Contents
Introduction
Catholic vs Orthodox Christianity—are they the same? With Christianity being the largest religion in the world, it’s no surprise that many feel curious about this topic. While both are branches of the Christian faith, there are some significant differences when it comes to the Pope, Original sin, Purgatory and more. In today’s blog we will cover what sets them apart with a promise of no heavy theology and just a simple, easy to understand explanation.
Catholic vs Orthodox: How did the Division Occur?
Before we jump into the differences, let’s take a brief look at how the two branches came to be. This journey takes us all the way back to the Great Schism of 1050—the split between Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox. But this separation did not happen in one day. Over the years leading up to the Schism, tension was continuously growing between Western and Eastern Christianity. The two sides did not see eye to eye on many issues, including how they viewed the pope’s role and authority. Over time, this conflict grew due to geographical, cultural and theological differences and eventually led to the separation of the two churches.
Exploring the Catholic and Orthodox Faith Comparison
The Pope’s Role and Authority
For the Catholic’s the pope (bishop of Rome) has supreme authority over all the other bishops in the world. He is the leader of the church and has the power to define new doctrines. Catholics also believe in papal infallibility, which means that when the Pope speaks on official religious matters, he is considered free from error.
In contrast, there are many Orthodox arguments against Papacy. They believe that each church should be led by its own bishop, and the ultimate authority belongs to God alone. Instead of a single figure being the ultimate authority, they take a more council-based approach where decisions are made collectively. From their viewpoint, even the greatest leaders can make mistakes and don’t hold the power to introduce new teachings or override God’s commands.
Original Sin, Human Nature and Salvation
In the Catholic vs Orthodox debate, a major talking point is how each side understands original sin and salvation. For Catholics, every single human is born with guilt of the original sin. They are only able to escape punishment due to Jesus’s sacrifice. So, every time you ask for forgiveness, you are essentially paying off a debt.
On the other hand, the Orthodox Church views original sin as evidence of why human beings are inherently addicted to sinning. To put it simply, when you are born, you’re not guilty of any sin. Rather, you are inherently inclined towards sin and seeking forgiveness helps you heal from this spiritual disease.
Purification of the Soul in Purgatory
An important difference between the Catholic and Orthodox beliefs is the existence of Purgatory. In Catholic belief, it is a place where souls go after death, before they are eventually sent to Heaven or Hell. In this way, it is like a ‘third place’ where sinful souls are purified. The temporary punishment they receive here saves them from the eternal torment of hell. For the Orthodox Church, purgatory does not exist and the soul will travel straight to heaven or hell (based on their spiritual state) without any stop on the way.
Priesthood in Catholic vs Orthodox
Marriage is a big no for a Catholic priest as they take a vow of celibacy. In Orthodox beliefs, a man who is already married can become a priest as well. However, this only applies before ordination, meaning they can’t get married later.
You will also notice a difference in the appearance of religious figures of both sides with Orthodox priests having long beards and hair (imitating the traditional image of Christ) while Catholic Priests have short hair and are often clean shaven (similar to the pope).
Differences in Religious Practices
There are some differences when it comes to religious practices in Catholic vs Orthodox Christianity such as;
- Drawing Cross: You may have seen a Christian footballer make the cross sign before a game. For Orthodox, they make this sign from right to left, while a Catholic will go from left to right.
- Easter Dates: Catholics and Orthodox Christians celebrate this holiday on different days (due to using different calendars).
- Bread During Communion: Unleavened bread is placed on the hands in the Catholic Church. On the contrary, the Orthodox receive leavened bread placed on a spoon which is directly fed to them.
- Interior of Church: If you Google Catholic vs Orthodox Church, you will immediately spot a major difference. Catholic Churches have benches for sitting or kneeling during long services. An Orthodox Church is usually empty in the center to create space for bowing.
Wrapping it Up!
While there are some theological disagreements and subtle differences in practice, the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church also share many core beliefs. Understanding the beliefs of both branches can help you grow spiritually. If you are looking for other ways to start your spiritual journey, we welcome you to Home of Wellness—a sanctuary dedicated to healing. We offer a number of expert- led sessions like meditation, energy healing, intuitive readings and more. Contact us now to reserve your slot.