5/24/24 - Fr. Michael Copenhagen - Eastern Rite 101! (Pt. 2)

Fr. Michael Copenhagen is a Catholic husband, father, and a priest at St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Melkite Catholic Church in Gates, New York. He holds a Bachelors of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.   In Today's Show What are the Melkites exactly? What geographical region does that cover? Which Divine Liturgy do the Melkites use? Why should one choose Catholicism over Orthodoxy? What are the differences in their theology and approach to faith? Do Eastern Rite churches celebrate the Novus Ordo? What is Father's opinion of the difference(s) between the Eastern Rite and the Roman Catholics on the Nicene Creed? How do doctrines of the Eastern Church compare to the doctrines of the Latin Church? Am I correct in my understanding that the Eastern Rite has a different view of Original Sin than the West? If so, can you tell me what the difference is? And also, how could something so instrumental in our Catholic faith lead to different views among rites without discrediting the church as a whole? Can women be on the altar in Eastern churches? Does the priest face Jesus or the people? Do the faithful receive in the hand or kneeling and on the tongue? What tips would you recommend for someone attending their first Divine Liturgy? What kind of relationship do you have with the Roman Catholic priests from your diocese? Do you work together in any capacity? Also, are you considered part of the Diocese of Rochester, or how does that all work? What is the purpose of the wall (Iconostasis I believe it's called) that separates the Altar and the people? There are three doors on that wall, and the servers and the priest enter and exit them in a particular way. What is the reason for that?   Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!