Orthodox Church
Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, also known as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian church, with approximately 220 million baptized members. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops in local synods. The church has no central doctrinal or governance authority analogous to the Bishop of Rome (Pope), but the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is recognised by all as primus inter pares ("first among equals") and regarded as the spiritual leader of the church.
History[edit | edit source]
The Orthodox Church traces its origins to the Jesus Christ and the Apostles, but its formal establishment is traditionally placed at the First Council of Nicaica in AD 325. It played a prominent role in the history and culture of Eastern and Southeastern Europe and the Near East.
Beliefs and practices[edit | edit source]
Orthodox Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, the Resurrection of Jesus, and the Incarnation. They also adhere to the Nicene Creed, which defines their doctrinal beliefs. The church practices liturgical worship and observes the sacraments, with the Eucharist at the center of its worship life.
Structure and organization[edit | edit source]
The Orthodox Church is a communion of 14 autocephalous churches, each led by a bishop. These churches are in full communion with each other, and they recognize the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople as the "first among equals."
See also[edit | edit source]
- Eastern Orthodox theology
- History of the Eastern Orthodox Church
- Orthodox Church in America
- Russian Orthodox Church
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
| Orthodox Church Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
