Greek Orthodox Church

Seal of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

The Greek Orthodox Church (Greek: Ελληνορθόδοξη Εκκλησία, Hellēnorthódoxē Ekklēsía) is the body of several churches^[1][2][3] within the larger communion of the Orthodox Church, sharing a common cultural tradition and whose liturgy is traditionally conducted in Koine Greek,^[4] the original language of the New Testament.^[5]

Churches where the Greek Orthodox term is applicable

The churches where the Greek Orthodox term is applicable are:

the four ancient Patriarchates:

• the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople,^[6] headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is also the "first among equals" of the Eastern Orthodox Communion
• the Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria^[7]
• the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch^[8]
• the Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem^[9]

two national autocephalous churches:

• the Orthodox Church of Greece,^[10]
• the Orthodox Church of Cyprus^[11]

and

• the Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai^[12]

and four eparchies of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople:

• the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain^[13]
• the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy and Malta^[14]
• the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America^[15]
• the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia^[16]

The Orthodox Church of Albania, whose liturgy is conducted in Koine Greek only in certain areas of Albania, has also been described as the Greek Orthodox Church of Albania,^[17][18][19] however this is complicated by tensions between the Greek and Albanian governments over the ethnic Greek minority in Albania the majority of which are followers of the Orthodox Church.

Note: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America should not be confused with the Russian Orthodox Church in America, whose autocephaly – granted by the Russian Orthodox Church – is not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and many other churches of the Eastern Orthodox Communion.

History of the term

Historically the term Greek Orthodox has also been used to describe all Eastern Orthodox Churches, since the word "Greek" in the phrase "Greek Orthodox" can be used to refer to the Greek heritage^[20][21][22] of the Byzantine Empire. Since during 8 centuries of Christian history most major intellectual, cultural, and social developments in the Christian church took place within the Empire or in the sphere of its influence,^[23][24][25] thus, most parts of the liturgy, traditions, and practices of the church of Constantinople were adopted by all and still provide the basic patterns of contemporary Orthodoxy.^[26][27][28] The term "Greek" was however abandoned by Slavic and other national orthodox churches,^[29][30] who had proceeded to assist to the purposes of their peoples national awakenings, from as early as the 10th century A.D.^[31][32][33]

See also

• East–West Schism
• Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
• Eastern Orthodox Church
• History of the Eastern Orthodox Church
• Pentarchy
• Ecumenism

References

v • d • e Greek Orthodox Christianity Patriarchates Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople | Patriarchate of Alexandria | Patriarchate of Antioch | Patriarchate of Jerusalem Autocephalous and Autonomous churches Church of Greece | Cypriot Orthodox Church | Albanian Orthodox Church | Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai Eparchies Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy and Malta | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia