Greek Orthodox Church

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Greek Orthodox Church (Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία Hellēnorthódoxē Ekklēsía) can refer to any of several hierarchical churches within the larger group of mutually recognizing Eastern Orthodox churches. Any Eastern Orthodox church that is ethnically Greek and uses a Greek liturgy may be considered "Greek Orthodox". Among these are:

• the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is also the "first among equals" of the Eastern Orthodox Communion
• the Church of Greece, which has been autocephalous since 1833
• the Orthodox Church of Cyprus
• the Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai
• Other Eastern Orthodox churches with an ethnic Greek clergy include:
  • the Eastern Orthodox Church of Alexandria
  • the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem
  • the Albanian Orthodox Church
  • the Antiochian Orthodox Church, native to the Middle East, had an ethnically Greek clergy until 1898.

Greek Orthodox churches in the Americas and Australia are subject to the Constantinopolitan hierarchy. These should not be confused with the Slavic-rite Orthodox Church in America, which is partly recognised as an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church, having been granted autocephaly in 1970 by the Patriarch of Moscow. This status is not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarch nor by any other autocephalous Church.

Although the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, headed by the Patriarch of Constantinople resides for many centuries in Istanbul, the local orthodox population has decreased in the 20th century.

	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