Orthodoxy & Roman Catholicism

OBJECTIVE

By the end of the module, students should understand the differences between Orthodoxy and the other Christian denominations. This lesson will discuss the differences between Orthodox Christians and Roman Catholics.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 10 Minutes

Bring a white board or a blank poster and make two columns. One says "similarities" and one says "differences." Ask each student or a handful to go up and write one similarity and one difference Orthodox Christians have with the Roman Catholics. That way, if there are any misconceptions, they can be addressed throughout the lesson.

Disclaimer: Before outlining and explaining the various differences between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches, it is important for students to understand the following:

  • Catholic Church is apostolic
  • Practice the Mysteries (also known as "Sacraments")
  • One of the original 5 Christian Sees of the early church
  • We are more similar than we are different
  • Not intended to be an attack on the Catholic church
  • Simply analyzing teaching and dogma
  • It is certain teachings that we do not accept, not the people

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

Memory Verse - "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 Jn 1:7).

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 25 Minutes

Now we will discuss the main differences between Orthodox Christians and the Roman Catholics.

Filioque

  • Filioque is a Latin word meaning "and the Son" which was added to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed by the Church of Rome in the 11th century
  • Roman Catholicism teaches that the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father and the Son" (filioque)
  • This was not accepted by the Orthodox Church since Apostolic Tradition has always taught that God the Father is the single Source of the Son and the Spirit.
    • Orthodox Creed says "And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life giver, who proceeds from the Father, who with the Father and Son is worshiped and glorified..."
    • Catholic Creed "And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life giver, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified..."
  • This is considered a heresy by the Orthodox Church.

John 15:26 - But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me.

  • The Father is the source of the Godhead, which He shares with the Son and the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father then we see that the Father is the sole source of the Godhead, and that the Son and the Holy Spirit share equally in the divinity of the Father, since the Son is begotten of the Father. But if the Holy Spirit derives from the Father AND the Son then it does not appear that the Holy Spirit is equally divine. Nor does it appear that the Father is the source of the Godhead, since the Holy Spirit is said to derive from the Father and the Son and not the Father alone.

Infallibility of the Pope

  • According to the Church of Rome (Catholic), The Pope is, then, "the Bishop of the Catholic Church," her teacher, the vicar (agent, deputy) of Christ on earth.
  • He is the interpreter of the Christian Tradition. When he speaks for the whole Church (ex cathedra), the Holy Spirit does not permit him to err.
  • He is, therefore, infallible on matters of morals and doctrine.

The Orthodox Church does not believe in the infallibility of any individual, as all of us can sin and are subject to mistake.

Immaculate Conception of St. Mary

The Roman Catholic Church believes that St. Mary was born without original sin.

Even though the Orthodox Church highly regards the Virgin Mary, it does not believe she was born without sin. St. Mary was born normally as any other human being from her parents, Joachim and Anna. The only Being without sin is Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He did not inherit sin from taking human flesh.

Purgatory

The word purgatory comes from the latin word for "purgare" which means to purify.

Catholics believe that not all sins are equal. Some minor ones need to be purified and then one can be saved after.

The Roman Catholic church believes that the purgatory is a place for temporary punishment where the human soul is purified of its sins. They use the verse below as Biblical basis for the purgatory saying it is for the people "under the earth."

  • "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth" (Phil 2:10)
  • St. John Chrysostom comments on this verse saying, every knee of those in heaven means the angels and the saints; those on earth means the living faithful on earth and those under the earth are the devils who submit to our Lord Jesus Christ willingly or unwillingly.

Purgatory is against the doctrine of Salvation for the Orthodox Church

  • Salvation is only by blood and only the blood of Christ. The blood of Christ is the only purge. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 Jn 1:7). 'All sin' refers to every kind of sin mentioned by the Catholics: the mortal, the venial or any other.
  • To believe in purgatory is to believe in partial salvation, as if Christ came to save us from the shame of sin, not from its penalty.

Purgatory is against the Mystery of repentance

  • Repentance blots sin, God forgives it and does not remember it.
  • "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19).

Clerical Celibacy

The Roman Catholic Church requires its clergy to be celibate or not married.

On the other hand, the patristic tradition in the Orthodox Church is for priests to be married since they are living in the world, but the bishops do not marry.

The Orthodox Church allows for both celibate and married priests. It accepts these two forms of service equally and leaves the choice of which it is to be to the individual member, in accordance with his own vocation and particular charisms.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

Ask the students, why is it important to identify differences instead of just ignoring them? Isn't it what is important that we will worship God? Why did our church fathers were very persistent on not including two words in the creed?

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

In a society where we are constantly flooded with different beliefs and viewpoints, it is critical to understand our faith in detail and to know what we believe. Furthermore, although there are some differences in beliefs between the Orthodox and the Catholic faiths, the love and respect we have to all Christians remain a unifying power towards resolution of the differences in the future.

ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes

Write a set of questions in multiple choice format. Make a Kahoot game out of it. This will help the students retain the information at the end of the lesson with some friendly competition.

SERVANT RESOURCES

Difference between Catholicism and Orthodoxy -- Orthodox Faith

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Compare part of our liturgy and the Roman Catholic liturgy. Try to find out where you can spot differences in our dogma.