who founded the eastern orthodox church

Who is believed to be the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church?

The Eastern Orthodox Churches. The nominal head of the Eastern Orthodox Churches is the Patriarch of Constantinople. However, he is only first among equals and has no real authority over Churches other than his own.

Who has supreme power in the Eastern Orthodox Church?

The church has no central doctrinal or governmental authority analogous to the Bishop of Rome (Pope), but the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is recognised by all bishops as primus inter pares (“first among equals”) and regarded as the representative and spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians.

What does the Eastern Orthodox Church believe?

Orthodox Christians believe that truth must be personally experienced and, as a result, they place less emphasis on its precise definition. Worship is the center of church life in Eastern Orthodoxy. It is highly liturgical, embracing seven sacraments and characterized by a priestly and mystical nature.

Who founded the first black Pentecostal Church?

In 1792, Jones founded the African Church in Philadelphia, an African American church free from white control. Desiring to become an Episcopal parish, the church opened in 1794 as the African Episcopal Church and became the first Black church in Philadelphia.

See more

How did the Eastern Orthodox Church start?

On July 16, 1054, Patriarch of Constantinople Michael Cerularius was excommunicated, starting the “Great Schism” that created the two largest denominations in Christianity—the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox faiths.

Who was the Orthodox Church founded by?

The Orthodox Church is the one Church founded by Jesus Christ and his apostles, begun at the day of Pentecost with the descent of the Holy Spirit in A.D. 33. It is also known (especially in the contemporary West) as the Eastern Orthodox Church or the Greek Orthodox Church.

Who was the leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church?

Bartholomew thus became the spiritual leader—“first among equals”—of all the self-governing Eastern Orthodox churches throughout the world.

Where was Eastern Orthodox founded?

1054, JudeaEastern Orthodox Church / Founded

Did Jesus founded the Orthodox Church?

According to the Eastern Orthodox tradition the history of the Eastern Orthodox Church is traced back to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The Apostles appointed successors, known as bishops, and they in turn appointed other bishops in a process known as Apostolic succession.

Was Jesus founded by the Orthodox Church?

The Orthodox Church is the original Christian Church founded by Jesus and continued by his Apostles. It is the same Church described in the Bible as the 'Body of Christ' and the 'Bride of Christ' (1 Corinthians 12 : 27; Ephesians 5 : 23–25).

Who are the fathers of the Eastern Orthodox Church?

Great Fathers In the Eastern Orthodox Church, three of them (Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom) are honored as the "Three Holy Hierarchs".

Why did the Catholic and Orthodox Church split?

Western Churches. In 1054, the Christian Church split into the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. The Great Schism occurred when the Patriarch of Constantinople, Michael Cerularius, was excommunicated. The excommunication was a breaking point for the Church and occurred after tensions had built for centuries ...

Who is first Catholic or Orthodox?

Which is first, Orthodox or Catholic? The Orthodox represents the original Christian Church because they trace their bishops back to the five early patriarchates of Rome, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Constantinople and Antioch.

Is Eastern Orthodox the oldest church?

The Orthodox Christian Church, also called the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Greek Orthodox Church, or simply, the Orthodox Church, is the oldest Christian Church in the world, founded by Jesus Christ and with its beginnings chronicled in the New Testament.

Is the Eastern Orthodox Church the original church?

The Orthodox Church considers itself to be the original Church founded by Christ and His apostles. The faith taught by Jesus to the apostles, given life by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and passed down to future generations uncorrupted, is known as Holy Tradition.

What is the oldest Orthodox Church?

Etchmiadzin Cathedral (301)[SEE MAP] Consecrated in 301 AD, the Etchmiadzin Cathedral is believed to be the oldest Christian cathedral on Earth, and the Vatican of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

How was Orthodox Christianity founded?

Historically, the presence of what is now called Orthodox Christianity in the Slavic portions of Eastern Europe dates to the ninth century, when, according to church tradition, missionaries from the Byzantine Empire's capital in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey) spread the faith deeper into Europe.

Who is the father of Orthodox theology?

Bishop, saint, and theologian, Athanasius has been honored as one of the Greek Fathers and was, in the words of Gregory of Nazianz, a "pillar of the Church." His contributions to the faith were wide-ranging and include his treatise on the Incarnation and his promotion of early monasticism, but his most famous ...

What is Eastern Orthodoxy?

Origin of Eastern Orthodoxy. All Christian denominations are rooted in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ and share the same origins. Early believers were part of one body, one church. However, during the ten centuries following the resurrection, the church experienced many disagreements and fractions. Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism ...

What were the two main disputes at the time of the Nicene Creed?

Two primary disputes at the time were Rome's claim to a universal papal supremacy and the adding of the filioque to the Nicene Creed. This particular conflict is also known as the Filioque Controversy. The Latin word filioque means "and from the Son.".

Why did Rome join the Crusades?

During the time of the Crusades (1095), Rome joined with the East to defend the Holy Land against the Turks, providing a ray of hope for a possible reconciliation between the two churches. But by the end of the Fourth Crusade (1204), and the Sack of Constantinople by the Romans, all hope ended as the degree of hostility been the two churches continued to worsen.

What were the differences between the Eastern and Western religions?

On religious matters, the two branches disagreed over issues pertaining to the nature of the Holy Spirit, the use of icons in worship and the correct date for celebrating Easter . Cultural differences played a major role too, with the Eastern mindset more inclined toward philosophy, mysticism, and ideology, and the Western outlook guided more by a practical and legal mentality.

When was the Holy Spirit inserted into the Nicene Creed?

It had been inserted into the Nicene Creed during the 6th century , thus changing the phrase about the origin of the Holy Spirit from "who proceeds from the Father" to "who proceeds from the Father and the Son.".

When did Constantine move the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantium?

This slow process of separation was encouraged in 330 AD when Emperor Constantine decided to move the capital of the Roman Empire to the city of Byzantium (Byzantine Empire, modern-day Turkey) and called it Constantinople. When he died, his two sons divided their rule, one taking the Eastern portion of the empire and ruling from Constantinople and the other taking the western portion, ruling from Rome.

When did Pope John Paul II visit Greece?

More hope for reconciliation came when Pope John Paul II visited Greece in 2001, the first papal visit to Greece in a thousand years. And in 2004, the Roman Catholic Church returned the relics of St. John Chrysostom to Constantinople. These antiquities were originally pillaged in 1204 by Crusaders.

What is the liturgical service based on?

Liturgical services, especially the Eucharist service, are based on repeating the actions of Jesus ("do this in remembrance of me"), using the bread and wine, and saying his words (known as the words of the institution). The church has the rest of the liturgical ritual being rooted in Jewish Passover, Siddur, Seder, and synagogue services, including the singing of hymns (especially the Psalms) and reading from the Scriptures ( Old and New Testament ). The final uniformity of liturgical services became solidified after the church established a Biblical canon, being based on the Apostolic Constitutions and Clementine literature .

What is the Septuagint?

This canon, called the Septuagint or seventy, continues to be the Old Testament of the Orthodox faith , along with the New Testament 's Good news (gospels), Revelations and Letters of the Apostles (including Acts of the Apostles and the Epistle to the Hebrews ).

What is the history of the Eastern Orthodox Church?

The History of the Eastern Orthodox Church is the formation, events, and transformation of the Eastern Orthodox Church through time. According to the Eastern Orthodox tradition the history of the Eastern Orthodox Church is traced back to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The Apostles appointed successors, known as bishops, ...

Why is the Orthodox Church called Eastern Orthodox?

The Orthodox Church is often referred to as Eastern Orthodox Church in order to distinguish it from the Oriental Orthodoxy (despite the fact that eastern and oriental are synonyms). The (Eastern) Orthodox Church strives to keep the faith of the seven Ecumenical Councils.

When did the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church separate?

Meanwhile, a gradual process of estrangement took place between the four Eastern Patriarchates and the Latin Church of Rome, culminating with the Great Schism in the 11th century, in which Orthodoxy and the Latin Church (later called the Roman Catholic Church) separated from each other.

Which countries converted to Christianity in the 11th century?

By the beginning of the 11th century most of the Slavic world, including, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Russia had converted to Orthodox Christianity. Bulgaria's Church was officially recognized as a Patriarchate by Constantinople in 927, Serbia's in 1346, and Russia's in 1589.

Where did Christianity originate?

Christianity first spread in the predominantly Greek -speaking eastern half of the Roman Empire. The Apostles traveled extensively throughout the empire, establishing communities in major cities and regions, with the first community appearing in Jerusalem, followed by communities in Antioch, Ethiopia and others. Early growth also occurred in the two political centers of Rome and Greece, as well as in Byzantium (initially a minor centre under the Metropolitan of Heraclea, but which later became Constantinople ). Orthodoxy believes in the apostolic succession that they believe was established by the Apostles in the New Testament; this played a key role in the communities' view of itself as the preserver of the original Christian tradition. Historically the word "church" did not mean a building or housing structure (for which Greek-speakers might have used the word " basilica ") but meant a community or gathering of like peoples (see ekklesia ). The earliest Ecclesiology would posit that the Eucharistic assembly, under the authority and permission of a Bishop, is what constitutes a Church. As St. Ignatius of Antioch said, "Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast ."

What was the schism between the East and West?

The Schism of 1054 between the churches of the East and the West was the culmination of a gradual process of estrangement that began in the first centuries of the Christian era and continued through the Middle Ages. Linguistic and cultural differences, as well as political events, contributed to the estrangement. From the 4th to the 11th century, Constantinople (now Istanbul ), the centre of Eastern Christianity, was also the capital of the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire, while Rome, after the barbarian invasions, fell under the influence of the Holy Roman Empire of the West, a political rival. In the West theology remained under the influence of St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430), while in the East doctrinal thought was shaped by the Greek Fathers. Theological differences could have been settled if the two areas had not simultaneously developed different concepts of church authority. The growth of Roman primacy, based on the concept of the apostolic origin of the church of Rome, was incompatible with the Eastern idea that the importance of certain local churches—Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and, later, Constantinople—could be determined only by their numerical and political significance. For the East, the highest authority in settling doctrinal disputes was the ecumenical council.

What has happened to the Orthodox Church since the Russian Revolution?

Since the Russian Revolution there has been much turmoil and administrative conflict within the Orthodox church. In western Europe and in the Americas, in particular, overlapping jurisdictions have been set up, and political passions have led to the formation of ecclesiastical organizations without clear canonical status. Although it has provoked controversy, the establishment of the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America (1970) by the patriarch of Moscow has as its stated goal the resumption of normal territorial unity in the Western Hemisphere. In October 2018 the Russian Orthodox Church severed its ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople after the latter approved the independence of an autocephalous church of Ukraine; Bartholomew I, the ecumenical patriarch, formally recognized the independence of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine from the Russian Orthodox Church in January 2019.

What is Eastern Orthodoxy?

Full Article. Eastern Orthodoxy, official name Orthodox Catholic Church, one of the three major doctrinal and jurisdictional groups of Christianity. It is characterized by its continuity with the apostolic church, its liturgy, and its territorial churches. Its adherents live mainly in the Balkans, the Middle East, and former Soviet countries.

Is the Orthodox Church an autocephalous church?

The Orthodox church is a fellowship of “autocephalous” churches (canonically and administratively independent), with the ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople holding titular or honorary primacy. The number of autocephalous churches has varied in history. In the early 21st century there were many: the Church of Constantinople (Istanbul), the Church of Alexandria (Africa), the Church of Antioch (with headquarters in Damascus, Syria), and the churches of Jerusalem, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Albania, Poland, the Czech and Slovak republics, and America.

Where did the Eastern Orthodox Church spread?

At the time of the Schism of 1054 between Rome and Constantinople, the membership of the Eastern Orthodox Church was spread throughout the Middle East, the Balkans, and Russia, with its centre in Constantinople, which was also called “New Rome.” The vicissitudes of history have greatly modified the internal structures of the Eastern Orthodox Church, but even today the bulk of its members live in the same geographic areas. Missionary expansion toward Asia and emigration toward the West, however, have helped to maintain the importance of Orthodoxy worldwide.

Where are autocephalous churches?

There are also “autonomous” churches (retaining a token canonical dependence upon a mother see) in Crete, Finland, and Japan. The first nine autocephalous churches are headed by “ patriarchs ,” the others by archbishops or metropolitans. These titles are strictly honorary.

How many votes can a bishop cast?

At an ecumenical council, each bishop may cast only one vote, whether he is the Ecumenical Patriarch or an auxiliary bishop without a diocese or parish. Thus, there is no equivalent to the Roman Catholic popedom within the Eastern Orthodox Churches.

What is the Eastern Orthodox Church?

In the teachings of Orthodoxy, the Eastern Orthodox Church is the authentic continuation of the original church established by the Apostles shortly after the resurrection ...

What did the Apostles do to spread the Church?

In the years which followed, the Apostles spread the Church and its teachings and founded many churches, all united in faith, worship, and the partaking of the Mysteries (or as they are called in the West, the Sacraments) of the Holy Church. The churches founded by the Apostles themselves include the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, ...

How many Orthodox people were there in 1996?

Other assessments, such as in The Encyclopedia of the Developing World, place the amount of overall Orthodox adherents in 1996 at 182 million individuals, including the following listings: Russian Federation: 70-80 million. Ukraine: close to 30 million. Romania: 20 million. Greece: 9.5 million.

What is the Church's faith?

As with its Apostolic succession, the faith held by the Church is that which was given by Christ to the apostles. Nothing is added to or withheld from that foundation of faith which was "handed once for all to the saints" ( Jude 3 ). Throughout history, multiple heresies have troubled the Church, and at those points the Church makes dogmatic declarations (especially at ecumenical councils) outlining in new language what has always been believed by the Church, thus limiting the spread of heresy and calling to repentance those who sever apart the Body of Christ. Its primary statement of faith is the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed.

What was the Great Schism?

The Great Schism of Eastern and Western Christianity. Developments were not always consistent with the evolution of Western Christianity, where the bishop of Rome, or pope, came to be considered the successor of the apostle Peter and head of the universal church by divine appointment.

When did the Pope break the filioque clause?

The first major breach came in the Ninth century when the Pope refused to recognize the election of Photius as the patriarch of Constantinople. Photius in turn challenged the right of the papacy to rule on the matter and denounced the filioque clause as a Western innovation.

How did the Eastern Orthodox Church form?

According to the Eastern Orthodox tradition the history of the Eastern Orthodox Church is traced back to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The Apostles appointed successors, known as bishops, and they in turn appointed other bishops in a process known as Apostolic succession. Over time, five Patriarchates were established to organize the Christian world, and four of these ancient Patriarchates remain Orthodox today. Orthodox Christianity reached its present form in Late Antiquity (in the period from the 3rd to the 8th century), when the Ecumenical Councils were held, doctrinal disputes were resolved, the Fathers of the Church lived and wrote, and Orthodox worship practices settled into their permanent form (including the liturgies and the major holidays of the Church).

What were the pre-ecumenical councils?

These Pre Ecumenical councils include the Council of Jerusalem c. 50, Council of Rome (155), Second Council of Rome 193 AD, Council of Ephesus 193 AD, Council of Carthage (251), Council of Iconium 258 AD, Council of Antioch (264), Councils of Arabia 246–247 AD, Council of Elvira 306 AD, Council of Carthage (311), Synod of Neo-Caesarea c.314 AD Council of Ancyra 314 AD, Council of Arles (314). The first ecumenical council in part was a continuation of Trinitarian doctrinal issues addressed in pre-legalization of Christianity councils or synods (for examples see Synods of Antioch between 264–269AD and Synod of Elvira). As such, they constitute a permanent standard for an Orthodox understanding of the Trinity, the person or hypostasis of Christ, the incarnation.

What is the Orthodox view of the Bible?

In the Orthodox view, Bible represents those texts approved by the church for the purpose of conveying the most important parts of what it already believed. The oldest list of books for the canon is the Muratorian fragment dating to c. 170 (see also Chester Beatty Papyri). The oldest complete canon of the Christian Bible was found at Saint Catherine’s Monastery (see Codex Sinaiticus) and later sold to the British by the Soviets in 1933. Parts of the codex are still considered stolen by the Monastery even today. These texts (as a whole) were not universally considered canonical until the church reviewed, edited, accepted and ratified them in 368 AD (also see the Council of Laodicea). Salvation or Soteriology from the Orthodox perspective is achieved not by knowledge of scripture but by being a member of the church or community and cultivating phronema and theosis through participation in the church or community.

What is the liturgical service based on?

Liturgical services, especially the Eucharist service, are based on repeating the actions of Jesus (“do this in remembrance of me”), using the bread and wine, and saying his words (known as the words of the institution). The church has the rest of the liturgical ritual being rooted in Jewish Passover, Siddur, Seder, and synagogue services, including the singing of hymns (especially the Psalms) and reading from the Scriptures (Old and New Testament). The final uniformity of liturgical services became solidified after the church established a Biblical canon, being based on the Apostolic Constitutions and Clementine literature.

Where were the first five patriarchs located?

The first four of the patriarchs were located in the largest cities of the Roman Empire, while the fifth was in Jerusalem, a city deriving its importance from being the place where the Christian Church was founded, despite its relatively small size. All five locations also had Christian communities who traced their lineage back to one or several Apostles.

Where did Christianity originate?

Christianity first spread in the predominantly Greek-speaking eastern half of the Roman Empire. The Apostles traveled extensively throughout the empire, establishing communities in major cities and regions, with the first community appearing in Jerusalem, followed by communities in Antioch, Ethiopia and others. Early growth also occurred in the two political centers of Rome and Greece, as well as in Byzantium (initially a minor centre under the Metropolitan of Heraclea, but which later became Constantinople). Orthodoxy believes in the apostolic succession that they believe was established by the Apostles in the New Testament; this played a key role in the communities’ view of itself as the preserver of the original Christian tradition. Historically the word “church” did not mean a building or housing structure (for which Greek-speakers might have used the word “basilica”) but meant a community or gathering of like peoples. The earliest Ecclesiology would posit that the Eucharistic assembly, under the authority and permission of a Bishop, is what constitutes a Church. As St. Ignatius of Antioch said, “Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast.”

When was Christianity legalized in the Roman Empire?

It was in the establishment of the Eastern Roman Empire by Emperor Constantine the Great that Christianity was legalized (Edict of Milan, 313) . It was not until then, that systematic Roman persecution of Christians stopped, although it did resurface later, though temporarily, under Roman Paganism (Emperor Julian the Apostate). Christianity as Orthodox was not established as the State Religion in the Eastern part of the Roman Empire until Theodosius I convened The First Council of Constantinople or the (second ecumenical council) in 381. This council put an end to the Arianism controversy by establishing the Trinitarian doctrine.

Why is Apostolic Succession important?

The importance of Apostolic Succession is that the Eastern churches believe that the Apostles were given the authority to forgive sins on earth as intermediaries and administer the sacraments. They believe that without Apostolic Succession there are no Sacraments and without sacraments there is no operation of the Holy Spirit and without the operation of the Holy Spirit there is no church. Again, this developed along with sacerdotalism in the 5th-7th century as a decidedly non-Biblical belief system and was rightly and thoroughly rejected by the Reformers of the 16th century.

What language did the Eastern Church speak?

Language Differences: The Eastern church spoke Greek, the western church spoke Latin which made for an inescapable division in communication from the start.

How many books are there in the Old Testament?

Recognises 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books, but also a collection of books not found in the original Hebrew Bible. These are known as Deuterocanonicals i.e. a second canon of scripture. Known as “apocrypha” to Biblical Christianity

What language did Cyril use?

Moravian Orthodox - Cyril had difficulty communicating and translating the Scriptures to the Slavs particularly as they had no written language whatsoever. Cyril then invented a language and alphabet for them. This became known as the “Cyrillic” alphabet which is still in use today!

How many Greek Orthodox are there today?

Greece continues to be the “primary” see of the Orthodox faith today with nearly 18 million Greek Orthodox Church adherents or participants today.

What did the Eastern Church do?

Although just considered the “eastern” entity of the worldwide Christian faith, the Eastern Church would undertake a different approach to the expansion of Christianity than that of the Western Roman Church. Instead of appointing Kings and Queens and entangling itself in the affairs of European Empires, the Eastern church would send out missionaries to carry the Gospel. The most notable commission took place in 863 AD with the sending of Cyril and Methodius to evangelize the Slavs of eastern Europe and here are just a few of the results that followed on from their journeys to the Slavic nations:

When did the Russian Orthodox Church start?

Russian Orthodox – 988 AD – Is perhaps the most famous and numerous of all the churches established from the preaching of Cyril and Methods. Prince Volodymyr (Vladimir) of Kievan Rus is reportedly converted and accepts the Orthodox faith – which at this point was decidedly different in liturgy from the Roman Catholic liturgy but not yet officially separate. This group would continue in its missionary efforts most notably in 1794 when the Russian Orthodox Church sent missionaries to Alaska in the New World and established the first Orthodox Church in all of North America. Today there are nearly 125 million Russian Orthodox adherents or participants.

Did Paul start the Greek Orthodox Church?

The original church or community of the East before the Great Schism comprised: the Greek churches founded by Saint Paul. the Antiochian and Asia Minor churches founded by Saint Peter.

When did the Greek Orthodox Church begin?

Officially, the history of the church begins at Pentecost, which is documented in the Acts of the Apostles and took place in 33 A.D. During Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and the people who had gathered and they began to speak in tongues.

Who came first Catholic or Orthodox?

The two were once one so originally there was no separation, and originally it was just the “Christian Church.” The Orthodox church is considered the original church now because they follow more of the old traditions than Roman Catholics do; more changes happened in the Catholic church after the east west schism than

How old is Orthodox Christianity?

The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, is the second-largest Christian church, with approximately 220 million baptised members.

Why did the Orthodox Church split from the Catholic Church?

The Great Schism came about due to a complex mix of religious disagreements and political conflicts. One of the many religious disagreements between the western (Roman) and eastern (Byzantine) branches of the church had to do with whether or not it was acceptable to use unleavened bread for the sacrament of communion.

What religion is Greek Orthodox closest to?

Thus, in the early 21st century, generally only those churches that are most closely tied to Greek or Byzantine culture are called ” Greek Orthodox “.

Is Orthodox different from Catholic?

The Catholic Church believes the pope to be infallible in matters of doctrine. Orthodox believers reject the infallibility of the pope and consider their own patriarchs, too, as human and thus subject to error. In this way, they are similar to Protestants, who also reject any notion of papal primacy.

Origin of Eastern Orthodoxy

See more on learnreligions.com

The Widening Gap

The Formal Split

Founding Patriarch of Constantinople

Signs of Hope For Reconciliation Today

Sources

Overview

Byzantine period

Early Christianity

Pentarchy

Ottoman period

Russia

Other Eastern Orthodox Churches under communist rule

Eastern Catholic or "Byzantine Rite" churches