The 20th century saw both intense persecution (especially under Soviet Communism) and the expansion of Orthodoxy to the Americas and Western Europe. Core Beliefs and Practices
The Church flourished under the Byzantine Empire, influencing law, art (icons), and architecture (Hagia Sophia).
Tensions between the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West grew over centuries due to cultural, political, and theological differences. The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to its His...
In the 9th and 10th centuries, Cyril and Methodius brought Orthodoxy to the Slavic peoples, leading to the eventual conversion of Russia in 988 AD.
The Orthodox Church represents one of the oldest religious institutions in the world, tracing its roots directly to the early Christian communities established by the Apostles. It is a communion of self-governing churches that are unified by a shared theology, liturgy, and history. The Apostolic Foundation The 20th century saw both intense persecution (especially
After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, many Orthodox Christians lived as subjects under the Ottoman Empire, preserving their faith through local traditions.
Faith is guided by the Bible, the writings of the Church Fathers, and the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils. In the 9th and 10th centuries, Cyril and
The central goal of life is "divinization"—becoming more like God through grace and participation in the life of the Church.