One of the world's oldest Christian traditions, tracing its origins to the apostles and the early church councils, emphasizing the Divine Liturgy, theosis, and the fullness of ancient Christian faith.
Eastern Orthodox Christianity is one of the three major branches of Christianity alongside Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, and it claims to be the direct continuation of the church established by Christ and the apostles. The Orthodox Church traces its formal separation from Rome to the Great Schism of 1054. Today, the Orthodox world is organized into a family of autocephalous (self-governing) churches — Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Antiochian Orthodox, and others — united in faith, sacraments, and liturgy but governed independently.
Orthodox theology is shaped by the seven Ecumenical Councils (325–787 AD) and the writings of the Church Fathers. The Orthodox understanding of salvation centers on theosis — the process by which believers are progressively transformed and united with God through participation in the sacraments and the life of the church. This differs significantly from Western understandings of salvation as primarily forensic or legal.
The Divine Liturgy — the central act of Orthodox worship — is an ancient, richly symbolic service that has changed little in over a millennium. Incense, icons, chanting, and the Eucharist are central features.
Eastern Orthodoxy is distinguished by its ancient liturgical tradition, its theology of theosis, its veneration of icons, and its conciliar church structure. It differs from Roman Catholicism in rejecting papal supremacy, and from Protestantism in affirming Holy Tradition alongside Scripture and the seven sacraments.
The Divine Liturgy — an ancient, chanted service of great beauty and solemnity. Incense, icons, candles, and the Eucharist are central. Services may be conducted in Greek, Church Slavonic, Arabic, or English depending on the parish.
Traces its origins to the apostles; formal separation from Rome in 1054.
Its ancient liturgical tradition, its theology of theosis, the beauty of the Divine Liturgy, and its preservation of early Christian theology and practice.