Eastern Catholic Churches are a group of independent but related Christian churches in eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia that are in communion (in spiritual fellowship) with the Roman Catholic Church. Eastern Catholic Churches accept the same doctrine and celebrate the same sacraments as does the Roman Catholic Church. However, unlike the Catholic Church in the West, Eastern Catholic Churches allow married men to become priests. In addition, each of the Eastern Catholic Churches uses its own liturgy (acts of worship) and maintains its own structure, law, and customs.
Eastern Catholic Churches include the Maronite Church in Lebanon, the Chaldean Church in Iran and Iraq, the Catholic Coptic Church in Egypt, and the Syro-Malabar Church in India. The Melkite, Ukrainian, Ruthenian, and Russian Catholic churches are Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite. About 12 million people belong to Eastern Catholic Churches.
Eastern Catholic Churches are also referred to as Eastern Rite Churches because they have retained the liturgies that developed in the East Roman Empire. In addition, they are sometimes called Uniat or Uniate Churches because many were separated from, and later were united with, the Roman Catholic Church.
See also Copts.
