How is Catholicism different from Christianity? Difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism

Catholicism is one of the three main Christian denominations. There are three faiths in total: Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism. The youngest of the three is Protestantism. It arose from Martin Luther's attempt to reform the Catholic Church in the 16th century.

The division between Orthodoxy and Catholicism has a rich history. The beginning was the events that occurred in 1054. It was then that the legates of the then reigning Pope Leo IX drew up an act of excommunication against the Patriarch of Constantinople Michael Cerullarius and the entire Eastern Church. During the liturgy in the Hagia Sophia, they placed him on the throne and left. Patriarch Michael responded by convening a council, at which, in turn, he excommunicated the papal ambassadors from the Church. The Pope took their side and since then the commemoration of popes at divine services has ceased in the Orthodox Churches, and the Latins began to be considered schismatics.

We have collected the main differences and similarities between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, information about the dogmas of Catholicism and features of the confession. It is important to remember that all Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ, therefore neither Catholics nor Protestants can be considered “enemies” of the Orthodox Church. However, there are controversial issues in which each denomination is closer or further from the Truth.

Features of Catholicism

Catholicism has more than a billion followers worldwide. The head of the Catholic Church is the Pope, and not the Patriarch, as in Orthodoxy. The Pope is the supreme ruler of the Holy See. Previously, all bishops were called this way in the Catholic Church. Contrary to popular belief about the total infallibility of the Pope, Catholics consider only the doctrinal statements and decisions of the Pope to be infallible. At the moment, Pope Francis is at the head of the Catholic Church. He was elected on March 13, 2013, and is the first Pope in many years to . In 2016, Pope Francis met with Patriarch Kirill to discuss issues of importance to Catholicism and Orthodoxy. In particular, the problem of persecution of Christians, which exists in some regions in our time.

Dogmas of the Catholic Church

A number of dogmas of the Catholic Church differ from the corresponding understanding of the Gospel truth in Orthodoxy.

• Filioque is the Dogma that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both God the Father and God the Son.
• Celibacy is the dogma of the celibacy of the clergy.
• The Holy Tradition of Catholics includes decisions taken after the seven Ecumenical Councils and Papal Epistles.
• Purgatory is a dogma about an intermediate “station” between hell and heaven, where you can atone for your sins.
• Dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary and her bodily ascension.
• Communion of the laity only with the Body of Christ, of the clergy with the Body and Blood.

Of course, these are not all differences from Orthodoxy, but Catholicism recognizes those dogmas that are not considered true in Orthodoxy.

Who are Catholics

The largest numbers of Catholics, people who profess Catholicism, live in Brazil, Mexico and the United States. It is interesting that in each country Catholicism has its own cultural characteristics.

Differences between Catholicism and Orthodoxy

• Unlike Catholicism, Orthodoxy believes that the Holy Spirit comes only from God the Father, as stated in the Creed.
• In Orthodoxy, only monastics observe celibacy; the rest of the clergy can marry.
• The sacred tradition of the Orthodox does not include, in addition to the ancient oral tradition, the decisions of the first seven Ecumenical Councils, the decisions of subsequent church councils, or papal messages.
• There is no dogma of purgatory in Orthodoxy.
• Orthodoxy does not recognize the doctrine of the “treasury of grace” - the overabundance of good deeds of Christ, the apostles, and the Virgin Mary, which allow one to “draw” salvation from this treasury. It was this teaching that allowed for the possibility of indulgences, which at one time became a stumbling block between Catholics and future Protestants. Indulgences were one of those phenomena in Catholicism that deeply outraged Martin Luther. His plans included not the creation of new denominations, but the reformation of Catholicism.
• In Orthodoxy, the laity Commune with the Body and Blood of Christ: “Take, eat: this is My Body, and drink all of you from it: this is My Blood.”

Having become acquainted with the traditions of the Catholic Church in Europe and having talked with my priest upon my return, I discovered that there is much in common between the two directions of Christianity, but there are also fundamental differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, which, among other things, influenced the split of the once united Christian Church.

In my article I decided to talk in an accessible language about the differences between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church and their common features.

Although churchmen argue that the matter is due to “irreconcilable religious differences,” scientists are confident that this was, first of all, a political decision. The tension between Constantinople and Rome forced the confessors to look for a reason to clarify the relationship and ways to resolve the conflict.

It was difficult not to notice the features that had already taken hold in the West, where Rome dominated, different from those accepted in Constantinople, so they latched on to this: different structures in matters of hierarchy, aspects of religious doctrine, the conduct of sacraments - everything was used.

Due to political tensions, the existing differences between the two traditions existing in different parts of the collapsed Roman Empire were revealed. The reason for the current uniqueness was the differences in culture and mentality of the western and eastern parts.

And, if the existence of one strong, large state made the church unified, with its disappearance the connection between Rome and Constantinople weakened, contributing to the creation and rooting in the western part of the country of some traditions unusual for the East.

The division of the once united Christian church along territorial lines did not happen overnight. East and West went towards this for years, culminating in the 11th century. In 1054, during the Council, the Patriarch of Constantinople was deposed by envoys of the Pope.

In response, he anathematized the Pope's envoys. The heads of the remaining patriarchates shared the position of Patriarch Michael, and the split deepened. The final break dates back to the 4th Crusade, which sacked Constantinople. Thus, the united Christian church split into Catholic and Orthodox.

Now Christianity unites three different directions: the Orthodox and Catholic Church, Protestantism. There is no single church uniting Protestants: there are hundreds of denominations. The Catholic Church is monolithic, led by the Pope, to whom all believers and dioceses submit.

15 independent and mutually recognizing churches constitute the asset of Orthodoxy. Both directions are religious systems, including their own hierarchy and internal rules, doctrine and worship, and cultural traditions.

Common features of Catholicism and Orthodoxy

Followers of both churches believe in Christ, consider Him an example to follow, and try to follow His commandments. The Holy Scripture for them is the Bible.

At the foundation of the traditions of Catholicism and Orthodoxy are the apostles-disciples of Christ, who founded Christian centers in major world cities (the Christian world relied on these communities). Thanks to them, both directions have sacraments, similar creeds, exalt the same saints, and have the same Creed.

Followers of both churches believe in the power of the Holy Trinity.

The view on family formation in both directions converges. Marriage between a man and a woman occurs with the blessing of the church and is considered a sacrament. Same-sex marriages are not recognized. Entering into intimate relationships before marriage is unworthy of a Christian and is considered a sin, and same-sex relationships are considered a grave sin.

Followers of both directions agree that both the Catholic and Orthodox directions of the church represent Christianity, albeit in different ways. The difference for them is significant and irreconcilable: for more than a thousand years there has been no unity in the method of worship and communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, therefore they do not celebrate communion together.

Orthodox and Catholics: what is the difference

The result of deep religious differences between East and West was the schism that occurred in 1054. Representatives of both movements claim striking differences between them in their religious worldview. Such contradictions will be discussed further. For ease of understanding, I have compiled a special table of differences.

Let's sum it up

Despite the centuries-old schism between the Catholic and Orthodox churches, which is not expected to be overcome in the near future, there are many similarities that indicate common origins.

There are many differences, so significant that combining the two directions is not possible. However, regardless of their differences, Catholics and Orthodox believe in Jesus Christ and carry His teachings and values ​​throughout the world. Human errors have divided Christians, but faith in the Lord gives the unity for which Christ prayed.

Catholicism and Orthodoxy, like Protestantism, are branches of the same religion - Christianity. Despite the fact that both Catholicism and Orthodoxy belong to Christianity, there are significant differences between them.

The reason for the split of the Christian Church into Western (Catholicism) and Eastern (Orthodoxy) was the political split that occurred at the turn of the 8th-9th centuries, when Constantinople lost the lands of the western part of the Roman Empire. In the summer of 1054, the Pope's ambassador to Constantinople, Cardinal Humbert, anathematized the Byzantine Patriarch Michael Cyrularius and his followers. A few days later, a council was held in Constantinople, at which Cardinal Humbert and his henchmen were reciprocally anathematized. Disagreements between representatives of the Roman and Greek churches also intensified due to political disagreements: Byzantium argued with Rome for power. The mistrust of East and West turned into open hostility after the Crusade against Byzantium in 1202, when Western Christians went against their eastern fellow believers. Only in 1964 did Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople and Pope Paul VI officially lift the anathema of 1054. However, differences in traditions have become deeply entrenched over the centuries.

Church organization

The Orthodox Church includes several independent Churches. In addition to the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), there is Georgian, Serbian, Greek, Romanian and others. These Churches are governed by patriarchs, archbishops and metropolitans. Not all Orthodox Churches have communion with each other in sacraments and prayers (which, according to the catechism of Metropolitan Philaret, is a necessary condition for individual Churches to be part of the one Universal Church). Also, not all Orthodox Churches recognize each other as true churches. Orthodox believe that Jesus Christ is the head of the Church.

Unlike the Orthodox Church, Catholicism is one Universal Church. All its parts in different countries of the world are in communication with each other, and also follow the same creed and recognize the Pope as their head. In the Catholic Church, there are communities within the Catholic Church (rites) that differ from each other in forms of liturgical worship and church discipline. There are Roman, Byzantine rites, etc. Therefore, there are Catholics of the Roman rite, Catholics of the Byzantine rite, etc., but they are all members of the same Church. Catholics also consider the Pope to be the head of the Church.

Divine service

The main worship service for the Orthodox is the Divine Liturgy, for Catholics it is the Mass (Catholic liturgy).

During services in the Russian Orthodox Church, it is customary to stand as a sign of humility before God. In other Eastern Rite Churches, sitting is allowed during services. As a sign of unconditional submission, Orthodox Christians kneel. Contrary to popular belief, it is customary for Catholics to both sit and stand during worship. There are services that Catholics listen to on their knees.

Mother of God

In Orthodoxy, the Mother of God is first and foremost the Mother of God. She is revered as a saint, but she was born in original sin, like all mere mortals, and died like all people. Unlike Orthodoxy, Catholicism believes that the Virgin Mary was conceived immaculately without original sin and at the end of her life was ascended to heaven alive.

Symbol of faith

Orthodox believe that the Holy Spirit comes only from the Father. Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit comes from the Father and from the Son.

Sacraments

The Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church recognize seven main Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation (Confirmation), Communion (Eucharist), Penance (Confession), Priesthood (Ordination), Anointing (Unction) and Marriage (Wedding). The rituals of the Orthodox and Catholic Churches are almost identical, the differences are only in the interpretation of the sacraments. For example, during the sacrament of baptism in the Orthodox Church, a child or adult is immersed in the font. In a Catholic church, an adult or child is sprinkled with water. The sacrament of communion (Eucharist) is celebrated on leavened bread. Both the priesthood and the laity partake of both the Blood (wine) and the Body of Christ (bread). In Catholicism, the sacrament of communion is celebrated on unleavened bread. The priesthood partakes of both the Blood and the Body, while the laity partakes only of the Body of Christ.

Purgatory

Orthodoxy does not believe in the existence of purgatory after death. Although it is assumed that souls may be in an intermediate state, hoping to go to heaven after the Last Judgment. In Catholicism, there is a dogma about purgatory, where souls remain awaiting heaven.

Faith and morals

The Orthodox Church recognizes only the decisions of the first seven Ecumenical Councils, which took place from 49 to 787. Catholics recognize the Pope as their head and share the same faith. Although within the Catholic Church there are communities with different forms of liturgical worship: Byzantine, Roman and others. The Catholic Church recognizes the decisions of the 21st Ecumenical Council, the last of which took place in 1962-1965.

Within Orthodoxy, divorces are allowed in individual cases, which are decided by priests. The Orthodox clergy is divided into “white” and “black”. Representatives of the “white clergy” are allowed to marry. True, then they will not be able to receive episcopal or higher rank. "Black clergy" are monks who take a vow of celibacy. For Catholics, the sacrament of marriage is considered to be for life and divorce is prohibited. All Catholic religious clergy take a vow of celibacy.

Sign of the Cross

Orthodox Christians cross themselves only from right to left with three fingers. Catholics cross themselves from left to right. They do not have a single rule for how to place your fingers when creating a cross, so several options have taken root.

Icons

On Orthodox icons, saints are depicted in two dimensions according to the tradition of reverse perspective. This emphasizes that the action takes place in another dimension - in the world of spirit. Orthodox icons are monumental, austere and symbolic. Among Catholics, saints are depicted naturalistically, often in the form of statues. Catholic icons are painted in straight perspective.

Sculptural images of Christ, the Virgin Mary and saints, accepted in Catholic churches, are not accepted by the Eastern Church.

Crucifixion

The Orthodox cross has three crossbars, one of which is short and located at the top, symbolizing the tablet with the inscription “This is Jesus, King of the Jews,” which was nailed above the head of the crucified Christ. The lower crossbar is a footstool and one of its ends looks up, pointing to one of the thieves crucified next to Christ, who believed and ascended with him. The second end of the crossbar points down, as a sign that the second thief, who allowed himself to slander Jesus, went to hell. On the Orthodox cross, each foot of Christ is nailed with a separate nail. Unlike the Orthodox cross, the Catholic cross consists of two crossbars. If it depicts Jesus, then both of Jesus' feet are nailed to the base of the cross with one nail. Christ on Catholic crucifixes, as well as on icons, is depicted naturalistically - his body sags under the weight, torment and suffering are noticeable throughout the image.

Funeral service for the deceased

Orthodox Christians commemorate the dead on the 3rd, 9th and 40th days, then every other year. Catholics always remember the dead on Remembrance Day - November 1st. In some European countries, November 1 is an official holiday. The deceased are also remembered on the 3rd, 7th and 30th days after death, but this tradition is not strictly observed.

Despite the existing differences, both Catholics and Orthodox Christians are united by the fact that they profess and preach throughout the world one faith and one teaching of Jesus Christ.

conclusions:

1. In Orthodoxy, it is generally accepted that the Universal Church is “embodied” in each local Church, headed by a bishop. Catholics add to this that in order to belong to the Universal Church, the local Church must have communion with the local Roman Catholic Church.

2. World Orthodoxy does not have a single leadership. It is divided into several independent churches. World Catholicism is one church.

3. The Catholic Church recognizes the primacy of the Pope in matters of faith and discipline, morality and government. Orthodox churches do not recognize the primacy of the Pope.

4. Churches see differently the role of the Holy Spirit and the mother of Christ, who in Orthodoxy is called the Mother of God, and in Catholicism the Virgin Mary. In Orthodoxy there is no concept of purgatory.

5. The same sacraments operate in the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, but the rituals for their implementation are different.

6. Unlike Catholicism, Orthodoxy does not have a dogma about purgatory.

7. Orthodox and Catholics create the cross in different ways.

8. Orthodoxy allows divorce, and its “white clergy” can marry. In Catholicism, divorce is prohibited, and all monastic clergy take a vow of celibacy.

9. The Orthodox and Catholic Churches recognize the decisions of different Ecumenical Councils.

10. Unlike the Orthodox, Catholics depict saints on icons in a naturalistic manner. Also among Catholics, sculptural images of Christ, the Virgin Mary and saints are common.

The official division of the Christian Church into Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Roman Catholic) happened in 1054, with the participation of Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael Cerularius. It became the finale in the contradictions that had long been brewing between the two religious centers of the Roman Empire that had collapsed by the 5th century - Rome and Constantinople.

Serious disagreements emerged between them both in the field of dogma and in terms of the organization of church life.

After the capital was transferred from Rome to Constantinople in 330, the clergy began to come to the fore in the socio-political life of Rome. In 395, when the empire effectively collapsed, Rome became the official capital of its western part. But political instability soon led to the fact that the actual administration of these territories was in the hands of the bishops and the pope.

In many ways, this became the reason for the claims of the papal throne to supremacy over the entire Christian Church. These claims were rejected by the East, although from the first centuries of Christianity the authority of the Pope in the West and in the East was very great: without his approval not a single ecumenical council could open or close.

Cultural background

Church historians note that in the western and eastern regions of the empire Christianity developed differently, under the powerful influence of two cultural traditions - Hellenic and Roman. The “Hellenic world” perceived Christian teaching as a certain philosophy that opens the way for the unity of man with God.

This explains the abundance of theological works of the fathers of the Eastern Church, aimed at understanding this unity and achieving “deification.” They often show the influence of Greek philosophy. Such “theological inquisitiveness” sometimes led to heretical deviations, which were rejected by the Councils.

The world of Roman Christianity, in the words of the historian Bolotov, experienced “the influence of the Romanesque on the Christian.” The “Roman world” perceived Christianity in a more “juridical” manner, methodically creating the Church as a unique social and legal institution. Professor Bolotov writes that Roman theologians “understood Christianity as a divinely revealed program for social order.”

Roman theology was characterized by “legalism,” including in the relation of God to man. He expressed himself in the fact that good deeds were understood here as a person’s merits before God, and repentance was not enough for the forgiveness of sins.

Later, the concept of atonement was formed following the example of Roman law, which placed the categories of guilt, ransom and merit at the basis of the relationship between God and man. These nuances gave rise to differences in dogma. But, in addition to these differences, also a banal struggle for power and personal claims of the hierarchs on both sides ultimately became the reason for the division.

Main differences

Today, Catholicism has many ritual and dogmatic differences from Orthodoxy, but we will look at the most important ones.

The first difference is the different understanding of the principle of the unity of the Church. In the Orthodox Church there is no single earthly head (Christ is considered its head). It has “primates” - patriarchs of local Churches independent from each other - Russian, Greek, etc.

The Catholic Church (from the Greek “katholicos” - “universal”) is one, and considers the presence of a visible head, which is the Pope, to be the basis of its unity. This dogma is called “the primacy of the Pope.” The opinion of the Pope on matters of faith is recognized by Catholics as “infallible” - that is, without error.

Symbol of faith

Also, the Catholic Church added to the text of the Creed, adopted at the Nicene Ecumenical Council, a phrase about the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son (“filioque”). The Orthodox Church recognizes the procession only from the Father. Although some holy fathers of the East recognized the “filioque” (for example, Maximus the Confessor).

Life after death

In addition, Catholicism has adopted the dogma of purgatory: a temporary state in which souls who are not ready for heaven remain after death.

the Virgin Mary

An important discrepancy is also that in the Catholic Church there is a dogma about the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, which affirms the original absence of original sin in the Mother of God. The Orthodox, glorifying the holiness of the Mother of God, believe that he was inherent in Her, like all people. Also, this Catholic dogma contradicts the fact that Christ was half human.

Indulgence

In the Middle Ages, Catholicism developed the doctrine of the “extraordinary merits of the saints”: the “reserve of good deeds” that the saints performed. The Church disposes of this “reserve” in order to make up for the lack of “good deeds” of repentant sinners.

From here grew the doctrine of indulgences - release from temporary punishment for sins for which a person has repented. During the Renaissance, there was a misunderstanding of indulgence as the possibility of remission of sins for money and without confession.

Celibacy

Catholicism prohibits marriage for clergy (celibate priesthood). In the Orthodox Church, marriage is prohibited only for monastic priests and hierarchs.

External part

As for rituals, Catholicism recognizes both the Latin rite (Mass) and the Byzantine rite (Greek Catholics).

The liturgy in the Orthodox Church is served on prosphora (leavened bread), while Catholic services are served on unleavened bread (unleavened bread).

Catholics practice Communion under two types: only the Body of Christ (for the laity), and the Body and Blood (for the clergy).

Catholics place the sign of the cross from left to right, Orthodox believe it the other way around.

There are fewer fasts in Catholicism, and they are milder than in Orthodoxy.

The organ is used in Catholic worship.

Despite these and other differences that have accumulated over the centuries, Orthodox and Catholics have much in common. Moreover, something was borrowed by Catholics from the East (for example, the doctrine of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary).

Almost all local Orthodox churches (except the Russian one), like Catholics, live according to the Gregorian calendar. Both faiths recognize each other's Sacraments.

The division of the Church is a historical and unresolved tragedy of Christianity. After all, Christ prayed for the unity of His disciples, which are all who strive to fulfill His commandments and confess Him as the Son of God: “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, so that they also may be one in Us - that the world may believe that You have sent Me.”

God is one, God is love - these statements are familiar to us from childhood. Why then is the Church of God divided into Catholic and Orthodox? Are there many more denominations within each direction? All questions have their own historical and religious answers. We will now get acquainted with some of them.

History of Catholicism

It is clear that a Catholic is a person who professes Christianity in its branch called Catholicism. The name goes back to Latin and ancient Roman roots and is translated as “corresponding to everything,” “according to everything,” “conciliar.” That is, universal. The meaning of the name emphasizes that a Catholic is a believer who belongs to the religious movement whose founder was Jesus Christ himself. When it originated and spread across the Earth, its followers considered each other as spiritual brothers and sisters. Then there was one opposition: Christian - non-Christian (pagan, true believer, etc.).

The western part of the Ancient Roman Empire is considered the birthplace of the faiths. It was there that the words themselves appeared: This direction was formed throughout the first millennium. During this period, spiritual texts, chants and services were the same for all who worship Christ and the Trinity. And only around 1054 the Eastern one, with its center in Constantinople, and the Catholic one - the Western one, the center of which was Rome. Since then, it has come to be believed that a Catholic is not just a Christian, but an adherent of the Western religious tradition.

Reasons for the split

How can we explain the reasons for the discord that has become so deep and irreconcilable? After all, what is interesting: for a long time after the schism, both Churches continued to call themselves catholic (the same as “Catholic”), that is, universal, ecumenical. The Greco-Byzantine branch, as a spiritual platform, relies on the “Revelations” of John the Theologian, the Roman branch - on the Epistle to the Hebrews. The first is characterized by asceticism, moral quest, and “life of the soul.” For the second - the formation of iron discipline, a strict hierarchy, the concentration of power in the hands of priests of the highest ranks. Differences in the interpretation of many dogmas, rituals, church governance and other important areas of church life became the watershed that separated Catholicism and Orthodoxy on opposite sides. Thus, if before the schism the meaning of the word Catholic was equal to the concept of “Christian,” then after it it began to indicate the Western direction of religion.

Catholicism and Reformation

Over time, the Catholic clergy deviated so much from the norms that the Bible affirmed and preached that this served as the basis for the organization within the Church of such a movement as Protestantism. Its spiritual and ideological basis was the teachings of its supporters. The Reformation gave birth to Calvinism, Anabaptism, Anglicanism and other Protestant denominations. Thus, Lutherans are Catholics, or, in other words, evangelical Christians, who were against the church actively interfering in worldly affairs, so that papal prelates went hand in hand with secular power. The trade in indulgences, the advantages of the Roman Church over the Eastern, the abolition of monasticism - this is not a complete list of those phenomena that the followers of the Great Reformer actively criticized. In their faith, Lutherans rely on the Holy Trinity, especially worshiping Jesus, recognizing his divine-human nature. Their main criterion of faith is the Bible. A distinctive feature of Lutheranism, like others, is a critical approach to various theological books and authorities.

On the issue of the unity of the Church

However, in the light of the materials under consideration, it is not completely clear: are Catholics Orthodox or not? This question is asked by many who do not understand theology and all sorts of religious subtleties too deeply. The answer is both simple and difficult at the same time. As stated above, initially - yes. While the Church was One Christian, everyone who was part of it prayed the same, worshiped God according to the same rules, and used common rituals. But even after the division, each - both Catholic and Orthodox - consider themselves the main successors of the heritage of Christ.

Interchurch relations

At the same time, they treat each other with sufficient respect. Thus, the Decree of the Second Vatican Council notes that those people who accept Christ as their God, believe in him and are baptized are considered Catholics as brothers in faith. They also have their own documents, which also confirm that Catholicism is a phenomenon whose nature is akin to the nature of Orthodoxy. And the differences in dogmatic postulates are not so fundamental that both Churches are at enmity with each other. On the contrary, relations between them should be built in such a way that together they serve a common cause.