Comparison Table between Orthodoxy, Protestantism and Roman Catholicism Page 1 of 5

Comparison between Orthodoxy, Protestantism & Roman Catholicism:

The table below aims to given an outline of some of the key issues in Christian belief and
how the three traditions view these issues. I have tried to state what might be called the
'representative' view of each tradition, though there are obviously differing views within
each of them e.g. the diverse range of opinions on the presence of Christ in the
Eucharist.

With thanks to Father Gregory Hallam for his assistance.

Topic Orthodox Protestant Roman Catholic

Apostolic This is an important With the exception As in Orthodoxy, this
Succession part of Orthodox of the Anglicans and is of vital importance
belief and ensures some Lutherans, this to the church. There
continuity with the idea is rejected. is also some degree
church that Christ Rather it is of mutual
founded. important to recognition of the
emphasise continuity validity of Orthodox
of teaching with that ordinations.
of the apostles,
rather than a direct
line of succession.
Bible - Accept the 39 Old Protestants reject Agrees with
Composition of Testament and 27 the Orthodoxy as to the
New Testament deuterocanonicals as validity of these
books, but also a not being inspired books.
collection of books scripture and term
not found in the them Apocrypha
original Hebrew (Greek: 'Hidden
Bible. These are Things').
known as
Deuterocanonicals 
i.e. a second canon
of scripture.
Clergy - Priests and Bishops The majority of All clergy are
Qualification for must be male, but Protestants do not required to be male.
deaconesses are require celibacy as a Priests and Bishops
permitted, though condition of election must also be
the order is to the clergy. Many celibate, with the
dormant. churches practice exception of 'Eastern
Priests and deacons female ordination. Rite' Catholics, who
may marry before The issue of female are allowed to have
ordination but not Bishops is currently married priests.
after. Bishops, on being debated in the
the other hand, must Anglican church.
be celibate.
Eucharist - Commonly termed The Eucharist, like The position is
Significance of the 'Mystic Supper' Baptism is only a similar to the
or 'Divine Liturgy' - symbol of grace. The Orthodox. The
This makes present sacrificial nature of Eucharist is also
Christ's sacrifice and the Eucharist is also known as the 'Holy
therefore forgiveness rejected. sacrifice of the
of sins is obtained Mass'.

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through it. It is also

an encounter with
the Risen Christ.
Eucharist - During the Eucharist, The bread and wine, As in Orthodoxy, the
Presence of Christ the Priest calls down being symbols, do Priest invokes the
in the Holy Spirit (in not change Holy Spirit during
Greek: epiklesis) substance. There are the Mass. However,
upon the gifts (the however, a wide the consecration
bread and the wine). variety of views held becomes effective
They then change within Protestantism through the Priest,
into the actual body on this subject (e.g. who acts in the
and blood of Christ. some Anglicans person of Christ. The
The precise way in accept the Catholic gifts change
which this happens view, whereas completely into
is a divine mystery. Baptists deny it). Christ's body and
blood and this
change is termed
'Transubstantiation'
i.e. the outward
appearance remains
the same, but the
substance changes.
Eucharist - The consecrated The elements are As with Orthodoxy,
Distribution of elements can only be usually offered to all only members of the
received by Christians who feel church may receive.
members. Orthodox able to partake of The bread only is
policy is to them. The vast given to the
communicate in both majority of congregation, the
kinds (i.e. both Protestant churches Priest receiving the
bread and wine are communicate in both wine. However,
given to those kinds. some churches do
present). communicate in both
kinds.
Holy Spirit The third person of The Holy spirit Agrees with the
the Trinity, proceeds from both Protestant view.
proceeding from the the Father and the
Father alone as in Son. The Nicene
the original Nicene creed includes the
Creed. The Father filioque (Latin: 'and
sends the Spirit at the son').
the intercession of
the Son. The Son is
therefore an agent
only in the
procession of the
Spirit.
Marriage and Marriage is a Marriage is a An unbreakable
Divorce mystical union contract, but is not contract and a type
between a man and unbreakable. Divorce of Christ and the
a woman. Divorce is is discouraged, but church. Divorce is
generally only permitted as not permitted unless
allowed in cases of evidence of human there is some
adultery, though weakness. Some canonical
there are exceptions. denominations impediment to the
marriage. In this

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permit remarriage in situation, an

church. annulment may be
granted.
Mary - Assumption The Assumption is Both are denied. The Both are dogmas of
and Immaculate accepted and it is claim that Mary was the church. The
conception of agreed that Mary sinless is rejected - church has not as
experienced physical only Christ was yet decided whether
death, but the sinless. Mary actually
Immaculate experienced Physical
conception is death. The
rejected. Orthodox Immaculate
belief is that the conception is
guilt of original sin is necessary because
not transmitted from not only do humans
one generation to inherit a sinful
the next, thus nature, they also
obviating the need bear the guilt of
for Mary to be Adam and Eve's sin.
sinless. Thus being sinless
herself, Mary could
give birth to a
sinless Christ.
Mary - Position of Mary is venerated as Mary was a holy The view is similar to
Theotokos (Greek: woman who was the Orthodox church
'God-bearer'). By chosen to bear the - the title 'Mother of
this is meant that Son of God. Her God' being used
the son she bore was perpetual virginity more commonly than
God in human form. and intercession are Theotokos. In
She is first amongst denied. addition, it is
the saints and 'ever- claimed that at
virgin'. various points in
history, Mary has
revealed herself to
the world in
apparitions e.g.
those at Lourdes.
Pope - Authority of As the Bishop of The Pope is the The Pope is the
Rome, he has a leader of the 'Vicar of Christ' i.e.
primacy of honour Catholic church, the visible head of
when Orthodox, not having no authority the church on earth
of jurisdiction. At to speak for the and spiritual
present, his primacy church as a whole. successor of St.
is not effective as Peter. He has
the papacy needs to supreme authority
be reformed in (including that over
accordance with church councils)
Orthodoxy. His within Christendom
authority is thus no (The Power of the
greater or lesser keys).
than any of his
fellow Bishops in the
church.
Pope - Infallibility Papal Infallibility is Protestants also The Pope is infallible
of rejected. The Holy reject Papal when, through the
Spirit acts to guide infallibility. The only Holy Spirit, he

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the church into truth source of infallible defines a doctrine on

through (for teaching is that faith and morals that
example) ecumenical found in the Bible. is to be held by the
councils. This whole church. This is
Orthodoxy a dogma and is
recognises the first therefore a required
seven ecumenical belief within
councils (325-787) Catholicism.
as being infallible.
Purgatory An intermediate Purgatory is rejected A place of cleansing
state between earth - Christ's death on and preparation for
and heaven is the cross is sufficient heaven. Also a place
recognised, but to remove the where the
cleansing and penalty for all our punishment due to
purification occur in sins. unremitted venial
this life, not the sins may be
next. expiated.
Sacraments There are at least Generally, only two The number of
seven Sacraments sacraments (also Sacraments is fixed
(known as known as at seven and is the
'Mysteries' in Ordinances) are same list as that in
Orthodoxy): recognised: Baptism Orthodoxy, with the
Baptism, and the Eucharist exception of
Chrismation, (often called 'Holy Chrismation, which
Eucharist, Holy Communion' or the is generally known
Orders, Holy 'Lord's Supper'). as 'Confirmation'.
Unction, Marriage
(Holy Matrimony)
and Penance
(Confession). The list
is not fixed.
Sacraments - The Mysteries There is a diverse Agrees with the
Effect of convey grace to range of opinions, Orthodox position.
those who but many The Sacraments are
participate in them Protestants regard signs that effect that
worthily. the Sacraments as which they signify.
symbols or
reminders of Grace
already given.
Saints A special group of All Christians are The position is very
holy people, who are saints, called to similar to Orthodoxy.
venerated. They may imitate Christ. Only For sainthood, it is
act as intercessors Christ may mediate also required that at
between God and between God and least two verifiable
Man and may be Man. miracles have
invoked in prayer. occured as a result
of the intercession of
that person.
Salvation Salvation is "faith Salvation is the free We are saved by
working through and unmerited gift of grace, but also
love" and should be God to man. It is through the merits
seen as a life long obtained by grace we obtain through
process. The through faith in good works
Ultimate aim of Christ alone. acceptable to God.
every Orthodox Through Christ's As in Orthodoxy,

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Christian is to obtain atoning sacrifice, we salvation should be

Theosis or union are rendered seen as a process
with God. This is acceptable to God rather than a once
done through living a and judged righteous only event.
holy life and seeking (justified) in his
to draw closer to sight.
God.
Scripture - There is one source Scripture alone is Alongside Sacred
Importance of of divine revelation: the only infallible Scripture, Sacred
Tradition. Scripture guide and the final Tradition (i.e.
forms the oral part, authority on matters teachings handed
and the writings of of Christian faith and down from Christ
saints, decisions of practice (One of the and the apostles to
ecumenical councils foundational the present) are to
etc. are also part of principles of be considered
it. Protestantism). sources of divine
revelation. Tradition
and scripture are
interpreted by the
magisterium or
teaching authority of
the church.
Worship and The 'Divine Liturgy' There are a wide Worship is centred
Liturgy is the centre of variety of worship around the Mass.
Orthodox spirituality. styles. Examples Following the Vatican
Worship is usually in include the II council (1962-5),
the vernacular, spontaneity of the greater emphasis
though Greek is also Pentecostal was placed on
used. churches, and the worship in the
more traditional vernacular, though
worship of the the traditional Latin
Anglican churches in ('Tridentine') Mass is
the Catholic also used.
tradition.
Topic Orthodox Protestant Roman Catholic

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