www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Conversion to Orthodoxy

I'm thinking of converting to Orthodoxy because I more identify with their theological approaches as well as feel the same in terms of Papal authority.

I would like to hear Eastern Catholic takes on Orthodoxy in my further spiritual quest.

At the outset, I remind those responding to Tom - whether they be Catholic or Orthodox - that the long-standing praxis of this forum is to respect inquiries of this nature and discuss the questions raised, civilly, charitably, and without polemics or triumphalism.

Many years,

Neil

Flesh of our flesh, bone of our bone.

it sounds nice, but could you elaborate? haha

From my perspective, there is no theological, liturgical or spiritual difference between the Greek Catholics and the Orthodox.

I'm not canonically EC nor have I been going to an EC parish for a long time. But I feel there's a better affinity with the Orthodox for many, if not all, ECs than with Roman Catholics. Especially the traditional variety.

My personal perspective is the same, but I would also have to say that the reality on the ground at the Byzantine Ruthenian parish I attend does not always reflect this.

I would also hazard the guess that I am one of only a small handful in my parish, who, if faced with no Eastern Catholic liturgy available, would choose an Orthodox church over a Roman Catholic one (for ex, while on vacation). I have to admit this is something that's hard for me to understand, as I personally feel a great affinity with the Orthodox, and very little with RCs. But I don't think that's true for many of the Byzantine Catholics I know personally.

I'm all in favor of people - including Roman Catholics - joining the Orthodox Church if they deeply and sincerely believe that's what they have to do in order to save their souls.

I myself have never joined it because when all is said and done, I have never been able to see what good it would do me. I believe I have everything I need for salvation right where I am (Greek Catholic). By the same token I can't see what good my conversion to Orthodoxy would do for the Orthodox Church.

And that's partially because I often experience profound ambivalence and scepticism toward all Christian churches, including my own...getting beyond or at least better managing that is a project for me to work on during the upcoming Great Fast. Pray I improve in this area, please.

If I am unable to get to the Liturgy in my Greek Catholic parish, I, like you, usually go to the Orthodox parish's Liturgy. I feel uncomfortably displaced when I attend the Latin Catholic novus ordo Mass and I'd have to be driven by whips, cattle-prods and ferociously snarling dogs to go to a Mass celebrated in the extraordinary form.

I feel the same way as Silenos Ilgesys. My spiritual life is more inclined towards Orthodoxy. I have nothing against RC but after so many years attending the Divine Liturgy at the Greek Catholic parish, I feel totally disconnected with the Latin mass.
The only difference in my case is that I do not canonically belong to the UGC. My petition to change Church Sui iuris was sent a couple of weeks ago to Rome. They will decide if I stay catholic or not. My Eparch was too shy to make this simple decision....

I'm not one of the people the question is directed to - but there are certainly differences; some big, some small. The question is really are they things that matter to you.

In communion with the Pope, or not. That's the only difference in my book.

I'm happy to be in communion with him because it allows me and my RC fiancee to attend Byzantine Catholic church together. I've also personally developed somewhat of a calling to witness the Eastern faith in the Catholic church as a result of that initial motivation.

But aside from those two things, I'd probably be Greek Orthodox by now. I'd say much the same as Stuart, although with the caveat that I think you have to be a bit more of a contrarian by nature to really embrace being an Eastern Catholic, in my experience. Being Orthodox is a lot easier.

Tell me about it.

My family and I became Eastern Catholic about 10 years ago. We love it and have the “best of both worlds.” We have the great liturgical and spiritual tradition of the East, and we also have the wonderful intellectual heritage of the West, much of which began in the East. The more I delve into both traditions, the more I appreciate both and find that they really do complement one another—much in the same way that a human being needs both a head and a heart. We are also fortunate to have a great priest (with a wife and two children) from the Ukraine who loves the Fathers and St. Thomas Aquinas!

I have yet to find a dogmatic teaching of the Catholic Church with which a Father of the Church would disagree. I find that a Universal Father (the Pope) is a gift to the Church for our edification and to preserve the faith inviolate. I would suggest reading, “The Russian Church and the Papacy” by Soloviev for more thoughts on this issue. This is an excerpt from his much larger work, “Russia and the Universal Church.” You can find it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Russian-Church-Papacy-Vladimir-Soloviev/dp/1888992298

In Christ,

lm

Francois, my brother,

Are you serious? The Eparch actually declined to make a decision and forwarded it to Rome (or to the Nuncio, who is actually the one who should act on it, if a hierarch decided to revert to the 'old way' of doing such)? If you don't mind my asking, did the Latin hierarch have any issue with your request?

I apologize and understand fully if you don't want to discuss this publicly - or at all; it's really your personal business. It's just that I'm flabbergasted when I hear this kind of story in this day and age - particularly involving someone such as yourself. It's not as if you just dropped into an EC temple last week and decided that you wanted to make a change. (As memory serves, back when you first came here, you indicated that you had been discerning this question for several years, during which time you have been worshipping with the Ukrainians.)

Many years,

Neil