The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world, estimated to number between 225-300 million total members. It is considered by its adherents to be the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago. The Church is composed of numerous self-governing ecclesial bodies, each geographically and nationally distinct but theologically unified.

Each self-governing (or autocephalous) body is shepherded by a Synod of independent bishops whose duty is, among other things, to preserve and teach the Apostolic and patristic traditions and related Church practices. All Eastern Orthodox bishops trace their lineage back to one of the twelve Apostles through the process of Apostolic Succession. Today’s Eastern Orthodox Church traces its development back through Greek, Slavic, and Middle Eastern traditions, among others; back through Byzantine and Roman empires; back to the earliest church established by St.

Paul and the Apostles. It clings tenaciously to its ancient traditions and practices believing in growth without change (see below) Orthodox Christians believe that the ultimate goal of every Christian is to become like God, to love perfectly, to become “Little Christs” within Jesus Christ. This process is called theosis or deification.

The Biblical text used by the Orthodox includes the Greek Septuagint and the New Testament. It includes the Deuterocanonical Books, which are generally rejected by Protestants, and a few texts that are not in the Western canon. Orthodox accept scripture as the inspired Word of God, believing scripture was inspired by the Holy Spirit to its authors, speakers and editors.

Orthodox Christians also utilize & venerate icons as focal points in their daily worship while rejecting 3-dimentional statuary.

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