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The main difference between Eastern-Rite and Western-Rite Orthodoxy
is culture based. In the Eastern part of the world, the main
cultures we see in Orthodoxy are found in Russia, Greece, and the
Arabs. In the Western part of the world, the main cultures we
see in Orthodoxy are found in America and Europe. Each region,
and each country, that finds itself holding fast to the Orthodox
Christian Faith is in full communion with eachother on a Theological
level. The culture may be different, and the leaders and
administration may also be different; but the Faith and the
teachings are the same. We all recognize the same saints, say
the same prayers, and teach the same traditions and teachings handed
down to us by Jesus Christ and His Apostles.
While spiritually in sync with eachother, we see many differences on
a more material level. Orthodoxy has always welcomed the cultural
values of each city, and allowed each local church to govern its own
secular and cultural affairs. So, here are some things you
will see that they have in common and things they don't:
In Common
- They are Apostolic
- The Sacraments
- The Saints
- The Holy Traditions (including the Bible)
- They recognize the Canons/Rules of the Seven Ecumenical
("World-Wide") Councils
- Pascha ("Easter")
- Christmas
Not in Common
- The culture - The East is familiar to Greek, Russian and
Arabic languages/cultures, and the West is more familiar to
Americans and English languages/cultures
- The Clergy Vestments
- The Liturgy/Mass - The East primarily uses the Liturgy of
Saint John Chrysostom, and the West primarily uses the Liturgy
of Saint Gregory the Great.
- The East has an Iconostasis ("Icon Wall") separating the
Sanctuary from the rest of the church, and the West either has a
rail (like the old Roman Catholic style) or nothing at all
separating the Sanctuary from the rest of the church
Another important note of difference is that the Eastern-Rite
Orthodox Church did not get impacted as much by the things like the
Protestant Reformation or the abuses of the Roman Patriarchs (now
called the Pope) of the 9th century through today. However, the
Western-Rite Orthodox Church definitely did and, as a result, a
major effort was made to restore the Western-Rite Liturgies so those
more familiar to the Western Culture could once again worship in the
ancient Christian ways without having to adapt to another ethnic
culture.
For the last hundred years there has been a
steady stream of Western Christians coming into Holy Orthodoxy and using the
Restored Western Rites. Today one finds The Orthodox Church of France using the Gallican Rite, The Milan Synod using the Sarum Rite, The Antiochian Archdiocese
using the Liturgy of Saint Gregory and the Liturgy of Saint Tihkon, The Russian
Orthodox Church Outside of Russia using the Dom Augustine Liturgy
which is based on the old Orthodox Roman Liturgy, and The Holy
Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church of America which has blessed
the old Orthodox Roman Rite, though, for pastoral reasons the other
Orthodox Western Rites may be used.
Administration
One of the historically positive impacts of having Eastern-Rite
Orthodoxy in America was that it gave immigrants from many Eastern
Countries the ability to worship in a familiar way without losing
the Faith and Traditions of Orthodoxy itself. On the negative
side, it left many more people of Western cultures without a
familiar culture to worship in a traditional Orthodox Christian way.
In America, Orthodoxy does not have one single leader or
"Patriarch". It will take time and much prayer to figure this
out, because the issues are complicated. In the meantime, each
Orthodox church may or may not belong to a particular Bishop or
group of Bishops. The single largest group of Orthodox Bishops
is called SCOBA (Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in
America). After that, there are several smaller groups who
operate independently under a Bishop with Apostolic Succession.
Some of these smaller groups are Eastern-Rite and some are
Western-Rite. Some get along, and others have to work on it.
In the end, the Faith, Traditions, and Theology are the same.
There may be a lot of work to do administratively in America, but we
find peace knowing that it is being worked on and we are able to
worship the same ancient way as our Christian ancestors within a
cultural setting that is most comfortable for each person; Eastern
or Western.
May the peace and love of our Lord, Jesus Christ, be with you now
and unto the endless ages. Amen.
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