Denomination Relations: Eastern Orthodox

In the final article of our series, “Denomination Relations”, Jason Scott explores the history, shared beliefs, and differences between the Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

Where Do Eastern Orthodox Come From?

The Eastern Orthodox Church traces its origins to the early Christian Church, with roots extending back to the apostles. However, the Eastern Orthodox Church split from the Roman Catholic Church during the Great Schism of 1054.

The Eastern Orthodox tradition places a strong emphasis on the continuity of apostolic succession, the veneration of icons, and the mystical experience of the Divine Liturgy. Their theological and liturgical practices are grounded in the teachings of the early Church Fathers and the seven Ecumenical Councils.

What We Agree On

As Catholics, we share fundamental beliefs with the Eastern Orthodox: the Trinity, the divinity and humanity of Christ, and the resurrection. We both affirm the importance of the Bible as the word of God and the centrality of the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and the Real Presence within it, in the life of the Church. Both traditions emphasise the importance of living a life of faith and obedience to God’s commandments.

Where We Disagree

From a Catholic perspective, the key disagreements with the Eastern Orthodox are rooted in the historical and theological divisions that led to the Great Schism. One of the primary disagreements is the issue of papal primacy and authority. The Catholic Church holds that the pope has universal jurisdiction and is the successor of St. Peter, while the Eastern Orthodox Church, having split from the Catholic Church, does not recognise the pope’s authority over the entire Church, viewing him as merely the Bishop of Rome.

Another significant point of contention is the Filioque clause, which was added to the Nicene Creed by the Western Church. Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son (Filioque), a doctrine rooted in the teachings of the early Church Fathers and affirmed by the Council of Toledo in 589. This belief is essential to our understanding of the Trinity and reflects the unity and co-equality of the divine persons. The Eastern Orthodox, however, maintain that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone, a position that we see as incomplete and lacking the fullness of the Trinitarian revelation.

Additionally, there are differences in liturgical practices, such as the use of unleavened bread in the Catholic Eucharist versus leavened bread in the Orthodox Divine Liturgy. The Eastern Orthodox Church also has a different approach to the Immaculate Conception of Mary, purgatory, and the concept of original sin, which are central to Catholic theology.

Recent Steps Towards Unity

Despite these differences, significant progress has been made towards unity. The Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio, acknowledged the Eastern Orthodox Church as a sister Church and called for dialogue and reconciliation. Pope Francis placed a priority on good relations with the Orthodox Church, meeting several times with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, who reciprocated the pope’s friendship. Francis was also the first pope to meet with a Russian Orthodox patriarch when he met Patriarch Kirill in Cuba.

Pope Leo XIV has continued to build on this foundation. In a recent meeting on May 20, Pope Leo met with Patriarch Bartholomew in Rome to discuss ongoing efforts toward Christian unity. This meeting underscored the commitment of both leaders to healing the wounds of the past and fostering greater cooperation.

However, the path to unity remains complicated by the Russian Orthodox Church under Patriarch Kirill. The 2018 schism between Moscow and Constantinople over Ukraine’s autocephaly, granted by Bartholomew, has fractured Orthodoxy itself. Kirill, closely aligned with Putin’s regime, has called Bartholomew a “teacher of schism”.

This notwithstanding, recent efforts to develop dialogue reflect our shared commitment to unity and the healing of centuries-old divisions.

As Catholics, we are committed to reuniting Christians and restoring full communion within the one true Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, to heal the wounds of centuries-old divisions, without compromising our core beliefs and traditions.