What is the difference between Catholics and Orthodox? Religion Catholicism: the difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, Catholicism and Protestantism
Catholicism is part of Christianity, and Christianity itself is one of the main religions of the world. Its directions include: Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Protestantism, with many types and branches. Most often, people want to understand what difference does Orthodoxy have from Catholicism, how does one differ from the other? Do such similar religions and churches that have the same root as Catholicism and Orthodoxy have serious differences? Catholicism in Russia and other Slavic states is much less widespread than in the West. Catholicism (translated from the Greek "catholikos" - "universal") is a religious direction, numbering about 15% of the population of the entire globe (that is, about a billion people profess Catholicism). Of the three respected Christian denominations (Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Protestantism), Catholicism is rightfully considered the largest branch. Most adherents of this religious movement live in Europe, Africa, as well as in Latin America and the USA. The religious trend arose as early as the first century AD - at the dawn of Christianity, during times of persecution and religious disputes. Now, after 2 thousand years, the Catholic Church has taken pride of place among the world's religious denominations. Establish a connection with God!
Christianity and Catholicism. Story
In the first thousand years of Christianity, the word "Catholicism" did not exist, simply because there were no branches of Christianity, the faith was one. The history of Catholicism began in the Western Roman Empire, where in 1054 the Christian Church was divided into two main directions: Catholicism and Orthodoxy. Constantinople became the heart of Orthodoxy, and Rome was declared the center of Catholicism, the reason for this division was the split between Orthodoxy and Catholicism.Since then, the religious movement began to actively spread to the countries of Europe and America. Despite the subsequent multiple split of Catholicism (for example, Catholicism and Protestantism, Anglicanism, Baptism, etc.), it has become one of the largest denominations of the present time.
In the XI-XIII centuries, Catholicism in Europe gained the strongest power. Religious thinkers of the Middle Ages believed that God created the world, and it is unchanging, harmonious, reasonable.
In the XVI-XVII there was a collapse of the Catholic Church, during which a new religious direction appeared - Protestantism. What is the difference between Protestantism and Catholicism? First of all, in the organizational issue of the church and in the authority of the Pope.
The clergy belonged to the most important estate in connection with the mediation of the church between God and people. The religion of Catholicism insisted on the fulfillment of the commandments of the Bible. The church considered the ascetic a role model - a holy man who renounced worldly goods and riches that humiliate the state of the soul. The contempt of earthly riches was replaced by heavenly riches.
The church considered it a virtue to support low-income people. Kings, nobles close to them, merchants and even poor people tried to participate in charitable deeds as often as possible. At that time, a title appeared for special churches in Catholicism, which is assigned by the pope.
social doctrine
The Catholic doctrine was based not only on religious, but also on humanistic ideas. It was based on Augustinism, and later Thomism, accompanied by personalism and solidarism. The philosophy of the teaching was that, in addition to the soul and body, God gave people equal rights and freedoms that remain with a person all his life. Sociological as well as theological knowledge has helped build a developed social doctrine of the Catholic Church, which believes that its teachings were created by the apostles and still retain their original origins.
There are several doctrinal issues on which the Catholic Church has a distinct position. The reason for this was the split of Christianity into Orthodoxy and Catholicism.
Devotion to the mother of Christ, the Virgin Mary, who, according to Catholics, gave birth to Jesus without sin, and her soul and body were taken to heaven, where she has a special place between God and His people.
The unshakable belief that when the priest repeats the words of Christ from the Last Supper, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus, although there is no outward change.
Catholic teaching has a negative attitude towards artificial methods of contraception, which, according to the church, interfere with the birth of a new life.
Recognition of abortion as the destruction of human life, which, according to the Catholic Church, begins at the moment of conception.
Control
The idea of Catholicism is closely connected with the apostles, especially with the apostle Peter. Saint Peter is considered the first pope, and each subsequent pope is considered his spiritual successor. This gives the leader of the church strong spiritual authority and authority to resolve disputes that could disrupt governance. The notion that church leadership is an unbroken lineage from the apostles and their teachings (“apostolic succession”) helped Christianity survive through times of trial, persecution, and reformation.
The advisory bodies are:
Synod of Bishops;
College of Cardinals.
The main differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism in the organs of church administration. The hierarchy of the Catholic Church consists of its bishops, priests and deacons. In the Catholic Church, power rests primarily with the bishops, with priests and deacons serving as their co-workers and assistants.
All clergy, including deacons, priests, and bishops, may preach, teach, baptize, perform sacred marriages, and conduct funerals.
Only priests and bishops may administer the sacraments of the Eucharist (although others may be ministers of Holy Communion), Penance (Reconciliation, Confession) and the Anointing of the Sick.
Only bishops can administer the sacrament of the Priesthood by which people become priests or deacons.
Catholicism: Churches and their meaning in religion
The church is considered "the body of Jesus Christ". The scripture says that Christ chose 12 apostles for God's temple, but it is the apostle Peter who is considered the first bishop. In order to become a full member of the Catholic Church Society, it is necessary to preach Christianity or undergo the sacred sacrament of baptism.
Catholicism: the essence of the 7 sacraments
The liturgical life of the Catholic Church revolves around 7 sacraments:
baptism;
chrismation (confirmation);
Eucharist (communion);
repentance (confession);
unction (unction);
marriage;
priesthood.
The purpose of the sacraments of the faith of Catholicism is to bring people closer to God, to feel grace, to feel unity with Jesus Christ.
1. Baptism
The first and main sacrament. Cleanses the soul from sins, gives grace. For Catholics, the sacrament of Baptism is the first step in their spiritual journey.
2. Confirmation (confirmation)
In the rite of the Catholic Church, Chrismation is allowed only after 13-14 years. It is believed that it is from this age that a person will be able to become a full member of church society. Confirmation is given through the anointing with holy Chrism and the laying on of hands.
3. Eucharist (Communion)
Sacrament in memory of the death and resurrection of the Lord. The incarnation of the flesh and blood of Christ is presented to believers through the tasting of wine and bread during worship.
4. Repentance
Through repentance, believers free their souls, receive forgiveness for their sins, and become closer to God and the church. The confession, or disclosure, of sins frees the soul and facilitates our reconciliation with others. In this sacred sacrament, Catholics find God's unconditional forgiveness and learn to forgive others.
5. Unction
Through the sacrament of anointing with oil (sacred oil), Christ heals believers who suffer from illness, giving them support and grace. Jesus showed great concern for the physical and spiritual well-being of the sick and commanded his followers to do the same. The celebration of this sacrament is an opportunity to deepen the faith of the community.
6. Marriage
The sacrament of marriage is to some extent a comparison of the union of Christ and the church. The marriage union is sanctified by God, filled with grace and joy, blessed for the future family life, the upbringing of children. Such a marriage is inviolable and ends only after the death of one of the spouses.
7. Priesthood
The sacrament, by which bishops, priests and deacons are ordained, receive power and grace for the performance of their sacred duties. The rite by which orders are conferred is called ordination. The apostles were ordained by Jesus at the Last Supper so that others could share in his priesthood.
The difference between Orthodoxy from Catholicism and Protestantism and their similarities
Catholic beliefs do not really differ significantly from the other major branches of Christianity, Greek Orthodoxy and Protestantism. All three main branches hold the doctrine of the Trinity, the deity of Jesus Christ, the inspiration of the Bible, and so on. But as far as certain doctrinal points are concerned, there are some differences. Catholicism differs in several beliefs, which include the special authority of the pope, the concept of purgatory, and the doctrine that the bread used in the Eucharist becomes the true body of Christ during the blessing of the priest.
Catholicism and Orthodoxy: differences
Being types of one religion, Catholicism and Orthodoxy did not find a common language for a long time, namely from the 13th century to the middle of the 20th century. Due to this fact, these two religions have received many differences. How is Orthodoxy different from Catholicism?
The first difference between Catholicism can be found in the structure of the organization of churches. So, in Orthodoxy there are many churches, separate and independent of each other: Russian, Georgian, Romanian, Greek, Serbian, etc. Catholic churches located in different countries around the world have a single mechanism and are subject to one ruler - the Pope.
It should also be noted that the Orthodox Church does not accept changes, believing that it is necessary to follow all the canons and honor all the knowledge that was transmitted by Jesus Christ to his apostles. That is, the Orthodox in the 21st century observe the same rules and customs as the Orthodox in the 15th, 10th, 5th and 1st centuries.
Another difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism is that in Orthodox Christianity the main divine service is the Divine Liturgy, in Catholicism it is the Mass. The parishioners of the Orthodox Church conduct the service standing, while Catholics often sit, but there are services that they conduct on their knees. The Orthodox endow only the Father with the symbol of faith and holiness, the Catholics give both the Father and the son.
Differs Catholicism and knowledge of life after death. In the Orthodox faith, there is no such thing as purgatory, unlike Catholicism, although such an intermediate stay of the soul after leaving the body and before entering the judgment of God is not denied.
The Orthodox call the Mother of God the Mother of God, they consider her born in sin, like ordinary people. Catholics refer to her as the Virgin Mary, conceived immaculately and ascended to heaven in human form. On Orthodox icons, saints are depicted in two dimensions to convey the presence of another dimension - the world of spirits. Catholic icons have an ordinary, simple perspective and the saints are depicted in a naturalistic way.
Another difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism is in the shape and form of the cross. For Catholics, it is presented in the form of two crossbars, it can be either with the image of Jesus Christ, or without it. If Jesus is present on the cross, then he is depicted with a martyr's look and his feet are chained to the cross with one nail. The Orthodox have a cross of four crossbars: a small horizontal one is added to the two main ones at the top and a crossbar at an angle below, symbolizing the direction to heaven and hell.
Faith Catholicism differs in the commemoration of the dead. Orthodox commemorate on days 3, 9 and 40, Catholics - on days 3, 7 and 30. Also in Catholicism there is a special day of the year - November 1, when all the dead are commemorated. In many states, this day is a holiday.
Another difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism is that, unlike their counterparts in Protestant and Orthodox churches, Catholic priests take vows of celibacy. This practice is rooted in the early associations of the papacy with monasticism. There are several Catholic monastic orders, the most famous being the Jesuits, Dominicans and Augustinians. Catholic monks and nuns take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and dedicate themselves to a simple, worship-oriented life.
And finally, we can single out the process of the sign of the cross. In the Orthodox Church, they are baptized with three fingers and from right to left. Catholics, on the contrary, from left to right, the number of fingers does not matter.
In the CIS countries, most people are familiar with Orthodoxy, but little is known about other Christian denominations and non-Christian religions. So the question is: How is the Catholic Church different from the Orthodox?”or, to put it more simply, “the difference between Catholicism and Orthodoxy” - Catholics are asked very often. Let's try to answer it.
Primarily, Catholics are also Christians. Christianity is divided into three main areas: Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Protestantism. But there is no single Protestant Church (there are several thousand Protestant denominations in the world), and the Orthodox Church includes several independent Churches.
Besides the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), there is the Georgian Orthodox Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, the Romanian Orthodox Church, etc. The Orthodox Churches are governed by patriarchs, metropolitans and archbishops. Not all Orthodox Churches have communion with each other in prayers and sacraments (which is necessary for individual Churches to be part of the one Ecumenical Church according to the catechism of Metropolitan Philaret) and recognize each other as true churches.
Even in Russia itself there are several Orthodox Churches (the Russian Orthodox Church itself, the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, etc.). It follows from this that world Orthodoxy does not have a unified leadership. But Orthodox believe that the unity of the Orthodox Church is manifested in a single dogma and in mutual communion in the sacraments.
Catholicism is one Universal Church. All its parts in different countries of the world are in communion with each other, share a single creed and recognize the Pope as their head. In the Catholic Church there is a division into rites (communities within the Catholic Church, differing from each other in forms of liturgical worship and church discipline): Roman, Byzantine, etc. Therefore, there are Roman Catholics, Byzantine Rite Catholics, etc., but they are all members of the same Church.
Now we can talk about the differences:
1) So, the first difference between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches is in a different understanding of the unity of the Church. For the Orthodox, it is enough to share one faith and sacraments, Catholics, in addition to this, see the need for a single head of the Church - the Pope;
2) The Catholic Church differs from the Orthodox Church in its understanding of universality or catholicity. The Orthodox claim that the Universal Church is "embodied" in every local Church headed by a bishop. The Catholics add that this local Church must have communion with the local Roman Catholic Church in order to belong to the Universal Church.
3) Catholic Church in that The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (Filioque). The Orthodox Church confesses the Holy Spirit, which proceeds only from the Father. Some Orthodox saints spoke of the procession of the Spirit from the Father through the Son, which does not contradict the Catholic dogma.
4) The Catholic Church confesses that the sacrament of marriage is for life and forbids divorce, The Orthodox Church in some cases allows divorces;
5)The Catholic Church proclaimed the dogma of purgatory. This is the state of souls after death, destined for paradise, but not yet ready for it. There is no purgatory in Orthodox teaching (although there is something similar - ordeals). But the prayers of the Orthodox for the dead suggest that there are souls in an intermediate state for whom there is still hope of going to heaven after the Last Judgment;
6) The Catholic Church accepted the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. This means that even original sin did not touch the Mother of the Savior. Orthodox glorify the holiness of the Mother of God, but believe that she was born with original sin, like all people;
7)Catholic dogma about the taking of Mary into heaven body and soul is a logical continuation of the previous dogma. The Orthodox also believe that Mary is in Heaven in body and soul, but this is not dogmatically fixed in Orthodox teaching.
8) The Catholic Church has adopted the dogma of the supremacy of the Pope over the whole Church in matters of faith and morality, discipline and government. Orthodox do not recognize the primacy of the Pope;
9) One rite predominates in the Orthodox Church. In the Catholic Church this a rite that arose in Byzantium is called Byzantine and is one of several.
In Russia, the Roman (Latin) rite of the Catholic Church is better known. Therefore, differences between the liturgical practice and ecclesiastical discipline of the Byzantine and Roman rites of the Catholic Church are often mistaken for the differences between the ROC and the Catholic Church. But if the Orthodox liturgy is very different from the Mass of the Roman rite, then it is very similar to the Catholic liturgy of the Byzantine rite. And the presence of married priests in the ROC is also not a difference, since they are also in the Byzantine rite of the Catholic Church;
10) The Catholic Church proclaimed the dogma of the infallibility of the Pope o in matters of faith and morality, when he, in agreement with all the bishops, affirms what the Catholic Church has already believed for many centuries. Orthodox believers believe that only the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils are infallible;
11) The Orthodox Church takes decisions only in the first seven Ecumenical Councils, while The Catholic Church is guided by the decisions of the 21st Ecumenical Council, the last of which was the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).
It should be noted that the Catholic Church recognizes that Local Orthodox Churches are True Churches who preserved the apostolic succession and the true sacraments. And the Symbol of Faith among Catholics and Orthodox is one.
Despite differences, Catholics and Orthodox profess one faith and one teaching of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Once upon a time, human mistakes and prejudices separated us, but until now, faith in one God unites us.
Jesus prayed for the unity of His disciples. His disciples are all of us, both Catholics and Orthodox. Let us join His prayer: “Let them all be one, as You, Father, in Me, and I in You, so that they also be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me” (Jn 17:21). The unbelieving world needs our common witness for Christ.
Video lectures Doctrines of the Catholic Church
... Tomorrow morning the priest will give me a small,
round, thin, cold and tasteless cookies.
K.S. Lewis, The Pain of Loss. Observations" ("Woe from within").
The word was our weapon -
We dipped him in the enemy's blood...
L. Bocharova, "Inquisitia"
This is a summary table of differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. Only the main, "visible" differences are shown here - that is, those that an ordinary parishioner may be aware of (and may encounter).
Of course, there are many other differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. From fundamental ones, like the notorious dogma of the “Filioque”, to small, almost ridiculous ones: for example, we can’t agree on whether unleavened or leavened (leavened) bread should be used in the sacrament of Communion. But such differences, which do not directly affect the lives of parishioners, are not included in the table.
| Comparison criterion | Orthodoxy | Catholicism |
|---|---|---|
| head of the church | Christ Himself. The patriarch controls the earthly church, but the most important decisions are made by the Synod (a meeting of metropolitans), and the most important ones, especially on matters of faith, by the Council (a meeting of delegate priests from the whole Church). | Pope, "vicarius Christi", i.e. vicar of Christ. He has full personal power, both ecclesiastical and doctrinal: his judgments on matters of faith are fundamentally correct, undeniable and have dogmatic force (the force of law). |
| Attitude to the precepts of the ancient Church | They must be fulfilled. Because this is a way of spiritual growth, which the holy fathers gave us. If circumstances have changed and the covenants do not work, they are allowed not to be fulfilled (see the next paragraph). | They must be fulfilled. Because these are the laws that the holy fathers established. If circumstances have changed and the laws do not work, they are canceled (see the next paragraph). |
| How complex and controversial issues are resolved | The priest (bishop, Cathedral) decides for this particular case. Having previously prayed to God for the sending down of reason and the revelation of the will of God. | The priest (bishop, cathedral, pope) is looking for the appropriate law. If there is no suitable law, the priest (bishop, cathedral, pope) adopts a new law for this case. |
| Celebration of Church Sacraments and the role of a priest | The Lord performs the sacraments. The priest asks for us before the Lord, and through his holy prayers the Lord descends to us, performing the Sacraments by His power. The main condition for the validity of the Sacrament is the sincere faith of those who come. | The sacraments are performed by the priest himself: he has in himself a “reserve” of Divine power and bestows it in the sacraments. The main condition for the validity of the Sacrament is its correct performance, i.e. execution exactly according to the canon. |
| Celibacy of priests (celibacy) | Mandatory for monks and bishops (high priests). Ordinary priests can be both monks and married. | Celibacy is obligatory for all clergy (both monks and priests of all levels). |
| Attitude towards divorce, the possibility of divorce among the laity | Divorce is the destruction of the Sacrament, the recognition of the sin of the divorced and the error of the Church (since she had previously blessed their marriage). Therefore, divorce is allowed in exceptional cases, under special circumstances, with the permission of the bishop, and only for the laity (that is, divorce is prohibited for married priests). | Divorce would be the destruction of the Sacrament, the recognition of the sin of those who divorce, the error of the priest (see above about the performance of the Sacraments) and the entire Church. It's impossible. Therefore, divorce is not possible. However, in exceptional cases, it is possible to recognize the marriage as invalid (dispensatio) - i.e. as if the marriage never happened. |
| Organization of worship: a) Language b) Singing c) Duration d) Behavior of believers |
a) The service is held in the native language or its ancient version (like Church Slavonic). The language is close, mostly understandable. Believers pray together and are partners in worship. b) Only live singing is used. c) Services are long and heavy. d) Believers are standing. It takes effort. On the one hand, it does not allow you to relax, on the other hand, a person gets tired and distracted faster. |
a). The service is in Latin. The language is incomprehensible to most of those present. Believers follow the course of the service according to the book, but they pray individually, each on his own. b) Organs are used. c) Services of medium duration. d) Believers are sitting. On the one hand, it is easier to concentrate (fatigue does not interfere), on the other hand, a sitting posture provokes relaxation and just watching the service. |
| Correct structure of prayer | Prayer is “smart-hearted”, that is, calm. It is forbidden to imagine all sorts of images and, moreover, specifically “inflame” feelings. Even sincere and deep feelings (like repentance) should not be expressed demonstratively, in front of everyone. In general, prayer should be reverent. This is an appeal to God in thought and spirit. | Prayer is passionate and emotional. It is recommended to imagine visible images, to warm up your emotions. Deep feelings can be expressed externally. As a result, the prayer is emotional, exalted. This is an appeal to God with heart and soul. |
| Attitude towards sin and commandments | Sin is a disease (or wound) of the soul. And the commandments are warnings (or warnings): "do not do this, otherwise you will harm yourself." | Sin is a violation of the laws (the commandments of God and the ordinances of the Church). Commandments are laws (i.e. prohibitions): “do not do this, otherwise you will be guilty.” |
| Forgiveness of sin and the meaning of confession | Sin is forgiven through repentance, when a person brings sincere repentance and a request for forgiveness to God. (And the intention to continue to fight sin, of course.) In addition to granting forgiveness, the task of confession is to determine why a person has sinned and how to help him get rid of sin. | Sin is forgiven through "sacisfactio", i.e. redemption to God. Repentance is necessary, but may not be deep; the main thing is to work hard (or suffer punishment) and thus “work off” sin for God. The task of confession is to determine exactly how a person has sinned (i.e., what he has violated) and what punishment he should suffer. |
| Afterlife and the fate of sinners | The dead go through ordeals - an "obstacle course", where they are tested in sins. Saints pass easily and ascend to paradise. Those who are subject to sins linger in ordeals. Great sinners do not pass and fall into hell. | The deceased is valued by the amount of earthly deeds. Saints immediately go to heaven, great sinners go to hell, and "ordinary" people go to purgatory. This is a place of sorrow, where the soul is punished for some time for sins not redeemed during life. |
| Help for the Dead | Through the prayers of relatives, friends and the Church, part of the sins of the soul of a sinner can be forgiven. Therefore, prayer facilitates the passage of ordeals. We believe that through the fervent prayers of the Church and the holy fathers, even the liberation of the soul from hell is possible. | Prayer eases the severity of torment in purgatory, but does not shorten its duration. You can shorten the term at the expense of the holy deeds of other people. This is possible if the Pope of Rome transfers their "extra" merits to the sinner (the so-called "treasury of merits"), for example, with the help of an indulgence. |
| Attitude towards babies | Infants are baptized, chrismated and communed. Orthodox believe that the grace of the Lord is given to infants and helps them, even if they do not yet understand the high meaning of the Sacraments. | Infants are baptized, but they are not chrismated and do not receive communion until a conscious age. Catholics believe that a person must become worthy of the Sacraments, i.e. grow up and realize what grace it receives. |
| Attitude towards fellow believers | "All men are brothers." Orthodox are inclined towards community (kenovia). | "Everyone is valuable in their own right." Catholics are prone to individualism (idiorrhythmias). |
| Attitude towards the Church | The church is a family, where the main thing is love. | The Church is a state where the main thing is the law. |
| Outcome | Orthodoxy is life “from the heart”, i.e. first of all - for love. | Catholicism is life “from the head”, i.e. First of all, according to the law. |
Notes.
- Note that at certain moments of the Orthodox service (for example, during long readings), parishioners are allowed to sit.
- If you look at the structure of the prayer, you can see that the "heartfelt" Orthodox prayer is "smart", while the "smart" Catholics - "heartfelt". This (seeming contradiction) can be explained as follows: we pray not with what we live in everyday life. Therefore, the Orthodox appeal to God is “smart”, Orthodox prayer is sober, “in Orthodox mysticism, you need to purify the mind and then reduce it to the heart” (not strictly theological, but rather accurate formulation of S. Kalugin). For Catholics, on the contrary, the appeal to God is “heartfelt”, prayer is emotional, in Catholic mysticism, you must first cleanse your heart, and then completely imbue it with the spirit of Divine love.
- Chrismation is the Sacrament of the Church, in which a person is given the grace of the Holy Spirit by anointing with a special holy oil, myrrh. It is performed once in a lifetime (except for the kings in former times, who were also anointed to the kingdom). For the Orthodox, Confirmation is combined with Baptism, for Catholics it is performed separately.
- In general, the attitude towards babies is a very significant example of the difference between Orthodoxy and Catholicism. After all, both Orthodox and Catholics agree that babies (children under 7 years old) are sinless. But we draw the opposite conclusion. Orthodox believe that since babies are sinless, they can (and should!) be anointed and communed: this will not be an insult to God, and the baby will receive His grace and help. Catholics, on the other hand, believe that since babies are sinless, they do not need to be anointed and communed: after all, they are already sinless, by definition!
Officially, the division of the Christian Church into Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Roman Catholic) happened in 1054, with the participation of Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael Cerularius. It became the finale in the contradictions long overdue between the two religious centers of the Roman Empire, which had collapsed by the 5th century - Rome and Constantinople.
There were serious disagreements between them both in the field of dogma and in terms of the organization of church life.
After the transfer of the capital from Rome to Constantinople in 330, the clergy began to come to the fore in the socio-political life of Rome. In 395, when the empire actually collapsed, Rome became the official capital of its western part. But political instability soon led to the fact that the actual administration of these territories was in the hands of the bishops and the pope.
In many ways, this was the reason for the claims of the papal throne to the primacy of the entire Christian Church. These claims were rejected by the East, although from the first centuries of Christianity, the authority of the Roman pope in the West and in the East was very great: without his approval, not a single ecumenical council could open and close.
Cultural background
Church historians note that in the western and eastern regions of the empire, Christianity developed differently, under the powerful influence of two cultural traditions - Hellenic and Roman. The "Hellenic world" perceived the Christian doctrine as a certain philosophy, opening the way for the unity of man with God.
This explains the abundance of theological works of the Fathers of the Eastern Church, aimed at comprehending this unity, achieving "deification". They often show the influence of Greek philosophy. Such "theological curiosity" sometimes led to heretical deviations, which were rejected by the Councils.
The world of Roman Christianity, in the words of the historian Bolotov, experienced "the influence of the Romanesque on the Christian." The "Roman world" perceived Christianity in a more "juridical-legal" manner, methodically building the Church as a kind of social and legal institution. Professor Bolotov writes that Roman theologians "understood Christianity as a God-revealed program of social organization."
Roman theology was characterized by "jurisprudence", including the relation of God to man. It was expressed in the fact that good deeds were understood here as a person's merits before God, and repentance was not enough to forgive sins.
Later, the concept of redemption was formed, following the example of Roman law, which based the relationship between God and man on the categories of guilt, redemption and merit. These nuances gave rise to differences in dogmatics. But, in addition to these differences, the banal struggle for power and the personal claims of the hierarchs on both sides eventually became the cause of division.
Main differences
Today, Catholicism has many ritual and dogmatic differences from Orthodoxy, but we will consider the most important ones.
The first difference consists in a different understanding of the principle of the unity of the Church. In the Orthodox Church there is no single earthly head (Christ is considered its head). It has "primates" - patriarchs of local, independent from each other Churches - Russian, Greek, etc.
The Catholic Church (from the Greek "katholikos" - "universal") is one, and considers the presence of a visible head, which is the Pope, to be the basis of its unity. This dogma is called "primacy (primacy) of the Pope". The opinion of the Pope on matters of faith is recognized by Catholics as "infallible" - that is, infallible.
Symbol of faith
Also, the Catholic Church added to the text of the Creed, adopted at the Nicene Ecumenical Council, the phrase about the procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son (“filioque”). The Orthodox Church recognizes the procession only from the Father. Although individual holy fathers of the East recognized the "filioque" (for example, Maximus the Confessor).
Life after death
In addition, Catholicism has adopted the dogma of purgatory: a temporary state in which souls remain after death, not ready for paradise.
the Virgin Mary
An important discrepancy is also that in the Catholic Church there is a dogma about the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, which affirms the original absence of original sin in the Mother of God. Orthodox, glorifying the holiness of the Mother of God, believe that he was inherent in Her, like all people. Also, this Catholic dogma is in conflict with the fact that Christ was half a man.
Indulgence
In the Middle Ages, in Catholicism, the doctrine of the “super-due merits of the saints” took shape: the “stock of good deeds” that the saints performed. The Church manages this "reserve" in order to make up for the lack of "good deeds" of repentant sinners.
From here grew the doctrine of indulgences - liberation from temporal punishment for sins in which a person repented. In the Renaissance, there was a misunderstanding of indulgence as the possibility of remission of sins for money and without confession.
Celibacy
Catholicism forbids marriage of clergy (celibate priesthood). In the Orthodox Church, marriage is prohibited only for monastic priests and hierarchs.
outer part
As for the rites, Catholicism recognizes both the worship of the Latin rite (Mass) and the Byzantine (Greek Catholics).
Liturgy in the Orthodox Church is served on prosphora (leavened bread), Catholic worship - on unleavened bread (unleavened bread).
Catholics practice Communion under two types: only the Body of Christ (for the laity), and the Body and Blood (for the clergy).
Catholics make the sign of the cross from left to right, Orthodox - vice versa.
There are fewer fasts in Catholicism, and they are softer than in Orthodoxy.
An organ is used in Catholic worship.
Despite these and other differences that have accumulated over the centuries, Orthodox and Catholics have a lot in common. Moreover, something was borrowed by Catholics from the East (for example, the doctrine of the ascension of the Virgin).
Almost all local Orthodox churches (except Russian) live, like Catholics, according to the Gregorian calendar. Both denominations recognize each other's Sacraments.
The division of the Church is a historical and unresolved tragedy of Christianity. After all, Christ prayed for the unity of His disciples, who are all who strive to fulfill His commandments and confess Him to be the Son of God: “May they all be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, so may they be one in Us - May the world believe that You have sent Me."
The Christian faith from time immemorial has been attacked by opponents. In addition, attempts to interpret the Holy Scriptures in their own way were made at different times by different people. Perhaps this was the reason why the Christian faith was divided over time into Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox. They are all very similar, but there are differences between them. Who are Protestants and how does their teaching differ from Catholic and Orthodox? Let's try to figure it out. Let's start with the origins - with the formation of the first Church.
How did the Orthodox and Catholic Churches appear?
Approximately in the 50s from the Nativity of Christ, the disciples of Jesus and their supporters created the Orthodox Christian Church, which still exists today. First there were five ancient Christian Churches. In the first eight centuries since the birth of Christ, the Orthodox Church, led by the Holy Spirit, built her teaching, developed her own methods and traditions. To this end, all the Five Churches took part in the Ecumenical Councils. This teaching has not changed today. The Orthodox Church includes Churches that are not connected with each other by anything other than faith - the Syrian, Russian, Greek, Jerusalem, etc. But there is no other organization or no person that unites all these Churches under its leadership. The only leader in the Orthodox Church is Jesus Christ. Why is the Orthodox Church called the Catholic Church in prayer? It's simple: if you need to make an important decision, all the Churches take part in the Ecumenical Council. Later, a thousand years later, in 1054, the Roman Church, which is also Catholic, separated from the five ancient Christian churches.
This Church did not seek advice from other members of the Ecumenical Council, but made decisions and carried out reforms in church life itself. We will talk in more detail about the teachings of the Roman Church a little later.
How did the Protestants appear?
Let's return to the main question: "Who are the Protestants?" After the separation of the Roman Church, many people did not like the changes introduced by it. It was not in vain that the people thought that all the reforms were aimed only at making the Church richer and more influential.
After all, even in order to atone for sins, a person had to pay a certain amount of money to the Church. And in 1517, in Germany, the monk Martin Luther gave impetus to the Protestant faith. He denounced the Roman Catholic Church and its ministers that they are looking only for their own benefit, forgetting about God. Luther said that the Bible should be preferred if there is a conflict between church tradition and Scripture. Luther also translated the Bible from Latin into German, proclaiming that each person can study the Holy Scriptures for himself and interpret it in his own way. So are Protestants? Protestants demanded a revision of attitudes towards religion, getting rid of unnecessary traditions and rituals. The enmity began between the two Christian denominations. Catholics and Protestants fought. The only difference is that Catholics fought for power and subjugation to themselves, while Protestants fought for freedom of choice and the right path in religion.
Persecution of Protestants
Of course, the Roman Church could not ignore the attacks of those who opposed unquestioning obedience. Catholics did not want to accept and understand who the Protestants were. There were massacres of Catholics against Protestants, public executions of those who refused to become Catholics, harassment, ridicule, persecution. Adherents of Protestantism also did not always prove their case in a peaceful way. Protests by opponents of the Catholic Church and its rule in many countries swept with mass pogroms of Catholic churches. For example, in the 16th century in the Netherlands there were more than 5,000 pogroms by people who rebelled against Catholics. In response to the riots, the authorities repaired their own court, they did not understand how Catholics differ from Protestants. In the same Netherlands, over 80 years of war between the authorities and the Protestants, 2,000 conspirators were convicted and executed. In total, about 100,000 Protestants suffered for their faith in this country. And that's just in one country. Protestants, in spite of everything, defended their right to a different point of view on the issue of Church life. But, the uncertainty that was present in their teaching led to the fact that other groups began to separate from the Protestants. There are more than twenty thousand different Protestant churches all over the world, for example, Lutheran, Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal, and among the Protestant movements there are Methodists, Presbyterians, Adventists, Congregationalists, Quakers, etc. Catholics and Protestants have greatly changed the Church. Who are Catholics and Protestants according to their teachings, let's try to figure it out. In fact, Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christians are both Christians. The difference between them is that the Orthodox Church has what can be called the fullness of the teachings of Christ - it is a school and an example of goodness, it is a clinic for human souls, and Protestants simplify all this more and more, creating something in which it is very difficult to know the doctrine of virtue, and what cannot be called a complete doctrine of salvation.
Basic principles of Protestants
You can answer the question of who the Protestants are by understanding the basic principles of their teaching. Protestants consider all rich ecclesiastical experience, all spiritual art collected over the centuries, invalid. They recognize only the Bible, believing that it is the only true source of how and what to do in church life. For Protestants, the Christian communities of the time of Jesus and his apostles are the ideal of what the life of a Christian should be like. But adherents of Protestantism do not take into account the fact that at that time the church structure simply did not exist. The Protestants simplified everything of the Church, except for the Bible, mainly because of the reforms of the Roman Church. Because Catholicism has greatly changed the doctrine and deviated from the Christian spirit. And the splits among the Protestants began to occur because they threw away everything - up to the teachings of the great saints, spiritual teachers, leaders of the Church. And since the Protestants began to deny these teachings, or rather, did not perceive them, then they began to argue in the interpretation of the Bible. Hence the split in Protestantism and the waste of energy not on self-education, as with the Orthodox, but on a useless struggle. The difference between Catholics and Protestants is being erased against the background of the fact that the Orthodox, who have been keeping their faith for more than 2,000 years in the form in which it was transmitted by Jesus, are both called a mutation of Christianity. Both Catholics and Protestants are sure that it is their faith that is true, such as Christ intended it to be.
Differences between Orthodox and Protestants
Although Protestants and Orthodox are Christians, the differences between them are significant. First, why do Protestants reject saints? It's simple - in the Holy Scriptures it is written that the members of the ancient communities of Christians were called "saints". Protestants, taking these communities as a basis, call themselves saints, which is unacceptable and even wild for an Orthodox person. Orthodox saints are heroes of the spirit and role models. They are the guiding star on the path to God. Believers treat Orthodox saints with awe and respect. Christians of the Orthodox denomination turn to their saints with prayers for help, for prayer support in difficult situations. Icons with images of saints do not just decorate their homes and temples.
Looking at the faces of the saints, a believer seeks to improve himself through the study of the lives of those depicted on the icons, inspired by the exploits of his heroes. Having no example of the holiness of spiritual fathers, monks, elders and other very respected and authoritative people among Orthodoxy, Protestants can give only one high title and honor for a spiritual person - this is "one who has studied the Bible." A Protestant person deprives himself of such an instrument for self-education and self-improvement as fasting, confession and communion. These three components are the hospital of the human spirit, forcing you to humble your flesh and work on your weaknesses, correcting yourself and striving for the bright, kind, Divine. Without confession, a person cannot cleanse his soul, begin to correct his sins, because he does not think about his shortcomings and continues to live an ordinary life for and for the sake of the flesh, in addition, he is proud that he is a believer.
What else do Protestants lack?
No wonder many do not understand who Protestants are. After all, people of this religion, as mentioned above, do not have spiritual literature, such as that of Orthodox Christians. In the spiritual books of the Orthodox you can find almost everything - from sermons and interpretation of the Bible to the lives of the saints and advice on the fight against one's passions. It becomes much easier for a person to understand the issues of good and evil. And without the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, the Bible is extremely difficult to understand. Protestants began to appear, but it is still only in its infancy, and in Orthodoxy this literature has been improved for more than 2000 years. Self-education, self-improvement - the concepts inherent in every Orthodox Christian, among Protestants are reduced to the study and memorization of the Bible. In Orthodoxy, everything - both repentance, and prayers, and icons - everything calls for a person to strive at least one step closer to the ideal that God is. But the Protestant directs all his efforts to be virtuous outwardly, and does not care about his inner content. That's not all. Protestants and Orthodox differences in religion are noticed by the arrangement of churches. The Orthodox believer has support in striving to be better both in mind (thanks to preaching), and in heart (thanks to the decoration in churches, icons), and will (thanks to fasting). But Protestant churches are empty and Protestants hear only sermons that affect the mind without touching the hearts of people. Having abandoned monasteries, Protestant monasticism was deprived of the opportunity to see for themselves examples of a modest, humble life for the sake of the Lord. After all, monasticism is a school of spiritual life. It is not for nothing that there are many elders, saints or almost saints of Orthodox Christians among the monks. And also the concept of Protestants that nothing but faith in Christ is needed for salvation (neither good deeds, nor repentance, nor self-correction) is a false path, leading only to the addition of one more sin - pride (because of the feeling that once If you are a believer, then you are the chosen one and you will certainly be saved).
The difference between Catholics and Protestants
Despite the fact that Protestants are natives of Catholicism, there are significant differences between these two religions. So, in Catholicism, it is believed that the sacrifice of Christ atoned for all the sins of all people, and Protestants, however, like the Orthodox, believe that a person is initially sinful and the blood shed by Jesus alone is not enough to atone for sins. Man must atone for his sins. Hence the difference in the construction of temples. For Catholics, the altar is open, everyone can see the throne, for Protestants and Orthodox in churches, the altar is closed. Here's another way Catholics differ from Protestants - Protestants communicate with God without an intermediary - a priest, while Catholics have priests to mediate between a person and God.
Catholics on earth have a representative of Jesus himself, at least they think so - this is the Pope. He is an infallible person for all Catholics. The Pope of Rome resides in the Vatican, the single central governing body for all the Catholic Churches in the world. Another difference between Catholics and Protestants is the rejection by Protestants of the Catholic notion of purgatory. As mentioned above, Protestants reject icons, saints, monasteries and monasticism. They believe that believers are holy in themselves. Therefore, Protestants do not distinguish between a priest and a parishioner. A Protestant priest is accountable to the Protestant community and cannot confess or give communion to believers. In fact, he is just a preacher, that is, he reads sermons for believers. But the main difference between Catholics and Protestants is the question of the connection between God and man. Protestants believe that the personal is enough for salvation, and a person receives Grace from God without the participation of the Church.
Protestants and Huguenots
These names of religious movements are closely related. To answer the question of who the Huguenots and Protestants are, you need to remember the history of 16th century France. The French began to call the Huguenots protesting against the rule of Catholics, but the first Huguenots were called Lutherans. Although an evangelical movement independent of Germany, directed against the reforms of the Roman Church, existed in France as early as the beginning of the 16th century. The struggle of Catholics against the Huguenots did not affect the increase in the number of adherents of this movement.
Even the famous one, when the Catholics simply staged a massacre and killed many Protestants, did not break them. In the end, the Huguenots achieved recognition by the authorities of the right to exist. In the history of the development of this Protestant movement, there were oppression, and the granting of privileges, then again oppression. Yet the Huguenots persevered. By the time of the end of the twentieth century in France, the Huguenots were, albeit a small number of the population, but they were very influential. A distinctive feature in the religion of the Huguenots (followers of the teachings of John Calvin) is that some of them believed that God determines in advance which of the people will be saved, whether a person is sinful or not, and the other part of the Huguenots believed that all people are equal before God and the Lord grants salvation to everyone who accepts this salvation. Disputes between the Huguenots did not stop for a long time.
Protestants and Lutherans
The history of Protestants began to take shape in the 16th century. And one of the initiators of this movement was M. Luther, who opposed the excesses of the Roman Church. One of the directions of Protestantism began to be called by the name of this person. The name "Evangelical Lutheran Church" became widespread in the 17th century. The parishioners of this church began to be called Lutherans. It should be added that in some countries all Protestants were first called Lutherans. For example, in Russia, until the revolution, all adherents of Protestantism were considered Lutherans. To understand who Lutherans and Protestants are, you need to turn to their teachings. Lutherans believe that during the Reformation, the Protestants did not create a new Church, but restored the ancient one. Also, according to the Lutherans, God accepts any sinner as his child, and the salvation of the sinner is only the initiative of the Lord. Salvation does not depend on the efforts of a person, nor on the passage of church rites, it is God's grace, for which you do not even need to prepare. Even faith, according to the teachings of the Lutherans, is given only by the will and action of the Holy Spirit and only by the people chosen by him. A distinctive feature of Lutherans and Protestants is that Lutherans recognize baptism, and even baptism in infancy, which Protestants do not.
Protestants today
Which religion is correct is not worth judging. Only the Lord knows the answer to this question. One thing is clear: the Protestants proved their right to be. The history of Protestants, starting from the 16th century, is the history of the right to one's own opinion, to one's opinion. Neither oppression, nor execution, nor ridicule could break the spirit of Protestantism. And today, Protestants are the second largest believers among the three Christian religions. This religion has penetrated almost all countries. Protestants make up approximately 33% of the total population of the globe, or 800 million people. There are Protestant churches in 92 countries of the world, and in 49 countries the majority of the population is Protestant. This religion prevails in countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Iceland, Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland, etc.
Three Christian religions, three directions - Orthodox, Catholics, Protestants. Photos from the life of parishioners of churches of all three denominations help to understand that these directions are so similar, but with significant differences. It would, of course, be wonderful if all three forms of Christianity would come to a common opinion on controversial issues of religion and church life. But while they differ in many ways and do not compromise. A Christian can only choose which of the Christian denominations is closer to his heart and live according to the laws of the chosen Church.