Eastern Orthodoxy

Eastern Orthodoxy is one of the three primary branches of Chalcedonian Christianity.

It is also frequently called Byzantine Christianity. This faith grew within the Byzantine Greek culture of the eastern Mediterranean Basin. The religion is not a single, centralized organization like some other Christian groups. Instead, it is composed of several independent churches.

These are known as autocephalous churches. This term means they are self-governing and choose their own primate, or leader. There are 17 mainstream autocephalous churches within the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Some of these churches hold authority over others, which can be called autonomous status. Many of these jurisdictions align with the borders of modern nations. For example, the Patriarchate of Moscow oversees Russia and several post-Soviet states.

The structure of the church involves many different levels of organization. These include metropolises, bishoprics, parishes, and monasteries. Some jurisdictions also include outlying metochia, which are locations for people living far from their home country. Sometimes, the territories of different patriarchs can overlap. An example of this occurs in Moldova, where the jurisdictions of Bucharest and Moscow meet. Despite this independence, these churches share very similar teachings and offices. They view themselves as parts of one single, unified church. Adherents follow a liturgical calendar to mark the rhythm of their religious year.

At the center of Eastern Orthodox theology is the concept of the Trinity.

Followers believe in one God, a monotheistic view. They describe God as both transcendent and immanent. Transcendent means God is wholly independent of the material universe. Immanent means God is also actively involved within the universe. To explain this, theologians use the concept of divine energies. While God's eternal essence is totally separate from creation, His uncreated energies are how He reaches humanity. These energies are not things God produces; they are God Himself. This specific way of understanding God is often called Palamism.

The Trinity consists of three distinct, divine persons, or hypostases. These are the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. They all share one single divine essence, or ousia. The Father is eternal and is not begotten by anyone. The Son is eternal and is begotten of the Father. The Holy Spirit is eternal and proceeds from the Father. This distinction is important to the Orthodox faith. Because of this, they reject the "Filioque" clause used by the Latin Church. The Filioque is a phrase meaning "and the Son" that was added to the Nicene Creed. Eastern Orthodox Christians believe this addition was made without a proper council.

Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that human nature is "fallen" but not inherently evil. They teach that humans are still made in the image of God. Being fallen means that people are inclined toward sin and temptation. However, they reject the idea that descendants are guilty of the original sin of Adam and Eve. The central event of their faith is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They believe Jesus was killed under Pontius Pilate and rose after three days. This resurrection is how sin is fully absolved.

Following his resurrection, they believe He walked the earth for 40 days before ascending to heaven.

The goal of the Christian life is a process called theosis.

This is the pursuit of becoming more like God through grace. People do not become divine in their nature, but they participate in God's energies. This makes them "icons of the living God." This spiritual journey involves unceasing prayer and the imitation of Christ. The church is seen as the Body of Christ, which includes both living people and the saints who have passed away.

This unity of the living and the dead is called the communion of the saints. It is a community that transcends both time and space.

Many holy figures are honored within the tradition, especially the Virgin Mary. She is called the Theotokos, which means "Mother of God."

This title affirms that the person she gave birth to was truly divine. The church also honors many other saints. They believe the bodies of saints, known as relics, are holy. Many miracles, such as healings, have been reported in connection with these relics throughout history.

This holiness is connected to the saints' participation in holy mysteries.

Finally, the faith includes specific beliefs about the end of life. When a person dies, their soul is temporarily separated from their body. The soul enters a state that is a "foretaste" of what is to come. It may go to paradise or the darkness of Hades.

Unlike Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy does not accept the doctrine of Purgatory. They believe the prayers of the living can affect the state of the soul in Hades. After the Final Judgment, all souls will be reunited with their resurrected bodies. At this time, the saints will progress into a deeper and fuller love of God forever.