www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West "Catholic" vs "Orthodox"

Could someone trace for me the history of "Catholic" and "Orthodox" as titles for the Church of Jesus Christ. When did they begin to be used to designate the Western and Eastern churches? Does the Eastern identification as "Orthodox" predate or postdate the schism?

TIA.

Dear Fr Kimmel,

Christ is risen!

I'm not sure if this will help, but here goes:

I've read the first use of the word "catholic" when referring to Christ's church was by St. Ignatius of Antioch. "Where the bishop is, there is the catholic church."

No doubt others will chime in on answering your question.

Peace be with you,

Paul

I believe the term "Orthodox" predates the Seperation and was used first at the time of the triumph of Orthodoxy over the Iconoclasts

As at the Anathemas on the Sunday of Orthodoxy "This is the Faith of the Orthodox!"

[I believe the term "Orthodox" predates the Seperation and was used first at the time of the triumph of Orthodoxy over the Iconoclasts

As at the Anathemas on the Sunday of Orthodoxy "This is the Faith of the Orthodox!"]

Reply:

It was used for the first time at the Council of Chalcedon (451) -

Canon XIV: Since in certain provinces it is permitted to the readers and singers to marry, the holy synod has decreed that it shall not be lawful for any of them to take a wife that is heterodox. But those who have already begotten children of such a marriage, if they have already had their children baptised among the heretics, must bring them into the communion of the Catholic Church; but if they have not had them baptised, they may not hereafter baptise them among the heretics, nor give them in marriage to a heretic, or a Jew, or a heathen, unless the person marrying THE ORTHODOX CHILD shall promise to come over to THE ORTHODOX FAITH. And if anyone shall transgress this degree of the holy synod, let him be subject to canonical censure. {Caps are mine}

OrthoMan

Dear Orthoman:

The Church early on was called "Catholic" and its faith "orthodox."

As adverted to by Paul above, St. Ignatius of Antioch is credited for the first public and recorded use of the name "Catholic Church" to refer to the Church established by Christ, long BEFORE the Council of Chalcedon in 451.

The term "Catholic" is descriptive of the Church while the term "orthodox" is descriptive of her faith or the exercise or expression thereof. It was only later when the term "Orthodox" or "Eastern Orthodox" was used to designate the Eastern Churches.

Amado

From the earlier conciliar period until the present, the Catholic Church continues to make use of the term "orthodox", both in her liturgical formularies and in pronouncements about the Faith. Whether one does or does not capitalize the word has little to do with the matter - although since it is a proper adjective it is better to capitalize it, so as to make it clear that we are not referring to "orthodox Marxists" or something else of that sort.
Christ is Risen!
Incognitus

Incog is correct. From the Roman Canon:

"Et pro omnibus orthodoxis, atque catholicae et apostolicae fidei cultoribus."

OrthoMan:

Interestingly enough, John of Ephesus, a Monophysite "father" from the 5th century, also uses the term "Orthodox." It is ubiquitous in his writings. Of course, he considers those darn heretics to be "Orthodox," while referring to the "foul Chalcedonian doctrine" of the evil king Justinian!

In Christ,

LatinTrad

Orthodox/orthodox and Catholic/catholic in the same sentence in the Roman Canon is very .

Capitaliizating catholic or orthodox, as stated by incognitus, is a grammatical/punctuation matter not a matter of the faith.

I certainly don't mind being called an orthodox catholic!!

Paul

Dear Paul,

Nor do I for that matter . . .

It affirms that one is of the true faith AND of the true Church in the same breath.

Congrats on your daughter's Chrisma . . .Confirmation!

Alex