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Orthodox and other ancient Eastern Churches share with Catholics the apostles, the sacraments, the Fathers and the early councils. These steps look at what unites us, and honestly at what still divides us.

Christ Pantocrator, Byzantine icon: Christ blesses with his right hand and holds the Gospel book.

Byzantine icon, Christ Pantocrator, encaustic, 6th century. Saint Catherine’s Monastery, Sinai. Public domain, source.

Journeys / Orthodox, or other apostolic Christian

New here? Start here.

No background needed. Three small steps, at your own pace. You can stop at any point.

  1. The MassWhat Catholics believe happens at the altar, told as a story. About 9 minutes. Nothing to sign up for.
  2. See a Mass for yourselfSit anywhere. Our “In the pew” guide tells you, one step at a time, when to stand, sit and kneel. Watching is always fine.
  3. Ask a real personQuestions are welcome. Here is how to ask a priest, and asking commits you to nothing.

The Catholic Church teaches that its communion with the Orthodox Churches is so deep that it lacks little to reach the fullness that would allow a common celebration of the Eucharist. CCC 838

“lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist”

It also teaches that these Churches, though separated, possess true sacraments, above all the priesthood and the Eucharist, by apostolic succession. CCC 1399 Unitatis Redintegratio 15

6 steps · 0 ready to read

The steps

For Orthodox and other ancient Eastern Christians. So much is already shared. Each step is a short, plain reading with its sources listed. Steps marked “Coming” are being written and checked now.

  1. 1What we share: apostles, sacraments, FathersBeing written.Coming
  2. 2The Bishop of Rome in the first millenniumBeing written.Coming
  3. 3The Creed and the filioque, carefullyBeing written.Coming
  4. 4The Eastern Catholic ChurchesBeing written.Coming
  5. 5What the Church hopes for: unityBeing written.Coming
  6. 6Talk to a priestBeing written.Coming

When you’re ready

Every journey here ends with real people, not a website. There is no sign-up and no pressure.

Visit a Divine Liturgy or Mass Talk to a priest Find a parish

Sources on this page

  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 838, 1399 (official text on vatican.va).
  2. Unitatis Redintegratio (Vatican II, Decree on Ecumenism, 1964), vatican.va.

Excerpts from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for use in the United States of America Copyright © 1994, United States Catholic Conference, Inc. – Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used with Permission. English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Modifications from the Editio Typica copyright © 1997, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an error.