Theological Study: Churches of the Orthodox East

Continuing on with this Christian theological study that I just can't get enough of, I now turn to the Eastern Christian Churches. This will mark a slight pivot in direction from my strictly Catholic studies to cover the broader aspects of historical Christianity. I suppose it's also leaning into a deeper dive into the Euro-Asian region; the Byzantine Empire, Constantinople, and Tukey in general. This is of course in preparation to my trip to Istanbul there this fall. In retrospect I've been fascinated with this region since last fall when I first dove into studies on Vlad the Impaler and Mehmed the conqueror. Constantinople was once at the center of it all, and while the Christian Church was born in Jerusalem, it was truly developed in Turkey. 

This research of Eastern Orthodox Churches was especially inspired by my recent study of all the major ecumenical councils. I realized that the Eastern Churches were all once united at the first Nicaea Council in 325. Over time these churches broke off due to theological differences and mostly because of geopolitical ones. There are four main branches of Eastern Churches; The Church of the East (schismatic in 410 after the Council of Ephesus); the Oriental Orthodox Church (schismatic in 451 after Council of Chalcedon); the Eastern Orthodox Church (schismatic in 1054 during the Great Schism); and the Eastern Catholic Churches (established reunion with the Catholic Church, while still following their eastern liturgical traditions). In this post I'll focus on the three non-Catholic Eastern churches that are independent from the pope's authority. In the next post I'll cover the 23 eastern Catholic Churches that have reunited with Rome. 

Church of the East

The root development of the Church of the East began with Christian Communities in Mesopotamia and Persia what later became the Sasanian Persian Empire. By 410 they established the Church of the East at the Council of Seleucia. Their schism from the Roman Church occurred in 431 after the Council of Ephesus. The main reason for their break-up with the Catholic Church was over Christ's nature as divine and human. Cyril of Alexandria argued that Christ was one person who was equally divine and human, and that Mary was the Theotokos, mother of God. The Church of the East however supported Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople who argued that Christ was two persons with two natures (divine and human). He deemed Mary was the Christokos (mother of Christ) who gave birth to his human form, but not his divine form. This was the primary disagreement that led to the schism, but it is also understood to be contributed by political and cultural differences. The Church of the East was easily able to break-away from the Catholic Church, since they were based in the Persian Empire, outside Rome's jurisdiction. It became known as the Nestorian Church, even though Nestorius himself was exiled and finished his remaining years in monastic solitude.

This Church of the East developed a distinct form of Syriac liturgy quite different from the Greek and Latin traditions. They used the Aramaic language which was closely related to the language Jesus would have spoken. It's Eucharist service is known as the Liturgy of Addai and Mari (early Missionaries in Mesopotamia), is considered one of the oldest Christian liturgies still in use today. It has it's own liturgical calendar with a higher emphases on the Feast of the Epiphany as well Old Testament themes. It also uses a minimalist approach on church art and iconography similar to the Muslim religion, much different than the Catholic or even the Eastern Orthodox churches. The hierarchy structure begins with the Patriarch of the East, also known as the Catholicos. Then the Metropolitans who serve as archbishops, then bishops, and priests and deacons. It reached it's high point during the early Middle Ages with missionary work reaching as far as India and China.

The church has undergone several schisms throughout his history and today is one of the smallest of the Eastern Christian branches. The first major split was the Schism of 1552, where a dispute over patriarch led to a newly established branch in the east that reunited with the Catholic Church (known as the Chaldean Catholic Church). The Church of the East became known as the Assyrian Church of the East. A few years later in 1599 another branch break off in India to reunite with the Catholic Church known as the Syro-Malabar Church. In 1968 another schism occurred over the liturgical calendar and modernizing reform, which led to the development of the Ancient Church of the East. Both the Assyrian Church of the East and the Ancient Church of the east still operate today as the main branches of the Church of the East. Today they are based primarily in Iraq and spread throughout Iran, Syria, Turkey, and various other diaspora pockets across the globe with approximately 500,000 global members.


Oriental Orthodox Church

The 2nd major Schism from the Catholic Church occured at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. This continued the debate over the nature of the Christ that lead to the Nestorian Schism of 431. However this time it pertained to the relationship of those natures. The Chalcedon position was that Christ was one person with two distinct natures (divine and human). However the anti-Chalcedonians argued that Christ had one united nature that was fully divine and human, known as Miaphysitism. Once again this was mostly a debate over terminology, and the schism was most likely due to politics and cultural differences. The Anti-Chalcedonian movement was influenced by the teachings of St. Cyril of Alexandria and led by his successor, St. Dioscorus I of Alexandria who supported the phrase "one incarnate nature of God and the word" . The sect thus developed mostly in Egypt and spread into Syria, Armenia, and Ethiopia in what became known as the Oriental Orthodox Church.

The Coptic Orthodox Church became the mother church of the anti-Chalcedonian movement based in the booming intellectual city of Alexandria. This anti-Chalcedonian theology spread into Syria and Mesopotamia by St. Jacob Baradaeus to become the Syriac Orthodox Church. Similarly other branches developed in Armenia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and India. These were not schisms, rather separate churches that developed in different regions, that shared the same theological beliefs as the mother Coptic Church of Alexandria. They were all in communion with one another and became the six main branches of the Oriental Orthodox Church. Unlike the Roman hierarchy system, this church does not have a central authority like the pope. Instead it governs itself independently, while still in accordance with the other Oriental Orthodox churches. This is a similar hierarchy structure as the Eastern Orthodox church, who ultimately reject papal authority.

The main 6 Oriental Orthodox churches all use different liturgical rites. The Coptic, Ethiopian and Eritrean follow the Alexandrian Rite; the Syriac and Malankara churches follow the West Syriac Rite; while the Armenian Apostolic Church follows the Armenian Rite. The mass services are known for more chants, incense, and longer services, sometimes ranging 2 to 3 hours (as opposed to the one hour of a Catholic Mass). They also use ancient languages in their liturgy such as Coptic, Ge'ez, Classic Syriac, and Armenian. The Oriental Orthodox church strongly encourages the practice of monasticism, inspired by the great Desert Fathers of Egypt such as St. Anthony the Great, St. Pachomius, and St. Macarius. The liturgical calender is also much busier than the Catholic church, with more feast days and longer fasting seasons. While the Coptic Church is often seen as the primary headquarters since it was the mother church, it still shares equal authority as the others. The Oriental Orthodox Church has approximately 60-70 million followers, with the vast majority being based in the Ethiopian Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox Church.


Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church makes up the largest body of the Eastern Christian Churches. They were primarily based in Constantinople and stuck with the Roman Church throughout it's first 7 main Ecumenical Councils. During the controversial Council of Chalcedon that led to the Oriental Orthodox schism, the Roman church strengthened it's ties to Constantinople by granting them equal privileges. However Rome still saw itself as the central authority while Constantinople had now considered itself equal to Rome (especially since Constantinople had overtaken Rome as the new capital of the world). This led to tension and a power struggle long before the Great Schism of 1054. The tension reached new levels when Rome intervened on the Photian issue where the Byzantine emperor replaced a bishop with Photius. This caused a brief schism between Rome and Constantinople, who had now seen the Byzantine empire play a major influential role on the church in Constantinople. Despite the brief patch, the tension did not go away over the pope's authority over Constantinople. The final straw for Constantinople was when the Filioque (the Holy Spirit proceeding from the father and the son) became an official part of the Nicene Creed in 1014. Eastern theologians firmly disagreed with this concept since it was first introduced at the Third Council of Toledo (589). The official schism happened when the Patriarch of Constantinople closed all Latin churches and was quickly excommunicated by Rome in 1054. In response he also excommunicated the Pope and his papal legates.

There were also many other disputes that led to the Great Schism of East-West aside from papal authority and the Filioque. This included differences over liturgy (Greek vs Latin) as well as the Eucharist (leavened bread vs unleavened bread). They also favored married clergy vs celibacy. The East put more emphasis on mysticism, spirituality, and iconography. They also maintained closer ties with secular rulers, such as the Byzantine emperor, and considered themselves as the New Rome. This schism became all the more official when Roman crusaders captured Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade of 1204. This significantly splintered and weakened the Byzantine Empire who had already felt the pressure from the growing Arab Ottoman Empire. Nonetheless by 1261 they managed to recapture Constantinople, and the Eastern Orthodox continued to endure. Even after the Ottoman conquest they endured in monastic pockets throughout Euro-Asia and the Baltics. By the 1400s Russia had become the new central protector of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Although many attempts were made at reunion by the Catholic Church, the two eventually recognized one another as separate bodies.


The Eastern Orthodox Church considers itself the "rightful" continuation of the ancient church of the early fathers. The word Orthodox after all means the right or true belief (of course the Western Church would disagree with that title). For this reason it's liturgy (known as the Divine Liturgy) is much more traditional, ritualistic, and perhaps even a bit more extreme. The church service is fairly similar to the Roman church, however it's layout is very different. First it is heavy on iconography, most notably thru it's wall of icons known as the Iconostasis that separates the altar from the congregation. It also incorporates more chanting, repetition, heavy use of incense, longer services, and much more standing than Catholic masses. They put heavy emphasis on monastic traditions with more fasting, Mary as the Theotokos, and union with God (known as Theosis). It's hierarchal structure is not centralized the same way as the Roman Pope (this was after all the main dispute). There are 14 official Orthodox churches, each of which has their own authoritative patriarch. The Patriarch of Constantinople is considered the "first among equals", but this is only an honorary title for its foundational role. Mount Athos is considered one it's most holy sites of monastic worship. The Eastern Orthodox Church has approximately 220 million followers, the majority being from the Russian Orthodox Chuch.


Branches of the Church of the East

Assyrian Church of the East

• Headquarters: Erbil Kurdistan Region (Iraq)
  
• Establishment Date: 410 (Council of Seleucia-Ctesiphon)
• Schism Date: 431 (Council of Ephesus)
• Bishops: 15
• Members: 400,000
• Liturgical Tradition: East Syriac Rite
• 
  Apostolic Origin: St. Thomas the Apostle, Mar Addai, and Mar Mari
  
• Historical Details:
• 1st- 3rd century- First developed with the Parthian and Sasanian empires that later became the Persian Empire
• 410- Officially organized as a church at the Council of Seleucia-Ctesiphon
• 431- Rejected the Council of Ephesus over Christ's nature and Mary as the Theotokos
• 1300s- Reached it's peak spread along the Silk Road, but eventually declined due to Mongol invasions
• 1552- The Chaldean Catholic Church split, and the Church of the East became known as the Assyrian Church of the East
• 1559- Syro-Malabar schism
• 1968- Ancient Church of the East schism
• Distinctive Features:
• Uses ancient Syriac liturgy, with the Aramaic language
• Celebrates the Eucharist liturgy of Addai and Mari
• Central leadership comes from the Catholicos-Patriarch and not the Pope
• Maintains a Mesopotamian identity quite distinct from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches
• Most Important Figures:
• St. Thomas the Apostle- 1 st century
• Mar Addai - (1st century) disciple of Thomas who was one of the first missionaries of Mesopotamaia
• Mar Mari (1 st century) -disciple of Mar Addai who continued the missionary work in Mesoptamia
• Mar Isaac of Seleucia-Ctesiphon (400s) -considered the founder and chief organizer of the Church of the East
• Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428) - considered the greatest theologian of the Church of the East
• Nestorius (386-450)- condemned the Council of Ephesus and influenced the Nestorian Schism
• Narsai (399-502)- Great Syriac theologian and poet. Known as the Harp of the Spirit
• Babi the Great (551-628)- Considered the theological architect of the Church of the East
• Isaac of Nineveh (613-700)- Bishop, monk, and one of the greatest Christian mystics
• Timothy I (727-823)- Considered the greatest Patriarch of the Church of the East
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Erbil, Iraq)
• Rabban Hormizd Monastery (Alqosh, Iraq)
• Monastery of Mar Matti (Mosul, Iraq)
• The Xi'an Stele (Stele, China)

Ancient Church of the East

• Headquarters: Baghdad, Iraq
• Establishment Date: 1964-1968
• 
  Schism Date: 1968
  
• Bishops: 10
• Members: 75,000
  
• Liturgical Tradition: East Syriac Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. Thomas, Mar Addai, Mar Mari
• Historical Details: 
• 1st century- 1960s- Shared history with the Assyrian Church of the East
• 1960s- Dispute began over modern liturgical reforms by Patriarch Mar Shimun XXIII
• 1968- Schism occurred as new church was formed to honor the ancient liturgy structure of the Church of the East
• Distinctive Features:
• Retains the original Julian Calendar and not the Gregorian Calender
• Strong opposition to modern liturgy and administrative reforms
• Uses the classic Syriac liturgy with the ancient Addai and Mari Eucharistic celebration
• Very similar in doctrine to the Assyrian Church of the East. (The schism was mostly over governance reform and not theology)
• Most Important Figures:
• Same figures as Assyrian Church
• Mar Thoma Darmo (1904-1969)- Metropolitan of India who led the schism and establishment of the Ancient Church of the East
• Mar Addai II Giwargis (1948-2022)- Patriarch of the Ancient Church, who stabilized it's structure during it's first 50 years.
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Cathedral of the Virgin Mary (Baghdad, Iraq)
• Patriarchal Cathedral (Baghdad, Iraq)
• Rabban Hormizd Monastery (Alqosh, Iraq)

Oriental Orthodox Churches

Coptic Orthodox Church

• Headquarters: St. Marks Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Cairo, Egypt)
• Establishment Date: 42-61 (St. Mark the Evangelist, 1 st bishop of Alexandria)
• Schism Date: 451 (Rejected the Council of Chalcedon, and became the principle Anti-Chalcedon church)
• Bishops: 100-120
• Members: 15 million
  
• Liturgical Tradition: Alexandrian Coptic Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. Mark the Evangelist
• Historical Details:
• 
  1st century- Developed in Alexandria as one of the most important theological centers of the early church
• 3rd- 4th century- Became the birthplace of Christian monasticism through the Desert Fathers
• 451- Rejected the Council of Chalcedon to establish it's own church
• 400-600s- Faces heavy opposition and rivalry from Byzantine church
• 641- Arabs conquer Egypt, however the Muslims do not suppress the church. This helps severe the tension with the Byzantine church
• Middle Ages- The church goes thru decline but continues to survive
• 1800s- Church modern revival under Pope Cyril IV
• Distinctive Features:
• One of the oldest churches in the world
• Strong monastic tradition from Coptic Desert Fathers
• Uses the ancient Coptic language in it's liturgy
• Extensive fasting days and seasons
• Headed by the Pope of Alexandria (Chief authority of the Coptic Orthodox Church)
• Most Important Figures:
• St. Mark the Evangelist
• St. Anthony the Great (251-356)- Considered the father of monasticism
• St. Pachomius (292-348)- Considered the founder of communal monasticism
• St. Athansius the Great (296-373)- Patriarch of Alexandria and doctor of the church
• St. Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)- Patriarch of Alexandria. Chief opponent of Nestorianism. Doctor of the Church
• St. Dioscorus I of Alexandria (444-454)- Leader of anti-Chalcedonian movement
• Pope Cyril IV (1854-1861)- Father of Modern Reform
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral (Cairo, Egypt)
• The Hanging Church (Cairo, Egypt)
• Monastery of St. Anthony (Egyptian desert)
• Monastery of St. Macarius (Wadi El Natrun)
• Monastery of St. Bishoy (Wadi El Natrun)

Armenian Apostolic Church

• Headquarters: Vagharshapat, Armenia and Antelia, Lebanon
• Establishment Date: 301 (St. Gregory the Illuminator and King Tiridates)
• Schism Date: 506-554 (Councils of Dvin)
  
• Bishops: 80-100
• Members: 9 million
• Liturgical Tradition: Armenian Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. Thaddeus the Apostle, St. Bartholomew the Apostle
• Historical Details:
• 
  301- King Tiridates and St. Gregory the Illuminator make Armenia the first official Christian kingdom (12 yeas before Roman Empire legalized it)
• 405- Bible is translated into Armenian
• 450-500s- The Armenian Church rejects the Chalcedon and Dvin Councils and forms a union with the Oriental Orthodox Church
• Middle Ages- Survived as the principle Christian church throughout Arab conquest
• 1915-1917- Suffered terrible genocide by the Ottomans (nearly 1.5 million deaths)
• 1991- The church became a symbol of national independence and cultural heritage
• Distinctive Features:
• The only Oriental Church to use the Armenian Rite
• Uses the Armenian language in all aspects of it's worship
• Strong national identity, especially after their modern revival thru independence
• Uses unleavened bread for the Eucharist (just like the Catholic), unlike most Eastern churches who use leavened bread.
• Rich tradition of monasticism, iconography, and fasting
• Most Important Figures:
• St. Thaddeus the Apostle
• St. Bartholomew the Apostle
• St. Gregory the Illuminator (257-331)- Led Armenians conversion to Christianity
• King Tiridates III (250-330)- Made Christianity the official religion of Armenia
• St. Mesrop Mashtots (362-440)- Enabled the translation of texts into the Armenian language
• St. Hripside (3rd- 4th century)- Christian virgin who fled to Armenia to escape persecution. She was tortured and martyred for refusing to marry King Tiridates III
• St. Gayane (3rd- 4th century)- Another Christian virgin alongside St. Hripside, who was martyred for denying the king's advances.
• Catholicos Sahak Isaac the Great (354-439)- Led the Armenian Church during theological and literary development
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Etchmiadzin Cathedral (Vagharshapat, Armenia)
• Saint Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral (Yerevan, Armenia)
• Khor Virap Monastery (Lusarat, Armenia)
• Saint Hripsime Church (Vagharshapat, Armenia)
• Saint Gayane Church (Vagharshapat, Armenia)
• Geghard Monastery (Goght, Armenia)
• Vank Cathedral (New Julfa, Iran)
• Haghphat Monastery (Haghphat, Armenia)

Syriac Orthodox Church

• Headquarters: Damascus, Syria
• Establishment Date: 1st Century (Church of Antioch)
• Schism Date: 451 (Council of Chalcedon)
  
• Bishops: 50-60
• Members: 2.5 million
• Liturgical Tradition: West Syriac Rite (Antiochene Rite)
• Apostolic Origin: St. Peter and St. Paul
• Historical Details:
• 
  1st century- Christianity spreads into Antioch. Becomes one of the most important early centers of Christianity with ST. Peter as Bishop (before he moves to Rome)
• 451- Rejects the Council of Chalcedon which leads to schism
• 500-578- St. Jacob Baradeus does missionary work throughout Syria and Mesopotamia strengthening the Oriental Orthodox Church while opposing Byzantine suppression
• Middle Ages- Church survives Arab conquest, most notably throughout it's monasteries
• 1915- Syriac Christians suffer terrible genocides by the Ottoman Empire
• 20th century- Underwent a diaspora revival due to continued conflicts of civil wars and upheaval.
• Distinctive Features:
• Preserves one of Christianity's oldest liturgical traditions using the classical Syriac Rite and the Antiochene tradition
• Strong emphasis on chant tradition
• Extensive use of monastic tradition
• Most Important Figures:
• St. Peter the Apostle
• St. Paul the Apostle
• St. Ignatius of Antioch (35-108)- Early bishop of Antioch. One of the Apostolic Fathers. Martyred in Rome
• St. Ephrem the Syrian (306-373)- Considered one of the greatest Syriac poets and theologians
• St. Severus of Antioch (465-538)- Great theologian of Syriac Orthodox tradition and chief defender of Miaphysite Christology.
• St. Jacob Baradeus (500-578)- Savior of the Syriac Orthodox Church amidst Byzantine suppression
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Saint George Cathedral (Damscus, Syria)
• Mor Hananyo Monastery (Deir az-Za'faran, Turkey)
• Mor Gabriel Monastery (Tur Abdin, Turkey)
• Monastery of Saint Mark (Jerusalem, Israel)
• Monastery of Saint Matthew (Mosul, Iraq)
• Church of St. Peter (Antioch, Turkey)
• Monastery of Saint Mark (Jerusalem, Israel)

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

• Headquarters: Holy Trinity Cathedral (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
• Establishment Date: 4th century
• Schism Date: 451 (Council of Chalcedon)
  
• Bishops: 100
• Members: 60 million
• Liturgical Tradition: Alexandrian Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. Matthew, St. Bartholomew, St. Frumentius
• Historical Details:
• 
  4th century- Christianity became the religion of the Kingdom of Aksum
• Middle Ages- Remained a part of the Coptic Orthodox Church for 1600 years
• 1959- Became it's own independent autocephaly church
• 1990-Eritrean separates from Ethiopian's church after they achieve independence
• Distinctive Features:
• Uses the Ge'ez lanugage in their worship
• Extensive monastic and fasting traditions
• Strong connection to Ethiopian culture and history
• Uses the Tewahedo biblical canon (one of the largest in Christianity
• Most Important Figures:St. Frumentius- First missionary and bishop of Ethiopia
• King Ezana of Aksum- Adopted Christianity as the official religion of Aksum
• St. Yared- Composer of Ethiopian liturgical music
• St. Tekle Haymanot- Influential Ethiopian monk
• Abuna Aregawi- Founded a monastery in Ethopia. One of the Nine Saints from Rome
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Holy Trinity Cathedral (Addis Ababa. Ethiopia)
• Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion (Axum, Ethiopia)
• Debre Libanos Monastery (North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia)
• Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibele (Lalibele, Ethiopia)
• Debra Damo Monastery- Founded by Abuna Aregawi

Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church

• Headquarters: Enda Mariam Cathedral (Asmara, Eritrea)
• Establishment Date: 4th century
• Schism Date: 1993 (Seperated from Ethopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church)
• Bishops: 20
• Members: 3 million
• Liturgical Tradition: Alexandrian Rite
• 
  Apostolic Origin: St. Mark the Evangelist, St. Furmentius
  
• Historical Details: 
• 4th century- Christianity reached the Kingdom of Aksum thru Saint Frumentius
• Middle Ages- Became a part of the Coptic Church for 1600 years
• 1959- Becomes part of Ethiopian Orthodox Church
• 1993- Becomes it's own independent church after achieving independence
• Distinctive Features:
• Uses the ancient Ge'ez language
• Heavy use of chants
• Strong emphasis on monastic traditions, fasting, and spirtuality
• Uses the Tewahedo biblical canon (one of the largest in Christianity
• Most Important Figures:St. Frumentius- First missionary and bishop of Ethiopia
• King Ezana of Aksum- Adopted Christianity as the official religion of Aksum
• Abune Phillipos- First patriarch of Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Enda Mariam Cathedral (Asmara, Eritrea)
• Debre Bizen Monastery (Eritrea)
• Kidane Mehret Cathedral (Asmara, Eritrea)
• Nda Mariam Church (Asmara, Eritrea)

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

• Headquarters: Catholicate Palace (Kerala, India)
• Establishment Date: 52 (St. Thomas the Apostle)
• Schism Date: 1912- Separation from Syriac Orthodox Church
• Bishops: 30
• Members: 2 million
• Liturgical Tradition: West Syriac Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. Thomas the Apostle
  
• Historical Details:
• 
  1st century- Founded by St. Thomas the Apostle
• Middle Ages- Was part of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch
• 1909-1919- Internal disputes led to the creation of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
• 1934- Formalized it's church with a constitution
• Distinctive Features:
• Encourages participation from clergy and laity in it's episcopal governance
• Uses the West Syriac liturgy while retaining it's Indian culture and traditions
• The chief patriarch is known as the Catholicos of the East
• Most Important Figures:
• St. Thomas the Apostle
• Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius VI - Key leader in establishing the independent Indian Malankara church
• Baselios Paulose I- First Catholicos of the newly established church
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Catholicate Armana Chapel (Kerala, India)
• St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral (Niranam, India)
• St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral (Kadamattom, India)
• Parumala Church (Kerala, India)
• St. George Orthodox Chuch (Puthuppally, India)
• Catholicate Aramana (Kottayam, India)

Eastern Orthodox Churches

Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

• Headquarters: Phanar, Istanbul, Turkey
• Establishment Date: 1st century to 330 (when Constantinople became the capital of Roman Empire)
• Schism Date: 1054 (Great Schism)
• Bishops: 125
• Members: 5,255,000
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
  
• Apostolic Origin: St. Andrew the Apostle
• Historical Details:
• 
  330- Constantinople became the new Rome
• 381- Council of Constantinople grants bishop of Constantinople second place honor after Rome
• 451- Council of Chalcedon elevates the status of Constantinople with near equal privileges
• 1054- Official separation from Catholic Church during Great Schism
• 1204- Fourth Crusade captures Constantinople
• 1261- Byzantines recapture Constantinople
• 1453- Ottoman Conquest, church is allowed to continue without suppression
• Distinctive Features:
• Holds the symbolic title "First Among Equals", since it was the foundation church of Eastern Orthodox
• Considered the spiritual and historic center of Eastern Orthodox
• Preserves Byzantine liturgy, theology, and spirituality
• Coordinates dialogue and initiative with other Orthodox churches
• Most Important Figures:
• St. Andrew the Apostle
• St. John Chrysostom (398-404)- Patriarch of Constantinople, doctor of the church
• St. Gregory Nazianzen (329-390)- Patriarch of Constantinople, architect of Nicene Christianity
• Patriarch Michael Cerularius (1000-1059)- Key leader of the Great Schism of 1054
• Gennadius Scholarius (1400-1472)- Played a crucial role in preserving the Eastern Orthodox presence after Ottoman Conquest
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Cathedral of St. George (Phanar, Istanbul)
• Hagia Sophia (Istanbul, Turkey)- converted to Muslim mosque
• Hagia Irene (Istanbul, Turkey) - converted to Muslim mosque
• Church of the Holy Apostles (Istanbul, Turkey)- destroyed by Ottoman conquest
• Church of the Holy Savior in Chora (Kariye, Turkey)

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria

• Headquarters: Alexandria, Egypt
• Establishment Date: 1st century
  
• Schism Date: 1054 (Great Schism)
• Bishops: 40
• Members: 1,500,000
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. Mark the Evangelist
• Historical Details:
• 
  1st century- Church established by St. Mark the Evangelist
• 2 nd-4th century- Alexandria became the flourishing intellectual and theological center
• 451- Church of Alexandria split between Coptic Orthodox and Greek Orthodox
• 7th century- Arab conquest led to decline of church, but still endured
• 1054- United with church of Constantinople during Great Schism
• Distinctive Features:
• Considered the Eastern Orthodox church of all of Africa
• One of the five great ancient patriarchates (Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem)
• Has one of the strongest missionary traditions throughout east and central Africa
• Preserves the theological and monastic heritage of the Alexandrian and Desert Fathers
• Ranked second in honor after Constantinople
• Most Important Figures:
• St. Mark the Evangelist
• Clement of Alexandria (150-215)- Early theologian
• Origen (185-254)- Influential theologian and biblical scholar
• St. Athanasius of Alexandria (296-373)- Key figure at Nicene Council, opposed Arianism
• St. Cyril of Alexandria (376-444)- Patriarch of Alexandria, and influential theologian
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Cathedral of the Annunciation (Alexandria, Egypt)
• Monastery of St. Savvas (Alexandria, Egypt)
• Shrine of St. Mark (Alexandria, Egypt)
• Monastery of St. George (Cairo, Egypt)
• Nairobo Orthodox Cathedral (Kenya)
• Johannesburg Orthodox Cathedral (South Africa)

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch

• Headquarters: Damascus, Syria (relocated from ancient Antioch)
• Establishment Date: 1st century (One of the five great ancient churches)
• Schism Date: 1054- Great Schism
• Bishops: 30
• Members: 2 million
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
  
• Apostolic Origin: St. Peter the Apostle
• Historical Details:
  
• 
  1st century- Church was developed by St. Peter the Apostle, where the early followers were first identified as "Christians"
• 2nd- 3 rd century- One of the largest cities of the Roman Empire, played a major role in theological and ecumenical councils
• 540- Persians sack Antioch
• 634-638- Aran-Muslim conquest of Syria
• 661- Umayyad Caliphate established in Damascus
• 969- Byzantine Empire recaptures Antioch
• 1054- Great Schism
• 1098- First Crusade recaptures Antioch
• 1268- Arab Mamluks capture Antioch and destroy ancient city
• 1300-1400s- Patriarchate shifts from Antioch to Damascus
• 1516- Ottoman Turks conquer Syria
• 1724- Melkite schism; Melkite Greek Catholics break away from Antioch Church to reunite with Roman church
• Distinctive Features:
• One of the most ancient Christians
• Strong Arab culture and language use
• Largest Orthodox Church in the Middle East
• Home of the Antiochian theological tradition that favored literal/historical interpretation vs the philosophical/allegorical style of the Alexandrian school
• Most Important Figures:
• St. Peter the Apostle
• St. Ignatius of Antioch (35-108)- Disciple of John the Apostle; Considered one of the early Church Fathers
• St. Theophilius of Antioch (120-183)- Early bishop of Antioch
• St. John Chrysostom (347-407)- Born in Antioch before becoming Patriarch of Constantinople.
• Theodore of Mopsuestia (350-428)- Leading theologian of Antiochian school
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: Patriarchal Cathedral of Maryamieh (Damascus, Syria)
• Church of St. Peter (Antakya, Turkey)- ancient Antioch
• Monastery of Our Lady of Balamand (Lebanon)
• Saydnaya Monastery (Damascus, Syria)
• Monastery of St. George (Syria)
• Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral (Beirut, Lebanon)
• St. George's Cathedral (Hama, Syria)

Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

• Headquarters: Jerusalem, Israel
• Establishment Date: 1 st century- One of oldest Christian churches still in existence
• Schism Date: 1054
• Bishops: 20
• Members: 300,000
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. James the Just
  
• Historical Details:
• 
  1st century- Established by the apostles, most notable St. James the Just
• 70- Romans destroy Jerusalem. The Christians survive but must scatter and flee
• 325- Council of Nicaea recognizes Jerusalem's godfather status
• 451- Council of Chalcedon elevates Church of Jerusalem to patriarchal rank (despite it's small numbers)
• 638- Jerusalem is conquered by Arab Caliphate
• 1054- Great Schism
• 1099- First Crusade recaptures Jerusalem
• 1187- Saladin reconquers Jerusalem
• 1517- Ottoman Empire conquers Jerusalem
• 1917-1948- British capture Jerusalem
• 1948- State of Israel established
• Distinctive Features:
• The church is recognized for its role as the site of Jesus' passion
• They are considered the guardians of the sacred site of the Holy Sepulcher with a monastic brotherhood
• Despite being one of the smallest of the Orthodox churches, they have the most annual pilgrims due to the holy sites of Jesus Christ
• Most Important Figures:St. James the Just
• St. Cyril of Jerusalem (313-386)- Bishop of Jerusalem famous for his Catechetical lectures
• St. Sophronius of Jerusalem (560-638)- Patriarch during Arab Conquest, continued to maintain the church after conquest
• Patriarch Dositheos II (1641-1707)- Important patriarch who oversaw the Synod of Jerusalem pertaining to the Reformation
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Jerusalem, Israel)
• Church of the Nativity (Bethlehem, Israel)
• Church of Bethpage (Jerusalem, Israel)
• Monastery of the Cross (Jerusalem, Israel)
• Monastery of Mar Sabba (Palestine)

Orthodox Church of Cyprus

• Headquarters: Nicosia, Cyprus
• Establishment Date: 1st century
  
• Schism Date: 1054 Great Schism
• Bishops: 20
• Members: 700,000
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. Barnabas and St. Paul
• Historical Details:
• 
  1st century- Cyprus is evangelized by St. Paul and St. Barnabs
• 325- Bishops from Cyprus attend the Council of Nicaea
• 431- Council of Ephesus grants Cyprus it's own self-governing autocephalous church
• 649- Occupied by Arabs
• 1191- Liberated by Richard the Lionheart during the third crusade
• 1192-1489- Frankish Latin Crusader rule
• 1489-1571- Venetian rule
• 1571- Ottoman conquest
• 1878- British conquest and administration
• 1974- Turkish invasion of northern Cyrpus
• Distinctive Features:
• Unlike many other Orthodox churches it was not under Constantinople's governing jurisdiction
• Proud Guardian of the Greek Cypriot liturgical identity
• Strong emphasis on monastic tradition
• Most Important Figures:St. Barnabas
• St. Epiphanius of Salamis (310-403)- Bishop of Salamis, defender of Nicene Christianity
• Archbishop Anthemios (5 th century)- Discovered relics of St. Barnabas and played influential role at Council of Ephesus granting the Cypriot Church independence
• Archbishop Kyprianos (1756-1821)- National hero of Cyrpus, who fought during Greek War of Independence and was martyred. Became a symbol of Cypriot resistance
• Archbishop Makarios III (1913-1977)- Led Cyprus during Independence and became archbishop and first president of Cyprus
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines:
• Kykkos Monastery (Pedoulas, Cyprus)
• Monastery of St. Barnabas (Famagusta, Cyprus)
• Stavovouni Monastery (Pyrga, Cyprus)
• Cathedral of St. John (Nicosia, Cyprus)
• Painted Chuches of the Troodos (Troodos Mountains, Cyprus)
• Machairas Monastery (Lazanias, Cyprus)
• Church of St. Lazarus (Larnaca, Cyprus)

Georgian Orthodox Church

• Headquarters: Tbilisi, Georgia
• Establishment Date: 326-337 (Christian conversion of the Kingdom of Iberia by St. Nino)
• Schism Date: 1054 Great Schism
• Bishops: 50
• Members: 4 million
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. Andrew the Apostle, St. Simon the Canaanite, St. Matthias, St. Nino of Cappadocia
• Historical Details:
  
• 
  1st century- Apostolic missionaries arrive in Georgia
• 326-327- Saint Nino of Cappadocia converts King Mirian III of Iberia to Christianity
• 5th century- Georgian Church gains independence
• 1054- Great Schism
• 1089-1125- King David IV the builder strengthens Georgia's Christian identity
• 1220- Mongol Invasion conquers Georgia
• 1386-1403- Timur's invasion devastates Georgia
• 1801- Russian Empire annexes east Georgia; abolishes Georgian church
• 1917- Georgian church restored
• 1943- Georgian autocephaly formally recognized by Russian Orthodox Church
• Distinctive Features:
• Considered one of the first nations to officially adopt Christianity after Armenia and Rome
• Merges it's national identity and culture with it's liturgy
• Church played a major role in developing Georgian literature and cultural identity
• Georgian chant is famous for it's ancient singing style
• Has survived numerous invasions from Persians, Mongolians, Timur, Ottomans, and Russians
• Among the highest number of followers next to the Russian Orthodox Church
• Most Important Figures:
• St Nino of Cappadocia (280-338)- Converted king Mirian III to Christianity
• King Mirian III (278-361)- Adopted Christianity to his Kingdom of Iberia
• King Vakhtang I Gorgasali (440-502)- Helped establish Georgian church independence
• St. Shio of Mgvime (6th century)- Famous Syrian fathers who strengthened Georgian monasticism
• King David IV the Builder (1089-1125)- Considered greatest ruler of Georgia who strengthened Christianity in Georgia
• Queen Tamar (1160-1213)- Considered one of Georgia's greatest medieval monarchs
• Ilia II (1933-2026)- Key figure of church's revival after fall of communism
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (Mtskheta, Georgia)
• Holy Trinity Cathedral (Tbilisi, Georgia)
• Jvari Monastery (Mtskheta, Georgia)
• Gelati Monastery (Kutaisi, Georgia)
• Alaverdi Cathedral (Kakheti, Georgia)
• Bodbe Monastery (Kakheti, Georgia)
• David Gareja Monastery (Georgia/Azerbaijan border region)
• Ikalto Monastery (Ikalto, Georgia)

Russian Orthodox Church

• Headquarters: Danilov Monastery (Moscow, Russia)
• Establishment Date: 988 (following Prince Vladimir's conversion of Kievan Rus)
• Schism Date: 1054
• 
  Bishops: 382
• Members: 110 million
  
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. Andrew the Apostle
• Historical Details: 
• 988- Baptism of Prince Vladimir converts Ukraine Rus to Christianity
• 1299-1325- Metropolitan relocates from Kiev to Moscow
• 1448- Became independent from Constantinople as it's own autocephaly
• 1589- Metropolitan of Moscow was elevated to Patriarch
• 1650s-1660s- Old Believer Schism led by Patriarch Nikon
• 1700s- Tsar Peter the Great places church under state administration
• 1917- After Russian Revolution the patriarchate is restored
• 1930s-1989- Endured persecution during Soviet era
• Distinctive Features: 
• Extensive use of icons in worship and devotion
• Prominent use of Church Slavonic in services
• Emphasis on monasticism, fasting, and mystical spirituality
• Most Important Figures: St. Vladimir the Great (958-1015)- Established Christianity as state religion
• St. Sergius of Radonezh (1314-1392)- Russia's most influential monk and theologian
• Patriarch Job (1589-1605)- First patriarch of Moscow
• Patriarch Tikhon (1865-1925)- Led the church through it's restoration after Russian Revolution
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (Moscow, Russia)
• Saint Basil's Cathedral (Moscow, Russia)
• Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (Sergiev Posad, Russia)
• Dormition Cathedral (Moscow, Russia)
• Kazan Cathedral (St. Petersburg, Russia)
• Novodevichy Convent (Moscow, Russia)
• St. Sophia Assumption Cathedral (Tobolsk, Russia)
• St. Simeon of the Wonderful Church (Dresden, Germany)
• St. Sophia Catedral (Harbin, China)
• Cathedral of the Annunciation (Pavlodar, Kazakhstan)
• Church of Mary Magdalene (Jerusalem, Israel)

Serbian Orthodox Church

• Headquarters: Belgrade, Serbia
• Establishment Date: 1219 (Saint Sava obtained independence from Constantinople)
• Schism Date: 1054
• Bishops: 47
• Members: 8 million
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• Apostolic Origin: Saint Sava
• 
  Historical Details:
  
• 1219- Saint Sava established independence from Constantinople and became first patriarch
• 1346- Church was elevated to rank of Patriarchate of Pec
• 1557-1766- Patriarchate was abolished by Ottoman Conquest, then later restored
• 1920- Serbian Patriarchate established.
• Distinctive Features:
• Strong ties to Serbian cultural and national identity
• Veneration of Saint Sava as national patron saint of Serbia
• Many monasteries are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Rich tradition of iconography, fresco paintings, and monastic spirtuality
• Most Important Figures:
• Saint Sava (1174- 1236) Founder of Serbian Orthodox Church; first archbishop
• Saint Stefan Nemanga (1114-1199) Founder of Serbian Empire and national church; father of Saint Sava "Saint Simeon the Myrr-flowing"
• Patriarch Joanikije II (1346)- First Serbian patriarch
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Church of Saint Sava (Belgrade, Serbia)
• Patriarchate of Pec (Kosovo)
• Studencia Monastery (Kraljevo, Serbia)
• Zica Monastery (Kraljevo, Serbia)
• Visoki Decani Monastery (Decan, Kosovo)
• Gracanica Monastery (Pristina, Kosovo)
• Sopocani Monastery (Pazar, Serbia)
• Mileseva Monastery (Prijepolje, Serbia)

Romanian Orthodox Church

• Headquarters: Bucharest, Romania
• Establishment Date: 1885 (obtained independence from Constantinople)
• Schism Date: 1054
• Bishops: 58
• Members: 19 million
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• 
  Apostolic Origin: Saint Andrew the Apostle
  
• Historical Details:
• Middle Ages- Was part of the Constantinople Patriarchate
• 1885- Romanian Orthodox Church was established thru the union of Wallachia and Moldavia into modern state of Romania
• 1947-1989- Faced heavy persecution during Soviet regime
• Distinctive Features:
• Uses Romanian language in it's liturgy
• Strong tradition of painted monasteries and religious art
• Strong emphasis on monasticism and theological scholarship
• Most Important Figures:
• Saint Andrew the Apostle
• Patriarch Miron Cristea (1868-1939)- First Patriarch of Romania
• Dumitru Staniloae (1903-1993)- One of the most influential Romanian Orthodox theologians
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Patriarchal Cathedral (Bucharest, Romania)
• National Cathedral (Cathedral of the Salvation of the Nation)- Bucharest, Romania
• Putna Monastery (Suceava, Romania)
• Voronet Monastery (Suceava, Romania)
• Moldovita Monastery (Suceava, Romania)
• Sucevita Monastery (Suceava, Romania)
• Curtea de Arges Monastery (Arges County, Romania)
• Nicula Monastery (Cluj County, Romania)

Bulgarian Orthodox Church

• Headquarters: Sofia, Bulgaria
• Establishment Date: 870
• Schism Date: 1054
• Bishops: 15
• Members: 8 million
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
  
• Historical Details:
• 
  864-865- Christianization of Bulgaria under Tsar Boris I
• 927- Received patriarchal recognition from Constantinople
• 10 th- 12 th century- Flourished during First and Second Bulgarian Empire
• 1400s- After Ottoman Conquest came under control of Constantinople Patriarchate
• 1870- Independence reestablished as the Bulgarian Exarchate
• 1945- Autocephaly recognized
• 1953- Bulgarian patriarchate fully restored and recognized
• Distinctive Features:
• Oldest of the Slavic Orthodox Churches
• Played major role in development of Cyrillic literachy and Slavic Christian culture
• Strong connection to Bulgarian independence and nationality
• Rich monastic tradition most notably at Rila and Bachkovo whic hare UNESCO World Heritage Sites
• Most Important Figures:
• Tsar Boris I (852-889)- Converted Bulgaria to Christianity
• Saint Cyril and Methodius (826-869)- co-creators of Slavonic Christian tradition
• Saint Clement of Ohrid (840-916)- Leading disciple of Cyril and Methodius; founder of theological literary school
• Saint Naum of Ohrid (830-910)- Disciple of Cyril and Methodius; founder of Monastery of Saint Naum
• Patriarch Damian (927-972)- One of the earliest patriarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church
• Saint John of Rila (876-946)- Founder of Rila Monastery; Bulgaria's most venerated saint
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Sofia, Bulgaria)
• Rila Monastery (Rila Mountains, Bulgaria)
• Bachkovo Monastery (Asenovgrad, Bulgaria)
• Troyan Monastery (Troyan, Bulgaria)
• Patriarchal Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky (Sofia, Bulgaria)
• St. George Rotuna (Sofia, Bulgaria)
• Church of Christ Pantocrator (Nesebar, Bulgaria)
• St. Stephen's Church (Istanbul, Turkey)

Church of Greece

• Headquarters: Athens, Greece
• Establishment Date: 1833 (Independence from Constantinople Patriarchate)
• Schism Date: 1054
• Bishops: 101
• Members: 10 million
• 
  Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite (Greek)
  
• Apostolic Origin: St. Paul the Apostle, St. Andrew the Apostle, St Titus, St. John of Patmos
• Historical Details:
• 1st century- Christianity arrived in Greece during apostolic age. It is believed that St. John the Evangelist of Patmos spent his last days on the island of Patmos writing the Book of Revelation
• Middle Ages- Ancient churches developed throughout Athens, Corinth, Philippi, and Thessaloniki
• 1833- Broke free from the jurisdiction of Constantinople
• 1850- Following national independence the Church of Greece was declared an autocephaly and eventually it's own patriarchate
• Distinctive Features:
• Direct connection to many of the apostolic missionary work and famous letters from Paul
• Center of the Greek Orthodox liturgy, theology, and spirituality
• Guardians of numerous holy sites of pilgrimage
• Uses Greek as it's primary liturgical language
• Strong ties to Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
• Most Important Figures:
• St. Paul the Apostle
• St. Andrew the Apostle
• St. Titus (1 st century)- Disciple of Paul and first bishop of Crete
• St. John the Evangelist/Theologian (1 st century)- likely the same person as John the Apostle who wrote the Book or Revelation in his final years on Patmos
• St. Dionysius the Areopagite (1 st century)- Athenian convert of St. Paul and founder of the Church of Athens
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines:
• Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens (Athens, Greece)
• Church of St. Andrew (Patras, Greece)
• Monastery of St. John on Patmos (Patmos, Greece)
• Monastery of Hosios Loukas (Boeotia, Greece)
• Monastery of the Holy Trinity (Kalambaka, Greece)
• Great Meteoron Monastery (Meteora, Greece)

Polish Orthodox Church

• Headquarters: Warsaw, Poland
• Establishment Date: 1924 (Independence granted by Patriarchate of Constantinople)
• Schism Date: 1054
• 
  Bishops: 12
• Members: 500,000
  
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• Historical Details:
• 863-995- Saint Cyril and Methodius introduce Christianity to Slavic Regions (modern day Poland)
• 988- Vladimir the Gerat makes Christianity the official religion of Kievan Rus
• 11th- 13th century- Orthodox dioceses established in Volodymyr, Chelm, and Przemysl
• 1569- Union of Lublin unites Poland with Lithuania, strengthening the church's membership
• 1596- Union of Breast- A schism occurs within Poland, breaking off from the Orthodox Church, to re-establish union with the Catholic pope; known as the Ukranian/Belarusian Greek Catholic Church.
• 1918-1924- After gaining independence from WWI, a new independent Polish Orthodox Church is established and recognized by Ecumenical Patriarchate Constantinople
• 1948- Moscow formally recognizes Polish Orthodox Church
• Distinctive Features:
• Strong Ruthenian, Belarusian, Ukrainian, and Lemko roots
• Uses both Slavonic and Polish as their language during worship
• One of the newer autocephalous Orthodox Churches
• Most Important Figures:
• Saint Cyril and Methodius (826-885)- Introduced Christianity to Slavic lands
• Saint Vladimir the Great (958-1015)- Converted Kievan Rus to Christianity
• Metropolitan Dionizy (1876-1960)- Led the church during it's first years of Independence
• Saint Maxim Sandovich (1886-1914)- Orthodox Martyr from Lemko region (southern Poland)
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines:
• Cathedral of Mary Magdalene (Warsaw, Poland)
• Monastery of St. Onuphrius (Jableczna, Poland)
• Holy Mount Grabarka (Grabarka, Poland)
• Cathedral of St. Nicholas (Bialystok, Poland)
• Suprasl Monastery (Suprasl, Poland)

Albanian Orthodox Church

• Headquarters: Tirana, Albania
• Establishment Date: 1922
• Schism Date: 1054
• Bishops: 7
• Members: 700,000
• 
  Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. Paul the Apostle
  
• Historical Details:
• 50-60- Christianity spreads into Illyricum often associated with St. Paul the Apostle
• 325- Bishops from Illyricum participate in Council of Nicaea
• 1054- Albanian Christians join the Eastern Orthodox Church during Great Schism
• 1478- Ottoman conquest of Albania, church experiences decline
• 1920-1922- Post WWI movement begins for independent church.
• 1937- Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople officially recognizes Albanian Orthodox Church
• 1950s-1991- Christians are persecuted under Soviet Regime, and Albania becomes first official Atheist state
• 1991- Orthodox revival after fall of communism
• Distinctive Features:
• Survived anti-Christian persecutions during Soviet Regime
• Conducts worship in the Albanian language
• Experienced rebirth and revival after fall of communism
• Merges traditions from Greek, Slavic, and Albanian culture
• Most Important Figures:St. Paul the Apostle
• Fan s. Noli "Theofan Noli" (1882-1965)- Founder of modern Albanian Orthodox movement
• Archbishop Kristofor Kisi (1881-1958)- Led the church during Independence and establishment of Albanian Orthodox Church
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Resurrection of Christ Cathedral (Tirana, Albania)
• St. Demetrius Cathedral (Berat, Albania)
• Resurrection Cathedral (Korce, Albania)
• Monastery of St. Vlash (Durres, Albania)
• Ardenica Monastery (Lushnje, Albania)
• Monastery of St. Cosmas (Kolkondas, Albania)
• Chuch of St. Asti and St. Paul (Durres, Albania)
• St. Sotir Church (Korce, Albania)

Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia

• Headquarters: Prague, Czechia
• Establishment Date: 1921
• Schism Date: 1054
• Bishops: 6
  
• Members: 100,000
• 
  Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine RIte
• Apostolic Origin: Saints Cyrils and Methodius
• Historical Details:
• 863- Christianity brought to the Slavic people by Saints Cyril and Methodius
• Middle Ages- Orthodox religion was largely suppressed by the Catholic Kingdom of Bohemia for hundreds of years
• 1918-1921- Czech Orthodox revival after World War I led to establishment of modern Orthodox Church of Czechoslovakia
• 1940s- Czech Orthodox church suffered severe persecution during Nazi occupation, including martyrdom of Saint Gorazd
• 1951- Officially recognized by other Eastern Orthodox churches as autocephalous
• Distinctive Features:
• One of the smallest of the Eastern Orthodox churches
• Preserves the legacy of Saint Cyril and Methodius using Slavic liturgical tradition
• Functions as one church across two independent nations in Czechia and Slovakia
• Uses traditional Slavonic language during it's liturgy
• Most Important Figures:
• Saint Cyril and Methodius (826-885)- Introduced Christianity to Slavic lands
• Saint Gorazd (1940s)- Founder of modern Orthodox Church of Czechoslovakia and martyr of World War II
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius (Prague, Czechia)
• Cathedral of St. Alexander (Nevsky, Czechia)

Orthodox Church of Ukraine

• Headquarters: Saint Sophia Cathedral (Kyiv, Ukraine)
• Establishment Date: 2018
  
• Schism Date: 1054
• Bishops: 62
• Members: 18.3 million
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• 
  Apostolic Origin: Saint Andrew the Apostle, Saint Vladimir the Great
• Historical Details:
• 988- Christianity was officially adopted by Saint Vladimir the Great
• Middle Ages- The Metropolis of Kyiv slowly came under the control of Moscow and the Russian Orthodox Church
• 1991- Movements for an independent church arose following Ukraine's independence
• 2018- Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople officially granted autocephaly to the Church of Ukraine
• Distinctive Features:
• It is the newest of the official Eastern Orthodox Churches
• Represents a major effort of Ukrainian national independence free from Russian influence
• Still contested among other Orthodox churches (especially Russia), while recognized by Constantinople, Alexandria, Greece, and Cyprus
• One of the second largest Orthodox church (after Russia)
• Most Important Figures:
• Saint Andrew the Apostle
• Saint Vladimir the Great (958-1015)- Converted Kievan Rus to Christianity
• Patriarch Filaret (1929-present)- key leader and founder of Ukrainian Orthodox Church
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: Saint Sophia Cathedral (Kyiv, Ukraine)
• St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery (Kyiv, Ukraine)
• Kyiv Pechersk Lavra (Monastery of the Caves)
• St. Volodymr's Cathedral (Kyiv, Ukraine)
• Transfiguration Cathedral (Vinnytsia, Ukraine)

Macedonian Orthodox Church

• Headquarters: Skopje, North Macedonia
• Establishment Date: 1959
• Schism Date: 1967-2022 (Schism from the Serbian Orthodox Church, until officially recognized)
• Bishops: 10-12
• Members: 1.35 million
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• Apostolic Origin: St. Paul the Apostle, Saints Cyris and Methodius
• Historical Details:
• 
  1019- Archbishopric of Ohrid was established under the Byzantine Empire
• 1767- Archbishopric was abolished under the Ottoman Empire, and absorbed into the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
• 1959- Serbian Orthodox Church restored autonomy in Macedonia
• 1967- Macedonian church declared autocephaly without Serbian approval thus creating a schism
• 2022- The schism came to an end, when the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and Serbian Church recognized their autocephaly
• Distinctive Features:
  
• Claims continuity of the Archbishopric of Ohrid
• Experienced one of the longest modern Orthodox schisms (55 years)
• Strongly connected with Macedonian national identity
• Uses the Macedonian language in their liturgy
• Most Important Figures:
• Saint Paul the Apostle
• Saint Cyril and Methodius
• Saint Clement of Ohrid (840-916)- Disciple of Cyril and Methodius who established the Ohrid Literary School
• Saint Naum of Ohrid (830-910)- Missionary and monastery founder
• Archbishop Dositej II (1906-1981) First bishop of restored Macedonian Orthodox Church
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines: 
• Cathedral of St. Clement of Ohri (Skopje, Macedonia)
• Church of St. Sophia (Ohrid, Macedonia)
• Monastery of Saint Naum (Ohrid, Macedonia)
• Monastery of Saint Jovan Bigorski (Ohrid, Macedonia)
• Plasonik (Ohrid, Macedonia)

Orthodox Church of America

• 
  Headquarters: Springfield, Virginia
  
• Establishment Date: 1970
• Bishops: 18
• Members: 100,000
• Liturgical Tradition: Byzantine Rite
• Historical Details: 
• 1794- Russian Orthodox missionaries arrive in Alaska and establish Valaam Monastery
• 18th- 19th century- Expanded across North America in various pockets of Eastern European migrants
• 1917-1920- American Orthodox church began to govern itself during Russian Revolution
• 1970- Russian Orthodox Church granted autocephaly (self-governing status) to American Orthodox Church
• Distinctive Features:
• Uses mostly English in it's liturgical celebration
• Is often a merge of various ethnic European cultures such as Russian, Greek, or Romanian
• Has dioceses across United States, Canada, and Mexico
• Established various seminaries across United States
• It is one of the smallest and newest self-governing Orthodox churches
• Most Important Figures:
• St. Herman of Alaska (1794-1837)- First Orthodox Saint and missionary of Alaska
• St. Innocent of Alaska (1797-1879)- Developed alphabet and translated scripture for the indigenous people of Alaska
• St. Tikhon of Moscow (1865-1925)- Led the North American diocese before becoming Patriarch of Moscow
• Famous Cathedrals and Shrines:
• St. Nicholas Cathedral (Washington, DC)
• St. Tikhon's Monastery (South Canaan, PA)
• St. Herman Theological Seminary (Kodiak, Alaska)
• Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Kodiak, Alaska)