What is The Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church

Most people in the United States of America associate the "Orthodox Church" with the Greek, and lately, with the Russian Orthodox Churches. This is partially correct.

In an attempt to oversimplify the issue we may say that The Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church is composed of the churches in communion with the Patriarchates of Antioch, Greece, Russia, Jerusalem and Constantinople. These major Patriarchates are gathered under the Ecumenical Mantle of His Holiness Bartholomeos I, the Ecumenical Patriarch and Patriarch of Constantinople.

Each Patriarchate is headed by its own Patriarch, organizationally independent of each other, but in spiritual communion with all other Patriarchates.

Originally, at the turn of the first millennia, there were five Patriarchates: Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch (where the adjective "Christian" was for the first time coined to identify the followers of Jesus Christ), Jerusalem and Rome.

In the year 1054, as a result of political reasons thinly veiled under theological differences, the Patriarchate of Rome separated itself from the rest and became what is known today as the "Catholic Church".

The "Orthodox Church" only accepts the decrees and decisions of the first seven general church councils - two at Nicea, three at Constantinople, one at Ephesus and one at Chalcedon.

The "Orthodox Church" does not deny the Primacy of the Successor of Peter, the Patriarch of Rome. However, that "Primacy" is interpreted as "First Among Equals" and not "Supreme Infallible Ruler".

As it stands now, The Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church allows its faithful, under certain conditions, to receive the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation, among others, from the Orthodox Catholic Church. It also welcomes, under certain conditions, the Orthodox faithful to partake of said Sacraments within the Roman Church. However, reciprocity from the Orthodox Church is not possible in accordance to the Canons of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church. It is forbidden for an Orthodox Catholic to access the Roman Catholic Sacraments as it is forbidden to the Orthodox clergy to dispense such Sacraments to anyone who is not in full communion with Orthodoxy.


The Realationship According to the Roman Catholic Church Catechism (2nd Edition)



NOTE Added on February 22, 2002 - Feast of Chair of St. Peter

We rejoice to see that, although the smoke of satan is choking the Catholic Faith, the true servants of God within the Church are, in very subtle ways, upholding the Eternal Truths.

Allow us to elaborate...

What brought about the final break between Rome and the other Patriarchates of the original Catholic Church was, as it is usually the case, one man's ego versus another man's ego. Rome determined that the Holy Spirit proceeded from the Father and the Son, the rest of the Church insisted that the Holy Spirit proceeded only from the Father. Although the Holy Scriptures sided with the Eastern Church, Rome prevailed and the East-West schism came about.

It is the Will of God that now we point out that: On the Special Insert of the English Edition of L'Osservatore Romano [No. 36 - 6 September 2000], in which the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith published the complete text of Dominus Iesus, the Creed which appears under Section No. 1 reads:


Without much fanfare, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith seems to have acknowledged Rome's initial error. This action swings the door wide open for the happy reunion of the two "pieces" of the One Holy Catholic Church.

The Primacy of Peter is not a stumbling block since the Pope of Rome is officially recognized as the Successor of Peter by the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Church. The only two issues that seem to be in the way are: Money and Control.


Let us continue to pray so that the suffering in the world may be reduced, while assisting in the efforts to unite the people of God - starting with the One Holy Catholic Church. This is the dream that our beloved John Paul has carried in his heart for decades; a dream that has been thwarted so far by those around him who, tragically enough, control him.


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