Perhaps one of the largest Christian churches is the Roman Catholic Church. It branched off from the general direction of Christianity in the distant first centuries of its emergence. The very word "Catholicism" is derived from the Greek "universal", or "universal". We will talk in more detail about the origin of the church, as well as about its features in this article.
Origin
The history of the Roman Catholic Church begins in 1054, when an event took place, which remained in the annals under the name “Great Schism”. Although Catholics do not deny that all the events before the schism - and their history. From that moment on, they just went their own way. In that year, the Patriarch and the Pope exchanged threatening messages and anathematized each other. After that, Christianity finally split and two currents were formed - Orthodoxy and Catholicism.
As a result of the split of the Christian Church, the Western (Catholic)the direction, the center of which was Rome, and the eastern (Orthodox), with the center in Constantinople. Of course, the apparent reason for this event was the differences in dogmatic and canonical issues, as well as in liturgical and disciplinary ones, which began long before the indicated date. And this year, disagreement and misunderstanding reached its peak.
However, in fact, everything was much deeper, and the matter here concerned not only the differences between dogmas and canons, but also the usual confrontation between the rulers (even church ones) over the newly baptized lands. The confrontation was also strongly influenced by the unequal position of the Pope of Rome and the Patriarch of Constantinople, because as a result of the division of the Roman Empire, it was split into two parts - Eastern and Western.
The eastern part retained its independence much longer, so the Patriarch, although he was under the control of the emperor, had the protection of the state. The Western one ceased to exist already in the 5th century, and the Pope received relative independence, but also the possibility of attacks by barbarian states that appeared on the territory of the former Western Roman Empire. Only in the middle of the VIII century, the Pope is given land, which automatically makes him a secular sovereign.
Modern expansion of Catholicism
Today, Catholicism is the most numerous branch of Christianity, which is spread all over the world. In 2007, there were about 1.147 billion Catholics on our planet. Most of them are in Europe,where in many countries this religion is state or prevails over others (France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Poland, etc.).
On the American continent, Catholics are common everywhere. Also, followers of this religion can be found on the Asian continent - in the Philippines, East Timor, China, South Korea, and Vietnam. There are also many Catholics in Muslim countries, but most of them live in Lebanon. On the African continent, they are also common (from 110 to 175 million).
Internal management structure of the church
Now we should consider what is the administrative structure of this direction of Christianity. The Pope of the Roman Catholic Church is the highest authority in the hierarchy, as well as jurisdiction over the laity and clergy. The head of the Roman Catholic Church is elected at a conclave by a college of cardinals. He usually retains his powers until the end of his life, except in cases of lawful self-renunciation. It should be noted that in Catholic teaching, the Pope is considered the successor of the Apostle Peter (and, according to the legend, Jesus ordered him to patronize the entire church), therefore his authority and decisions are infallible and true.
Further in the structure of the church there are the following positions:
- Bishop, priest, deacon - degrees of priesthood.
- Cardinal, archbishop, primate, metropolitan, etc. – church degrees and positions (there are many more).
Territorial units in Catholicism are as follows:
- Individual churches, which are called dioceses, or dioceses. dominates herebishop.
- Special dioceses of great importance are called archdioceses. They are headed by an archbishop.
- Those churches that do not have the status of a diocese (for one reason or another) are called apostolic administrations.
- Several dioceses joined together are called metropolitanates. Their center is the diocese whose bishop has the rank of metropolitan.
- Parishes are the backbone of every church. They are formed within a single area (for example, a small town) or due to a common nationality, linguistic differences.
Existing rites of the church
It should be noted that the Roman Catholic Church has differences in rites during worship (however, unity in faith and morality is preserved). There are the following popular ceremonies:
- Latin;
- Lyon;
- ambrosian;
- Mozarabic, etc.
Their difference may be in some disciplinary issues, in the language in which the service is read, etc.
Monastic orders within the church
Due to the broad interpretation of church canons and divine dogmas, the Roman Catholic Church has about one hundred and forty monastic orders in its composition. Their history dates back to ancient times. We list the most famous orders:
- Augustinians. Its history begins approximately from the 5th century with the writing of the charter by blessed Augustine. Immediatethe formation of the order occurred much later.
- Benedictines. It is considered the first officially founded monastic order. This event took place at the beginning of the VI century.
- Hospitallers. A knightly order founded in 1080 by the Benedictine monk Gerard. The religious charter of the order appeared only in 1099.
- Dominicans. A mendicant order founded by Dominique de Guzman in 1215. The purpose of its creation is the fight against heretical teachings.
- Jesuits. This direction was created in 1540 by Pope Paul III. His goal became prosaic: to fight the rising Protestant movement.
- Capuchins. This order was founded in Italy in 1529. His original goal is still the same - to fight the Reformation.
- Carthusians. The first monastery of the order was built in 1084, but it was officially approved only in 1176.
- Templars. The military monastic order is perhaps the most famous and shrouded in mysticism. Some time after its creation, it became more military than monastic. The original goal was to protect pilgrims and Christians from Muslims in Jerusalem.
- Teutons. Another military monastic order founded by the German crusaders in 1128.
- Franciscans. The order was created in 1207-1209, but only approved in 1223.
In addition to the orders in the Catholic Church there are the so-called Uniates - those believers who have retained their traditional worship, but at the same time accepted the doctrine of Catholics, as well as the authority of the Pope. These include:
- Armenian-Catholics;
- Redemptorists;
- Belarusian Greek Catholic Church;
- Romanian Greek Catholic Church;
- Russian Orthodox Catholic Church;
- Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church.
Holy churches
Below we look at some of the most famous saints of the Roman Catholic Church:
- St. John the Theologian.
- St. Stephen the First Martyr.
- St. Charles Borromeo.
- St. Faustina Kowalska.
- St. Jerome.
- St. Gregory the Great.
- St. Bernard.
- St. Augustine.
The difference between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox
Now about how the Russian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church differ from each other in the modern version:
- For the Orthodox, the unity of the Church is faith and sacraments, and for Catholics, the infallibility and inviolability of the Pope's authority are added here.
- For the Orthodox, the Ecumenical Church is every local church headed by a bishop. For Catholics, her communion with the Roman Catholic Church is obligatory.
- For the Orthodox, the Holy Spirit comes only from the father. For Catholics, both from the Father and from the Son.
- In Orthodoxy, divorces are possible. Catholics do not allow them.
- In Orthodoxy there is no such thing as purgatory. This dogma was proclaimed by Catholics.
- Orthodox recognize the holiness of the Virgin Mary, but deny her immaculate conception. Catholics have a dogma that the Virgin Mary is alsogave birth, like Jesus.
- Orthodox have one rite that originated in Byzantium. There are many in Catholicism.
Conclusion
Despite some differences, the Roman Catholic Church is still fraternal in faith for the Orthodox. Misunderstandings in the past have divided Christians into bitter enemies, but this must not continue now.
