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Mar 25th, 2025
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Wow, thanks you guys! I am SO intimidated by all the brains on this discussion board-- I'm just an uneducated housewife who is trying to find my way to Jesus-- so I accept your warm welcome with big hugs! Thanks again...
Your friend in Jesus,
Donna ><>
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Glory to Jesus Christ! Don't be so hard on yourself, Donna. You have been bestowed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, which is MORE of an education that any Christian could possibly hope for or deserve.
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Welcome Donna, Uneducated???  If you are a housewife you have some of the best education in the world!  We have long apron strings on this forum, they kind of reach around the world. Don't be afraid of asking questions on here. The brains on this forum tend to be patient with us non brains for the most part. Anyway we tug on each others apron strings and pull each other along, that way we all learn. Rose
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You folks are too kind. Thanks again!
The good thing is I just discovered the "search" feature, and I am gleaning SO MUCH information just from looking at the old posts (between diaper changes, that is!).
Something I can't seem to find is: what is THE Catechism for the Byzantine Catholic Church? Is there one?? If so, where can I order it? Amazon.com has the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church-- but I know some of the theology is much different on the Eastern side.
Just trying to learn all I can!
Your little friend in Jesus,
Donna ><>
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Donna, there is no "byzantine catechism" as such. There is a three-volume set from Light and Life for adult catechism, Part One—The Mystery Believed, Part Two—The Mystery Celebrated, and Part Three, The Mystery Lived. You can get these from Eastern Christian Publications, www.ecpubs.com [ ecpubs.com] or from Icon and Book Service, www.iconbook.org [ iconbook.org] The Ukrainian Catholic Church has its own Catechetical Directory approved by the Patriarchal Synod which I will try to make available here with permission of the Admin.
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As far as catechetical books a la the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we do not have one. The real catechetical books, I would say, are the writings of the Church Fathers, particularly the Greek Fathers.
But the truest catechism for us is are the Divine Services (both the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Eucharistic Divine Liturgies). "The rule of prayer is the rule of Faith" for us.
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Dear Mr. Diak and Mr. Akemner,
Thank you! Okay, that clears up a lot for me!
What I'm beginning to see (please correct me if I'm wrong) is that the Orthodox Church, which is not in Communion with Rome, is almost the exact same in belief and practice as the Byzantine, or "Eastern" CATHOLIC Church, which IS in Communion with Rome-- am I getting it???
Also, would it be correct to assume there are not myriad rules on things like in the Roman Rite? Just so you know, I'm not criticizing the Roman Rite-- I love our big beautiful Catholic Church and ALL her Rites! Just trying to sort it all out...
Your little friend in Jesus,
Donna ><>
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Mr. Diak, I forgot I had wanted to thank you for those wonderful links, too!!! Great stuff! Donna 
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The Christian East especially believes in the maxim "lex orandi, lex credendi" or how we pray is how we believe. The Liturgy and Divine Praisies of the Church are the real treasure of theology of the Church, since even Scripture is understood within a liturgical framework in the East.
If you really want to immerse yourself in Byzantine spirituality and theology, get a good Byzantine prayer book, and pray. If you have found a Byzantine church, go to the services and experience the life, death and resurrection of Christ present in the services.
It is difficult to just immerse in the fathers, the Philokalia, etc. without a primer. The God With Us series is a good primer which will open up some doors. Anything from Archbishop Raya (such as the "Face of God") and Kallistos Ware ("The Orthodox Way") are also good starters. Also try to find a spiritual father as well who can guide you with reading the Fathers and taking on ascetic practices.
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Originally posted by Diak:
Anything from Archbishop Raya (such as the "Face of God") and Kallistos Ware ("The Orthodox Way") are also good starters. Also try to find a spiritual father as well who can guide you with reading the Fathers and taking on ascetic practices. Hello, and thanks, but I am SO confused by this. I thought Kallistos Ware was an Orthodox Christian; not Catholic. That's what I'm wondering: is the Orthodox Church pretty much the same in belief and practice as the Byzantine Catholic Church??? Please help!
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Joined: Nov 2001
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Dear Donna, I'm taking "House Wife 101" myself . . . Not having too much success, I keep leaving stains in the sink and floor . . . I guess I'm just an idiot . . But, as I tell my wife, my heart's in the right place! Alex
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Yes, Donna, you are absolutely right! Originally posted by Donna Ellis: I thought Kallistos Ware was an Orthodox Christian; not Catholic. That's what I'm wondering: is the Orthodox Church pretty much the same in belief and practice as the Byzantine Catholic Church??? Please help! According to Fr. Archimandrite Robert Taft, S.J., Dean and Professor at the Pontifical Oriental College in Rome and the Vatican's expert on Liturgy and stuff Eastern - he says that basically the only thing that differs Eastern Catholics and Orthodox Christians is our (Eastern Catholics) being in Communion with Rome. This is why our Theologians are referring to our selves as "Orthodox in Communion with Rome". Thus in general terms, all our theology, spirituality, ecclesiology, Church discipline, etc., etc. should be Orthodox theology, spirituality, ecclesiology, etc. etc. This is the mandate of Vatican II for the "Eastern Catholic" Churches, this is what the Vatican and esp. Pope John Paul II keep calling us to. We are called to be that part of Orthodox Church which has renewed/reiterated/reestablished our intercommunion with Rome. Perhaps shocking, but it's there in black and white. Herb
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Originally posted by Herbigny:
Yes, Donna, you are absolutely right!.. basically the only thing that differs Eastern Catholics and Orthodox Christians is our (Eastern Catholics) being in Communion with Rome... Thus in general terms, all our theology, spirituality, ecclesiology, Church discipline, etc., etc. should be Orthodox theology, spirituality, ecclesiology... We are called to be that part of Orthodox Church which has renewed/reiterated/reestablished our intercommunion with Rome. Dear Herb, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!! You answered my questions clearly and exactly! (The light bulb went on for me!) Okay, okay, NOW I get it! Oh, wow-- now many of the things I've been studying in the old posts make much more sense!.. There was a book I wanted to buy for my little ones (I can't recall the name of it) which describes the inside of the Eastern Church for children; but because it is published by an Orthodox publishing house, I thought it wouldn't apply to the Byzantine Catholic-- how wrong I was! I am going to find that book again and get it for my babies! This information opens up a whole new world to me! There are many other wonderful Orthodox books for children-- and adults-- I had no idea that MY family could enjoy and benefit from them as well! Thanks for taking the time to help me understand this!!! With all that said, would you mind recommending a "beginner's" prayer book for adults? (Now that I have so many more bookstores to choose from?)  Gratefully, Donna Ellis
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Dear Donna:
Just a minor correction: the "Catechism of the Catholic Church," which touches also on the Eastern Churches, not the "Catechism of the ROMAN Catholic Church!"
AmdG
Another Roman (or Latin) like you.
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Oh, wow, I didn't even know the Catechism addressed the Byzantine "lung" of the Church, as you guys call it. What do you think-- is the book worth picking up? There are aspects I admire in both Rites, but now that I've experienced the Divine Liturgy, I must admit, there's no turning back! Your little friend in Jesus, Donna
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