what-is-the-difference-between-the-catholic-and-the-orthodox-church
There are many. While Catholics faithfully follow the pope, Orthodox have greater independence: the sole function of the patriarch – the highest office in his hierarchy – is to maintain the unity of the Church. The crosses are not the same either: the Orthodox cross has three bars. The top one was added because it was believed to have served for the famous INRI inscription (short for Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews).
The bottom one would have received Christ’s feet, nailed separately and not together as Catholics believe. There are still other ritualistic differences (see table below). Until the end of the tenth century, the two churches were one, with today’s Catholics based in Western Europe and the Orthodox in the east, in Greece and Turkey. “The Orthodox Church emerged with the aim of spreading Christianity throughout the East”, says theologian Rafael Rodrigues da Silva, from PUC-SP. Over time, cultural differences created several disputes between them, such as the one concerning the official language of the cults: Christians in the West wanted Latin, while those in the East did not give up Greek and Hebrew. The split came in 1054, in the so-called Eastern Schism. The Orthodox questioned papal authority and did not accept the interference of a cardinal sent by Pope Leo IX to Constantinople, Turkey. Result: Patriarch Michael Cerularius was excommunicated by the Vatican.
Cerularius retaliated by excommunicating the Catholics and consolidating the split.
Dissent from the same belief Several points separate the Christianity of the West and that of the EastRULES AND RITUALS – Vow of chastity
ORTHODOX – Optional for priest, mandatory for bishop
CATHOLIC – Obligatory for every priest
RULES AND RITUALS – Pope
ORTHODOX – Do not recognize their authority
CATHOLIC – It is the highest authority
RULES AND RITUALS – Lent
ORTHODOX – Lasts 47 days
CATHOLIC – Lasts 40 days
RULES AND RITUALS – Calendar
ORTHODOX – They use the Juliano, with 13 more days in the year
CATHOLIC – Use the Gregorian with 365 days
RULES AND RITUALS – Christmas
ORTHODOX – Celebrate on January 7
CATHOLICS – Celebrate on December 25
RULES AND RITUALS – Images of the saints
ORTHODOX – Churches do not have statues of them, only paintings
CATHOLIC – No restrictions on statues
RULES AND RITUALS – Cruz
ORTHODOX – It has three bars
CATHOLIC – Has only one horizontal bar
Read too:
– What is the difference between Protestants and Evangelicals?
– How did Protestant churches emerge?
– What is the cause of conflict between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland?