Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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ORIENTALIUM ECCLESIARUM

Decree of the Second Vatican Council on the Catholic Eastern Churches, whose purpose was threefold: to encourage Eastern Catholics to remain faithful to their ancient traditions; to reassure them that their distinct privileges would be respected, e.g., the patriarchates and priests administering the sacrament of confirmation; and to urge closer ties with the separated Eastern Churches with a view to fostering Christian unity. An important provision was the permission of intercommunion (along with penance and anointing) between Catholics and those Eastern Christians who have valid orders (November 21, 1964).