22
Eastern Catholicism 1 Introduction to Eastern Catholicism and the Byzantine Catholic Church Deacon Mark Koscinski
Eastern Catholicism 1
Introduction to Eastern
Catholicism and the Byzantine
Catholic Church
Deacon Mark Koscinski
Eastern Catholicism 2
In the Beginning…
• Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C) consciously sought to Hellenize the East
• Greek culture spread throughout the East, but it was also changed by the contact with conquered peoples.
• Later, the Roman Empire was divided into the Latin speaking West and the Greek speaking East.
Eastern Catholicism 3
The Roman Empire
• Eventually, the Roman Empire was split into a Western half and an Eastern half, each with its own Emperor.
• The importance of Constantine and Constantinople.
• Though they considered themselves Roman, by the Eighth Century the Imperial government was conducted in Greek.
Eastern Catholicism 4
Impact on Christianity
• Four Great Centers of Christianity:
– Rome, which evangelized to the West, and
spoke Latin
– Constantinople which evangelized to the North
and spoke Greek
– Alexandria which evangelized South and spoke
Coptic
– Antioch, which evangelized to the West
Eastern Catholicism 5
What Caused the Split?
• Some theological issues
– The filioque
– Papal authority
• Some ego
– Michael Cerularias, the Patriarch
– Cardinal Humboldt, the Papal Legate
• The times
– Greek was a lost language in the West and Latin in the
East
Eastern Catholicism 6
Rites and Recensions
• Byzantine
– Greek
– Ruthenian
– Russian
– Ukrainian
• Alexandrian
– Coptic
– Ethiopian
• Roman
– Latin
– Other minor usages
• Antiochian
– Maronites
– Syrian
• Armenian
Eastern Catholicism 7
Who Are We?
The Orthodox and Catholic Churches split in 1054.
Each practiced a different “rite” but were in communion.
Subsequently, groups of Orthodox left and returned to communion with Rome.
We in the Byzantine Catholic Church are such a group
Eastern Catholicism 8
Who Are We?
• The Second Vatican Council defined the Universal
Church as a collection of churches in communion
with the Pope of Rome.
• There are now twenty three such churches, with
the Roman Catholic Church being the largest
• The Pope wears two hats (or tiaras)
– Head of the Universal Church
– Head of the Roman Catholic Church
Eastern Catholicism 9
Who Are We?
• The Byzantine Catholic Church is the only self governing church in the United States
• The Metropolia of Pittsburgh is governed by the Metropolitan of Pittsburgh and the Council of Hierarchs
• Four Dioceses: the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and the Eparchies of Passaic, Parma and Van Nuys.
Eastern Catholicism 10
Who Are We?
• We are fully in communion with Rome.
• We commemorate our Holy Ecumenical Pontiff the Pope of Rome at every Divine Liturgy.
• All Roman Catholics may receive the Sacraments in our church and all Byzantine Catholics may receive the Sacraments in Roman Catholic Churches.
Eastern Catholicism 11
What Does Self Governing
Mean?
• There is a separate Code of Canon Law for the Eastern Churches.
• Patriarchal churches erect dioceses, elect their bishops and maintain particular laws.
• Major Archepiscopal churches elect their bishops and maintain particular laws.
• Metropolitan churches maintain particular laws. We are a metropolitan church
Eastern Catholicism 12
So Who is Who?
• Patriarchs rank just below cardinals, but
when made cardinal are made cardinal
bishops, the highest rank.
• Major Archbishops rank below patriarchs
and are typically made cardinal priests.
• Metropolitans of sui generis churches rank
above archbishops.
Eastern Catholicism 13
Who’s on First?
• Patriarchal Churches
– Melkite
– Maronite
– Coptic
– Armenian
– Chaldean
• Major Archepiscopal
– Ukrainian
– Syro-Malabar
– Syro-Malankara
– Romanian
• Metropolitan
– Byzantine Church in
America
– Byzantines in Slovakia
Eastern Catholicism 14
The Mysteries or the Sacraments
• Our sacraments of initiation:
– Baptism, Chrismation, and the Holy Eucharist
• They are administered together
• The priest is the ordinary minister of Chrismation
• Deacons do not administer sacraments in
the East
– The Blessing is considered integral to all
sacraments, and are not given by deacons.
Eastern Catholicism 15
The Mysteries or the Sacraments
• Traditionally, Eastern priests are allowed to be married. They must be married before they are ordained. This is the case in Europe.
• This has not been the tradition in the United States.
• However, it is becoming more and more common in the U.S.
Eastern Catholicism 16
Byzantine Spirituality
Roman Spiriuality
• Roman model of the
Mass is Last Supper
• More of a focus on the
Crucifixion
• One God to the Three
Byzantine Spirituality
• We follow the model
of heavenly worship
• Crucifixion is never
mentioned without the
Resurrection
• Three Persons to the
One
Eastern Catholicism 17
Byzantine Theology
• God became Man so that Man could become God.
• We become sharers in the Divine Nature
• Kenosis
• The Importance of the Nativity and the Incarnation
• Mary as the New Eve
• Mary as the Theotokos
• The right relationships
of the members of the
Trinity
Eastern Catholicism 18
The Byzantine Divine Liturgy
• Three distinct types:
– The Liturgy of St. Basil-done Jan 1, during
Lent, and on the eves of the Nativity, Pascha,
and the Theophany, and on Holy Thursday.
– Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom done the rest of
the year
– Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, done on
Wednesdays and Fridays in Lent.
Eastern Catholicism 19
The Divine Praises
• Vespers
– Stichera
• Compline
– Great Compline versus
Small Compline
• Nocturns
• Matins or Orthros
– Odes
• First, Third, Sixth, and
the Ninth Hours (The
Little Hours)
Eastern Catholicism 20
The Divine Liturgy
• St. Basil was the founder of Eastern monasticism. This is a long but beautiful service.
• John Chrysostom cut this service done for the laity.
• The Presanctified Liturgy was written by Pope Gregory the Great and is essentially your Good Friday service.
Eastern Catholicism 21
The Basic Divine Liturgy
• The Great Incensing—done by the Deacon
• The Litany of Peace—done by the Deacon
• The Little Entrance—Priest and Deacon
• The Epistle—done by the Reader
• The Gospel and Homily—done by Priest or
deacon
• The Litany of Suplication— Deacon
Eastern Catholicism 22
The Basic Diving Liturgy
• The Great Entrance—done by priest and
deacon
• Consecration—done by the Priest
• Communion
• Dismissal
