Learn about the main differences between Russian Orthodoxy and Catholicism

Christianity is divided into three main branches: Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Protestantism. The division of Christianity between Orthodoxy and Catholicism occurred in 1054.

In addition to the Russian Orthodox Church, there are also the Georgian Orthodox Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox Church and the Romanian Orthodox Church among others. These Orthodox churches are governed by patriarchs, metropolitans and archbishops, explains Euro News.

The Orthodox and Catholic Churches are two branches of the same tree: they both believe in Christ. So how are they different?

Catholics and Orthodox, separated by a schism

Main differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism

• Different understanding of the unity of the Church. For the Orthodox it is enough to share a faith while the Catholics see the need for a single head of the Church.
• The Catholic Church believes that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. For the Orthodox Church the Holy Spirit proceeds only from the Father.
• For the Catholic Church, the sacrament of marriage is for life and prohibits divorce, while in the Orthodox Church, in some cases, divorce is allowed.
• The Catholic Church proclaimed the dogma of purgatory. This is the state of souls after death, destined for heaven, but not yet ready for it. There is no purgatory in orthodox doctrine (although there is something similar: proof).

• The Catholic Church adopted the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. This means that even original sin did not touch the Mother of the Savior. The Orthodox glorify the holiness of the Virgin, but believe that she was born with original sin, like all people.
• The Catholic dogma of taking Mary to heaven with body and soul is the logical continuation of the previous dogma. Orthodox believers also believe that Mary ascended to heaven is soul and body although it is not part of the dogma of the church.
• The Catholic Church adopted the dogma of the supremacy of the Pope over the entire Church in matters of faith and morality, discipline and government. The Orthodox do not recognize the primacy of the Pope.
• The Catholic Church proclaimed the dogma of the infallibility of the Pope in matters of faith and morals in those cases when it is in harmony with all the bishops’ claims. Orthodox believers believe that infallible decisions are only the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils.
• The Orthodox make the sign of the cross from right to left and the Catholics from left to right.
• In Orthodoxy, there are two views on Catholics: one considers them heretics while the other considers them dissidents.
• From Catholicism, on the other hand, the Orthodox are considered as Orthodox schismatics but not heretics. The Catholic Church recognizes that the local Orthodox Churches are true Churches, preserving the apostolic succession and the true ordinances.

Orthodox community fulfilled in Guayaquil with the blessing of the waters

In the Latin Rite, it is common to perform baptism by sprinkling, not by immersion. The baptismal formula differs slightly. (I)