Lebanon: the Eastern Rites explained

(Vatican Radio) Pope Benedict XVI's apostolic journey to Lebanon sees him meeting with the Patriarchs of the different Eastern Rites.

Maronite Father John Paul Kimes is a Canon Lawyer and an Official at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith: He explains to Vatican Radio's Tracey McClure the origin and the liturgical differences of the Eastern Rite Churches, all of which are part of the Catholic Church, all of them united under the jurisdiction of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome.

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The Catholic Church is actually composed of 22 different Churches. All of the same equal dignity, all of the same structure essentially.

the Latin Church makes up the overwhelming majority of the Catholic world. Between 94 and 96 percent of the Catholics in the world belong to the Latin Church.

The other 4 to 6 perecent are divided among the 21 other Churches.

The Second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Catholic Eastern Churches emphasized that the Catholic Church values highly the institutions of the Eastern Churches, and recognises that in those churches, which are distinguished by their venerable antiquity, there is clearly evident the tradition which has come from the Apostles through the Fathers.

To appreciate the diversities expressed by the Eastern Churches and their rites it is necessary to take a look at early Church history.

At the Ascension, Jesus commanded the apostles to go and make disciples of all the nations. Tradition holds that the different Apostles journeyed as far as India in the East. From the foundation they laid, the Church continued to spread despite persecution by the Roman Empire.

Also, at that time the Roman Empire encompassed most of western Europe, parts of eastern Europe, Asia Minor, Palestine, and northern Africa. While the Romans were severe conquerors, they did respect and tolerate the culture and customs of their subjects to insure peace.

When Emperor Constantine gained control, he legalized Christianity in 312 with the promulgation of the Edict of Milan, and then in 330 established the city of Constantinople as the capital of the eastern half of the Roman Empire. From this time on, the Empire was really seen as two halves — the West and the East. Eventually, Constantine would make Constantinople his home and base of government.

Within this framework, the Church grew. Dominant centers of Christianity eventually developed: Jerusalem, the “birthplace” for Christianity; Rome, the Diocese of St. Peter and the “home base” of the Church; Antioch, in Asia Minor where Christians were first called “Christians”; Alexandria, Egypt; and Constantinople.

Each of these communities professed the same belief and were united together as one Church. As the bishops of these dominant centers appointed and ordained other bishops to lead the growing Church, the hierarchy was mindful of the authority of the Holy Father, the Successor of St. Peter.

Especially when comparing the West with East, differences in culture and language impacted upon the expression of the faith even though essential elements remained the same.

As the Church hierarchy became more stable, the position of Patriarch was recognized. A Patriarch had the highest ecclesiastical dignity after the Pope and had jurisdiction over a particular territory.

Given this history, the differences in culture, language and liturgical practices, and the established hierarchy under patriarchs, the clear presence of defined "rites" arose.

During the fifth century, the barbarian invasions crippled the western Roman Empire and Rome itself declined in stature. Even though the pope was still the bishop of Rome, the great early Church councils were all convoked.The mounting tensions finally exploded in 1054 when both the patriarch and the pope issued bulls of excommunication against each other.

The Eastern Church was now in formal schism with the Western Church. Although they acknowledged the pope as the successor of St. Peter, they rejected his binding authority over the whole Church and considered him simply as "the first among equals." Spurning any affiliation with Rome, these Churches identified themselves as the Orthodox.

The Maronite Rite Catholic Church whose patriarch resides in Lebanon never severed its ties with Rome.

As time continued, the Roman Catholic Church was identified with the Latin Mass and allegiance to the Holy Father, and the Orthodox Churches with the Eastern Rites and particular ethnic communities.

In 1596, the first successful reunion occurred. Other reunifications then followed. The most recent reunion involved the Church of Malankar, which traces its origins to St. Thomas the Apostle.

Although these Eastern Rites differ from the Western or Latin Rite in "rite" and liturgy, ecclesiastical discipline and Canon Law and spiritual traditions, they are fully part of the Roman Catholic Church under the leadership and pastoral care of the pope, the successor of St. Peter.