# Eastern Orthodox vs Catholic: what's the difference? > Both confess the Nicene faith. They differ, in their own texts, on the filioque, the pope, Mary, purgatory, the cup for the laity, and clerical celibacy. - Canonical: https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/eastern-orthodox-vs-catholic - Religions: Christianity - Denominations: Eastern Orthodox, Catholic - Beliefs: none - Tags: eastern-orthodox, catholic, filioque, papacy - Updated: 2026-10-09 - Author: [Paul Ambrose](https://apologetics.wiki/author/hi-its-paul) ([GitHub](https://github.com/hi-its-paul)) Eastern Orthodox churches and the Catholic Church both confess that Jesus is true God, born of Mary, crucified, and raised. The differences their texts name are the filioque, the pope, the immaculate conception and the assumption, purgatory, Communion in both kinds for the laity, and compulsory celibacy of the clergy. This page quotes those texts. It does not decide. ## Key points - The [Orthodox Church in America catechism](https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/nicene-creed) [(2)](#ref-2) says the Spirit “proceeds from the Father.” [Catechism 246](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P17.HTM) [(3)](#ref-3) says the Latin creed confesses that the Spirit “proceeds from the Father and the Son (filioque).” - [Catechism 247](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P17.HTM) [(3)](#ref-3) says that insertion “constitutes moreover, even today, a point of disagreement with the Orthodox Churches.” - [Rev. George Mastrantonis](https://www.goarch.org/-/the-fundamental-teachings-of-the-eastern-orthodox-church) [(1)](#ref-1), on the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America site, says the Orthodox Church “does not believe in the primacy of any one leader of the Church, nor in the infallibility of any Church leader.” - [Catechism 881](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM) [(5)](#ref-5) says the Lord made Simon alone the rock of his Church, and that this office “is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope.” - The same Orthodox essay says the Church “does not teach either her immaculate conception or her bodily assumption,” and does not believe in “purgatory.” - It says the Orthodox Church gives “both the Body and the Blood of Christ to all communicants,” and “does not believe in compulsory celibacy of clergymen.” - [Catechism 838](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM) [(4)](#ref-4) says communion with the Orthodox Churches “lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.” ## The same Christ The creed in the [Catechism](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P13.HTM) [(6)](#ref-6) says Jesus Christ is “true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.” The [OCA catechism](https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/nicene-creed) [(2)](#ref-2) prints “true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father.” [What does the Eastern Orthodox Church believe?](/christianity/what-does-the-eastern-orthodox-church-believe) and [What do Catholics believe?](/christianity/what-do-catholics-believe) stay on each side’s fuller account. [Matthew 28:19](/bible/matthew/28/19) [(9)](#ref-9) names “the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” [Catechism 816](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM) [(4)](#ref-4) says the Church Christ entrusted to Peter “subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him.” [Catechism 838](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM) [(4)](#ref-4) still says that with the Orthodox Churches the communion “is so profound” that “it lacks little” before a common Eucharist. Mastrantonis says the Orthodox Church “has never created or added officially any new teaching after the Great Schism” and “continues on the original road.” ## The filioque [John 15:26](/bible/john/15/26) [(7)](#ref-7): “the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father.” The [OCA catechism](https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/nicene-creed) [(2)](#ref-2) prints the 381 sentence: the Spirit “proceeds from the Father.” Mastrantonis says the filioque “is an error. It is not found in the Scripture,” and that it “precipitated the Great Schism.” [Catechism 246](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P17.HTM) [(3)](#ref-3) quotes the Council of Florence: “The Holy Spirit is eternally from Father and Son; He has his nature and subsistence at once (simul) from the Father and the Son. He proceeds eternally from both as from one principle and through one spiration.” [Catechism 248](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P17.HTM) [(3)](#ref-3) says the Eastern wording affirms that the Spirit “comes from the Father through the Son,” and calls the Western wording legitimate “for the eternal order of the divine persons.” The Orthodox essay does not accept that account. The Catechism does not drop the filioque. ## The pope [Matthew 16:18](/bible/matthew/16/18) [(8)](#ref-8): “thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.” [Catechism 881](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM) [(5)](#ref-5): > The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the “rock” of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church’s very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope. [Catechism 882](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM) [(5)](#ref-5) says the Pope “has full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church, a power which he can always exercise unhindered.” Mastrantonis says the Orthodox Church “does not believe in the primacy of any one leader of the Church, nor in the infallibility of any Church leader.” He says the Ecumenical Patriarch is “the first among equals,” and that “there is no one person who leads or speaks for the Church.” [Who started the Catholic Church?](/christianity/who-started-the-catholic-church) quotes the Peter texts beside the claim about Constantine. [Catholic vs Protestant](/christianity/catholic-vs-protestant) quotes Westminster on the same office. ## Mary, the saints, and purgatory Mastrantonis says that “despite the high honor” given to Mary, the Orthodox Church “does not teach either her immaculate conception or her bodily assumption into the heavens.” The same essay’s list of rejected “innovations” includes “purgatory” and, in the later summary, “the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary.” [What do Christians believe about Mary?](/christianity/what-do-christians-believe-about-mary) quotes the Catechism’s paragraphs on the immaculate conception, the assumption, and the difference between devotion and the adoration given to God. [Is purgatory biblical?](/christianity/is-purgatory-biblical) quotes [Catechism 1030](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2N.HTM) on a purification after death and an Orthodox clergy answer that rejects purgatory and still prays for the dead. Those pages do not decide. [Luke 1:28](/bible/luke/1/28) [(11)](#ref-11): “Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” [1 Timothy 2:5](/bible/1-timothy/2/5) [(10)](#ref-10): “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” ## The cup, and marriage of clergy Mastrantonis says the Orthodox Church “does not believe in … communion by only one element of the Holy Eucharist for the layman,” and that it maintains “giving both the Body and the Blood of Christ to all communicants, both clergymen and laymen.” He also says it “does not believe in compulsory celibacy of clergymen.” A Catechism paragraph on Communion under one kind, and a canon on the celibacy of Latin priests, were not in the pages fetched for this article. The Orthodox sentences stand as that church’s account of the difference. [What do Catholics believe?](/christianity/what-do-catholics-believe) quotes the Catechism on the Eucharist as the whole Christ. ## Comparison
Question Eastern Orthodox text fetched here Catholic text fetched here
Is Jesus God? OCA catechism: “true God of true God; begotten, not made; of one essence with the Father.” Catechism creed: “true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.”
The Spirit Proceeds from the Father. The filioque is called an error. Latin creed: proceeds from the Father and the Son. Catechism 248 calls the wordings complementary.
The pope No primacy or infallibility of one leader. The Ecumenical Patriarch is first among equals. Peter’s office continues under the primacy of the Pope, with full power over the whole Church.
Mary Highly honored. No immaculate conception and no bodily assumption, in the essay quoted. The Catechism’s paragraphs are quoted on the Mary page.
After death The essay rejects purgatory. Catechism 1030, quoted on the purgatory page, names a purification.
The Eucharist for the laity Both kinds. The bread and wine “are” the body and blood. The Catechism’s sentence on one kind was not on the pages fetched here.
## Frequently asked questions ### Are Orthodox Catholic or Protestant? The texts above do not call the Eastern Orthodox churches Protestant. Mastrantonis rejects papal primacy, the filioque, and the immaculate conception, which are Catholic teachings quoted or linked here. [Eastern Orthodox vs Protestant](/christianity/eastern-orthodox-vs-protestant) is the other comparison. On this site all three are Trinitarian Christianity. [Christianity](/christianity) is the shared confession. [Catholic](/catholic) and [Eastern Orthodox](/eastern-orthodox) are denomination shelves. ### What are Eastern Rite Catholics? The Catechism paragraphs fetched here speak of the Orthodox Churches as not in full communion under the successor of Peter. They do not use the name Eastern Rite Catholic. This page does not invent a definition. [Catechism 838](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM) [(4)](#ref-4) is the sentence that was fetched: communion with the Orthodox “lacks little” before a common Eucharist. ### Does the Orthodox Church have a pope? Mastrantonis says it does not believe in the primacy or the infallibility of any one leader, and he calls the Ecumenical Patriarch “the first among equals.” [Catechism 882](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM) [(5)](#ref-5) says the Pope has “full, supreme, and universal power over the whole Church.” ### Do Orthodox Christians pray to Mary? [What do Christians believe about Mary?](/christianity/what-do-christians-believe-about-mary) quotes an Orthodox clergy answer and the Catechism. The Mastrantonis essay says Mary is highly honored and does not print a prayer addressed to her. ### Which is stricter? The texts quoted here do not rank the churches. They name the filioque, the pope, Mary, purgatory, the cup, and clerical celibacy. ## The churches on this site - [Eastern Orthodox](/eastern-orthodox) - [Catholic](/catholic) - [Christianity](/christianity) - [What does the Eastern Orthodox Church believe?](/christianity/what-does-the-eastern-orthodox-church-believe) - [What do Catholics believe?](/christianity/what-do-catholics-believe) - [Catholic vs Protestant](/christianity/catholic-vs-protestant) - [Common arguments](/common-arguments#christianity) ## Passages quoted on this page ### Matthew 28:19 King James Version. > Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: ### John 15:26 King James Version. > But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: ### Matthew 16:18 King James Version. > And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ### Luke 1:28 King James Version. > And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. ### 1 Timothy 2:5 King James Version. > For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ## Sources Numbered to match the HTML References list. Item 1 is `#ref-1` under `#references`. Scripture links to the King James Version on this site. 1. [The Fundamental Teachings of the Eastern Orthodox Church](https://www.goarch.org/-/the-fundamental-teachings-of-the-eastern-orthodox-church) (An essay by Rev. George Mastrantonis published by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. It is not a synod.) 2. [Nicene Creed](https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/nicene-creed) (The Orthodox Faith, a catechetical series on the Orthodox Church in America website. It is not a synodal definition.) 3. [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 246](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P17.HTM) (Paragraphs 245, 247, and 248 are on this same page.) 4. [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 838](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM) (Paragraphs 816 and 818 are on this same page.) 5. [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 881](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM) (Paragraph 882 is on this same page.) 6. [Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Nicene Creed](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P13.HTM) 7. [Gospel of John, 15:26](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/john/15/26). King James Version 8. [Gospel of Matthew, 16:18](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/matthew/16/18). King James Version 9. [Gospel of Matthew, 28:19](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/matthew/28/19). King James Version 10. [First Letter to Timothy, 2:5](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/1-timothy/2/5). King James Version 11. [Gospel of Luke, 1:28](https://apologetics.wiki/bible/luke/1/28). King James Version ## See also - [What do Catholics believe?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/what-do-catholics-believe) — Catholics confess the Nicene Creed, and the Catechism’s teaching on Scripture and Tradition, seven sacraments, the pope, Mary, and life after death. - [What does the Eastern Orthodox Church believe?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/what-does-the-eastern-orthodox-church-believe) — Eastern Orthodox churches confess the Nicene faith. A Greek Orthodox Archdiocese teaching and the Orthodox Church in America catechism state Tradition, the mysteries, Mary, icons, and what they reject. - [Who started the Catholic Church?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/who-started-the-catholic-church) — The Catechism says Jesus inaugurated the Church and made Peter its rock. Westminster says Christ is the only head and the pope cannot be head. The fetched texts do not say Constantine founded it. - [Catholic vs Protestant: what's the difference?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/catholic-vs-protestant) — Catholics are Christians. The difference is authority, justification, the sacraments, Mary and the saints, purgatory, and the pope, in each church’s own words. - [Eastern Orthodox vs Protestant: what's the difference?](https://apologetics.wiki/christianity/eastern-orthodox-vs-protestant) — Both confess the Nicene faith. Their texts differ on Scripture and Tradition, justification, Mary and the saints, icons, and the filioque. ## History [View history on GitHub](https://github.com/Apologetics-Wiki/apologetics-wiki/commits/main/src/content/articles/eastern-orthodox-vs-catholic.md)