Orthodoxy is one of the main branches of Christianity, officially formed on the territory of Byzantium after the split of the Church in 1054.. On the East and West. It has millions of followers, mainly in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Received in the IV century. the status of the state religion uzalezhniv it from the Imperial power (the Catholic Church distances itself from political power, trying to be above it), made a zealous supporter of traditional dogmatics and worship. Unlike Catholicism, Orthodoxy does not have a single Church center. If the Catholic Church is international in terms of the interpretation of canons, rites and holidays, then national peculiarities dominate in Orthodoxy: each of the churches produces its own tradition, has its own holidays. For example, for the Ukrainian Church of the Intercession is a great holiday, in the Russian Church calendar does not differ in anything special, in the Georgian-it is not at all.

The basis of the Orthodox faith – Scripture (the Bible), the Holy Translation (decision of the Ecumenical and local councils of the V-VIII centuries, the Writings of the fathers of the Church), the creed (confession of the triune God, the incarnation, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, divine worship, the recognition of the Church as mediator between God and men). Visiting churches, prayer, fasting, and sacraments are of special importance for Orthodox believers. A special role belongs to the cult of saints, religious holidays, usenovna icons. Orthodoxy recognizes baptism, communion, anointing, confession, marriage, priesthood, unction, and worship. Denies Catholic dogmas about filioque, purgatory, the infallibility of the Pope, etc.

The first Orthodox centers, which later began to control the activities of believers in large territories, appeared as independent Church entities. With the collapse of the Roman Empire, they formed in Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, and Jerusalem. The centrifugal forces at work in Byzantium accelerated the weakening of the interdependence between these territories, with the result that each Church center became independent in the Orthodox world. Over time, Orthodox churches emerged in other regions, gaining independence in religious and Church life.

There are fifteen Autocephalous and several Autonomous Orthodox churches in the modern world. According to the traditional list (diptych), each of them occupies a precisely defined place in the structure of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. In addition to them, there are other Orthodox Church formations that are not included in this list for certain reasons.

Churches of Ecumenical Orthodoxy
Ecumenical Orthodoxy embraces all Orthodox churches that consistently adhere to the principles of the doctrine, the norms of Church canons, have much in common in the ritual and cult sphere, while maintaining a certain specificity in the language of worship, worship and rites, architecture, structure and appearance of the clergy. The formation of Autocephalous churches was caused by their desire to free themselves from the guardianship of the Constantinople Emperor and Patriarch. The first to achieve autocephaly were the Orthodox churches of Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem, which were then located in the Eastern part of the Roman Empire (IV century).

Orthodox Church of Constantinople. Traditionally, it occupies the first place in the structure of Ecumenical Orthodoxy. According to the decision of the second Ecumenical Council (Constantinople, 381.) The Bishop of Constantinople ranked second in “honor” among Christian bishops after the Roman one. In the Orthodox world and now it is considered “the first among equals”.

The Constantinople Department arose after the Foundation of the Emperor Constantine and the new capital of the Roman Empire on the site of the little Asian town of Byzantium (the second quarter of the IV century).

Inferior to the authority of other Christian centers, it has strengthened its position due to the fact that since 330 BC.. Constantinople was the capital of the Roman Empire. At the time of the fourth (Chalcedon) Ecumenical Council (451.) The Bishop of Constantinople was already in possession of the Patriarchal dignity. Especially strengthened the position of Constantinople after the fall of the seventh century. Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem churches due to the conquest of their territories by the Arabs. Thanks to the efforts of the missionaries, the Byzantine version of Christianity, and consequently the influence of Constantinople, spread to Eastern and South-Eastern Europe.

However, at the end of the XI century, the position of the Church of Constantinople in the Orthodox world began to weaken. First, as a result of oppression by Western Christians, when in 1240. The crusaders took possession of Constantinople. And after the conquest of Byzantium by the Ottoman Turks, the situation of the Church became even more complicated. Since then, she has been forced to stay in a Muslim environment, caring primarily for self-preservation. Only in 1923.., After the conclusion of the Treaty of Greek-Turkish friendship, its situation was normalized.

Now the Church of Constantinople unites up to 65 thousand Believers. It has 6 dioceses in Turkey, 23 in Western Europe, Asia, North and South America, and Australia, as well as 10 male and 2 female monasteries. Cadres of clergy, Church leaders and theologians are trained by the Higher theological school in Brooklyn and the Academy in Harrison (USA). The Church of Constantinople also has jurisdiction over the Finnish Autonomous Orthodox Church, the Cretan Orthodox Church, and mount Athos in Greece.

It has been headed since 451.. Patriarch, whose authority extends to the leaders of other Orthodox churches. If you are Patriarch the Holy Synod and the work of the Commission. The official printing body is the journal “Orthodoxy”.

He is a member of the world Council of Churches. Often, discussions arise between the Moscow Patriarchate and the Russian Orthodox Church regarding the unwillingness of the Moscow Patriarchate to grant autocephaly or autonomy to its existing national churches.

Alexandria Orthodox Church. It is one of the oldest churches, considered the birthplace of monasticism. The beginning of its history reaches in the II century, When the Episcopal see was founded in Egypt. Like the head of Constantinople, the Primate of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church at the time of the IV Ecumenical Council had the Patriarchal title. Its historical development is not much different from other Orthodox churches in the East. In the fifth century, the Christians who lived in Egypt were divided into Orthodox and Monophysites (Copts). At the end of the first half of the seventh century. the territory where the believers who belonged to the Patriarchate of Alexandria lived was conquered by the Arabs, and in the XVI century by the Ottoman Turks. This constrained the activity of the Church, weakened its influence in the Christian world (in the middle of the XIX century. It United less than 2 thousand Believers).

Now the Church of Alexandria has up to 30 thousand Believers, its jurisdiction extends to the entire African continent. In Egypt, it has 5 dioceses, up to 50 temples, outside of it-9 dioceses, more than 100 temples. Since 1956. In. Odessa has a courtyard with the temple of the Trinity. The Church has 3 monasteries, a Higher spiritual and pedagogical Seminary, several schools, and a charitable society. The Institute of Oriental studies is based on the library of the Patriarchate of Alexandria. Official organ – journal “Pantanos”.