is the Eastern Orthodox church considered Catholic?

when I went to a Catholic service, a woman told me Orthodoxy is still Catholic.

well, when I went to an Orthodox service, my fellow Orthodox Christians told me we were not considered Catholic.

I do not believe Orthodox church is considered Catholic. I am converting to Russian Orthodoxy and in my reading, I have found that, until 1054, there was one church, that Jesus's apostles started. but, one group wanted to stay the same way they had been since Christ started the church, and another group (modern-day Catholics) wanted a pope and even changed the creed.

the catholic church is not "original", Orthodoxy is original.

so, should the orthodox church be considered Catholic (you now know my opinion, what's yours? and please provide facts to support your answer)

No it's Orthodox

Both the Orthodox and Catholic claim that they are the "original" that the other split from...they tell the same stories, with different points.

In reality, however, it is probably MOST accurate to say that *neither* church is the original.

The combined church, with both sets of beliefs, was the 'original' and it no longer exists.

What came after the schism, in both groups, is a departure from their original group.

I had a Jesuit teacher of comparative theology who had been raised Orthodox. This was his opinion, and I think it's probably most accurate.

it is a different sect of Christianity

I am going to opine that the woman at the Catholic Church *meant* that both the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics partake in the "Fullness of Truth". Orthodox and Catholic priests have the authority to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ then offer it to the faithful. Obviously you are not Roman Catholic, but you are also universal, and in that we are both catholic (lower case c) because you and I -- we share the Fullness of Truth.

Make sense? I don't think she was ignorant to the difference, but was focusing on our relationship in the most Sacred Host.

I really like the answer about how the original church is no more with our split. That was quite clever.

Pax Christi.

Actually, in my Theology faculty in university we learn that Orthodoxy and Catholicism are of the same age (the were created by the schism of 1054).
The common misconception is due to the meaning of the word catholic.
The Church both Catholic and Orthodox shares an almost identical Creed. The phrase "and one catholic, apostolic Church" means "one *universal*, stemming from the Apostles, Church". The Catholic in the western Church is part of Romeo-catholic which actually means "encompassing all Roman-related nations/churches (e.g. Hispanic, Germanic, Italic etc).
Both are original, both are significant. Both are catholic in their way.

They are both original. They are both true and apostolic. We agree on pretty much everything except the authority of the Pope. We are the two churches that recognize each other. We should not be split. And Catholic in that sense means unified. So the Catholic Apostolic churches would be the Catholic church and the Orthodox church.

Catholic = universal

Each of the Roman, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Assyrian Churches consider themselves to be One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church started by the Apostles on Pentecost

But only we are true Orthodox Catholic Christians

The Orthodox Church is also called the Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church. It is catholic (not Roman Catholic) because it derives from the early church, as does the Roman church.

The Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church and the Roman Catholic Church were one Church for the first millennium of Christianity, so there are many similarities. Common to both are most of the points of the Nicene Creed (http://www.goarch.org/chapel/liturgical_texts/creed):
* belief in the Holy Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit
* the divinity of Jesus Christ
* the Virgin Birth
* the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ
* the ascension of Christ into heaven
* the future return of Christ and the creation of his everlasting kingdom
* eternal life

Similar also are
* the structure of church governance called "episcopal polity" - a hierarchy of of various ranks and responsibilities of bishops, a priesthood, and a donate)Te * the change of communion bread and wine into the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
* baptism in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
* infant baptism
* liturgical worship forms
* the major sacraments (baptism, marriage, ordination, confession, etc.)
* veneration (not worship) of icons as "windows into heaven"
* male-only clergy
* only celibates may become bishops


The Orthodox Church is catholic, but not Roman Catholic. It is evangelical, too, but not Protestant. It is the Church.