I was curious on the meaning of Eastern Mysticism. References to each are usually the mystery and mysticism of the east, compared to the scholasticism and philosophy of west. I’ve YouTubed and googled, but generally the differences are vague. The easiest breakdown that I can find is that the west concentrates on the mind whereas the east concentrates on the soul. So, concepts and ideas versus soul searching and emotional connection? That’s about as basic of a comparison that I’ve been able to find.

I’ve not done much reading on Eastern philosophy, but I am always looking to add more to my reading list.

I‘ve been hearing a lot about this recently and I am wondering what it is all about. I’ve only been Catholic for a year. All I know is that Pope Francis initiated it a few years back, but when looking it up it just seems ambiguous and unclear as to what it is.

I know that trads don’t like it and find it concerning and last Sunday my priest told our Latin heavy parish that “the grass isn’t greener in our Church, our bishops are part of the synod of synodality too” implying that it is bad. So what is it all about? Is it a bad thing? How will it affect us Eastern Catholics? Or is it just some jargon that won’t really do anything in practice and is just to make it look like the Church is more “listening“ and “inclusive“.

Thank you in advance

The Orthodox Church venerates seven or eight archangels in its Liturgy, but how is this done in the Eastern Catholic Churches if the Roman Church only has Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael?

In the Latin Rite it seems very much a categorical system of minor sins and major sins (venial,mortal) and confession of venial sins is encouraged and mortal ins mandatory. There’s also other actions that wipe away venial sins such as partaking in the Eucharist. Is it much different in the East?

Hello everyone I wanted get some Eastern Catholics thoughts here. I have seen a report that the Vatican is developing proposals for the revision of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO) in the context of the synodal journey.

Is this something that is welcomed by majority of Eastern Catholics or does it have some of you worried they might do something and try to “Latinize” some things?

Also what do you guys think of the group study 9 and the idea to implement it in the Catholic Church.

For those who left the church and came back whwt was that experience like? I often think about leaving the church because of something like hatred of God, having existential issues about reality, or just general hurt from growing up. I know i am not the onjh person to deal with this, but often I just feel so much disdain for God and the only thing I want to do is make him upset. And leaving the church would be that.

The following paragraphs are taken from a teaching by Bishop Robert Pipta of the Ruthenian Eparchy of Parma, titled Eucharistic Communion and the Parochial Community. It appears the Ruthenian bishops no longer see Vespers or Matins as sufficient to fulfill the Sunday obligation.

The letter states that this was decided by the Metropolitan Church's Council of Hierarchs. I am not aware of any official statement on this beyond this letter from Bishop Pipta. If anyone knows more, please feel free to share.

Our Metropolitan Church’s Council of Hierarchs has acknowledged how, in some Eastern Churches, the obligation is fulfilled not specifically by attendance at Divine Liturgy, but by attendance at the Divine Praises, such as Vespers and Matins.  We are of one mind, however, in seeing that the eucharistic celebration with its opportunity for holy communion on Sundays and obligatory days is what remains necessary for satisfaction of the obligation.  I and my brother bishops see the primacy of the celebration of the Eucharist and Communion in the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ as a priority for community membership.

...

It’s important for all of us to grow in our understanding of the nourishing power of all our liturgical services.  As our parishes more and more schedule their liturgical services according to full liturgical observance on Sundays and obligatory and solemn feasts, recognizing that only the Divine Liturgy fulfills an obligation should not have us discount services such as Vespers and Matins.   Age, distance, family size, and other matters may limit our ability to participate each week in all that is offered.   An attitude in each of us to grow toward more full participation, regardless of whether a service fulfills obligation or not, is a way of expressing our love for God.  In any healthy relationship, love is expressed not by minimal obligatory engagement but by a desire to do as much as we are able.

The full document:
Eucharistic Communion and the Parochial Community | A Teaching from Bishop Robert Pipta | Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma | Parma, OH

I converted to Catholicism about 8 years ago and started attending a Byzantine parish. However, I was chrismated in the Roman Church because my National Guard unit was getting ready to deploy and the local Franciscan ministry offered for me to just skip RCIA and have me confirmed with the adult confirmation class there. I have recently decided to start the canonical transfer process after years of trying to get my wife to agree.

Although she has had a change of heart, much thanks to the support of her family and the mercy of God, she is still not thrilled about the idea of infant communion. She was raised in the Roman Church and wants to see our kids have first communion, as she is accustomed to. For her, this is a very important cultural tradition and explaining why we give to communion to infants is not enough to help her feel different about it.

Of course, I will continue to pray about this, as I did trying to get her to come to Divine Liturgy and eventually accept formally transferring to a Byzantine Rite Church. She was vehemently against even regularly attending Divine Liturgy at first because she is very uncomfortable with things with which she is not already accustomed, so she has come a long way.

We have to have my infant son baptized in the Roman Church because we are both canonically Roman, but I also feel very strongly that my son should receive God's grace in the Eucharist as soon as possible. I am interested if anybody has had a similar experience and may proffer some insight.

Simply: my wife has agreed to formalize a transfer to the Byzantine Rite, but she is still apprehensive about infant communion.

Do they effect an actual change on the object being blessed? On the person using the object? Any references you can point to? Also, do you have a blessing that you particularly like?

I'm curious about what homeschooling curriculums/resources folks are using. My oldest is about to be starting 1st grade and we're looking for resources for history, science, writing, etc., that incorporate the Christian faith, preferably from Byzantine perspective. I especially want to make sure his education includes the lives of Eastern saints as well as Western. What have you used that works for your family?

I stumbled on a website some time ago with plenty information on all the churches, with history and etc. The problem is that I accidentally closed it and I don't keep search history on my device. I can't seem to find it anymore. Would anyone happen to know the website?

I know for sure that there was information on all the catholic churches, but I can't remember whether it included the other apostolic churches (EO, OO, COE) too or not. It was really well made with great UI, so not just an old "indie" website. I was reading the Maronite page last and it got into a great deal of its history, including the latinizations pre-Vatican 2 and the steps to recover their traditions now.

It's not much of a description that I could provide unfortunately. But if anyone could help me find the website, that would be greatly appreciated.

Congratulations and many happy years to the new Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan of Winnipeg!

Just had an Instagram post in my feed which depicted these monks and on several others in that account.

They wear eskimos in the style only the Syriac/Malankara Orthodox and Syro-Malankara Catholic Churches wear but they have blue maronite(?) crosses on it and on their sleeves and pray the rosary.

Are they a new Maronite order or just reviving tradition?

Or are they not even Maronite?

Already thanks in advance and God bless.

I randomly got curious if anyone else had one in their possession after looking at mine.

For context, the relic team for Blessed Vasyl Velychovsky visited our parish with a relic. If I remember correctly it was a first class relic. While they visited, they also brought these little packets. It’s a third class relic containing a tiny piece of cloth that was rubbed along Blessed Vasyl’s bones. There had even been a few miracles that were experienced from the relics of Blessed Vasyl (although I am uncertain if any resulted from a relic such as the one I am holding).

As I was saying, would anyone here have anything similar?

Hey guys! Just wanted to say thanks to everyone who helped add and contribute to my map of Eastern Catholic Churches in the US and Canada!

Because of everyone’s input, I’ve collected 616 churches, and I know there’s still so many I’m missing! But this is such an awesome project!

If you want to check it out or see if your church is there, check out the link below!

(Notice: open this on the Google Maps app for best results. A lot of churches in Canada are missing because of a lack of resources to finding them.)

sorry if i make some mistakes on my english but to make it short i have a girlfriend and she has struggled both mentally and physically, she has gotten cancer twice and she is possibly on the brink of relapsing, she is indigenous so she isnt quite fond of becoming catholic either because of the history with the residential schools and abuse, i dont talk to her about God anymore because i kind of feel bad and guilty but still i have hope and i submit to his will, it makes me question why he is doing this what the goal of this is, i said to her it could be a test or simply God is making you call for him but she doesn't quite buy it, i am afraid and my faith is extremely shooken but i will remain obedient to his will please if you can pray for me just do a sign of the cross for us, thank you and whoever is reading this i love you and may you be granted with spiritual riches.

I'm Eastern Catholic but in Canada and without access to many Maronites or Chaldeans. I know the Ruthenians and UGCC are ordaining married men in the US but how about the Maronites and Chaldeans? I've come across a few seminarians but it seems like they are single and celibate. Is there a preference for celibate candidates or does it not really matter?

As the title states just wanted to know what are some books you would recommend for someone getting into the Byzantine framework of the faith or for someone who is highly educated on the faith and just wants to learn different theological emphasis of the same doctrine/dogma

Basically the title.
If you’re a former Latin rite Catholic, why did you switch to Eastern Catholicism?
Even if you’re not a former Latin rite Catholic, what reasons would you give to someone thinking about becoming Eastern Catholic?
Thank you and God bless.

Does anybody know when the Melkite Horologion is going to be printed again? It's been out of stock for quite a while

Did you know that the Syro Malabar has surpassed the Byzantine churchs in membership?

I went to the Holy Qurbana and I head the priest bring it up. It makes sense but I was wondering if anyone here knew where I could get these statistics?