www.byzcath.org

Quite illuminating.

It seems that there are as usual many RCs who desparately wish us to disappear.

http://www.catholica.com.au/andrewstake1/079_ak_210608.php

CDL

Vatican does politics, avoiding the problems. If I would be Greek-Catholic (Byzantine-Catholic), I would have major problems of consciousness regarding the Vatican.

This is true but is there a Church without St. Peter?

CDL

The Vatican tolerated outrageous scandals, either Europe, or the U.S.A. The Vatican closed the eyes to many problems, instead of taking the knife of her own canons and cut the bad part.

First and foremost of all, beginning and end, Church is with Christ. Christ is not the distant Son of God. His word is true, He is with us until the end of the time. (poor translation into English, I do not know better).

Vatican chose to update the Church to this fallen world of this time, instead of preserving, cultivating the Holy Tradition.

When I am in a RC Church, I have no idea whether at a certain time it is the Mass or other usual prayers, I must know before this. I do not feel the beauty and the mystery of the Divine Liturgy from the Holy Orthodoxy.

Who attended a Divine Liturgy, especially at a smaller skete, then it is impossible to remained untouched in his or her heart.

St. Peter died for Christ, but the Vatican did and does politics at high level.

Marian,

You did not address the question. How can there be a Church without St. Peter?

CDL

The article in Catholica which CDL posted is very interesting in that it in troduces the concept of Orthodox-Catholic collaboration for the sake of national development. In this case how a Ukrainian Orthodox priest was able to write a patriotic poem which would be eventually put to music by a Ukrainian Greek-Catholic priest. The poem and music would become the national anthem of Ukraine.

The union of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox Churche KP churches will necessitate a Patriarchate, something that the Ukrainian people have desired for over 1000 years. The Patriarchate will be recognized by Rome, Constantinople, and other Orthodox Churches, and will rapidly become a model of Church unity in our time. The Rusyn dream of an Orthodox-Catholic Faith will then spread to Belarus, Moldova, Romania, and other neighboring countries.

I.F.

I.F.,

You see the vision and the opportunity that Eastern Catholicism presents. Glory to Jesus Christ.

CDL

Marian, first of all, if you're "Orthodox," you need to focus on some of the issues facing your communion. There's churches that do not recognize other churches to name one. Just look at how the Moscow Patriarch speaks of the Estonian Orthodox Church.

Second, there is no unity of voice of truth in the Church without Peter as head. Jesus made Peter alone as head of His Church here on Earth. The Bishop of Rome is the visible source of unity for the Bishops and all the faithful, and alone was given the keys to the kingdom of heaven. The early Church fathers can attest to this. There is a good book I will suggest to you, called "The Early Papacy," by Adrian Fortescue. It was writen from a High Church Anglican's perspective about the Pope's role in the early Church and how he came to see how his authority was given from Christ himself.

Third, you need a better understanding of "Holy Tradition."
Tradition is not just holding to nostalgia of the 1st century of Christianity. Christ is with us today as he was then. Tradition is what the Apostles transmit,all they received from Our Lord, but is not stopped dead as if it is not living. It is for the Church today to perserve Sacred Tradition, and find effective ways to evangelize, and allow for organic growth

This is an odd question. How can be a Church without Christ or Christ or the Apostles or the Holy Fathers.

I will not write anymore, because sincerely it arrived the time of silence. Too many words.

I saw your words in other thread, about the stubborn resistance of the Orthodox. I must end here any participation, instead I will keep your name in prayer.

Sincerely, Marian+

What a shame. But it points out the difficulties a 1,000 artificial division causes. When backed into an inconsistency both sides seem to shut down. I pray that the holy fathers Husar and Bartholomew will be the instruments of shedding light upon this sorry situation which I call the saddest in all of Christianity.

CDL

Yes, I am Orthodox, no doubt.

Yes, Holy Tradition is not holding a nostalgia. It is much more, as you said.

Yes, new ways to evangelize.

I suffer much to hear dark voices attacking out Lord Jesus Christ. The two Churches must unite against those voices, who propose death and other very bad things.

Time of silence, I ask forgiveness, I did not want to prejudice anyone.

But it is too sad, what a fallen world, and I am surely a part of it.

unworthy, m+

I for one think it is great, the example His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew have both committed themselves to establishing dialogue, not just simple gestures. We all know the issues, alot of them are legitimate, others were of political origin rather than theological. It's been said, theres more to unite us, then seperate. Obviously in order to partake of the Holy Eucharist together, we have ways to go, but with God, anything is possible. Those from both parties who do not wish for unity, are contrary to Christ. It has been a scandal that we have so much division in the Church.

hum....

There is the Antiochian Church which was jointly founded by Saints Peter and Paul. And this church is where the disciples were first called Christians.

Then there is the Alexandrian Church which was founded by St. Peter and St. Mark, correct.

So Rome is not the only church that was founded by the Apostle Peter who served as a missionary bishop and founded not one church but at least three churches. In fact, Rome was founded by Saints Peter and Paul also, because both did missionary work and shed their blood there.

Actually I have been deeply moved and led to live a devot and holy life from the roman liturgy, and if I would be honest the first dozen times I attended a DL of the Eastern Church I found it totally foreign and unedifying.
God reaches us were we are and should not be limited by us because we find one way of worshiping better suited to us.
"In diversity freedom, in essentials unity and in all things charity."
Stephanos I