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As shocking as it may be to believe, there are more than two billion Christians scattered around the world at this moment. All of them are connected in some way or another to a certain denomination of the Christian faith. There are actually more than 45,000 denominations globally, and two of the biggest ones are the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The split between these two churches is a tale woven through centuries of shared faith and cultural contrasts.
Like two ancient trees with intertwined roots, they sprouted from the same apostolic seed, yet grew in different directions, shaped by their unique histories and interpretations of Christian tradition. But where did this divide come from, and what exactly makes these two denominations so different? Click through this gallery to find out.
The Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination in the world, with over 1.3 billion members worldwide. It traces its origins to Jesus Christ and his apostles, particularly Saint Peter, whom Catholics regard as the first pope.
The Orthodox Church, officially known as the Eastern Orthodox Church, traces its traditions to the apostles and the early Christian communities. It is composed of self-governing Churches, such as the Greek, Russian, and Serbian Orthodox Churches.
The Catholic and Orthodox Churches trace their origins to the early Christian communities founded by the apostles. For the first few centuries, the Church operated as a unified body, spreading throughout the Roman Empire.
The First Council of Nicaea (325 CE) and the First Council of Constantinople (381 CE) were pivotal moments for Christian doctrine, particularly regarding the nature of Christ and the Trinity. Both Catholic and Orthodox Churches recognize these councils, which laid the groundwork for their shared theological heritage.
As the Roman Empire fell in the 5th century, the bishop of Rome (later known as the pope) emerged as a significant figure in the Western Church. The Catholic Church’s development of papal authority became one of the key factors in distinguishing itself from the Eastern Christian centers.
As the Eastern and Western parts of the Christian world developed independently, many differences began to emerge. The East focused on mysticism and philosophical theology, while the West became more legal.
In 1054, a profound rupture occurred between the Eastern Orthodox and Western Catholic Churches, known as the Great Schism. The dispute involved theological disagreements and political tensions between the pope and the patriarch of Constantinople, resulting in mutual excommunications that officially split the Church.
Tensions between the two Churches worsened in 1204 when Western Crusaders sacked Constantinople, the heart of the Byzantine Empire. This event deepened animosity and mistrust between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, cementing their division for centuries to come.
Between the 13th and 15th centuries, several attempts to reconcile the Catholic and Orthodox Churches were made, particularly during the Councils of Lyon (1274) and Florence (1439, pictured). While temporary agreements were reached, they ultimately failed due to opposition on both sides.
With the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, the Eastern Orthodox Church was cut off from its traditional Christian centers. The Russian Orthodox Church began to rise in prominence, considering itself the “Third Rome,” while the Catholic Church continued to expand its influence in the West.
In the 20th century, efforts to heal the rift between Catholics and Orthodox gained momentum. Both Churches engaged in dialogue and, in 1965, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras lifted the mutual excommunications established during the Great Schism.
Today, Catholic and Orthodox leaders continue to resolve theological disputes and foster cooperation, but there are still some extreme differences between the two denominations.
The Catholic and Orthodox Churches share a common belief in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), but differ in their understanding of the Holy Spirit’s relationship to the Father and Son.
The Catholic Church believes in the Filioque doctrine, meaning the Spirit comes from both the Father and the Son, while the Orthodox Church believes the Spirit proceeds only from the Father.
The Catholic Church follows a centralized governance model, with the pope at the head as the supreme authority. In contrast, the Orthodox Church embraces a decentralized system where multiple self-governing patriarchs and bishops lead their respective churches.
The seat of power of Catholicism is Vatican City, a small independent enclave within the Italian capital city of Rome. The Orthodox Church doesn’t have a seat of power, since the denomination believes in the decentralization of their faith.
Both Churches recognize seven sacraments, including baptism, the Eucharist, and marriage. However, there are differences in how these sacraments are administered. For example, the Orthodox Church practices full immersion baptism, whereas the Catholic Church often practices sprinkling.
The Catholic Church teaches that original sin is inherited from Adam and Eve, with all humans born into this state. The Orthodox Church, however, acknowledges ancestral sin but does not view it as a stain passed from generation to generation.
Because of the way that both churches view original sin, this also drastically affects their perspectives on guilt. Catholicism sees guilt as an inherited burden, while the Orthodox community believes that the consequences of current sin trump those of our ancestors.
Catholics tend to categorize sins as mortal and venial. Mortal sins are grave and lead to the loss of grace if not confessed, while venial sins are lesser and do not cause eternal damnation. The Orthodox Church, while acknowledging serious sin, focuses less on categorizing sin in this way, instead viewing all sin as a sickness that requires healing through repentance.
The Catholic Church traditionally used Latin as its liturgical language until the Second Vatican Council in 1962. On the other hand, the Orthodox Church has always embraced the use of local languages in liturgy so as to preserve the connection between the people and worship.
A key difference between the Churches can also be seen in celibacy. In the Catholic Church, priests in the Latin Rite are required to remain celibate, but the Orthodox Church allows married men to be be ordained as priests (although bishops must be celibate).
Catholics believe in the Immaculate Conception of Mary, meaning she was conceived without original sin to become the pure vessel for Christ. The Orthodox Church honors Mary as Theotokos (God-bearer) but rejects the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, seeing it as unnecessary for Mary’s role in salvation.
During the Eucharist, during which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed, the Catholic Church uses unleavened wafers, while members of the Orthodox Church consume unleavened bread.
In the Catholic Church, sainthood is a formalized process involving canonization by the pope, with miracles often required as evidence. In the Orthodox Church, sainthood is recognized more organically, often through popular veneration by the faithful, with no centralized authority determining who becomes a saint.
The Catholic Church believes that marriage cannot (and should not) be dissolved, allowing annulments but not divorce and remarriage. The Orthodox Church values marriage but does allow for divorce and remarriage under certain circumstances (such as adultery).
The Orthodox Church refers to the sacraments as "Holy Mysteries" in order to maintain their mysterious and mystical nature. In contrast, Catholics tend to explain the workings of the sacraments in more defined theological terms, especially through logical reasoning.
The Orthodox Church adheres to the Julian calendar for many feasts, leading to different dates for celebrations like Easter compared to the Catholic Church, which observes the Gregorian calendar.
In Catholicism, the pope can issue infallible statements on matters of faith and morals, which are binding on the entire Church. In contrast, the Orthodox Church believes that only a council representing all the Churches can make definitive statements on doctrine, and no single bishop or patriarch can do so alone.
Sources: (Saint John the Evangelist Orthodox Church) (Greek Reporter) (Study) (National Catholic Register)
See also: Miracles and a temper? Experts investigate Jesus' childhood
The differences between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches
Behind the history and nuances of these divided denominations
LIFESTYLE Christianity
As shocking as it may be to believe, there are more than two billion Christians scattered around the world at this moment. All of them are connected in some way or another to a certain denomination of the Christian faith. There are actually more than 45,000 denominations globally, and two of the biggest ones are the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The split between these two churches is a tale woven through centuries of shared faith and cultural contrasts.
Like two ancient trees with intertwined roots, they sprouted from the same apostolic seed, yet grew in different directions, shaped by their unique histories and interpretations of Christian tradition. But where did this divide come from, and what exactly makes these two denominations so different? Click through this gallery to find out.