The Eastern Orthodox Church is one of the three major branches of Christianity, alongside the Roman Catholic Church and Protestantism. It constitutes the second-largest Christian denomination in the world, with a widespread presence primarily in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Africa.
The Eastern Orthodox Church traces its roots back to the early Christian community in Byzantium (formerly Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul). Following the Great Schism in 1054, the Church split into the Western Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church, often referred to simply as Orthodoxy, maintained the ancient traditions and teachings of the early Christian Church, including its liturgical practices, spiritual disciplines, and theological perspectives.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is characterized by a hierarchical structure, with the Patriarch of Constantinople serving as its spiritual leader. The Church upholds the Nicene Creed, which serves as a foundational statement of faith, and places a strong emphasis on the importance of sacraments, adherence to tradition, and the veneration of icons. It values the preservation of apostolic succession, which indicates the direct lineage of bishops tracing back to the original apostles of Jesus Christ.
The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates its worship services with great reverence, employing rich liturgical rituals, ceremonial vestments, and elaborate iconography. It places a strong emphasis on the mystical and spiritual aspects of faith, encouraging believers to seek union with God through prayer, fasting, and acts of repentance. The Church also places significant importance on the writings of the early Church fathers, the monastic lifestyle, and the cultivation of a profound spirituality in the daily lives of its followers.
