What's in a Name?

Why do Catholics call themselves Catholic and Orthodox call themselves Orthodox? Have you ever wondered about it?

For Catholics, the most important characteristic of their faith is its 'catholicity' (read: universalism, embracing everybody everywhere). Hence comes power grabbing, Crusades, proselytism, secularism, modernism, etc. For the Orthodox, the most important characteristic of their faith is its 'Orthodoxy' (unbroken continuity of doctrine from the times of Apostles and Christ Himself). Thus, the Orthodox aren't afraid to remain alone (cf. "Fear ye not, small flock", "Athanasius Contra Mundum"...) as far as they preserve "the faith once given to the saints".

Do you agree?

NB: This is not to reject the belief in the "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church" but to emphasise the fact that the Church cannot be 'Catholic' without remaining 'Orthodox'.

Primus inter Pares

First published @ http://radio-awakening.com/index.php/133-primusinterpares

What's Wrong With Apostolic Succession?

One of the main arguments in favour of the Catholic Church (and the Orthodox Church) vs. the multitude of Protestant denominations has recently been their inherent Apostolic succession. The Protestants, seeing that they cannot beat those old traditional churches in this field, tend to reject the importance of Apostolic succession – and the very concept in general. And they're right – in the way they see it.

Let's see what the concept of Apostolic succession teaches.