 Anthony Dr. Dragani is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania. He has an M.A. in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, and a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Duquesne University. A Byzantine Catholic, Dr. Dragani frequently lectures and writes on topics related to spirituality and ecumenism  Order Anthony's critical examination of Adrian Fortescue, one of
England's foremost authorities on Eastern Christianity Place
order
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Spirituality  Eastern Catholics would not go so far as to say it is "wrong" to have statues in a  parish. We respect the traditions of our Latin brothers and
sisters. But traditionally, Eastern Catholics only use flat images
during religious services for a multitude of reasons. First, icons are written according to specific canons. Every color, shape, and object in an icon means something. They speak a theological language, and hence convery doctrine. Second, icons are always "unrealistic," and do not depict earthly realities. They try to depict heavenly realities, which we cannot fully comprehend. Third, icons in and of themselves are not objects of devotion. Rather, we understand them to be windows into heaven.  Top of
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My own Church, the Byzantine Ruthenian Catholic Church, also venerates St. Photius, and he is on our calendar of saints. I have a personal devotion to St. Photios, as his missionary vision was largely responsible for the conversion of the Slavic peoples. Please  be advised that most of the literature written against him is
highly polemical in nature, and distorts the facts of his case. Francis Dvornik, one of the greatest Church historians of modern times, has
demonstrated that many of the charges against Photius are simply myths
with no factual basis. I would recommend reading his book on the
subject, "The Photian Schism." Some of Photius's theological opinions were somewhat reactionary, but he was not canonized because of his theological reasoning, but because of his personal holiness. In particular, Photius had a zeal for evangelization, and it was him who sent SS. Cyril and Methodius on their mission to the Slavs. Top
of page Eucharistic Adoration: I would like to know if the Eastern churches practice Eucharistic Adoration, reserve the Eucharist in a tabernacle, or have other similar practices? The Latin devotion of Eucharistic adoration is generally not practiced among the Eastern Churches. We place less emphasis on visually seeing the Eucharist, and a greater emphasis on physically consuming it. The primary Eastern understanding of the Eucharist is as the "medicine of immortality." A medicine is most effective when consumend and ingested.  Also, the exposition of the Eucharist really isn't in harmony with our Eastern sensibilities. We refer to the sacraments as the "Holy Mysteries," and it isn't in keeping with our spirituality to visually expose a mystery. Rather, we believe that a mystery is to be concealed and guarded. Of course, while we do not have Eucharistic adoration we ALWAYS show the utmost respect for the Eucharist that is reserved on our altars. Praying before Him is always encouraged. Also, I personally think that Eucharistic adoration is very beneficial for the Western Church. For many centuries the West has had to battle against a denial of the Real Presence, and Eucharistic adoration helps to counteract this heresy. In Eastern Christianity there has never been a denial of the Real Presence. Charismatic Renewal:
Is the charismatic renewal present in the Eastern Churches?
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"Thus
says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the East
country and from the West country; and I will bring them to dwell in the
midst of Jerusalem; and they shall be my people and I will be their God,
in faithfulness and in righteousness." -Zech 8:7-8Return to Top
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