60-second overview
A communion of autocephalous churches rooted in the Byzantine Christian tradition, united by doctrine, sacraments, bishops, and the Divine Liturgy rather than by a single pope.
History and identity
Eastern Orthodoxy receives Holy Scripture within Holy Tradition, the first seven ecumenical councils, apostolic succession, sacramental life, icons, and a strong theology of theosis. Governance is conciliar among bishops and patriarchates, though national and jurisdictional tensions exist.
What the group says about itself
What this group teaches and practices
Divine Liturgy, icons, fasting, and ancient spiritual disciplines. Theosis: participation by grace in God’s life. No universal papal jurisdiction. Typically baptizes infants and communes them.
Core teachings and practices
- Divine Liturgy, icons, fasting, and ancient spiritual disciplines.
- Theosis: participation by grace in God’s life.
- No universal papal jurisdiction.
- Typically baptizes infants and communes them.
Variation across churches
Moderate variation within the groupWhat it shares with the Reformed Baptist Base Beliefs
This group is within historic Nicene Christianity, with broad agreement on the Triune God and Jesus Christ’s full deity and humanity. Other important differences may still remain.
Important differences from the Reformed Baptist Base Beliefs
The guide’s base beliefs share the ancient Trinitarian and Christological core but differ greatly on Scripture and Tradition, justification language, sacraments, icons, invocation of saints, infant baptism, and the church’s visible authority. These are major differences, not evidence that Orthodoxy is non-Christian.
How it relates to historic Nicene Christianity
Inside historic Nicene ChristianityThis group is within historic Nicene Christianity.
Boundary guideImportant distinctions
- Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox churches are separate communions with different council histories.
- “Orthodox” in a doctrinal adjective does not always mean Eastern Orthodox.
Related groups with separate profiles
Related groups
Sources
The group’s own sources come first, followed by outside context and the guide’s comparison.
- Orthodox Church in America — The Orthodox FaithVerifiedOfficial doctrine
- Orthodox Church in America — The Orthodox Faith: Holy TraditionVerifiedOfficial doctrine
- Orthodox Church in America — The Orthodox Faith: IconsVerifiedOfficial doctrine
- Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America — For the Life of the World: Toward a Social Ethos of the Orthodox ChurchVerifiedOfficial doctrine
- Orthodox Church in America — Varieties of GiftsVerifiedOfficial doctrine