Eastern orthodox church

Eastern Orthodox Church

The Eastern Orthodox Church, also known as the Orthodox Church, is the second-largest Christian church, with approximately 220 million baptized members. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops in local synods.

Pronunciation

Eastern Orthodox Church: /ˈiːstərn ˈɔːrθədɒks tʃɜːrtʃ/

Etymology

The term "Eastern Orthodox Church" is derived from the Greek word "orthodoxia" (ορθοδοξία), meaning "right belief" or "right glory". The prefix "Eastern" is used to distinguish it from the Western Church or the Roman Catholic Church, with the term "Eastern" referring to the geographical area where the church originated.

Related Terms

• Autocephalous: An autocephalous church is a church whose head bishop does not report to any higher-ranking bishop. The Eastern Orthodox Church is a communion of autocephalous churches.
• Bishop: A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight.
• Synod: A synod is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application.
• Western Church: The Western Church is the part of the Christian Church that follows the Latin Rite and the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Roman Catholic Church: The Roman Catholic Church, often referred to as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with approximately 1.3 billion baptised Catholics worldwide.

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