A Comparison Of Eastern And Western Practice Of The Seven Sacraments

Many of the differences between Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christians in sacramental practice stem from changes that developed in the West after the patristic period. Chrismation, originally part of baptism, became a separate rite of confirmation in the West. This led to a delay in one's first Communion, which originally took place at the time of baptism. Other differences surround the use of leavened and unleavened bread; plural and singular, first- and third-person language in baptism and reconciliation; attitudes toward remarriage after the death of a partner; and the marital status of clergy. In each case different theological assumptions underlie these variations in practice. The paragraphs that follow devote attention to Eastern practice and theology as a way of coming to understanding the differences in Roman and Eastern practice. The doctrine of the seven sacraments, to the extent that it exists in the East, has been influenced more by the West than by Eastern theolo…