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I was wondering about how far can an byzantine accept orthodox views and still remain a catholic?
Where do we draw the line and is it all right to accept all their views? Which ones are acceptible and which are not?

Dear Broric,

Thank you for your question. It is a very complicated one. May I refer you to the archives of this forum? Many of the important questions are discussed at great length, and there are some very scholarly presentations of Byzantine and Orthodox theology.

Do you have a thought about a particular teaching? Where do you think lines should be drawn, if at all?

Elias

Broric,

Hopefully what we are looking for are not boundries lines or places to split the difference, but the hope that Eastern Catholics can show RCs and Orthodox that on points thought to be of division, both side are right, just without the fullness of the Christian experience.

Like your Pope says: Breathing with both lungs!


axios

Broric,

Thank you for starting this thread. Might I politely suggest that you have a gift for asking questions backwards?

It might be better to ask "Are there any differences between the Byzantine and Orthodox expression of theology and, if so, what are they?" Another possible question might be: "How far can a Byzantine Catholic depart from traditional Orthodox Byzantine theology and still be considered Byzantine Catholic?"

Administrator

Broric,

I see no opposition between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches in the core substance of their teachings other than the area of Papal infallibility and jurisdiction. So beyond the obvious acceptance of the above two doctrines I believe that a Byzantine Catholic can be completely Orthodox. I also believe that we can question how those two doctrines are applied and what is problematic about their role with the Eastern Churches. Like Archbishop Elias Zoghby, I state that I believe everything the Orthodox Church teaches and recognize the primacy of the Roman Pontiff and am in communion with him.

In Christ,
Lance, deacon candidate

Dear Lance and Broric,

I too believe everything the Orthodox Church teaches and am in communion with Rome!

I think Axios put it best in his post and his approach is not only irenical but ironical in that what we often say are points of dispute are, in actuality, different ways of saying the same thing.

The Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Commission on Unity found this out in a remarkable way.

The two families of Churches were divided for centuries on the basis of the one word that describes the Person of Christ - "Physis."

As the theologians argued, they soon realized that they understood the mystery of the Person of Christ in the same way since "Physis" for the Miaphysites or Orientals was what the Eastern Orthodox understood as "Person."

Reading this conversation as it was recorded is quite the fascinating adventure.

In fact, we Eastern Catholics, as our parish priest once said, are called to be so like the Orthodox that if someone entered our Church, they would not know what Church they were in until they heard the commemorations of the Hierarchs read.

Alex

Dear Alex,

Where can one read this conversation? Is it in a book or online somewhere? I have an interest in these sort of things...

Dear Catholicos,

Yes, it is in the book published by St Vladimir's Seminary Press on the ecumenical commission on Chalcedon.

Alex

Actually, I have often questioned this myself. I prefer to read Eastern Orthodox works in place of Latin Catholic. My Eastern mindset prefers it and it appeals to me on a deeper level then the legalistic Western equivalent. I have often wondered if sometimes I go too far. If I say I only accept the first seven councils of the Church as a Byzantine, am I negating my Catholic history and advancements in the faith? On the other hand, if I go to deeply into an Orthodox mindset, I must be careful of the sources and the presentation of what I am learning. After all, there are quite a few Orthodox bodies that would consinder me anathema.

This is why I hope and pray that the new Metropolitan continues the work of his predessesor and really works to define and make destinct our Eastern faith. I think this could only help our relations with the Orthodox as an example of what unity could be. At least, this is what I think...

Dmitri