Maybe consult the elders of Eastern Orthodoxy on Mt. Athos or elsewhere. They are the keepers of the most ancient of Christian practices and beliefs. There are other sources in Greece and Jerusalem that might be able to answer more correctly from a theological perspective. Catholics are scholastics, while Eastern Orthodox are more mystical. So, I guess it depends more on whether you want a rational theological answer or a mystical one. This question requires an answer from those who have spent their lives, abandoned the world of man and dedicated their lives to the service of God. Of course, other religions must also be consulted as well. This is too big a questions that requires too big an answer from armchair types.