www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Unity between Catholics and Non-Chalcedonean Churches

Both Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholics are trying to reach unity between themselves despite the disputes between both Communions (Primacy of the Pope, addition of filioque to the Creed and dogmas approved by the Western Church without intervention of the Orthodox Communion).

However, it seems that the attempts by the Catholic Church to reach full Communion between Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox and Roman Catholics are not as important as the other attemps, even though this Communion would probably easier to achieve.

The Armenian and Syrian Orthodox already recognize the Sacraments of the Roman Church as grace-giving and in many cases there is intercommunion, the Oriental Orthodox did not suffer abuse of power by Popes as it happened to the Byzantine Church so they do not seem to have a particular prejuidce against the Western Church, the Catholic Church is more open to accept the Christology of the OO as Orthodox than the Byzantine Church, and so on.

Why is it that a more profound form of Communion between Catholic and Oriental Orthodox has not been achieved?

It is only (relatively) recently that Rome has concluded that
the non-Chaldeconian Churches are not in heresy.That took
1500 odd years, but is a critical step. These things do not
work themselves out quickly.

Edmac

Dear Mexican,

In a word, the papacy.

The Armenian Apostolic Orthodox Church, for example, is so close to union with "Byzantine" Orthodoxy - but as came out during the published theological discussions with them is that they are afraid of losing their ecclesial identity if they did so.

The Armenian Church has a "college" of patriarchates with the Patriarch of Etchmiadzin (meaning "The descent of the Only-Begotten") being the first among equals. The survival of the Armenian people depends on the survival of their Holy Church.

There were Armenians who were formally "Byzantine Orthodox" and St Paissy Velichkovsky counted a number among his followers.

The Mechitarist Armenian Catholics have, on the other hand, achieved a profound esteem among their countrymen for their unquestioned commitment to the Armenian Church and people.

During the theological discussions between the Miaphysites and the Orthodox, it was shown that the only thing that separated those two "families of Orthodox Churches of the East" was one word - the definition of the Person/Natures of Christ.

Apart from that, the two families of Churches are identical in all else.

The same cannot be said of the Miaphysites and the RC Church.

However, the Miaphysites that I know don't let things like ecclesial divisions get in the way of good relationships!

Being at an Armenian Church once, I noticed that EVERY single car in the vast parking lot sported a Latin rosary on the rear-view mirror. When we had our petition to declare Pope John Paul II Day in Ontario, Armenian Orthodox were sending in signed copies . . .

We should pray that the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches become "One, Holy, Orthodox, Catholic and Apostolic Church of the East" and then further ecumenical perspectives can be examined with the view to what the future might promise.

Alex