Oriental (Eastern Rite) Catholic Churches

The Roman Catholic Church comprises 22 individual or sui juris Churches, all in full communion with the Church of Rome, forming the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

There is the Latin Church, and 21 Oriental Churches. The Oriental Catholic Churches are also known as Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. Each of these 21 Oriental Churches (Rites) has its own hierarchy, traditions, and practices.

Major Oriental (Eastern Rite) Churches

There are five major Oriental Churches or Oriental Rites, each of which has Sister Churches, taking the total number of Oriental Churches to 21.

The five major Oriental rites are:

1. Alexandrian
2. Armenian
3. Antiochene
4. Byzantine
5. Chaldean

Note: The sixth major rite in the Catholic Church is the Roman (Latin) Church, which is non-Oriental.

All 21 Oriental Churches are in full Communion with the Church of Rome.

 

The 21 Oriental (Eastern Rite) Churches

The Sister Churches of all the above five major Oriental Rites add up to 21 Oriental Churches in number. They are the following:

1. Alexandrian Rite
   1. Coptic Catholic Church (Egypt)
   2. Ethiopian Catholic Church (Ethiopia)
2. Antiochean Rite
   3. Syrian Catholic Church (Middle East, Americas, etc.)
   4. Maronite Catholic Church (Middle East, Americas, etc.)
   5. Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (Kerala in India)
3. Armenian Rite
   6. Armenian Catholic Church (Middle East, Americas, Europe)
4. Byzantine Rite
   7. Albanian Byzantine Catholic Church (Albania)
   8. Bulgarian Byzantine Catholic Church (Bulgaria)
   9. Byelorussian (Belarusian) Catholic Church (Russia, Greece, USA, etc.)
   10. Greek Byzantine Catholic Church (Greece, Turkey)
   11. Hungarian Byzantine Catholic Church (Hungary)
   12. Italo-Albanian Byzantine Catholic Church (Italy)
   13. Krizevei Catholic Church (Former Yugoslavia)
   14. Melkite Greek Catholic Church (Middle East, Americas, etc.)
   15. Romanian Greek Catholic Church (Romania, USA)
   16. Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church (Ukraine, USA)
   17. Ukrainian Catholic Church (Ukraine, USA, Americas)
   18. Russian Catholic Church (Russia, China, USA)
   19. Slovak Greek Catholic Church (Slovakia, Canada)
5. Chaldean Rite
   20. Chaldean Catholic Church (Middle East, USA)
   21. Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (Kerala in India, India, USA)

Oriental Churches in India

India is blessed with two Oriental Catholic Churches, both of which are based in Kerala. These are the Syro-Malabar Church and the Syro-Malankara Church.

The Syro-Malabar Church, the second largest of the 21 Oriental Churches (the largest being the Ukrainian Catholic Church), is a sister church of the Chaldean Church, and follows the Chaldean (East Syrian) tradition.


The Syro-Malankara Church is a sister church of the Antiochene Church, and follows the Antiochean (West Syrian) tradition.

Both the Syro-Malabar Church and the Syro-Malankara Church are Major Archiepiscopal Churches.

Patriarchal Churches

Six of the 21 Oriental Churches have attained the Patriarchal Status.

Note: When the Catholic Church accords a status hierarchically, the status of a Church and its population are not commensurate. Consequently, a Church with comparatively smaller population can have a higher status.

The Patriarchal Oriental Churches are:

1. Armenian
2. Chaldean
3. Coptic
4. Maronite
5. Melkite
6. Syrian

A Patriarch is the head of a Patriarchal Church.

Needless to mention that the Latin Church or Roman Church (non-Oriental) is also a Patriarchate, and the Pope is the Patriarch.

Major Archiepiscopal Churches

A Major Archbishop is the head of a Major Archiepiscopal Church.

A Patriarchal Church and a Major Archiepiscopal Church have the same structure and autonomy. However, a Major Archiepiscopal Church differs from a Patriarchal Church in that the election of a Major Archbishop requires the Pope's confirmation whereas a Patriarch's election need only be notified to the Pope and other Patriarchs.

Three of the 21 Oriental Churches are Major Archiepiscopal Churches. These are:

1. Ukrainian Catholic Church
2. Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
3. Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

The Ukrainian Church is the largest Oriental Church with a population of about 4.5 million. The Syro-Malabar Church is the second largest with a strength of nearly 4 million. Both of these come second and third in population in the entire Roman Catholic Church, behind the Church of Rome that alone has a following of about 1 billion. The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church has a strength of about 3,25,000.

Metropolitan Churches

A Metropolitan Archbishop is the head of a Metropolitan Church. A Metropolitan Archbishop is appointed by the Pope.

All 12 remaining Oriental Churches, excepting the six Patriarchates and the three Major Archiepiscopates, are Metropolitan Churches.

Conclusion

The Oriental Churches have their own hierarchies, traditions, and practices. All 21 Oriental Churches are in full communion with the Church of Rome. Together with the Latin Church, they form the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.