Understanding the essence of Christianity can often be complex given its various branches.
Two of the most prominent sects are Catholic and Orthodox Christianity, which, despite sharing a common foundation, have distinct differences that impact their practices, beliefs, and traditions.
The primary difference lies in their view of the authority of the Pope. In fact, in Roman Catholicism, the Pope has supreme authority. The Orthodox Church rejects such supremacy.
Today, I aim to compare Catholic and Orthodox churches and give you a clear, concise breakdown of these differences.
We will examine aspects like tradition, sacraments, and other theological nuances that set these two major branches of Christianity apart.
1. Authority of the Pope
A key difference between Catholic and Orthodox Christianity is their view of the Pope’s authority.
In Catholicism, the Pope is regarded as the Vicar of Christ on earth, holding supreme power over the church.
His rulings and teachings are considered infallible when he speaks ex-cathedra, meaning from the chair, on matters of faith and morals.
On the contrary, Orthodox Christianity, while respecting the Pope as a significant ecclesiastical figure, does not ascribe his absolute authority.
The Orthodox Church operates under a system known as autocephaly — where each regional church maintains its independence and is governed by its head bishop or patriarch.
This decentralization represents a stark contrast to the hierarchical structure of Catholicism.
So, here’s the key difference:
- Papal Infallibility: Catholics believe in Papal infallibility, which means when the Pope speaks “ex-cathedra” (from the chair) on matters of faith and morals, he cannot err.
- Conciliarity: The Orthodox principle of “conciliarity” or “synodality” suggests that all bishops are equal. It rejects the idea of any bishop having infallible authority.
2. Role of tradition
Another aspect where Catholic and Orthodox Christianity diverge significantly is their approach to tradition. Both branches revere tradition, but they interpret and apply it differently.
In the Catholic Church, there is a balance between written scripture and oral tradition.
The church believes that both scripture and tradition passed down through the apostles, form the deposit of faith.
This belief is based on the conviction that the Holy Spirit guides the Church in understanding and interpreting God’s revelation.
On the other hand, Orthodox Christianity places paramount importance on Holy Tradition.
In their view, Holy Tradition encompasses not only written scripture but also the teachings of the Church Fathers, liturgy, and canons.
They believe that the Holy Spirit works through all these elements to reveal God’s truth.
3. Practices of worship
One more significant difference between Catholic and Orthodox Christianity lies in worship practices.
In Catholicism, the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s allowed for using vernacular languages in the Mass.
This decision was made to make the liturgy more accessible to the congregation.
While Latin remains the official liturgical language, local languages are predominantly used in Catholic services worldwide today.
In contrast, Orthodox Christianity maintains a strong attachment to its traditional liturgical languages.
For instance, the Greek Orthodox Church uses Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament. The Russian Orthodox Church predominantly uses Church Slavonic, an old Slavic language.
To sum up:
- Roman Rite: This is the liturgical rite used in the Catholic Church. It’s characterized by a certain structure and use of Latin in traditional services.
- Byzantine Rite: This is the liturgical rite of the Orthodox Church, heavily characterized by its rich symbolism and frequent use of incense.
These differences in worship extend to various aspects such as language, music, and holy symbols used during services.
4. Original sin and salvation
The doctrine of original sin and its effects also significantly differ in Catholic and Orthodox Christianity.
The Catholic Church teaches that all humans inherit original sin from Adam and Eve, which leads to a fallen state of human nature.
This guilt is cleansed through baptism.
Therefore, Catholics believe in salvation through grace, which is received via the sacraments and faith in Jesus Christ.
However, Orthodox Christianity does not view humanity as inheriting guilt from Adam and Eve. Rather, they view it as a sinful nature.
They believe in theosis — a process of becoming one with God’s divine nature, as the path to salvation. This process involves a life-long journey of spiritual transformation.
5. Physical appearance and rituals
Orthodox priests traditionally wear beards, reflecting Leviticus 21:5’s directive against shaving heads or beards.
In contrast, Catholic priests typically adopt a clean-shaven look, aligning with Rome’s customs.
The ritual of the cross also varies between the two churches.
Catholics make the sign from head to chest and left shoulder to right, using all five fingers to symbolize Jesus’ stigmata.
Orthodox followers make the sign with three fingers, symbolizing the Holy Trinity, and from right shoulder to left.
Moreover, the interior layout and decor of Orthodox and Catholic churches further highlight their differences.
Particularly, Orthodox churches boast rich gilded ornaments, relics, and icons. Benches are usually placed along walls since bows to the ground are frequent during services.
In contrast, Catholic churches have benches with kneeling shelves due to prolonged kneeling during prayers.
6. Views on divorce and remarriage
Now, let’s discuss when a couple married in a church, later decides to part ways.
What does their faith say about their decision?
This brings us to another key distinction between Catholic and Orthodox Christianity – their views on divorce and remarriage.
The Catholic Church maintains a strict stance on this matter. It views marriage as a sacrament that is indissoluble. While it does allow for annulments under specific circumstances, it does not recognize divorce and remarriage.
Contrastingly, Orthodox Christianity, while upholding the sanctity of marriage, permits divorce and remarriage under certain circumstances.
It views this as an act of oikonomia, or mercy, recognizing human weakness.
7. Sacramental practices
Sacraments, or sacred rites, are integral to both Catholic and Orthodox Christianity.
However, their administration and significance vary between the two denominations, marking another key difference.
The Catholic Church recognizes 7 sacraments:
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- Eucharist
- Penance
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- Matrimony.
The sacraments are seen as vehicles of grace and are typically administered sequentially. In particular, Baptism is given to infants while Confirmation is usually performed during adolescence.
Orthodox Christianity also acknowledges the same 7 sacraments but with different practices. For instance:
- Baptism and Chrismation (equivalent to Confirmation) are administered simultaneously to infants.
- The Eucharist is given to infants immediately after Baptism and Chrismation.
8. The Filioque clause
Let’s turn our attention now to the Filioque clause — a controversial doctrinal point that has caused significant debate between Catholic and Orthodox Christianity.
This difference revolves around the language used in the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith widely used in Christian liturgy.
In the Catholic Church, the Nicene Creed includes the Filioque clause, which states that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father “and the Son” (Filioque in Latin).
This addition was made in the Western Church to combat a specific heresy.
Orthodox Christianity, however, strictly adheres to the original version of the Nicene Creed, which states that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone.
They regard the Catholic addition of the Filioque clause as unauthorized and doctrinally incorrect.
9. Beliefs about the Holy Spirit’s procession
Finally, the understanding of the Holy Spirit’s procession presents another significant divergence between Catholic and Orthodox Christianity.
According to the Catholic Church, the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son — a doctrine known as the Filioque clause.
- Filioque Clause: This Latin term translates to “and the Son.” It was added to the Nicene Creed in the Western Church, asserting that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father “and the Son.”
On the contrary, Orthodox Christianity firmly holds that the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father. They argue that the Filioque clause disrupts the balance of the Holy Trinity and reduces the distinctiveness of each person within it.
- Monopatrism: The Orthodox Church adheres to this concept, which emphasizes that only the Father is the origin of the Trinity.
What Unites Them?
Despite their differences, Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity share fundamental beliefs that unite them.
Foremost among these is the belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of humanity.
Both denominations uphold the teachings of the New Testament and follow the sacraments, including Baptism, Communion, and Confession.
They both honor Mary as Theotokos, or God-bearer, and venerate saints.
The Nicene Creed, a statement of faith widely used in Christian liturgy, is also shared – albeit with differing interpretations.
Most importantly, their shared beliefs underscore the common foundation and purpose that bind these two denominations together:
To live out the teachings of Jesus Christ.
