A Brief introduction for those of Non-Catholic Faith

What is all this about Byzantine Catholics?

First and foremost, Yes: we are Catholics in union with the Bishop of Rome (the Pope) whom we recognize as the visible Head of the Catholic Church. We are recognized as being "Catholic" by the local Roman Catholic Bishops and the Bishops of the United States of America and the whole world. Having said that we are "Catholics", we must now state that we are NOT Roman Catholics, but Catholics who are identified as being Eastern Catholics. As Catholics, we share the same faith and have the same seven sacraments. The difference is that Eastern Catholics have a distinctive way or rite of expressing our faith in regards to Liturgy and customs.

At the Last Supper, after Jesus changed bread and wine into His own Body and Blood, He told His disciples to "Do this in Memory of me." This they did. As the disciples brought the Gospel to different parts of the world, they adapted ceremonies of the Liturgy to the customs and music of that people. In the end, four great centers of Christianity emerged with distinctive Christian customs, but the same faith. These centers were located in the great cities of Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome and Alexandria. A couple of centuries later when the capital of the Roman empire was moved to the Eastern city of Byzantium and renamed Constantinople, an adaptation of the Antioch way of celebrating Liturgy was made. Thus a new center of Christianity arose in Constantinople and her ritual became known as the Byzantine Rite. From Constantinople the Slavic peoples of Eastern Europe were converted by Sts. Cyril and Methodius and naturally followed the Byzantine Rite.

What is a Byzantine Catholic?

The Byzantine Catholic Church is a branch of the Catholic Church.
The Byzantine Catholic Church is in full communion with the Pope of Rome.
Byzantine Catholics hold the same beliefs as Roman Catholics, but often have different emphases.
Byzantine Catholics have different customs and traditions that date back to the early centuries of the church.

Are Roman/Latin Catholics of the Byzantine Rite?

No, Byzantines are there own separate church. "Sui Generis" is often the term used to describe this state.
Basically, although the Byzantine Church falls under the authority of the Pope, it is governed by its own rules.
In Southern Arizona, Roman Catholic Parishes are part of the Catholic Dioceses of Tucson.
St. Melany's Byzantine Catholic Church is part of the Eparchy of Van Nuys.

What is The Holy Eucharist?

The Holy Eucharist (also known as Holy Communion) is the rite that Christians perform in fulfillment of the instruction that Jesus gave to do in his memory. It is a sacramental or memorial reenactment of what he did at The Last Supper in giving his disciples bread, saying "This is my body," and the cup, saying "This is my blood." Catholics recognize a special presence of Christ in this rite via the Holy Spirit.

The Byzantine Catholic Church believes that Christ is really, fully, and uniquely present in the Eucharistic elements, and that, in the Divine Liturgy, the one sacrifice of Christ is made present; and that the exact means by which the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit, is a mystery. We do not define any precise moment the change occurs, considering it complete only at the end of the Prayer of Consecration (also known as the Epiklesis.) Any of the consecrated elements, or "holy gifts," that remain at the end of the Divine Liturgy are normally consumed by a priest or deacon.

Can Non-Catholics receive communion in a Byzantine Church?

Only Catholics who are properly disposed are welcome to receive the Divine Eucharist.
Because Catholics believe that the celebration of the Eucharist is a sign of the reality of the oneness of faith, life, and worship, members of those churches with whom we are not yet fully united are ordinarily not permitted to receive the Divine Eucharist.

I am non-Catholic. What should I do during communion?

It is proper to remain standing and chant (sing) the communion hymn.
During communion, both the Body and Blood of Christ are given to the person.
Rather than wafers, the Byzantine Catholics use little chunks of bread cut from a loaf, which is usually baked by some of the parishioners.
The bread is put in the chalice with the wine and is gently placed into the person's mouth with a gold spoon.

Should we genuflect on entering a Byzantine Church?

No, the genuflection is of purely Roman/Latin origin.
Instead, we make a metany by bowing and making the sign of the cross as our sign of reverence.

How should the sign of the cross be made in a Byzantine Catholic Church?

It is made by holding the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand together and with them making the sign of the cross from the forehead to the breast, to the right shoulder and then the left shoulder.
The three fingers are held together as an act of faith in the Trinity, while the two remaining fingers remind us of the two natures of Christ.
This way of blessing oneself is very ancient and was in use in the west until the middle ages.

Who/What/Why is Mary called Theotokos?

Theotokos commonly is known as Holy Mary the Virgin.
Theotokos is a Greek word meaning God-bearer. It is a title that is commonly translated into English as the Mother of God.
Because of Marys unique role and unique relationship with her Divine Son, she has a special place of honor in the Church.
The Church is awed by the mystery that her womb contained the uncontainable God, and the hymns of the church proclaim Mary to be higher in honor than the cherubim and more glorious beyond compare than the seraphim.

I've heard the term Greek Catholic. What is that?

Historically the Byzantine Catholic Church used to be known as the Greek Catholic Church.
The usage of the word Byzantine became popular, because it helped remove the ethnic stigma that was associated with the term "Greek."
In Europe, the term Greek Catholic is still the norm.

I'd like to become a Byzantine Catholic. How do I do it?

Attend a Byzantine Catholic Church on a regular basis, you don't have to do anything special. Simply go.
Some people find that they are spiritually fulfilled at a Byzantine Church, and in order to bring closure to their spiritual journey, they would like to be officially recognized as a Byzantine Catholic. We welcome you to discuss this with our priest!