Michael Brooks
The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, is one of the three major doctrinal and jurisdictional groups of Christianity, with approximately 220-230 million baptised members worldwide. It is the second-largest Christian communion in the world after the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox Church operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by its bishops via local synods. While there is no central authority, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is recognised as 'primus inter pares' or 'first among equals'. The church has seen a decline in its share of the global Christian population, from 20% in 1910 to 12% today. However, it remains the predominant religion in Russia, where roughly half of the world's Eastern Orthodox Christians live, and is heavily concentrated in Eastern Europe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, also called the Greek Orthodox Church |
| Number of adherents | 220 million or 80% of all Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide |
| Christian communion ranking | Second largest |
| Region | Concentrated in Europe, with significant minorities in Central Asia, Levant, and former Soviet republics of Central Asia |
| Countries with significant presence | Russia (77%), Ukraine (65.4%-77%), Romania (82%), Belarus (48%-73%), Greece (80%-98%), Serbia (97%), Bulgaria (62.7%), Moldova (93%), Georgia (84%), North Macedonia (65%), Cyprus (89%), Montenegro (72%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (31%), Latvia (18%), Estonia (14%), Albania (7%), Lithuania (4%), Croatia (4%), Slovenia (2%), Finland (1.5%), Kazakhstan (23.9%), Kyrgyzstan (17%), Turkmenistan (5%), Uzbekistan (5%), Azerbaijan (2%), Tajikistan (1%), Lebanon (8%), Syria (5%-8%), Palestine (0.5%-2.5%), Jordan (over 1%), Turkey (2.5%) |
| United States | 817,000 actively practicing according to a 2010 study |
| Environmentalism | Majority of Eastern Orthodox Christians in Central and Eastern Europe favor protecting the natural environment for future generations |
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What You'll Learn
Eastern Orthodox Church: 220-230 million members
The Eastern Orthodox Church, also known as Eastern Orthodoxy, is the second-largest Christian communion in the world, after the Roman Catholic Church. The most common estimates put the number of baptised members at around 220 million, although some sources state that there could be up to 230 million adherents worldwide.
Eastern Orthodoxy is the predominant religion in Russia, where around half of the world's Eastern Orthodox Christians live. The religion is also heavily concentrated in the rest of Eastern Europe, where it is the majority religion in several countries, including Ukraine, Romania, Belarus, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Georgia, North Macedonia, Cyprus and Montenegro. It is also the predominant religion in the disputed territories of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Transnistria.
Significant minorities of Eastern Orthodox Christians are present in several other European countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Latvia, Estonia, Albania, Lithuania, Croatia, Slovenia and Finland. In the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, Eastern Orthodoxy constitutes the dominant religion in northern Kazakhstan, and is also a significant minority in several other countries in the region, including Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. In the Levant, the most significant Eastern Orthodox populations are in Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan.
Eastern Orthodoxy is the fastest-growing religion in several Western countries, primarily through labour migration from Eastern Europe, and to a lesser degree, conversion. In the Americas, four countries have over 100,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians: Canada, Mexico, Brazil and the United States. In Western Europe, Spain and Germany have the largest communities, with roughly 1.5 million adherents each, followed by Italy with around 900,000 and France with between 500,000 and 700,000.
The Eastern Orthodox Church is organised as a union of several autocephalous subdivisions, also called "Churches" or "jurisdictions". It has no central doctrinal or governmental authority analogous to the pope of the Catholic Church. Instead, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople is recognised as the "first among equals", a title held by the patriarch of Rome prior to 1054.
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Catholic-Orthodox relations: improving since 1964
The Catholic and Orthodox churches have had a historically strained relationship, with the two churches formally breaking communion during the East-West Schism of 1054. The schism was the culmination of a process of distancing that unfolded over several centuries, with the primary cause being ecclesiological differences, notably the Bishop of Rome's growing claim to universal religious authority over Christians, which the Eastern Church disagreed with. The schism resulted in the formation of two distinct churches, with the Eastern Church becoming known as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Western Church becoming known as the Roman Catholic Church.
However, since 1964, Catholic-Orthodox relations have been improving. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) played a crucial role in this improvement, as it ushered in a new era of relations between the two churches. The council, in which Orthodox observers played a significant role, positively evaluated the Orthodox Church and recognised the validity of its sacraments and apostolic priesthood. This led to a warming of relations between the two churches in the 1960s, with the Orthodox Church also engaging in ecumenical efforts and encouraging local churches to prepare for future dialogue with the Catholic Church.
In January 1964, Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras met in Jerusalem, and in December 1965, they jointly lifted the mutual excommunications of 1054, which had long defined the schism. Since then, there have been several significant advances towards reconciliation, including Russian Orthodox recognition of mixed marriages before a Catholic priest in 1967 and permission to admit Catholics to Communion in Russian Orthodox churches when no Catholic church is available in 1969. Theological discussions between the two churches have also taken place in various cities, tackling a range of topics such as the social doctrine of the church, religious formation, and the role of women.
In recent years, there have been further efforts to improve relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches. In 2001, the Pope's visit to Athens provided an opportunity to improve relations with the Orthodox Church of Greece and to ask for forgiveness for past injustices. The Pope also took unilateral measures to express his esteem for the Orthodox, such as returning religious relics and icons to the Orthodox Church. In 2019, the current Patriarch of Constantinople, Patriarch Bartholomew, stated his belief that an Orthodox reunion with the Catholic Church is inevitable. While there are still theological differences between the two churches, relations have warmed over the last century, and both churches continue to work towards restoring Christian unity through ecumenical efforts and dialogue.
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Orthodox Christians in Europe: declined as a share of global Christians
Eastern Orthodoxy, also known as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second-largest Christian communion in the world, with approximately 220 million baptised members. It is the predominant religion in Russia, where around half of the world's Eastern Orthodox Christians reside. The religion is also heavily concentrated in the rest of Eastern Europe, where it is the majority religion in several countries, including Ukraine, Romania, Belarus, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Georgia, North Macedonia, Cyprus, and Montenegro.
Despite these high numbers, Orthodox Christians have declined as a share of the global Christian population. In 1910, Orthodox Christians comprised 20% of Christians worldwide, but today, they make up only 12%. This decline is attributed to faster growth among Protestants, Catholics, and non-Christians, as well as demographic trends in Europe, including lower fertility rates and an aging population compared to developing regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and South Asia.
The geographic distribution of Orthodoxy also differs from other major Christian traditions. In 1910, all three branches of Christianity (Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Protestantism) were predominantly concentrated in Europe. However, in the following decades, Catholics and Protestants expanded significantly outside the continent, while Orthodoxy remained largely centred in Europe.
To maintain its relevance, the Orthodox Church may need to adapt and look beyond Europe for growth. Currently, the largest Orthodox Christian population outside of Europe is in Ethiopia, with an estimated 36 million adherents, or nearly 14% of the world's total Orthodox population. The Ethiopian Orthodox community is highly observant and growing, and it has grown much faster than Europe's over the past century.
In conclusion, while Eastern Orthodoxy continues to have a strong presence in Eastern Europe and Russia, it has declined as a share of the global Christian population due to various demographic and historical factors. To ensure its long-term survival, the Orthodox Church may need to find ways to expand its reach beyond its traditional European stronghold.
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Orthodox in traditionally Catholic countries: small but growing
The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second-largest Christian communion in the world, after the Roman Catholic Church. While the number of Eastern Orthodox adherents in traditionally Catholic countries is small, recent immigration and missionary activity have led to a growing presence in these regions. Countries such as Australia, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, and Switzerland now have Eastern Orthodox populations of approximately 2% each.
In traditionally Catholic countries, the Eastern Orthodox community is often comprised of immigrants from Eastern Orthodox majority countries and those who have converted through missionary activity. This dynamic can lead to cultural and social differences within these communities, as they navigate their religious identity in a new cultural context.
The Eastern Orthodox Church has a significant presence in Eastern Europe, where it is the predominant religion in several countries. Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Belarus, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Georgia, North Macedonia, Cyprus, and Montenegro have substantial Eastern Orthodox populations, with adherence rates ranging from 48% to 98%. This concentration in Eastern Europe has contributed to the influence of the Eastern Orthodox Church globally.
The Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches have a complex history, marked by the East-West Schism of 1054, which officially divided the two traditions. Despite this schism, there have been efforts to improve relations and find common ground. Theologically, both churches share similarities, and the Catholic Church has acknowledged the complementarity of their differences. However, distinct features such as the Eastern Orthodox Church's rejection of papal authority and its allowance of married priests set it apart from Catholic doctrine.
While the Eastern Orthodox population in traditionally Catholic countries is small compared to other religious groups, its presence contributes to religious diversity and dialogue within these nations. The growth of the Eastern Orthodox community in these regions highlights the evolving religious landscape and the ongoing spread of Eastern Orthodox beliefs beyond its traditional strongholds.
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Orthodox vs Catholic: dispute over papal authority
The Eastern Orthodox Church, also known as Eastern Orthodoxy, is the second-largest Christian communion in the world, with approximately 220 million baptised members. It is the predominant religion in Russia, where about half of the world's Eastern Orthodox Christians reside. The religion is also heavily concentrated in the rest of Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, Romania, Belarus, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Georgia, North Macedonia, Cyprus, and Montenegro.
The dispute between the Orthodox and Catholic churches over papal authority has been a long-standing issue. The Western Church, now known as the Roman Catholic Church, has contended that the pope's religious authority over Christians is universal. In contrast, the Eastern Church, or Eastern Orthodox Church, disagrees, investing their highest religious authority in various patriarchs across the Eastern Orthodox world. The ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople traditionally holds the title of "first among equals".
The concept of papal supremacy, as asserted by the Roman Catholic Church, claims that the pope, as the Bishop of Rome, possesses the highest religious authority over all Christians. The Eastern Orthodox Church, on the other hand, opposes this doctrine. While they acknowledge the primacy of the Bishop of Rome, they argue that the early Church's tradition of Rome's primacy did not equate to the current doctrine of supremacy. The Eastern Orthodox Church has never accepted the pope as the de jure leader of the entire church, considering all bishops equal, each with authority over their local diocese.
The disagreement over papal authority has been a significant factor in the schism between the Eastern and Western Churches, which occurred in 1054. However, in 1964, Pope Paul VI and Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras met in Jerusalem, initiating an improvement in Orthodox-Catholic relations. They lifted the mutual excommunications from 1054, which had long defined the schism. Since then, clerics from both traditions have worked towards reconciliation and a greater understanding of each other's beliefs.
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Frequently asked questions
There are approximately 220-230 million Eastern Orthodox Christians worldwide.
No, Eastern Orthodox and Catholic are two different branches of Christianity. Eastern Orthodox is the second largest Christian communion in the world after the Catholic Church.
Over two-thirds of all Eastern Orthodox members are concentrated in Southeast Europe, Eastern Europe, and Russia, with significant minorities in Central Asia, the Middle East, and North America.
Oriental Orthodox Churches are those descended from those that rejected the Council of Chalcedon in 451. There are an estimated 62 million Oriental Orthodox Christians worldwide.
