Both traditional Catholicism and the Orthodox Catholic Apostolic Church are branches of Christianity. In fact, both are two of the three most popular Christian churches worldwide, along with the Protestant church. Between the two there is a nexus that connects them and that marked the definitive separation between them: the East-West Schism. However, the similarities between Catholics and Orthodox prevail throughout the years. What is the difference between Catholic and Orthodox?
Catholics | Orthodox | |
|---|---|---|
| Etymology | Catholic comes from the Greek “καθολικός” , “katholikós” which means “universal”. | The orthodox word comes from the Greek “ortos” which means “right” and “doxa“ which means “belief”. |
| brief introduction | The Catholic Church is the Christian church with the largest number of followers in the world. Catholics belong to the church formed by Christ, who elected Saint Peter as the first pope. The apostles were responsible for bearing witness to the Catholic creed. This creed has influenced the modern world in various aspects, such as cultural, social, political, among others. | The Orthodox Church is an autonomous church that brings together elements from various cultures, such as Greek, Russian, and Middle Eastern. At first, it shares its base with Christianity and Catholicism. Only some beliefs, uses and customs change. Its symbol is the Orthodox cross. |
| Leader | The head of the Catholic Church is the figure of the Pope, Bishop of Rome, who is currently Pope Francis. | On the contrary, the Orthodox Church does not admit the supremacy of the pope. Jesus is considered the head of religion. However, there is the figure of the patriarch, who although he is considered an equal within the clergy, possesses symbolic supremacy. What is the difference between Catholic and Orthodox? |
| Source | The Catholic Church has as its place of origin Jerusalem, the place where Jesus Christ was born. However, it is considered that the moment in which it originated was after the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. | This church is based on the Christian religion, however, it was shaped by the Roman Empire, the politics of that time and its geographical location. Its origin took place in the old Byzantine Empire. |
| Deities | The Catholic Church is monotheistic, it believes in God who presented himself through his son Jesus Christ. However, the figure of Mary, the saints, the Divine Trinity, the Holy Spirit, the church and its clergy, among some others, are also praised. | God, who presented himself through Jesus Christ. They believe in the crucifixion and the resurrection. Likewise, they believe in the Holy Spirit and in his church and its leaders. |
| Number of followers | As for Catholics, the latest figures available in this regard indicate that there are 1,285 million Catholics in the world. | It is estimated that there are between 225 and 300 million Orthodox. |
| Holy scripture | The Holy Bible, a collection of 73 canonical books divided into two parts: 46 in the old testament and 27 in the new testament. | In the same way, the Bible is the sacred scriptures of the Orthodox. What is the difference between Catholic and Orthodox? |
| About the Virgin Mary | He is worshiped, he is considered an example, a model; she is the mother of all Catholics. | She is called “the one without blemish” or “all holy.” The Virgin Mary is the object of the most devout venerations. Sometimes he is worshiped more than God himself. |
