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The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world, estimated to number between 225-300 million total members. It is considered by its adherents to be the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago. The Church is composed of numerous self-governing ecclesial bodies, each geographically and nationally distinct but theologically unified. Each self-governing (or autocephalous) body is shepherded by a Synod of independent bishops whose duty is, among other things, to preserve and teach the Apostolic and patristic traditions and related Church practices. All Eastern Orthodox bishops trace their lineage back to the Apostles through the process of Apostolic Succession, in the same manner the Catholic Church's clergy and Oriental Orthodox Communion's clergy do. Today’s Eastern Orthodox Church traces its development back through Greek, Slavic, and Middle Eastern traditions, among others, back through Byzantine and Roman empires, back to the earliest church established by St. Paul and the Apostles. It clings tenaciously to its ancient traditions and practices believing in growth without change (see below) Orthodox Christians believe that the ultimate goal of every Christian is to become like God, to love perfectly, to become “Little Christs” within Jesus Christ. This process is called theosis or deification. The Biblical text used by the Orthodox includes the Greek Septuagint and the New Testament. It includes the Deuterocanonical Books, which are generally rejected by Protestants, and a few texts that are not in the Western canon. Orthodox accept scripture as the inspired Word of God, believing scripture was inspired by the Holy Spirit to its authors, speakers and editors. Orthodox Christians also utilize & venerate icons as focal points in their daily worship while rejecting three-dimensional statuary. Part of a series on Christianity Jesus Christ Virgin birth · CrucifixionResurrection · Easter Christian views of Jesus Foundations Church · New Covenant Apostles · Kingdom · Gospel Bible Old Testament · New Testament Books · Canon · Apocrypha Christian theology Salvation · Baptism · TrinityFather · Son · Holy Spirit History of theology · Christology Mariology · Apologetics History and traditions Early · ConstantineCouncils · Creeds · Missions Chrysostom · East-West Schism Crusades · Reformation Denominations Catholic Roman Catholic · Anglican · Independent Catholic · Old Catholic Protestant Lutheran · Reformed · Anabaptist · Baptist · Methodist · Adventist · Evangelical · Holiness · Pentecostal EasternEastern Orthodox · Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite) · Assyrian NontrinitarianJehovah's Witness · Latter Day Saint · Unitarian · Christadelphian · Oneness Pentecostal Topics in Christianity Preaching · Prayer · Ecumenism Relation to other religions Christian movements Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:From Wikipedia under the
GNU Free Documentation License  news.google.com World Magazine Eighty-five percent of Arab-American Christians are either Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox , and the Church of the Virgin Mary is a bridge between these ... and more » news.google.com Times Herald-Record St. Ignatius Antiochian Orthodox Church Eastern Orthodox Christian church, 75 N. Main St. Sunday services: Matins, 9 am; Divine Liturgy, 10 am; ... and more » news.google.com Baltimore Sun Speaking over burritos at a Mexican chain restaurant - a member of the Eastern Orthodox church, he vets his diet carefully, and the place lets you build ... and more » From Google News Search: "Eastern Orthodoxy" |
