what are the differences between a catholic mass and an orthodox mass?
I know the orthodox mass is longer than roman catholic mass.. for me both churches are catholics.. but I have heard me as a roman catholic.. I can’t take the communion with an orthodox church.. I don’t know but I have read that from an orthodox point of view.
Orthodox Mass (technically, “Liturgy”) is more ornate, but both follow the same format- reading of the Word, intercessions, consecration, etc. The word Mass comes from the Latin “Missa”, which for obvious linguistic reasons, doesn’t apply to Orthodox Liturgy, as Orthodox Liturgy is conducted in Greek. Mostly it is more ornate because the Greeks didn’t go through the happy happy reduction of the Mass that we experienced in the West (vernacular, folk songs, etc.). A traditional (Tridentine) Catholic Mass is permitted and encouraged by Rome, and these are more ornate and you would see less disctinction between the two.
You are right that you as a Catholic can not participate in Orthodox Communion, though both Communions are the same thing. This is because Orthodox broke from Rome in 1054, and although they still have Aposolic Succession, and a valid Eucharist, they are not under the Pope and for you to participate in their Eucharist would be a false action of unity. Although their Eucharist is valid (i.e., true, it actually happens) it is illicit, ie., not allowed. In certain dire circumstances you are permitted to participate as a Roman Catholic, if near death or in an area of the world where you cannot attend an R.C. Mass. This is rare in modern times, unless, you’re in Istanbul, possibly, but even there I think there are R.C. churches.
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January 26 2009 09:36 am | Uncategorized
pammyr_us on 26 Jan 2009 at 3:01 pm #
I was raised Roman Catholic and my best friend was raised Greek Orthodox. She says they’re pretty much identical. She should know – she started a Greek Orthodox church in Florida. Don’t over-analyze it.
References :
lorenzo_help on 26 Jan 2009 at 3:11 pm #
Orthodox Mass (technically, “Liturgy”) is more ornate, but both follow the same format- reading of the Word, intercessions, consecration, etc. The word Mass comes from the Latin “Missa”, which for obvious linguistic reasons, doesn’t apply to Orthodox Liturgy, as Orthodox Liturgy is conducted in Greek. Mostly it is more ornate because the Greeks didn’t go through the happy happy reduction of the Mass that we experienced in the West (vernacular, folk songs, etc.). A traditional (Tridentine) Catholic Mass is permitted and encouraged by Rome, and these are more ornate and you would see less disctinction between the two.
You are right that you as a Catholic can not participate in Orthodox Communion, though both Communions are the same thing. This is because Orthodox broke from Rome in 1054, and although they still have Aposolic Succession, and a valid Eucharist, they are not under the Pope and for you to participate in their Eucharist would be a false action of unity. Although their Eucharist is valid (i.e., true, it actually happens) it is illicit, ie., not allowed. In certain dire circumstances you are permitted to participate as a Roman Catholic, if near death or in an area of the world where you cannot attend an R.C. Mass. This is rare in modern times, unless, you’re in Istanbul, possibly, but even there I think there are R.C. churches.
References :
Dr. Zoom Zoom 3.0 on 26 Jan 2009 at 3:33 pm #
The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. As such, it is used in the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches. Armenian Christians, both of the Armenian Apostolic Church and of the Armenian Catholic Church, use the same term. Some Oriental Orthodox employ the term “holy offering” for their Eucharistic liturgies instead. The term is sometimes applied also to Latin Rite Eucharistic liturgies, though the term Mass is more commonly used there.
References :
http://christianforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=145
http://christianforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=449