Eastern Orthodoxy and the See of Peter

“Eastern Orthodox apologists declare that Orthodoxy has never accepted the universal jurisdiction of the pope. This is true only in the sense that ‘Orthodoxy’ here designates the separated Eastern churches after they broke away from Rome. It ignores the fact that from the beginning all Christians were subject to that jurisdiction. To make this claim is tantamount to saying that the United States has never accepted the rule of the king of England.

Likoudis calls our attention to a seldom-mentioned fact and sees in it ‘great hope’ for the reconciliation of the separated Eastern Churches with the Catholic Church. The fact is this: no Eastern Orthodox rejection or questioning of Catholic doctrine, not even their rejection of papal supremacy, is ‘binding in conscience on all Eastern Orthodox.’ Why? Because not a single Eastern Orthodox variation from Catholic teaching has ever been taught by what they claim as their final authority, an ecumenical council.

The Church’s Magisterium has charged us all with concern for restoration of communion with the separated Eastern churches. Readers of this book will be greatly indebted to Likoudis for giving us rich insights into the issues involved in this enterprise of the Holy Spirit.”

“Likoudis is an apologist for the Roman Primacy over against the Orthodox. He presents detailed arguments to prove that the Orthodox, because they reject the Primacy of St. Peter’s Successor, the Pope in Rome, have erred in several areas of Catholic faith and morals. The book is written in an irenic spirit with great respect for the ancient churches of the East that have been separated from Rome for a millennium. The whole point of the book is to urge the Eastern Orthodox to reconsider some of their positions and seek reunion with Rome so that the original unity of the Church might be restored.

If you would like an introduction to the question—one that is sober and easy to read—then I heartily recommend this book and the help it offers in finding out more about the millions of Christians who agree with Catholics on most matters concerning the Trinity, Incarnation, and the Seven Sacraments. You will also find out where we disagree and what the Catholic answer is to the objections from our Eastern brethren.”

“Having come back from the Protestant world into the Catholic Church, it was gratifying to read of a journey to the same center point from the other direction. It turns out that those who deny the legitimacy of the papacy from the eastern side are, in a way, another kind of Protestant, and their opposition to Catholic doctrines (or caricatures of Catholic doctrines) often only exists because they are perceived as specifically Roman Catholic doctrines. This book has both a scholar’s attention to detail and a devotional heart, and the author’s love for the Church shines through on every page. The author demonstrates that in every Orthodox objection to Catholic teaching, the Orthodox themselves are not in agreement, and have no definitive teaching of their own around which to unite. Thus the one thing that Protestants and Orthodox alike seem to reject the most is the one thing that is most needed for the unity of the universal Church—the Bishop of Rome.”

“In this remarkable volume, Dr. James Likoudis explains the reasons why he moved from the Greek Orthodoxy of his youth to full communion with the See of Peter. He also provides chapters dealing with Eastern Orthodox attitudes on topics such as contraception, the Immaculate Conception, and Petrine primacy. In the final chapter, St. Leopoldo of Castelnuovo, OFM Cap. (1866–1942) is extolled as ‘the Apostle of Unity and Reconciliation with the Eastern Orthodox.’”

“Jesus prayed that ‘they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you have sent me’ (Jn 17:23). The unity must be visible if the world is to see it. The great split between the East and West ruptured, in part, the visible aspect of this unity of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. The scandal has been immense. In this insightful book James Likoudis has profoundly written on how to resolve the issues and restore visible unity in the body of Christ. His historical research is impeccable, his biblical knowledge commendable, and his suggestions for restoring communion between the right and left lungs of the Church should be read and studied by all.”

“James Likoudis’s Eastern Orthodoxy and the See of Peter is the masterwork in terms of a Catholic analysis of Orthodoxy: a tour de force combining his fascinating personal spiritual odyssey and compelling Catholic arguments, presented in a readable and charitable way. It’s a must-read for anyone who is interested in the topic. All students of historic ecclesiology owe him a great debt.”

“The hope expressed in the Old Testament—that ‘they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms’—was guaranteed in the New Testament with Jesus’ prayer ‘that they may be one.’ God has surely heard the prayer of his Son. This book is surely an answer to that prayer, an actual grace for every reader. Both the author and his works have been actual graces in my life.”