Transubstantiation: The Roman Catholic Church teaches the doctrine of transubstantiation, which holds that during the consecration at Mass, the substance of the bread and wine are transformed into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ, while the outward appearances remain unchanged. The Orthodox Church, on the other hand, believes in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, but does not subscribe to the doctrine of transubstantiation.
Filioque: Another significant difference between the Orthodox and Catholic view on Communion is the filioque controversy. The Catholic Church includes the clause “and the Son” (filioque) in the Nicene Creed, which asserts that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. The Orthodox Church does not include this clause and believes that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone.
Leavened vs unleavened bread: The Catholic Church traditionally uses unleavened bread for Communion, while the Orthodox Church uses leavened bread. This difference is largely based on historical and cultural reasons, with the Catholic Church following the practice of the ancient Western Church, while the Orthodox Church follows the practice of the Eastern Church.
Fasting before Communion: The Orthodox Church requires its members to fast from food and drink for several hours before receiving Communion, while the Catholic Church generally requires only an hour of fasting before Communion. The Orthodox Church places greater emphasis on the spiritual preparation of the individual before receiving Communion.
Communion frequency: The Orthodox Church typically administers Communion during every Divine Liturgy, while the Catholic Church typically administers Communion at every Mass.
Overall, while there are some significant differences between the Orthodox and Catholic view on Communion, both Churches regard the Eucharist as a sacred mystery and hold it in high esteem as the center of Christian worship.
