Who Are The Byzantine Catholics?
Byzantine Catholics Are Followers of Jesus Christ
Byzantine Catholics are followers of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. We believe that Christ came into the world, took on our human nature, suffered, died, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven so that we might share in His divine life.
Our faith is centered on the Good News of Jesus Christ. As members of His Church, we seek to worship God, grow in holiness, serve one another, and bear witness to Christ in the world.
The Byzantine Catholic Church Is Apostolic
The Byzantine Catholic Church traces its faith to the Apostles, who received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and began proclaiming the Gospel throughout the world.
As Christianity spread, different traditions of worship, theology, spirituality, and church life developed. In the West, the Church became especially associated with Rome. In the East, the Church grew through great centers such as Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria, and Constantinople.
Byzantine Catholics share in the spiritual inheritance of the Christian East while remaining in full communion with the Catholic Church and the Pope of Rome.
The Byzantine Catholic Church Shares the Heritage of the Christian East
The word “Byzantine” refers to the Christian tradition that developed around Constantinople, the capital of the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire. This tradition shaped the worship, theology, music, iconography, and spirituality of many Eastern Christian peoples.
Byzantine Catholics are heirs of this rich Eastern Christian tradition. Our worship is ancient, beautiful, and deeply rooted in Scripture, the Church Fathers, the saints, and the liturgical life of the Christian East.
Byzantine Christian Worship: God With Us
The heart of Byzantine Catholic worship is the Divine Liturgy. In the Divine Liturgy, we gather as the Body of Christ to hear the Word of God, offer our lives to the Lord, and receive the Holy Eucharist; the Body and Blood of Christ.
Our worship is sung, prayerful, and filled with signs of God’s presence. Chant, incense, icons, candles, processions, bows, and blessings all help us worship with our whole person; body, mind, and soul.
Byzantine Catholics also celebrate other services throughout the liturgical year, including Vespers, Matins, the Hours, feast-day services, and the beautiful prayers of Great Lent and Holy Week. Through these services, the Church sanctifies time and helps us enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ.
Inside Our Churches: God’s Kingdom on Earth
A Byzantine Catholic church is designed to help us experience the Kingdom of God. The icons, candles, incense, vestments, chant, and sacred architecture all point us toward heaven.
The icon screen, or iconostasis, separates the sanctuary from the nave while also revealing the mystery of Christ, the Mother of God, the angels, and the saints. Icons are not simply decorations; they are holy images that draw us into prayer and remind us that the saints are alive in Christ.
The nave is where the faithful gather as the Body of Christ. Surrounded by icons and joined in prayer, we worship together with the whole Church, on earth and in heaven.
Sacramental Mysteries
Byzantine Catholics celebrate the sacraments as Holy Mysteries — sacred encounters with the life and grace of God. Through Baptism, we are joined to the death and resurrection of Christ. Through Chrismation, we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through the Eucharist, we receive Christ Himself as our spiritual food.
We also encounter God’s mercy and healing through Confession and Holy Anointing, His blessing in Holy Matrimony, and His service to the Church through Holy Orders. In the Byzantine tradition, infants ordinarily receive Baptism, Chrismation, and the Eucharist together, becoming full members of the Church from the beginning of their Christian life.
An Invitation
The Byzantine Catholic faith is not only a set of beliefs or customs. It is a way of life in Christ, a life of prayer, beauty, repentance, mercy, joy, and communion with God.
Whether you are already Catholic, coming from another Christian tradition, returning to the Church, or simply curious, we warmly invite you to pray with us and discover the beauty of the Byzantine Catholic faith.
Welcome Home
Are you a Byzantine Catholic who has been away from the Church? Are you looking for a spiritual home? Are you wondering where God may be calling you? You are welcome here. Come and see.