The answer
The Orthodox churches repeat the Creed, saying concerning the Holy Spirit that He “proceeds from the Father.” Procession is an eternal act of the Father, as was said by the Master Christ, to Him be glory. The Catholics confused “procession” and “sending forth” by adding, “Who proceeds from the Father and the Son.” This is a great theological error, because the sending is a temporal act which was done on the Day of Pentecost, when the Son sent the Holy Spirit to the world; “But when the Comforter is come, Whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of Truth, Which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me” (John 15:26).
So, procession from the Father is an eternal act, which is not tied to a place. As for the sending forth, it is from the Father and Son, and is a temporal act that is connected to a place. Although the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone, He is at the same time in the same essence with the Father and the Son without any separation.
His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
Pope Tawadros II, My Faith: A Series of Dialogues on the Creed (Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate, 2014), 129–130.
The pages in the book (129–130)
