Eastern Orthodox Church
The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church, is one of the oldest Christian traditions, tracing its roots back to the earliest days of Christianity. Here's an overview:
History
- Origins: The Church's origins are tied to the Apostolic Age when Apostles of Jesus Christ established Christian communities across the Roman Empire.
- Great Schism: In 1054, the Great Schism led to the formal division between the Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Roman Catholic) Churches, primarily over issues of papal authority, clerical celibacy, and the Filioque clause.
- Spread: The Orthodox Church expanded eastward, particularly into Byzantine Empire, Russia, Balkans, and parts of the Middle East.
Beliefs and Practices
- Theology: The Church holds to the teachings of the Seven Ecumenical Councils, emphasizing the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, and the Theosis (deification of humanity).
- Liturgy: The Divine Liturgy, particularly the Liturgy of John Chrysostom, is central to Orthodox worship, involving rich liturgical practices, hymns, and iconography.
- Church Structure: The Church operates under a system of autocephaly, where each national or regional church is governed by its own Patriarch or Metropolitan but maintains communion with the other Orthodox Churches.
- Sacraments: Seven sacraments are recognized, including Baptism, Chrismation (Confirmation), and the Eucharist.
Current Status
- Membership: The Eastern Orthodox Church has an estimated 220 million members worldwide, with significant populations in Greece, Russia, Ukraine, and Serbia.
- Autocephalous Churches: There are 15 autocephalous (self-headed) Orthodox Churches, each recognized by the others as being in full communion.
- Relations with Other Churches: The Orthodox Church engages in ecumenical dialogues with other Christian denominations, although full communion has not been restored with the Roman Catholic Church.
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