Christianity is the dominant religious denomination on the planet. The number of its followers amounts to billions of people, and its geography covers most of the developed countries of the world. Today it is represented by many branches, the most significant of which are Catholics and Orthodox. What is the difference between them? To find out this, you need to plunge into the depths of centuries.

Historical roots of schism

The Great Schism of the Christian Church occurred in 1054. Key points that formed the basis of the fatal breakup:

1. The nuances of conducting a worship service. First of all, the most pressing question was whether to conduct the liturgy on unleavened or leavened bread;
2. Non-recognition of the concept of the Pentarchy by the Roman throne. It assumed equal participation in resolving issues of theology of five departments located in Rome, Antioch, Jerusalem, Alexandria and Constantinople. The Latins traditionally acted from the position of papal primacy, which greatly alienated the other four sees;
3. Serious theological disputes. In particular, regarding the essence of the Triune God.

The formal reason for the break was the closure of Greek churches in Southern Italy, which was subject to the Norman conquest. This was followed by a mirror response in the form of the closure of the Latin churches in Constantinople. The last action was accompanied by mockery of shrines: the Holy Gifts prepared for the liturgy were trampled underfoot.

In June-July 1054, a mutual exchange of anathemas took place, which meant split, which is still ongoing.

What is the difference between Catholics and Orthodox?

Separate Existence two main branches of Christianity has been going on for almost a thousand years. During this time, a large array of significant differences in views have accumulated that relate to any aspect of church life.

Orthodox have the following views, which are in no way accepted by their Western brothers:

• One of the hypostases of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, originates only from the Father (the creator of the world and man, the basis of all things), but not from the Son (Jesus Christ, the Old Testament messiah, who sacrificed himself for human sins);
• Grace is the action of the Lord, and not something taken for granted based on the act of creation;
• There is a different view on the cleansing of sins after death. Sinners among Catholics are doomed to torment in purgatory. For the Orthodox, ordeals await them - the path to unity with the Lord, which does not necessarily involve torture;
• In the Eastern branch, the dogma of the immaculate conception of the Mother of God (mother of Jesus Christ) is also not respected at all. Catholics believe that she became a mother by avoiding vicious sexual intercourse.

Differentiation according to ritual criteria

The differences in the area of ​​worship are not rigid, but quantitatively there are much more of them:

1. The person of a clergyman. The Roman Catholic Church attaches extremely great importance to it in the liturgy. He has the right to pronounce significant words on his own behalf when performing rituals. The Constantinople tradition assigns the priest the role of “God’s servant” and nothing more;
2. The number of permitted religious services per day also varies. The Byzantine rite allows this to be done only once on one Throne (temple on the altar);
3. Only Eastern Christians baptize a child through obligatory immersion in the font. In the rest of the world, it is enough just to sprinkle the child with blessed water;
4. In the Latin rite, specially designated rooms called confessionals are used for confession;
5. The altar (altar) only in the East is separated from the rest of the church by a partition (iconostasis). The Catholic Presbytery, in contrast, is designed as an architecturally open space.

Are Armenians Catholics or Orthodox?

The Armenian Church is considered one of the most distinctive in Eastern Christianity. She has a number of features that make her absolutely unique:

• Jesus Christ is recognized as a superhuman being who does not have a body and does not experience any of the needs inherent in all other people (even food and drink);
• Traditions of icon painting are practically undeveloped. It is not customary to worship artistic images of saints. This is why the interior of Armenian churches is so different from all others;
• Following the Latins, holidays are tied to the Gregorian calendar;
• There is a unique and unlike anything else religious “table of ranks”, which includes five levels (as opposed to three in the Russian Orthodox Church);
• In addition to Lent, there is an additional period of abstinence called Arachawork;
• In prayers it is customary to praise only one of the hypostases of the Trinity.

The official attitude of the Russian Orthodox Church towards the Armenian confession is emphatically respectful. However, its followers are not recognized as Orthodox, which is why even visiting an Armenian temple can be a sufficient reason for excommunication.

Therefore, believing Armenians are Catholics.

Features of honoring holidays

It is not at all surprising that differences exist in the celebrations:

• The most important post in all Christian churches, called Great, in the Latin rite begins on Wednesday of the seventh week before Easter. In our country, abstinence begins two days earlier, on Monday;
• The methods for calculating the date of Easter differ significantly. They coincide quite rarely (usually in 1/3 of cases). In both cases, the starting point is the day of the vernal equinox (March 21) according to the Gregorian (in Rome) or Julian calendar;
• The set of red days of the church calendar in the West includes, unknown in Russia, the holidays of the veneration of the Body and Blood of Christ (60 days after Easter), the Sacred Heart of Jesus (8 days after the previous one), the Feast of the Heart of Mary (the next day);
• And vice versa, we celebrate holidays that are completely unknown to supporters of the Latin rite. Among them is the veneration of some relics (the relics of Nicholas the Wonderworker and the chains of the Apostle Peter);
• If Catholics completely deny the celebration of Saturday, then Orthodox Christians consider it one of the Lord's days.

The rapprochement of Orthodox and Catholics

Christians around the world today have much more in common than even a hundred years ago. Whether in Russia or in the West, the church is under deep siege from secular society. The number of parishioners among young people is decreasing year by year. New cultural challenges are emerging in the form of sectarianism, pseudo-religious movements and Islamization.

All this makes former enemies and competitors forget old grievances and try to find a common language in a post-industrial society:

• As stated at the Second Vatican Council, the differences between Eastern and Western theology are complementary rather than conflicting. The decree "Unitatis Redintegratio" states that in this way the fullest vision of Christian truth is achieved;
• Pope John Paul II, who wore the papal tiara from 1978 to 2005, noted that the Christian church needs to “breathe with both lungs.” He emphasized the synergy of the rational Latin and mystical-intuitive Byzantine traditions;
• He was echoed by his successor, Benedict XVI, who declared that the Eastern churches were not separate from Rome;
• Since 1980, regular plenums of the Commission on Theological Dialogue between the two churches have been held. The last meeting dedicated to issues of conciliarity was held in 2016 in Italy.

Just a few hundred years ago, religious contradictions caused serious conflicts even in prosperous European countries. However, secularization has done its job: who are Catholics and Orthodox, what is the difference between them - this is of little concern to the modern man in the street. All-powerful agnosticism and atheism turned the thousand-year Christian conflict into dust, leaving it to the mercy of gray-haired elders in clothes trailing on the floor.

Video: the history of the schism between Catholics and Orthodox Christians

In this video, historian Arkady Matrosov will tell you why Christianity split into two religious movements, what preceded this:

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.

Nika Kravchuk

How does the Orthodox Church differ from the Catholic Church?

Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church - two branches of Christianity. Both originate from the preaching of Christ and apostolic times, honor the Most Holy Trinity, worship the Mother of God and saints, and have the same sacraments. But there are many differences between these churches.

The most important dogmatic differences Perhaps we can single out three.

Symbol of faith. The Orthodox Church teaches that the Holy Spirit comes from the Father. The Catholic Church has the so-called “filioque” - the addition of “and the Son.” That is, Catholics claim that the Holy Spirit comes from the Father and the Son.

Veneration of the Mother of God. Catholics have a dogma about the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, according to which the Mother of God did not inherit original sin. The Orthodox Church says that Mary was freed from original sin from the moment of Christ’s conception. Also, Catholics believe that the Mother of God ascended to heaven, so they do not know the feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so revered in Orthodoxy.

Dogma of the infallibility of the Pope. The Catholic Church believes that the teaching of the Pope ex cathedra (from the pulpit) on matters of faith and morals is infallible. The Pope is filled with the Holy Spirit, so he cannot make mistakes.

But there are many other differences.

Celibacy. In the Orthodox Church there are black and white clergy, the latter, accordingly, are supposed to have families. The Catholic clergy takes a vow of celibacy.

Marriage. The Catholic Church considers it a sacred union and does not recognize divorce. Orthodoxy allows for different circumstances.

Sign of the Cross. Orthodox Christians cross themselves with three fingers, from left to right. Catholics - five and from right to left.

Baptism. If in the Catholic Church it is only necessary to pour water over the person being baptized, then in the Orthodox Church it is necessary to immerse the person headlong. In Orthodoxy, the sacraments of baptism and confirmation are performed at the same moment, but among Catholics, confirmation is performed separately (possibly on the day of First Communion).

Communion. During this sacrament, Orthodox Christians eat bread made from leavened dough, while Catholics eat bread made from unleavened dough. In addition, the Orthodox Church blesses children to receive communion from a very early age, and in Catholicism this is preceded by catechesis (teaching the Christian faith), followed by a big holiday - First Communion, which falls somewhere in the 10-12th year of a child’s life.

Purgatory. The Catholic Church, in addition to hell and heaven, also recognizes a special intermediate place in which a person’s soul can still be purified for eternal bliss.

Construction of the temple. Catholic churches have an organ, relatively fewer icons, but still have sculptures and plenty of seating. In Orthodox churches there are many icons and paintings, and it is customary to pray while standing (there are benches and chairs for those who need to sit).

Universality. Each of the Churches has its own understanding of universality (catholicity). Orthodox believe that the Universal Church is embodied in each local Church, headed by a bishop. Catholics specify that this local Church must have communion with the local Roman Catholic Church.

Cathedrals. The Orthodox Church recognizes seven Ecumenical Councils, and the Catholic Church recognizes 21.

Many people are concerned about the question: can both churches unite? There is such a possibility, but what about the differences that have existed for many centuries? The question remains open.

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When people first come to church, the text of the services seems completely incomprehensible to them. “You catechumens, come forth,” the priest shouts. Who does he mean? Where to go? Where did this name even come from? Answers to these questions must be sought in the history of the Church.

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.