Happy Easter to all of you that celebrate it today! God bless you always, many and blessed years! <3
Also, to all of us that are still waiting for the Resurrection of our Lord, blessed fasting period!
Hello my dear friend <3
Currently there are serious differences in doctrine between the two Churches so unity can’t be achieved if these important issues are solved. Christian unity is great, however it must be achieved on solid ground, without compromising the Orthodox Christian faith.
I pray for unity too! Have a blessed Ash Wednesday :) God bless you!
Hello dear!
Orthodox Christianity does not permit its faithful to receive Holy Communion in non-Orthodox communities, whether they be Roman Catholic, Protestant, or whatever. Hence, while Roman Catholicism may extend Eucharistic hospitality to Orthodox Christians, it does not mean that Orthodox Christians are permitted to accept such hospitality.
For Orthodox Christians, the Eucharist is a visible sign of unity; to receive the Eucharist in a community to which one does not belong is improper. If one does not accept all that the Church believes and teaches and worships, one cannot make a visible sign of unity with it. The Eucharist is the result of unity, not the means by which unity is achieved. While many non-Orthodox see this as a sign that the Orthodox Church excludes non-Orthodox from the Eucharist, in reality the opposite is true. Because a non-Orthodox individual has chosen not to embrace all that Orthodox Christianity holds, the non-Orthodox individual makes it impossible for an Orthodox priest to offer him or her communion. It is not so much a matter of Orthodoxy excluding non-Orthodox as it is the non-Orthodox making it impossible for the Orthodox to offer the Eucharist.
The Didache and Church fathers warn that taking Communion whilst in dispute is dangerous and defiles the sacrifice. So we do not allow those in theological dispute with the church to commune for their sake, refusing it is protection if anything.
I hope this helps,
God bless you always! <3
Hello my sweet friend,
Your words, as all the words of Catholics that told me that they see St. Peter as a Saint, make me feel much better because I see there is hope. I know that he does not need “lawyers” to defend him, as he is a Saint in the eyes of God, and I must not be sad, but, imagine how would you or another Catholic feel for example if someone slander the memory of St. Kateri or St. Teresa for example? Isn’t it terrible? I feel the same, because I love him very much. Like when someone slanders the members of my family, that’s what I do when they slander my Lord and my Saints, my family in heaven.
May St. Peter the humble Aleut pray for all of us who honor him! <3
Hello dear anon,
Your message is really kind and beautiful! At least for now, we can’t be in communion due to our important differences in doctrine (not because of those minor who don’t affect the essentials of the Faith), but let’s all pray from our hearts that our two Churches will be again united soon, “one flock with one shepherd” as the Lord wished.
God bless you! <3
Hello dear friend,
I have received this question many times, both not anonymous and anonymous, so I will reply to it again.
I will never leave the Holy Orthodox Church - I am really surprised you are asking that! I assure you I am not one of the persons that because were raised this way would stay Orthodox if I didn’t wholeheartedly know and believe that the fullness of truth exists in the Orthodox Church. It’s a concious decision.
About the Eastern Rite part of your question. Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics may look externally the same but we have very serious theological differences, and I am sad every time Orthodox Christians are being treated just like a small rite/part of Catholicism, simply because it’s not like this. Also, I don’t stay in Orthodoxy only because of the way of worship, but for theology as well.
I know that your message may be out of love and respect for your Church, and I understand that, but my heart is and will always be Orthodox and I will always promote the truths of the Orthodox Church, as I have learned and experienced them.
Let’s all pray for unity of Christians! <3
Have a blessed and wonderful day!
Dear Orthodox and Catholic Christians,
I have noticed again, with a great sadness that the “nun” and “nuns” tabs are under attack (again). Whoever visits it isn’t seeing the beauty of monasticism but porn. It’s so sad, and it can be harmful to the souls of all those who visit it simply by interest to learn about monasticism.
For another time, let’s do something!!!!! If we all work together, as a team, the results will be amazing, as always. So, leave for a moment the “reblog” button (I am sure you reblog beautiful stuff, my dashboard is full of true beauty!) and make original posts with nuns, in order to show the true beauty of monasticism.
So… Go, go, go!
With much love in Christ and prayers,
- Your sister
——————-
Update: My dearest friend Vlad has been attacked by those that disagree that the nun tab should be full of real nuns and religious life. Please continue to make nun posts to clear this mess.
Hello!
According to orthodoxanswers.org, Fr. Sergei and Fr. Laurent stated in their answer that there are specific examples of emergency situations where there was intercommunion between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic believers (it was certainly a controversial action, but it actually happened):
In the nineteenth-century Russia, for example, Orthodox priests were allowed to give Communion to Roman Catholics in emergency situations if there was no Roman Catholic priest available. In the 1970s, Russian Orthodox Metropolitan Nikodim of Leningrad temporarily allowed intercommunion with the Roman Catholic Church within the borders of his diocese. The rare and very controversial practice, however, did not become widespread and was eventually terminated.
It was just an exception in the rule, that’s why I said that it can happen only in extremely rare and emergency situations.
God bless you!
Hello dear friend!
Well, the Orthodox Church does not allow intercommunion in recognition of the fact that there is currently no Eucharistic (or dogmatic) unity between the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Church. Moreover, Orthodox bishops do not allow the members of their flock to receive Communion at Roman Catholic services, except for truly unique circumstances.
For Orthodox Christians, the Eucharist is a visible sign of unity; to receive the Eucharist in a community to which one does not belong is improper. If one does not accept all that the Church believes and teaches and worships, one cannot make a visible sign of unity with it. The Eucharist is the result of unity, not the means by which unity is achieved.
I hope it answers your question,
God bless you, greetings from Greece!
Greetings in Christ,
The last few days I have received many anonymous messages from a Protestant that claims that Catholics are not Christians.
As a devout Orthodox Christian, I have to say that Catholics ARE Christians. Catholics have common history with the Eastern Orthodox Christians and the Coptic Orthodox Christians. We are all ancient Christians, that once was one Church.
Though I believe and confess that Orthodoxy is the Church that Jesus founded, and I disagree with certain teachings that were added I also support that no one has the right to say that Catholics are not Christians, because it’s not true. These claims are an insult to our Catholic brothers!
I am sure that some of you will say “how come an Orthodox Christian make a post in favor of Catholics”? And I will reply: I read claims that Catholics are not Christians since I joined tumblr, so I felt the need to say something, even if it doesn’ matter what I say! I hope that if any Catholic finds any lie against Orthodox Christianity to defend us as well.
I can understand if someones disagree with Catholicism, even if he’s Orthodox or Protestant. But, come on guys, how can you say that they are not Christians??? After all, they worship the Holy Trinity! How is it possible that anyone can spread such lies??
Hello!
Yes, I have visited a Catholic monastery once as a tourist (outside Greece). I think it was beautiful! It was different from the Orthodox monasteries. It had statues of Jesus and Virgin Mary and it was ornately decorated, mostly with marble and gold. The Orthodox monasteries are usually smaller and more simple, some times wooden. But I liked this monastery!
On Catholic art, though it’s different from Byzantine Orthodox, it’s beautiful. We Orthodox don’t venerate statues, but I like to see them. I remember in this monastery a large statue of Mary, with beautiful colors and gold.
Greetings from Greece!
My dear Serbian Orthodox brother/sister,
I totally understand your pain and your anger. And thank you for sharing these personal information about you and your family. All Orthodox Christians are offended by this message, it is very reasonable. But, thank God, not all Catholics are like that. There are many that really respect and love us as brothers and sisters in Christ. Pious Catholic believers that are trying to live according to their churches teachings are not responsible for these crimes against Orthodox people, but some specific persons.
I send you many greetings and love from beautiful Greece.
Hello,
I will say again that the fact that I am a devout Christian Orthodox doesn’t mean I am anti-Catholic or anti-any denomination/religion. Yes, indeed, I follow many Catholic blogs, as well as Protestant blogs and other Christian blogs. I also follow blogs from other religions. I have made many good friends here that we exchange informations about our religions in a kind way.
I am sure that I have given the impression of being anti-Catholic in the past, but it happened only because I was defending my faith from bad-minded messages from some Catholics. Though we disagree in some things, it doesn’t mean that we can’t be good friends! :)
-Your sister in Christ
