Christian Traditions

What Is Eastern Orthodoxy?

Eastern Orthodoxy is one of the oldest Christian traditions, with roughly two hundred million members, most numerous across Greece, Eastern Europe, Russia, and the Middle East. Orthodox Christians understand themselves as continuing unbroken the faith of the apostles and the seven great ecumenical councils. Their worship, the Divine Liturgy, is rich with chant, incense, and icons, and their goal for the Christian life is theosis, being drawn into the very life of God. They are governed not by one head on earth but by councils of bishops in shared communion.

What they believe and treasure

Orthodox Christians treasure continuity: the conviction that they worship as the early Church worshipped and believe what the apostles handed down, guarded by Holy Tradition and the councils. They hold the sacraments, which they often call the holy mysteries, as real participation in God’s grace, and they revere icons, sacred images of Christ and the saints, not as idols but as windows that lift the heart to heaven.

Above all they cherish theosis, the hope that a human being, by grace, can be so united to God as to share his life and be transformed into his likeness. Salvation is understood less as a legal verdict and more as healing and communion. Their theology loves mystery, confessing that God in his essence is beyond all human words even as he gives himself to be known and loved.

What they share with all Christians

Orthodoxy confesses the same Christ as the whole Church, and indeed gave the Nicene Creed much of its wording. Orthodox Christians worship the one God and rest everything on Jesus Christ, the Son of God, crucified and risen.

These are the words of the one faith the Nicene Creed puts on the lips of every Christian: one God, one Lord Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. On this the whole family stands together.

What is distinctive

What is distinctive is Orthodoxy’s conciliar structure and its emphasis on mystery and transformation. There is no single earthly head like the Pope; the Patriarch of Constantinople is honoured as first among equals, but authority rests with the bishops together and the self-governing (autocephalous) churches. Orthodoxy did not accept the later addition of the word 'filioque' to the Creed, and understands questions like purgatory and Mary differently from Catholicism.

These differences are held gently within the family. The Orthodox and Catholic churches share so much, sacraments, apostolic succession, honour for Mary, that their long separation is often felt as an estrangement between kin. Christians hold different views on these matters, and the search for unity continues in prayer.

What to expect if you visit

An Orthodox service is called the Divine Liturgy. Expect beauty made for the senses: chanted prayers, clouds of incense, walls of icons, and much standing rather than sitting. The liturgy can be long and unhurried, and much of it is sung. Some parishes use older calendars, so feast dates may differ. Visitors are welcome; you can stand quietly at the back, follow the movement of worship, and let the atmosphere of reverence carry you. Communion is normally for Orthodox Christians, but the welcome is warm.