Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Dalton, founder of The Salty Catholic Instagram meme account, via phone call on March 8th 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
What was your path to Byzantine Catholicism, and was there a specific moment when you realized this tradition was home for you?
I am a convert, I grew up as a Southern Baptist in Tennessee. I became Catholic when I joined the Army in 2019. Less than a year ago I became a Byzantine Catholic. The only Rite the Archdiocese of the Military Services have is the Roman Rite. So I joined the Roman Rite and later became an Eastern Catholic.
During my conversion I was discerning between the Orthodox and Catholic Church and that Eastern spirituality appealed to me.
I was formally accepted by the bishop in 2023 shortly after I separated from the army.
How many different Eastern Rites did you look at before your final discernment?
Chaldean, Melkite, Byzantine. I settled on the Byzantine-Ruthenian Church.
How do you use humor in your memes to communicate deeper truths about Eastern Catholicism?
It’s just a matter of helping people discover the relatability of life and helping make that connection with the faith.
Things that come up where I crack a little joke when the circumstances arise.
How long have you had your Instagram account?
Since 2020, my reasoning is very boring. One day I found various meme templates and added Catholic captions to them. People started sharing them.
What’s your favorite meme that you made?
It’s between two of my more recent ones. I made one using the crucifix and the second was about going to the Divine Liturgy vs. going to the club.
Byzantine Catholics have a rich tradition of iconography – how has this visual tradition influenced your approach to creating memes?
In a certain way, memes can be a form of sacred art. If you can find a way to include that spiritual truth to it. In a modern understanding you could make that connection.
What’s your favorite icon?
I think my favorite icon is the one I keep in my classroom. It’s called “Divine Ascent” . It’s related to the doctrine of theosis. The icon was originally found in Saint Catherine’s Monastery, located on Mount Sinai.
What’s one Byzantine Catholic practice or tradition you wish more Roman Catholics would discover and appreciate?
I have a couple that jump to mind. The first one is pretty standard, I wish more Roman Catholics would embrace the Jesus Prayer. It’s pretty much constant for me. As much as I can I devote my time to that prayer.
And the second practice is to embrace specifically Eastern iconography. This type of iconography takes you deeper into the spiritual life.
Where are good places for Eastern iconography?
A lot of Eastern monasteries will create these types of icons. It’s always good to support them.
Who are your favorite Eastern saints, and how have they shaped your spiritual life?
There are some that are culturally and traditionally to Eastern Catholicism. One I recommend is Saint Gabriel the Fool for Christ. He is an amazing guy, he was an Orthodox Christian, his life was centered around humility and looking foolish for Christ.
Similar, but different, Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain is another favorite of mine. Everyone sought his advice. He was popular and his quotes are widely circulated. Any devoted Apostolic Christian should adapt his advice.
What’s the most surprising or unexpected reaction you’ve received from your meme content?
All of it. The fact that anyone appreciated what I created. I didn’t have any expectation of this recognition when I started the account.
How do you navigate explaining the distinctions of Byzantine Catholicism to those who assume all Catholics practice the same way?
The explanation I give to my students is that it’s the same belief with different perspectives and practice.
In what ways do you see your meme page building bridges between Eastern and Western Catholic traditions?
I do see that happening but it is an unintentional byproduct of my account. I am seeing an uptick of Eastern Orthodox following me (I notice in the comments section and the occasional DM).
What aspects of Byzantine liturgy and prayer life have been most transformative in your personal relationship with Christ?
I’ll have to think about that for a second, there is something in particular about the liturgy that calls the individual just profoundly as it calls the collective. The perspective I noticed in the Roman Rite was that the individualistic spirituality was set aside. During the Divine Liturgy, individuals are called while the collective is also drawn deeper into the life of God during the liturgy.
If Roman Catholics could take one thing from the Byzantine tradition to enrich their faith, what would you recommend?
Other than the Jesus prayer and iconography, I think probably the asceticism. I think there’s a temptation in Western spirituality to be afraid of living the faith in such a radical way. Eastern spirituality calls all to live this ascetical life.
About The Salty Catholic:
Hello! I am the Salty Catholic! I am a Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic. I’m also a part-time mememaker, a full-time husband, and a full-time high school theology teacher. I have two degrees in theology, and I’m pursuing doctoral studies in theology as well. While seeking my own theosis in this life, my hope is to also bring orthodox knowledge of the faith to others through humor and goodwill.