What is the Unity Church?
The Unity Church is an independent Church combines Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant faithful. The Unity Church have many followers around the world. Since it is a Unity Church, Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant Priests and Bishops who have an apostolic succession are permitted to celebrate together the Divine Liturgy and to partake in one heart and soul from the from the Holy Eucharist.
Who is the Head of the Unity Church?
Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. Christ the Lord has instituted in His Church various ministries which tend to the good of the whole Mystical Body. Jesus Christ, Eternal Shepherd, built up the Holy Church by sending His Apostles (cf. Jn 20:21). The successors of these Apostles are the bishops endowed with apostolic filiation. The Episcopate is one and undivided since the Head of the Church is Her Founder Jesus Christ. His Holiness Pope Jean Pierre I, is the Primate of the Unity Church.
What is your mission?
Whenever the sacrifice of the cross by which Christ our Passover was immolated (cf. 1 Cor 5:7) is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption takes place. At the same time, the sacrament of Eucharistic bread represents and brings about the unity of the faithful who, in Christ, form one body (cf. 1 Cor 10:17). Our mission is to eradicate schisms and divisions between the Churches and to call them all to a Eucharistic union with Christ, the light of the world, from whom we proceed, by whom we live and towards whom we tend.
Do you consider yourself a liberal Church?
We consider ourselves neither liberal nor conservative (two modern terms that are irrelevant to the Church mission). Our mission is to bring the good news to all mankind and preach the Gospel of our Lord. We believe the mission of the Church is to embrace and invite all individual to know Christ.
Do you recognise the Pope of Rome?
Yes, we recognise the authority of the Pope, but refuses to be a Roman Catholic Church, we chose to remain at the same distance from all Churches and to ensure that all obstacles between them are removed. The Unity Church has its own Church structure and organization and leaves the freedom to choose liturgical rites to its clergy.
What is your Church structure?
His Holiness Pope Jean Pierre I, is the Primate of the Unity Church. His Holiness He is number 142 of the direct apostolic succession of St. Peter the Apostle. He is the first Bishop in the Unity Church and the guarantor of the unity of the Church and the unity of Christians. The Unity Church consists of all Churches whose Bishops live in partnership with His Holiness the Pope. The Hierarchy of the Unity Church consists of Cardinals, Patriarchs, Metropolitans, Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons. Priests and Deacons work under the authority of the local Bishops. The local Synod brings together Bishops from one country and aims to establish strong relations with all the churches scattered throughout the geographical area of this synod. The Pope is a moral and international legal entity whose goal is to unite all Churches and to mediate in some conflicts.
Briefly, how do you describe the Church of Unity?
The Church of Unity is a vibrant community, united by faith in Christ and guided by the desire to respond to His call. We are a place of prayer, sharing, and welcome, open to all who seek a spiritual path. What you say about the heart of your mission? At the heart of our mission lies the desire to live and share the Gospel. The Church of Unity brings together faithful from all walks of life to celebrate, pray, and grow together in faith. Our celebrations are powerful moments of communion where we find renewal in the Word of God. We believe in a fraternal Church, where each person is welcomed with love and respect, just as they are. It is in this spirit of family that we move forward, supporting one another on life's journey.
What govern the Church of Unity?
The Code of Canon Law of the Church of Unity govern the life of our Church. The Code of Canon constitutes the collection of laws and rules that govern the life of our Church. Inspired by the great canonical tradition, it adapts the principles of Church law to our specific reality and mission, guiding the rights and duties of the faithful. Do you have a Constitution? Yes, the Constitution of the Church of Unity, is a fundamental text, sets out our identity, our core beliefs, and the guiding principles of our community. It forms the basis for our entire organization and all our pastoral and charitable activities. This Constitution specifies the functioning of our various bodies, the governance methods, and the procedures that ensure the smooth operation of our communities in Paris, Brussels, and Beirut, in accordance with our Constitution.
How do understand the universality of the Church?
All men are called to be part of the Church, hence the salvific plan of God to gather together His scattered children in unity (cf. Jn 11:52). It is for this purpose that God became Man to take possession of the universe and snatch us from the power of the rebellious angels who, however, believe in Him and tremble (cf. Jas 2:19). The Holy Spirit who is God and who gives life is, for the whole Church, for each and every one of the believers, the principle of their gathering and their unity in the doctrine of the Apostles, and the fraternal communion, in the fraction bread and prayers (cf. Acts 2:42). The people of God cannot be divided as long as they allow themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit and therefore the need for reconciliation in the Holy Spirit is essential in order to eradicate all the divisions which have struck the Church. All the faithful, in fact, scattered throughout the world, are, in the Holy Spirit, in communion with others. But since the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world (cf. Jn 18:36), the Church remembers that it must act as a unifier with this King to whom the nations have been given as an inheritance (cf. . . Ps 2, 8) and in whose city gifts and presents are brought (cf. Ps 71 [72], 10; Is 60, 4-7; Rev 21, 24).
The members of the People of God are called to share their goods and to each of the Churches the words of the Apostle also apply: "Let each put at the service of others the gift he has received, as befits good dispensers of divine grace which is so diverse” (cf. 1 Pet 4, 10). Thus, to that unity of the People of God which prefigures and promotes universal peace, all Christians are called.
What do you say of Mary – The Theotokos in the Byzantine Tradition?
Mary, Mother of the Word, Mother of the Church of Unity, and first tabernacle of the Incarnation of God who united humanity to divinity.
What do you say about the Apostles?
The twelve disciples/apostles of Jesus were the foundation stones of His church, several even wrote portions of the Bible. As we study these courageous first-century lives, and what discipleship meant in the time of Jesus, we may expect to be aided in developing a Spirit-directed twenty-first-century discipleship as Christ must have meant it to be. Although we remember each of the Twelve Apostles at different times throughout the year, on June 30th we celebrate the Synaxis of the 12 Apostles, a general remembrance for all of them with liturgical services and hymns that honour their contributions to the Church.
What is your Divine Liturgy in the Eastern Tradition?
The Divine Liturgy is the central experience of Faith in the Byzantine Eastern tradition. Through it, we participate in the supernatural life, receive inspiration for our spiritual lives, and are catechized in a profound and foundational way. Simply meditating on the prayers of the Divine Liturgy totally immerses one in the mysteries of salvation and the teaching of the Church.
The Liturgy connects the whole Church - Her past, present, and future, uniting us with all the saints and angels, as well as the believers from all times (the Pilgrim Church, Suffering Church, and Glorified Church).
The Divine Liturgy is composed of three main parts: The Prothesis (or proskomedia), the service preparing the holy gifts The Liturgy of the Catechumens, or the Liturgy of the Word The Liturgy of the Faithful, or Liturgy of the Eucharist.
We have three Liturgies that are used throughout the year: The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, celebrated on most Sundays throughout the year and most weekdays The Divine Liturgy of St. Basil, celebrated only ten times during the liturgical year, most notably on the first five Sundays of Lent and Christmas Eve The Divine Liturgy of St. Gregory the Dialogist, also known as the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, celebrated during the weekdays of Lent especially on Wednesdays and Fridays.
In the Unity Church any Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant (who have an apostolic succession) may attend Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion, and fulfil their Sunday Obligation or Feast Day Obligation.
What is the Liturgical Year?
The Byzantine liturgical year begins on September 1 by recognizing God as the Creator and Sustained of all: O maker of all creation, under whose control are the seasons and the years, being Our Lord, bless the beginning of the year with abundance and, through the intercession of the Mother of God, preserve our Country and the people in peace and save us. The Byzantine liturgical calendar is inherited from the Old Testament and can be divided into three "seasons." The Season of the Nativity is "fixed," meaning that its dates do not change from one year to another. The Seasons of Pascha (Easter) and Pentecost are "moveable," meaning that they vary from year to year depending on the date determined for Easter. Although each Feast Day is an opportunity to enter more fully into the mystery of our salvation, these 12 have particular significance. Three of the Feasts are dependent on the date of Pascha: Palm Sunday, The Ascension of Our Lord Pentecost, The other nine Feasts are part of the "fixed cycle": The Nativity of the Theotokos, The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, The Presentation of the Theotokos, The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Theophany of the Lord, The Presentation of the Lord, The Annunciation The Transfiguration, The Dormition, You'll notice that we do not include Pascha in our list of twelve Great Feasts. This is because Pascha is above all feast days.
What do say about the Saints?
The Church Fathers included the commemoration of many Martyrs and other Saints in the liturgical year. The Second Vatican Council reminds us that the Martyrs and Saints, being “raised to holiness by abundant graces of God and already in possession of their eternal salvation, sing constant praises to God in heaven and offer prayers for us” (ct. Decree on the Liturgy, n. 104). By celebrating the passage of the Saints from the earth to heaven, the Church also proposes them to us as so many examples of genuine Christian living.
The veneration of the Saints has a similar purpose. This began in the first century, first the Veneration of the Martyrs and then of the Apostles. Soon other Saints were added.
Between the fourth and the fifth centuries the veneration of the Saints became a general practice, ceding the first place to St. John the Baptist (after the Blessed Mother and the Angels), in view of Christ’s testimony: “There is no one greater than John!” (Lk. 7:28).
The Saints usually are commemorated on the anniversary of their death, since the departure of those “that died in the Lord” (Rom. 14:8) was considered by the Christians as a day of birth to a new and happy life with God.