Eastern Orthodoxy

Table of Contents

Introduction
Nature and significance
- The cultural context
- The norm of church organization
History
- The church of imperial Byzantium
  - Byzantine Christianity about 1000 ce
    - Relations between church and state
    - Monastic and mission movements
    - Relations with the West
  - Invasions from east and west
    - The Crusades
    - The Mongol invasion
  - Attempts at ecclesiastical union and theological renaissance
    - Relations with the Western church
    - Theological and monastic renaissance
- Orthodoxy under the Ottomans (1453–1821)
  - The Christian ghetto
  - Relations with the West
- The church of Russia (1448–1800)
  - The “third Rome”
    - Origin of the Muscovite patriarchate
    - Relations between patriarch and tsar
  - The reforms of Peter the Great (reigned 1682–1725)
- Orthodox churches in the 19th century
  - Autocephalies in the Balkans
    - In Greece
    - In Serbia
    - In Romania
    - In Bulgaria
  - The church in imperial Russia
- The Eastern Orthodox Church since World War I
  - The Russian Revolution and the Soviet period
  - The Balkans and eastern Europe
  - The Eastern Orthodox Church in the Middle East
  - Orthodoxy in the United States
  - The Orthodox diaspora and missions
  - Ecumenical involvement
Doctrine
- Councils and confessions
- God and humankind
- Christ
- The Holy Spirit
- The Holy Trinity
- The transcendence of God
- Modern theological developments
The structure of the church
- The canons
- The episcopate
- Clergy and laity
- Monasticism
Worship and sacraments
- The role of the liturgy
- The eucharistic liturgies
- The liturgical cycles
- The sacraments
  - Baptism and chrismation
  - The Eucharist
  - Orders
  - Penance
  - Anointing of the sick
  - Marriage
- Architecture and iconography
The church and the world
- Missions: ancient and modern
- Orthodoxy and other Christians
- Church, state, and society

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Eastern Orthodoxy: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

News •

Orthodox Church leader says faith is humanity's safeguard against the 'impending robotocracy' • May 8, 2025, 8:29 AM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As	Orthodox Catholic Church • Orthodox Church

Photos and Videos

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Topics

Orthodox Church of Albania Christotokos Orthodox Church of Constantinople Theotokos epigonation oikoumene phelonion orarium Josephist omophorion

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Key People

Dioscorus

patriarch of Alexandria

Pope Innocent IV

Innocent IV

pope

Michael VIII Palaeologus

Byzantine emperor

Eutyches

Orthodox abbot

Isidore Of Kiev

Greek Orthodox patriarch

Saint Theophilus of Alexandria

Egyptian theologian

Demetrius Cydones

Byzantine scholar and statesman

Theophylact of Ochrid

Greek archbishop

Nicholas I

Byzantine patriarch of Constantinople

John XI Becchus

patriarch of Constantinople

Bessarion

Byzantine theologian

Philotheus Kokkinos

patriarch of Constantinople

Anthony III Studite

patriarch of Constantinople

John VIII Palaeologus

Byzantine emperor

Athanasius I

patriarch of Constantinople

Nicholas III

patriarch of Constantinople

Arsenius Autorianus

patriarch of Constantinople

Athenagoras I

Greek patriarch

George Acropolites

Byzantine statesman and scholar

Anthimus I

Byzantine patriarch

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