Orthodoxy

Abstract

Orthodoxy is a major branch of Christianity, represented by the Eastern Orthodox Church, with an unbroken continuity to the apostolic tradition and a claim to be the depositor of the authentic Christian faith and practice. Today, the Orthodox Church consists of the ancient patriarchates (Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem) and various national autocephalous churches. The patriarchate of Constantinople, also called the “ecumenical patriarchate,” enjoys the primacy of honour amongst all the other patriarchates and the rest of the Orthodox autocephalous churches without having any administrative or other jurisdiction over them. The churches of Russia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Georgia carry patriarchal status – being led by a patriarch. The churches of Greece, Cyprus, and Albania are led by archbishops. There are also the smaller, autonomous Orthodox churches of Poland, Finland, and former Czechoslovakia. The Greek diaspora, with full church organization (dioceses, parishes, etc.), in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia is under the jurisdiction of the ecumenical patriarchate. The Russian diaspora in the United States and elsewhere is under the patriarchate of Moscow. What should be stressed is that although all the Orthodox churches are organizationally and administratively autonomous and distinct they are in full communion in faith and worship. According to Ware (1963: 15), “The Orthodox Church, thus, is a family of self‐governing Churches. It is held together … by the double bond of unity in the faith and communion in the sacraments.” This is exemplified when the patriarchs and the archbishops meet periodically to celebrate the liturgy together. They met on March 9, 2014, in the ecumenical patriarchate in Istanbul, when they also announced a pan‐Orthodox synod to be convened in 2015.