some things differently, but the faith is the same.

There are "Western Rite" Orthodox churches that are still part of the Orthodox Church, but they use the old western liturgical rites (so this would be more similar to the rites in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Lutheran churches).

So this would be like the beginning of the church when bishops were the head of different regions?
For instance the big five were Jerusalem, Rome, Antioch, Alexandria and Constantinople. But it was still the Christian church.

 

[GodsGrace101]

And for counter-example to Goodhuman, I know priests who are married and who are monks, all the churches I have been to have catechumens, and we do not require that same sort of fasting before receiving the Eucharist. But these are cultural differences.

How would the catechuman procedure work?
I think I'd have to call the church near to me and ask them....

 

[All4Christ]

And for counter-example to Goodhuman, I know priests who are married and who are monks, all the churches I have been to have catechumens, and we do not require that same sort of fasting before receiving the Eucharist. But these are cultural differences.

Yes, the teaching of Orthodoxy is to have a catechumenate. We should not be baptized and chrismated immediately unless there is an express need approved by the bishop out of economia. Fasting for three days before communion is also not a universal teaching of Orthodoxy. Some of the differences like the length of fasting are cultural, but the catechumenate really should be universal. (I have never heard of any Orthodox group besides the post earlier saying that they do not have a catechism required.)

 

[Goodhuman]

Yes, the teaching of Orthodoxy is to have a catechumenate. We should not be baptized and chrismated immediately unless there is an express need approved by the bishop out of economia. Fasting for three days before communion is also not a universal teaching of Orthodoxy. Some of the differences like the length of fasting are cultural, but the catechumenate really should be universal. (I have never heard of any Orthodox group besides the post earlier saying that they do not have a catechism required.)

All here are baptized and chrismated as babies, nobody here get baptized and chrismated if he isn't baby, so I wasn't heard of catechumenate until in internet.

 

[All4Christ]

All here are baptized and chrismated as babies, nobody here get baptized and chrismated if he isn't baby, so I wasn't heard of catechumenate until in internet.

Ah ok, that makes more sense

Here in the USA, a large amount of people are not Orthodox at birth, including myself About 2/3 of my church were not born in the Orthodox Church. The catechumenate is very common here because of that.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Ah ok, that makes more sense

Here in the USA, a large amount of people are not Orthodox at birth, including myself About 2/3 of my church were not born in the Orthodox Church. The catechumenate is very common here because of that.

I was baptized and confirmed in the catholic church.
Is this accepted?

 

[Anhelyna]

It is really up to the Bishop of the Jurisdiction you will be joining and the priest who has been preparing you .

They may decide your Baptism is 'acceptable' but you may , as I an ex Ukrainian Catholic was , be received by Chrismation

 

[AMM]

So this would be like the beginning of the church when bishops were the head of different regions?
For instance the big five were Jerusalem, Rome, Antioch, Alexandria and Constantinople. But it was still the Christian church.

yep, exactly

How would the catechuman procedure work?
I think I'd have to call the church near to me and ask them....

best to call and ask! Different bishops handle things slightly differently

All here are baptized and chrismated as babies, nobody here get baptized and chrismated if he isn't baby, so I wasn't heard of catechumenate until in internet.

ah okay, that makes sense. As A4C said, the USA is a bit different because so many people are converts. But people who are born in an Orthodox family are baptized and chrismated immediately as infants. But if an adult converts, they would undergo the catechumenate period

I was baptized and confirmed in the catholic church.
Is this accepted?

Depends what you mean by "accepted." The priest at the Church near you, and his bishop, will be able to discern how you should be received into the Orthodox Church.

 

[All4Christ]

I was baptized and confirmed in the catholic church.
Is this accepted?

I agree with what the others said. I was not rebaptized, but I was chrismated when I became Orthodox. I was part of a Protestant church earlier.

 

[Not David]

Well, I do not know how is Eastern Orthodoxy in Italy but something to be caution about is that probably most of the people there are going to be foreigners (Romanians) so do not get disheartened if you feel like in a different culture.

 

[ArmyMatt]

not to be blunt, but just go and check them out. sometimes you can only learn by living.

 

[GodsGrace101]

It is really up to the Bishop of the Jurisdiction you will be joining and the priest who has been preparing you .

They may decide your Baptism is 'acceptable' but you may , as I an ex Ukrainian Catholic was , be received by Chrismation

Personally, I do believe that baptism is real and should be accepted by all denominations.

It's not a denominational event...
It's a Christian event that Jesus taught and required.
Matthew 28 the Great Commission

 

[GodsGrace101]

Well, I do not know how is Eastern Orthodoxy in Italy but something to be caution about is that probably most of the people there are going to be foreigners (Romanians) so do not get disheartened if you feel like in a different culture.

No problem!
I'm already in a different culture.

But we're all One Body in Christ.