The importance of understanding Eastern Christianity

University Concourse ^ | October 2000 | Anthony T. Dragani

[NYer]

Anthony Dragani, who recently completed an MA in Theology at Franciscan University, is now studying for a PhD in Theology at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

[NYer]

To many in the Western world, Christianity is composed of Protestants and Roman Catholics; they are not even aware that there is an entirely distinctive and legitimate Eastern tradition.

As a Roman Catholic practicing the faith in an Eastern (Maronite) Catholic Church, I am constantly reminded of the words spoken by Pope John XXIII ....

"The Eastern Churches are the Treasures of the Catholic Church".

To that I would add ... The Eastern Churches are the Jewels in the Crown of the Catholic Church.

For those seeking the root of authentic catholicism, I would suggest that you visit an Eastern Catholic Church in your community. You can locate one at this link.

Eastern Catholic Churches in the U.S.

To learn more about the two lungs of the Catholic Church, visit this link:

CATHOLIC RITES AND CHURCHES

[Lion in Winter]

A ping from your Protestant friend.

[sitetest]

Nice article.

[Destro]

The Orthodox Are Coming

[Destro]

Good article - I like articles like this about something that is currently under the American collective culture's radar. Most Americans would never be exposed to any of this if not for FreeRepublic postings.

[ventana]

bump. V's wife.

[sionnsar]

"In case you weren't pinged" ping

[Bombardier]

I pray for the day when all Christianity will speak with one voice again....our Lord hears us now, but maybe He will hear us better when we all speak as one again.

[NYer]

Most Americans would never be exposed to any of this if not for FreeRepublic postings.

One year ago, Gregory John Mansour was named Bishop of the Eparchy of St. Maron in Brooklyn NY. This picture was taken at his ordination in Harissa, Lebanon. That is Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Cardinal Sfeir, laying hands on him.

Tomorrow night, Bishop Mansour will make an informal visit to our parish, celebrating the Divine Liturgy, followed by a dinner at a local Hall.

In just one year of service as bishop, he has earned the great respect of all the Maronites in the Eparchy of St. Maron. Were it not for FreeRepublic, I too would have gone through life totally blind to the other lung of Holy Mother Church.

[Destro]

what do you mean?

[Kolokotronis]

Thanks for the ping. The author I think may have been a bit generous on the size of the Eastern Churches in communion with the Pope. The history of these churches in Europe show that they were the result of certain dynastic maneuvers on the part of Roman Catholic monarchs. Their development in the East is rather different, with only the Maronites being most likely continuously in communion with Rome. The other Eastern Catholic churches in the Middle East came about through the actions of the Crusaders or the work of Jesuits, Franciscans and Dominicans as late as the immediate post WWI era. One of the odd things about all this is that the Maronites, who until the past 250 years or so were the most isolated of all, also became the most Latinized, or Francofied, of them all. For the past 15 years or so the Maronites have been working very hard to restore their own very distinctive Syriac heritage but it has been a hard row to hoe as the Latins intentionally destroyed almost all written trace of the original Syriac liturgies and services, hymnology and even theology. The Byzantine rites, like the Melkites and the Eastern Catholics in Europe, are liturgically almost line for line identical to the Orthodox Churches. Their submission to Rome, however, makes their ecclesiology, at least traditionally, almost completely Latin and utterly unlike their Orthodox counterparts, though this has so changed in a couple of groups that they left the Roman Church and came under the omophorion of one of the other patriarchates and of late there have been protests to Rome that these churches really are "sui juris" and Rome should butt out of their business. The foregoing notwithstanding, their theology, of course, is Latin, not Eastern Orthodox, despite what this author says. There is no point of theology, of which I am aware, where these churches come down on the Orthodox side in opposition to the dogmas of the Roman Church in such areas as the Immaculate Conception, Papal Infallibility or the filioque clause in the Creed among others.

[Kolokotronis]

I'm sure it will be a great joy to your parish to have the bishop visit and he certainly does have an excellent reputation, and not just among the Maronites, I might add. Just a couple of comments, though. First, the "two lungs" image the Pope uses has been rejected by Orthodoxy as a "misdescription" of the Churches in the East and the West, though they are sister Churches, all being "particular" Churches within The Church, though in schism. Second, don't you think the Patriarch and the bishop look very Roman in their Latin vestments?

[Destro]

All I know is history teaches that the church pre schism - while different for each culture was the same in its teachings. So priests could marry in East and West. Christ's nature same east and west north and south. I still don't get how Latin clergy are not allowed to marry but Eastern Catholics clergy can. How is this policy seperation is tolerated? I know an Orthodox from Egypt or Palestine of Greece can go to a Siberian of Alaskan church and understand the universe - catholic - he is in - cultures different - the easter eggs get treated different - but the religion is the same. That is what was lost in the great schisim...the catholicism.

[Destro]

too many typos - sleep calls.

[Siobhan]

They actually aren't entirely Latin vestments though the untrained eye would see them as such. I don't have time to explain in full, but look beyond the mitre and the rest of the vesture is not Latin at all but truly Maronite.

[NYer]

don't you think the Patriarch and the bishop look very Roman in their Latin vestments?

These Bishops probably look more familiar to you. They come from the Byzantine, Melkite, Ruthenian, and other Eastern Catholic Churches.

Eastern Rite Bishops

Siobhan is correct. The Maronite vestments are much less elaborate.

[NYer]

A papal blessing for the new bishop.

[Kolokotronis]

"These Bishops probably look more familiar to you. They come from the Byzantine, Melkite, Ruthenian, and other Eastern Catholic Churches."

Yup! :)