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The website for Saint Mark's in Denver is:

web page [westernorthodox.com]

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Does the Orthodox Western Rite represent some form of "Orthodox Uniatism"?

My answer: Yes and No.

A good friend of mine, a Russian Catholic priest, often says that, even though "Uniate" can be an offensive epithet, it also has a positive aspect. The root of the word is "union" and Eastern Catholics view communion with Rome as a very good thing.

Similarly, Western Rite Orthodoxy can be called a "Uniatism" in this positive sense: we view communion with the Orthodox Churches of the East as a very good thing.

So, in this sense, I don't mind being called a "Uniate." No problem!

However, I do not believe that we fit many of the negative images that often accompany the word "Uniate" as an epithet. (Note that I'm not necessarily accusing Eastern Catholics of these sorts of things either; I'm simply mentioning some of the stereotypes).

The Western Rite Orthodox do not represent a second, rival church set up against Rome or ECUSA. The largest units so far have been whole parishes (or parts of parishes) of Anglicans, Old Catholics, and vagante Orthodox who have joined themselves to canonical Orthodoxy. We have been accepted by Orthodox hierarchs out of pastoral concern, not (hopefully) as a way to spite Rome or steal sheep. The Orthodox Western Rite was never conceived to be a mass movement to put Rome out of business, or to swallow up the Western Church.

As Joe ("JSMelkiteOrthodoxy") noted, the Western Rite in the Orthodox Church would be better compared to the Anglican Use in the RCC. We simply represent a pastoral option for folks seeking to be Orthodox, but cannot seem to find a home in the devotional world of Byzantine Orthodoxy.

Dear Fr. Anthony,
Thank you for the clarification. I was just discussing this same topic with two Antiochian Orthodox priests about three weeks ago. I assumed their info was correct, which led me to pass it on
Sam

Sam,

You may want read this article from Orthodox Wiki, along with the blog from our newest poster Venite (by clicking on the webpage icon of his profile or his posts).

Western Rite Wicariate - Orthodox Wiki [orthodoxwiki.org]

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

I thank everyone very much for the information. I am glad someone says that my friend is more wrong than right, but I will also remember that there is some "failure in the implementation of the WO to yield real results". The word vagante was new to me, I assume that it has a meaning related to "schismatic".

I think I shall visit a Western Orthodox diocese myself in person, as there is one in Washington, DC. That might be the best way for me to see exactly what is happening at them.

I have often dreamed of a Roman Catholic Church that had more of the traditions in tact from the 6th century or a time before the schism. An "Ancient Orthodox Roman Catholic Church".

If the Western Orthodox Catholics have accomplished this perhaps the Roman Catholic Church can take some influence and follow in their footsteps in some manner. I hope that it is not too eccentric of an idea that..

As an example, churches such as these have proven to me that the Western RC Church was not nearly as identiably different from the Eastern OC Church in the past. The greeks spoke latin and the latins spoke greek.

Basilica of Euphrasius (550 AD) (Eufrazijeva bazilika) (Parentium, Dalmatia) (aka Porec, Croatia)
http://photoforum.istria.info/kroatien-foto-860.htm

The Church of Santa Fosca (636 AD), built by Armenian architect "Patrick" Torcello island, near Venice
http://www.answers.com/topic/santa-fosca-di-torcello-jpg

Cheers

Criostoir,

If you are going to visit the Western Orthodox parish in Washington DC, I believe they have just have acquired their new permanent home after ten years of searching. Fr Nicholas Alford is a wonderful priest and his community very welcoming. I had visited them on several occasions when they were still sharing facilities with Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church then in Bethesda (now Potomac MD). From the few photos on their website I see they are growing and I wish them well.

Saint Gregory Western Orthodox Church Website [stgregoryoc.org]

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Fr Anthony,
Thank you kindly. Its time to edumacate myself more thoroughly
Sam

Ah Sam,

Education is the beginning of the breaking down of barriers . Enjoy!

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+