What Is the Byzantine Rite?
Where Byzantine Catholics come from, how they pray, and how they belong to the one Catholic Church, for kids.
Check your understanding
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- "It was in ____ that the disciples were first called Christians."
- Byzantine worship grew from the way Christians prayed in Antioch.
- What do Byzantine Catholics and Roman Catholics share?
- The Catholic Church is only the Roman, or Latin, Church.
- Who are all the Catholic Churches united with?
Read the words of the video
Some Catholics pray with icons and receive communion with a spoon, but why do they do this, and who are they? Well, let’s get a quick introduction to Byzantine Rite Catholics with this lesson. I’m your host, Shalone Cason, and as always, we’ll begin in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
It started in Antioch
it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.
— Acts 11:26
That’s where Christians got their name! Saint Peter and Saint Paul both lived there for a while, and the way Antioch prayed is where our story begins.
Its prayers came from Antioch
It is derived from that of Antioch.
— Catholic Encyclopedia, “The Rite of Constantinople”
It grew from the way Antioch prayed, then grew up in a great city called Constantinople. Its old name was Byzantium, and that’s where the word Byzantine comes from!
One faith, many ways to pray
Churches of the same geographical and cultural area came to celebrate the mystery of Christ through particular expressions characterized by the culture
— Catechism 1202
Byzantine and Roman Catholics believe the same things and share the same seven sacraments. We just pray differently: Byzantine churches are full of icons, and the whole Liturgy is sung!
A big Church family
It is in these, and formed out of them, that the one and unique Catholic Church exists.
— Christ – Our Pascha 285
The Catholic Church is a big family of Churches, each with its own bishops. The Latin Church is the biggest. The Ruthenian, Ukrainian and Melkite Churches are Byzantine. Together, they’re one Church!
Together with the Pope
The first among self-governing Churches is the Church of Rome, because its presider is the Pope of Rome, the successor of the apostle Peter.
— Christ – Our Pascha 291
The Pope takes Saint Peter’s place, and all these Churches are united with him. So Byzantine and Roman Catholics can receive Communion in each other’s churches!
And that’s the Byzantine Rite in a nutshell. It’s a form of prayer started in Antioch, and it is one of the many ways that Catholics can pray while still being one church in communion with the Pope! Thanks for learning with me, and until next time, stay holy, my friend.
Image credits
- The Spiritual Testament of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, The Free Catholic Gallery (The Free Catholic Gallery (sdcason.com), Public domain (per the gallery))
Sources
- Acts 11:19–26 (NABRE)
- Catholic Encyclopedia (1908): The Rite of Constantinople
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1200–1206
- Christ – Our Pascha: Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, 285, 291
Every pixel drawing in this video is drawn by hand by Shalone Cason.
Written and narrated by Shalone Cason, who chose the topic, selected the points, and reviewed every line. Researched and drafted with AI assistance (Claude) from the sources above. Every quotation is checked word for word against its source.
