Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church is a communion of self-governing churches sharing Orthodox theology, sacramental life, and Byzantine liturgical traditions. Its churches are united in faith and communion but have no single worldwide head.

Autocephaly: The status of a church governed by its own hierarchy rather than a superior regional church. Autocephaly explains how churches govern themselves while belonging to one communion.
Early Christianity: The movement of Jesus's followers and the formation of Christian communities in the first centuries CE. Orthodox churches trace their faith and episcopal institutions to the early Christian communities.
John Chrysostom: A fourth-century Christian bishop and preacher whose sermons and liturgical tradition remain influential. The Divine Liturgy associated with him is widely celebrated in Orthodox churches.
Catholic Church: The worldwide Christian communion headed by the pope and organized around Catholic doctrine and sacramental life. Papal primacy is a central point of difference between Catholic and Orthodox ecclesiology.
Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom: The principal Eucharistic liturgy celebrated in many Eastern Orthodox churches. It is the most widespread example of the communion's shared Byzantine worship.
Eastern Orthodox liturgy: The worship traditions of Eastern Orthodox churches, centered on the Eucharist and structured by inherited rites. Shared liturgical life gives the communion a recognizable form across national churches.
First Council of Nicaea: A council convened in 325 CE that addressed Arianism and produced an early form of the Nicene Creed. Its creed remains foundational to Orthodox confession of the Trinity.
Basil of Caesarea: A fourth-century bishop and theologian who helped articulate Trinitarian doctrine and monastic rules. His theology and monastic writings became enduring parts of Orthodox tradition.
Oriental Orthodox Churches: A communion of churches that separated from the imperial church after the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The two Orthodox communions are distinct, despite similar names and overlapping traditions.
Eastern Orthodox monasticism: The monastic tradition of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, centered on communal worship, prayer, and ascetic practice. Monasteries preserve spiritual practices and theological learning within Orthodox life.

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