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Eastern rite church

Roman Catholic church
Alternative Titles: Eastern Catholic church, Uniate church

Eastern rite church, also called Eastern Catholic Church , any of a group of Eastern Christian churches that trace their origins to various ancient national or ethnic Christian bodies in the East but have established union (hence, Eastern rite churches were in the past often called Uniates) or canonical communion with the Roman Apostolic See and, thus, with the Roman Catholic Church. In this union they accept the Roman Catholic faith, keep the seven sacraments, and recognize the pope of Rome as supreme earthly head of the church. They retain, however, all other characteristics—e.g., liturgy, spirituality, sacred art, and especially organization—proper to themselves.

The special status of the Catholic churches of the Eastern rite was guaranteed at the time of each rite’s union with Rome and was approved again by the decree of the Second Vatican Council, in Orientalium ecclesiarum (“Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite”), promulgated on Nov. 21, 1964. In the first decade of the 21st century, the number of Eastern Catholics throughout the world numbered more than 12 million.



The Union of Brest-Litovsk in 1596—under which all but two Ukrainian Orthodox bishops accepted, at the demand of their Polish Catholic king, the primacy of the pope—in a substantial way signaled the effective advent of Eastern rite churches. Other smaller groups had united with Rome in previous centuries, but the Ukrainians who were united with Rome at this time were the largest branch of Eastern Catholics to move in that direction. The Union of Uzhhorod (Uzhgorod) in 1646 brought many Ruthenians (or Rusyns) into the Roman Catholic Church when 63 Ruthenian Orthodox priests, who represented Ruthenians living under Catholic rule, accepted the authority of Rome while being allowed to maintain their liturgical language (Old Church Slavonic) and customs.

Prior to this event, Eastern Catholics had been limited to Italo-Albanians in southern Italy and Sicily, a large number of Maronites (Lebanese Christians of the Syro-Antiochene rite) who became associated with Rome in the 12th century, and some Armenians in the Syria-Lebanon region who also traced their relationship with Rome to the 12th century. A number of Nestorians (followers of Nestorius, the 5th-century patriarch of Constantinople [now Istanbul] who was declared a heretic) were united with Rome in 1551, some Ruthenians in 1595, Romanians of Transylvania in 1698, and Melchites (Syrian Christians of the Byzantine rite) in 1724. Political factors also played a role during the reunion process; Eastern Christians have been greatly influenced by nationalistic loyalties in their respective regions. As these various groups of Eastern Catholics grew in number, Rome encouraged and established ecclesiastical hierarchies.

Relationship to other churches

Eastern Catholic churches correspond in kind to the more numerous Eastern Orthodox churches and also to the Oriental Orthodox churches, which do not accept the decrees of the ecumenical Council of Chalcedon (451). Within this fuller context, Eastern Catholics as a group are the smallest segment within Eastern Christianity.

Furthermore, from the viewpoint of the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox traditions, Eastern Catholics may be looked upon with suspicion, primarily because of the Latinizing influence found in their ranks. Hence, the majority of Orthodox and Eastern independent churches characterize Eastern Catholics as “Uniate” churches. The term Uniate is taken from the Slavic uniya, a term coined by the opponents of the Union of Brest-Litovsk. “Uniatism” implies hybridism, or the tendency for Latinization, and hence a betrayal of one’s ancient and national tradition. Eastern rite churches would prefer to be considered as united churches rather than Uniate, with its negative implications.

Eastern rite churches make manifest the pluralistic composition of the Roman Catholic tradition. Eastern Catholic rites permit a married clergy and the immediate admission of baptized infants to the sacraments of Holy Communion (the Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper) and confirmation. In Orientalium ecclesiarum, the Roman pontiff reaffirmed the pledge of his predecessors to preserve the rites of the Eastern churches. “All members of the Eastern Rite should know and be convinced,” states the decree, “that they can and should always preserve their legitimate liturgical rite and their established way of life, and that these may not be altered except to obtain for themselves an organic improvement.” The Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches was promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 1990; it now complements the 1983 Code of Canon Law for the Latin church.


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