About Orthodox Churches

There are a number of Christian Churches in existence that are described as being Orthodox. In most cases, all of these churches will be directly connected to Eastern Christianity. All of these churches will have beliefs that are identical, and they are based on ancient traditions. In most cases, the term Orthodox is used to describe churches that are based on Eastern Christianity. Many of these churches were originally established in places such as Greece and Eastern Europe, as well as the Middle East. Eastern Christianity is considered to be separate from the Western Christianity that is connected to the Roman Catholic Church. While many Orthodox churches became divided over time, there are still a number of beliefs that they all share.

The Orthodox churches can be broken down into four groups, and they are Oriental Orthodoxy, Eastern Catholic Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Eastern Orthodox Churches. One of the central practices of all these churches is the use of a parish priest to process the sacrament of chrismation for babies once they have been baptized. This is something that is not seen in Western churches. When it comes to celibacy for clerics, the rules of Orthodox churches are much less restrictive than their Western counterparts. Even though a man is not allowed to marry once he has gone through ordination, a man who is married can become a priest. The culture and language of Orthodox churches is very different from the Roman Catholic Church.

Historians believe that it is likely that both Western and Orthodox churches were once a cohesive unit, but at some point in history, there was a schism that occured, splitting the churches into two broad groups. However, the exact date for this schism has not yet been determined. The Assyrian Church of the East is an institution in which members believe the organization can be traced back to the See of Babylon. Saint Thomas the Apostile is the individual who is credited with forming the organization. Because this Church was established in the Persian Empire, it is distinct from Christian churches in the West. The Oriental Orthodoxy is a church that places faith in the three Ecumenical Councils. Members of this church rejected the Council of Chalcedon.

The Eastern Orthodox Church is a Christian organization that is based in Eastern Europe. This church also has a presence in the Middle East, and it is becoming more popular in Western nations. The Eastern Orthodox Church accepts seven Ecumenical Councils. Members believe that this church was the original institution that was founded by Jesus Christ. The concept of Apostolic Succession is a very important part of the teachings of this church. A number of studies indicate that there are approximately 350 million people in the world who identify themselves as being Orthodox Christians. In addition the four large branches that make up Orthodox churches, it should also be noted that there are small groups even within these categories. Many of these Christian organizations are similar to the Protestants, and have broke away from the dominant teachings of the four primary branches.