Christian Churches of the East
Christian Churches of the East have four apostolic sees and call themselves Orthodox. They are not in communion with Rome as compared with the Eastern-rite Churches. However, even with this division, current movements in both Churches are working for greater cooperation and unity among themselves.
A brief introduction
The first chapter of the book of Acts (of the Apostles) writes about the ascension of Jesus [Acts 1:6-11] and his missionary mandate to the disciples to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth [Acts 1:8]. As these apostles and disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost [Acts 2:1-13], they carried the gospel message to many places of the East, and into the European mainland. As the Christian communities they founded were established in many places, and the Roman network of common roads, culture and language were already in place, Christianity spread fast in both directions: in the Eastern part of the Roman Empire, and in the Western side of the Empire. At a certain point of history, five apostolic sees thus existed in Christendom:
- Antioch,
- Alexandria,
- Jerusalem,
- and Constantinople in the East;
- and Rome in the West.
The Schism of 1054 A.D.
The great Schism of 1054 A.D. divided completely the Catholic Church in two:
the Eastern Churches of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Constantinople on one side [led by the patriarchs],
and the Roman Catholic Church in the West [headed by the Papacy].
Government and administration differed between these Churches. Eastern Churches emphasized democratic and apostolic approaches to Christianity, while the Roman Church emphasized hierarchy and primacy. In matters of theology and liturgy, each Church soon developed their own.
Roots of the Schism
This division between the East and the West started centuries before the year 1054 A.D. The Persian Church separated after the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. Then the Armenians, the Syrians, the Egyptians, the Ethiopians, and the Indians, separated after the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D. Then after the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 A.D., relationships between the bishop of Rome (the Pope), and the Patriarchs of the East grew strained and fractious. Eventually, the complete break happened in 1054 A.D. when leaders of both churches started to excommunicate one another.
The establishment of the Orthodox Church
As the Pope became the head of the Western Church, the four apostolic sees of Constantinople, Jerusalem, Antioch, and Alexandria, affiliated with each other and included eleven other independent dioceses. Then they set the Patriarch of Constantinople as their center. The eastern Churches called themselves, "orthodox".
Development of "national" Churches
A new development in these Orthodox Churches happened after the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453 A.D. Since Constantinople was the center of Orthodoxy, that event heightened divisions among the Eastern Orthodox churches. Religious affiliation became more national in character. Christians in those areas started to become identified as either Serbian or Greek Orthodox, or anyone of the other national designations.
Eastern-rite Churches
This complexity of Christian Church organizations, and differing theological emphases includes the Eastern-rite Churches. Eastern-rite Churches are in communion with the Holy See (they recognize the Pope in Rome). But their roots in Eastern tradition have allowed them to live that tradition as Roman Catholics practicing Eastern rites.Thus Eastern-rite churches may look and feel like Orthodox Churches. The only difference is that Orthodox Churches are still not in communion with Rome, while Eastern-rite Churches are in communion with Rome.
The work and mission of Christian unity
Even with these divisions, both Churches are now working hard for Christian unity. A lot of headway was successfully accomplished during the time of Pope John Paul II's papacy, the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI and the present papacy of Pope Francis.
Related resources:
- "Eastern Churches: How are they related to the Roman Catholic Church?", by Sally Wilkins
- Christianity and Islam in Historical Retrospect
- "A History of the Catholic Church"
