Welcome to our Eastern Catholicism specialty store.

We are pleased to be able to provide resources to the faithful of the Eastern Catholic churches and to others who are interested in the traditions, practices and theology of the Eastern Catholic churches.

Panagia Mother of God icon

Although it is not commonly known in our Western world, the Catholic Church is actually a communion of Churches. According to the Constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, the Catholic Church is understood to be "a corporate body of Churches," united with the Pope of Rome, who serves as the guardian of unity (LG, no. 23). At present there are 22 Churches that comprise the Catholic Church. The new Code of Canon Law, promulgated by Pope John Paul II, uses the phrase "autonomous ritual Churches" to describe these various Churches (canon 112). Each Church has its own hierarchy, spirituality, customs, and theological perspective.

Because of the particularities of history, there is only one Western Catholic Church, while there are 21 Eastern Catholic Churches. The Western Church, known officially as the Latin Church, is the largest of the Catholic Churches - approximately 94% of Catholics belong to this ritual church. The Latin Church is immediately subject to the Roman Pontiff as Patriarch of the West. The Eastern Catholic Churches are each led by a Patriarch, Major Archbishop, or Metropolitan, who governs their Church together with a synod of bishops. Through the Sacred Congregation for the Eastern Churches, the Roman Pontiff works to assure the health and well-being of the Eastern Catholic Churches.

While this diversity within the one Catholic Church can appear confusing at first, it in no way compromises the Church's unity. In a certain sense, it is a reflection of the mystery of the Trinity. Just as God is three Persons, yet one God, so the Church is 22 Churches, yet one Church. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us:

"From the beginning, this one Church has been marked by a great diversity which comes from both the variety of God's gifts and the diversity of those who receive them... Holding a rightful place in the communion of the Church there are also particular Churches that retain their own traditions. The great richness of such diversity is not opposed to the Church's unity" (CCC no. 814).

Another way to think about the "diversity in unity" of the Catholic Church is to consider Our Lord's words "In my Father's house there are many mansions."

Although there are 22 Churches, there are only eight "Rites" that are used among them. A Rite is a "liturgical, theological, spiritual and disciplinary patrimony," (Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canon 28). "Rite" best refers to the liturgical and disciplinary traditions used in celebrating the sacraments. Many Eastern Catholic Churches use the same Rite, although they are distinct autonomous Churches. For instance, the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Melkite Catholic Church are distinct Churches with their own hierarchies but they both use the Byzantine Rite.

At present, our Eastern Catholicism specialty store carries products of interest primarily to Eastern Catholics of the Byzantine Rite. In the future we hope to be able to add more products of

Edited by John Willis, S.J. The Fathers of the Church have been a vital source of wisdom and inspiration for countless saints, popes, peasants, and converts throughout the history of the Church. In this powerful one-volume library, Father Willis presents more than 250 selected doctrinal topics in an exhaustive selection of writings from the major sources of the Fathers. He lets the Fathers …

This is a modern Greek icon by N. Lionda of St. Stephen the first Deacon and the first Christian martyr.  Gamaliel of the Sanhedrin, a secret Christian, took his body and buried it on his own land.

V ery often in the history of Christianity, "reformers", by whatever name, have aspired to return to "the early Church". The Church of their own day, for whatever reason, fails to live up to what they think Christianity should be: in their view there has been a falling away from the beautiful ideals of the early Church. Kenneth Whitehead shows in this book how the early Church has, in fact, not …

This is an icon of the Archangel Gabriel, one of the 7 great Archangels, from Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos.

This Byzantine style crucifix has a hand-painted alabaster corpus which is mounted on a walnut-stained wood cross. It measures 24 in. and is made in Italy.

This is a modern Greek icon of St. Anna, painted in 1988.  After dedicating her daughter to God and being widowed, St. Anna herself went to live in the Temple in Jerusalem.  She was in fact the grandmother of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The Virgin Mary's flower represents Christ the Lord.

Father Luigi Gambero, internationally-known expert on early Christianity, presents an intriguing and comprehensive survey of the development of Marian doctrine and devotion during the first eight Christian centuries.  Focusing on the lives and works of over thirty of the most famous Church Fathers and early Christian writers, Fr. Gambero has produced a clear and readable summary of the …

This beautiful icon of the Madonna and Child was painted in 1992 by Father Andrei from Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York. The icon was done in egg-tempera and blend the Russian and Byzantine iconography, proving that the ancient art of traditional iconography is certainly alive and well to the present day. Sizes are approximate.

This is a modern Greek icon of St. Veronica, the woman that Christ healed of an issue of blood because of her great faith.  Veronica means "icon of faith."  She is shown holding the Holy Napkin, the earliest image of Christ.

The grandparents of our Lord Jesus Christ are often referred to as the "ancestors of God," seen here embracing before the Temple.  This is a copy of 15th century Russian icon from the Novgorod School, on wood.  Icon is 4 in. x 3 in. Sizes are approximate

This laminated holy card features the icon of the Pantocrator and the "Jesus Prayer" on the back: "O Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, Have mercy Upon me, A sinner. Amen"

Clement Polycarp Ignatius Barnabas Justine Martyr Irenaeus Tertullian Clement of Alexandria Cyprian Dionysius Early Liturgies Apocryphal Gospels Origen Augustine Chrysostom Gregory the Great Athanasius Basil Hilary Damascene Leo the Great Eusebius Jerome Ambrose Church Councils and many, many more

Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers: A Manual of Preaching, Spiritual Reading, and Meditation This beautifully bound 4-volume, hard-cover set is a superb series for preaching, spiritual reading and meditation. It contains the Gospel reading for each Sunday and Feast Day, and parallel Gospel texts, along with several sermons for each Gospel from both early Eastern and Western Fathers of the …

This fine reproduction of a contemporary Byzantine icon portrays Christ as the bridegroom. His Crucifixion is his marital vow and His mockery and beatings are His wedding feast. Beautiful iconic symbolism of the Passion and Crucifixion is used in this holy image. The icon is mounted on wood and may be hung or set on a shelf. Icon sizes are approximate. Please order by size.

Scott Hahn Mike Aquilina There are no "self-made" success stories in the spiritual life. No do-it-yourself kits for aspiring saints. That's why Living the Mysteries is ideal for a family member, friend, or fellow parishioner who recently received the sacraments of initiation - baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. That's why it's perfect for a lifelong Catholic, too. The early …

This is a modern Byzantine Greek style icon by Monk Michael of St. Peter (died in 1964), the transformed simple fisherman first known to us in the Sacred Scriptures as Simon Bar-Jonah and subsequently as the Prince of the Apostles, the Rock upon whom the Holy Church of Christ was founded, first Pope and ultimately Martyr in Rome.

Artists: Choeur Des Moines Benedictins De L'Union

The Menaion contains the Propers for the Great Feasts and Saints of the month for Vespers and Orthros (Matins and Lauds combined). The Menaion is published in twelve volumes, one volume for each month. The editions are spiral-bound—designed to lay flat for easy use on cantor’s stands. These editions are newly revised and expanded. The Menaion series are spiral bound with …