Differences between Greek and Roman Catholics

[Esdra]

Hi all

are there also theological differences between the Roman Catholic and the Greek-Catholic Churches? - I mean in respect of BVM or so.

I know some differnces which are:

Deacons are allowed to marry and married Deacons are allowed to become priests (but not Bishops therefore most Bishops in the Greek-Catholic Churches and the Orthodox Churches are monks).

Of course the liturgy is different - Byzantine vs. Latin.

But actually that's all I know about the Greek-Catholics.


Esdra

 

[Fran75]

I am a cradle Greek/Byzantine Catholic. I feel like I should answer you as there aren't many of us on this board but it's a pretty open ended question and I don't know a lot about the Latin rite so that makes comparison problematic.
One thing I have noticed but have difficulty describing is a different attitude or philosophy, I feel that the Latin rite is more legalistic than us, most of us just aren't aware of the rules (can't think of a more appropriate word right now) and teaching s that we are obligated to believe or follow unless we seek them out, many times as an adult I have said to myself " I am supposed to believe that ! " (as a Catholic).
Some tangible differences are:
- our infants receive Communion once baptized
- our Communion is in the form of a yeast bread soaked in wine placed in our mouths by the priest with a spoon
- we do not kneel during liturgy
- we don't have confirmation, we have chrismation which occurs at the same time as baptism and fist communion as an infant if possible
- you won't find the signs of the cross in our churches
- or the Rosary, we are welcome to bring /say it as private devotion
There many more, of course, these are just what came to mind at this time.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Differences between Greek and Roman Catholics

Greek is a language.
Catholic is a church.​

Hi all

are there also theological differences between the Roman Catholic and the Greek-Catholic Churches? - I mean in respect of BVM or so.

I know some differnces which are:

Deacons are allowed to marry and married Deacons are allowed to become priests (but not Bishops therefore most Bishops in the Greek-Catholic Churches and the Orthodox Churches are monks).

Of course the liturgy is different - Byzantine vs. Latin.

Most Catholics are in the Romans Rite but many Catholics are in churches that follow one of the Byzantine rites.

But actually that's all I know about the Greek-Catholics.

Most Catholics living in Greece are Roman Rite.

Esdra

 

[Anhelyna]

Fran - you said

you won't find the signs of the cross in our churches

I presume you meant to say

You won't find Stations of the Cross in our Churches

- umm you can do, sadly but they are getting less and less frequently found .

 

[AMDG]

Latin rite Catholic but the Catholic Chaplain who helped out our Latin rite chapel was bi-ritual--that is he was Eastern rite Catholic (Byzantine) while also able to celebrate Latin rite (in his own rite he would celebrate the Divine Liturgy which is much longer, far more ornate with far more ornate vestments and is chanted as well.)

As I understand it, the Byzantine Church *is* more spiritual. And IMO devotion to the theotakos (the Mother of God) is more pronounced.

 

[MoreCoffee]

As I understand it, the Byzantine Church *is* more spiritual.

What do you mean by '*is* more spiritual'? I cannot see why the Byzantine rite Divine Liturgy would be more spiritual than the Holy Mass in the Roman rite.

 

[Fran75]

Fran - you said



I presume you meant to say - umm you can do, sadly but they are getting less and less frequently found .

Yes you are right, I meant the stations if the cross, I think are beautiful my self and remind me of the Rosary, maybe it is an American thing, I remember one of the charges level against us in the past by some was that there are some churches that call them selves Catholic but are not really, they don't have the stations of the cross.

 

[AMDG]

What do you mean by '*is* more spiritual'? I cannot see why the Byzantine rite Divine Liturgy would be more spiritual than the Holy Mass in the Roman rite.

If the Latin rite is considered "more legal" because of it's definitions (example: in the Latin rite we find it necessary to "explain" the Consecration--the Latin Church says its by transubstantiation while the Eastern rites don't feel it necessary to "explain" they just call it a "Mystery". IMO how consecrated bread and wine becomes the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord is indeed a "mystery".)

I also note that it was the bi-ritual priest who took time to spiritually nourish the congregation with classes in the spirituality of the Church, and took the time to support the various devotions (like the First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart) whereas the Latin rite chaplains did not.

 

[KatherineS]

In the Eastern churches, the bishops are elected by the synod of bishops under the presidency of the Patriarch, Catholicos or Archbishop Major.

In the Western Church, the bishops are appointed by the Pope, although in some dioceses in Europe, the chapter of canons has the right to send to Rome three nominations to select from.

 

[Fran75]

Differences between Greek and Roman Catholics

Greek is a language.
Catholic is a church.​

Most Catholics are in the Romans Rite but many Catholics are in churches that follow one of the Byzantine rites.


Most Catholics living in Greece are Roman Rite.

b

Today we are generally referred to as Byzantine Catholic but not so long ago we were better known as Greek Catholic.

 

[Irish Melkite]

Differences between Greek and Roman Catholics

Greek is a language.
Catholic is a church.​

​

Catholic is a Communion of 23 Churches sui iuris. The styling Greek-Catholic is commonly used to describe those Churches sui iuris which trace their religious and liturgical praxis to that of Byzantium/Constantinople and such styling continues to be employed in the names of several such.

Most Catholics are in the Romans Rite but many Catholics are in churches that follow one of the Byzantine rites.

There is only 1 Byzantine Rite, which is served by 14 Catholic Churches sui iuris. Other Eastern or Oriental Catholic Churches sui iuris serve according to the Alexandrian, Antiochian, Armenian, Assyro-Chaldean, or Maronite Rites.

Most Catholics living in Greece are Roman Rite.

Your point being?

Many years,

Neil

 

[MoreCoffee]

...
Your point being?

Many years,

Neil

My point was that Greek-Catholic is/was a term not familiar to me, if it meant the Catholics in Greece, which is how I understood it, then they are mainly in the Roman rite.

 

[Esdra]

Yes, that was my mistake I should have written eastern Catholics and that I am referring to the Byzantine rite. Sorry. :-/

 

[Anhelyna]

I should add - I'm a Greek Catholic - a Ukranian Greek Catholic

Like the Melkites we also use the term

 

[Esdra]

Eastern Catholic Church - An Introduction

​

Thank you for this video. It's very interesting.

Question to all posters in this thread: I've twice been in an orthodox divine liturgy, one was Serbian-orthodox and one was Russian-orthodox.
I've seen that there are sellers in the church who sell icons and crosses and other things. Even during mass and that people are wandering around buying these things or kissing crosses and icons in the church. Some even left the church during mass and came back some time later.
Can you tell me why this is so? And is this also the case in the eastern Catholic church? Does an eastern Catholic mass also last up to 3 hours (especially on very high feasts)?

 

[Colin]

I know that this is going to put the cat among the pigeons .

"Greek" Catholics are Roman Catholics .

I believe that Popes Pius XI and XII made this evident .

In his encyclical letter "Humani Generis" Pope Pius XII wrote : " The Mystical Body of Christ and the Roman Catholic Church are one and the same thing . "

In his encyclical letter "Divini Illius Magistri" Pope Pius XI wrote : " In the City of God , the Holy Roman Catholic Church , a good citizen and an upright man are one and the same thing . "

 

[Esdra]

I know that this is going to put the cat among the pigeons .

"Greek" Catholics are Roman Catholics .

I believe that Popes Pius XI and XII made this evident .

In his encyclical letter "Humani Generis" Pope Pius XII wrote : " The Mystical Body of Christ and the Roman Catholic Church are one and the same thing . "

In his encyclical letter "Divini Illius Magistri" Pope Pius XI wrote : " In the City of God , the Holy Roman Catholic Church , a good citizen and an upright man are one and the same thing . "

I've learned so far: Roman Catholic= Latin rite. Greek-Catholic=Byzantine rite.
There are other rites as well in the Catholic church (btw this term's used when you talk about the whole Catholic church with all its rites) but I don't know how they call themselves.

 

[Anhelyna]

I really do think we have to be careful about terminology here.

in Greece there are very few Eastern [ i.e. Greek-Catholics ] Catholics - those there are are probably 'incomers'. Most Catholics there, are what, in the USA and UK would be called Roman Catholics , but in Europe that nomenclature is not used - they are just called Catholic .

Now in the USA and the UK I know that most Eastern Catholics simply refer to themselves as Ukrainian Catholics , Melkite Catholics and so on. However the Ruthenians who were correctly called Ruthenian Greek-Catholics decided some time back that as there was a real problem with their origin [ where did they come from ? There is no longer a place/country called Ruthenia ] and they took on the name of Byzantine Catholics.

I'm a Ukrainian Catholic and I'm proud to belong to my church - they have suffered so much in the past , but have come through many troubles and still make their presence felt wherever they have a Church.

We will be celebrating the Feast of Feasts on May 5 - Pascha - The Resurrection of Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

[JoshuaCh1v9]

The Greeks have better hats

 

[MoreCoffee]

The Greeks have better hats

Their bishops have crowns; rather ornate crowns. But the Roman rite mitre is conveniently collapsible