Greek Orthodox Church

Greek Orthodox Church

Greek Orthodox Church

Flag used by the Orthodox Church in Greece, and the standard of the self-governed monastic state of Mount Athos. Founder various Independence various Recognition Primate Orthodox The Patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, and the Archbishops of Athens, Cyprus, Tirana and Mount Sinai

Headquarters various, but Constantinople is held in special regard Territory Possessions Language Adherents Bishops Priests Parishes Monastics Monasteries Website Koine Greek and Arabic, with other local languages used in the diaspora 2324 million (about 50% of whom are in Greece) Eastern Mediterranean & diaspora

The name Greek Orthodox Church (Monotonic Greek: , Polytonic: , IPA:[elinorooksi eklisia]) is a term referring to the body of several Churches[1][2][3] within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, whose liturgy is or was traditionally conducted in Koine Greek,[4] the original language of the New Testament.[5][6] Today, several of these Churches conduct their services in Arabic, the common language of most of their faithful, while at the same time maintaining elements of Greek cultural tradition. The current territory of the Greek Orthodox Churches more or less covers the areas in the Eastern Mediterranean that used to be a part of the Byzantine Empire. The origins of the Orthodox Church can be traced back to the churches which the Apostles founded in the Balkans and the Middle East during the first century A.D., and maintains many traditions practiced in the ancient Church. Greek Orthodox Churches, unlike the Catholic Church, have no Bishopric head, such as a Pope, and hold the belief that Christ is the head of the Church. However, they are each governed by a committee of Bishops, called the Holy Synod, with one central Bishop holding the honorary title of "first among equals." Greek Orthodox Churches are united with each other and with the other Orthodox Churches (i.e. the Russian Orthodox, Serbian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox, Bulgarian Orthodox, Romanian Orthodox and Georgian Orthodox churches) by a common doctrine and a common form of worship, and they see themselves not as separate Churches but as administrative units of one Church (the Orthodox Church). They are notable for their extensive tradition of iconography, for their veneration of the Virgin Mary and the Saints, and for their use of the Divine

Greek Orthodox Church Liturgy on Sundays, which is a standardized worship service dating back to the fourth century A.D. in its current form. The most commonly used Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church was written by Saint John Chrysostom (347407 A.D.).

Churches
The churches where the Greek Orthodox term is applicable are: The four ancient Patriarchates: The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is also the "first among equals" of the Eastern Orthodox Communion The four eparchies of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople: The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy and Malta The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America[7] The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia The Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch The Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem Two national autocephalous churches: The Church of Greece The Church of Cyprus The Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai Orthodox Church of Albania also known as "Greek Orthodox Church of Albania" led since the collapse of the former Stalinist rgime by Archbishop Anastasios, a Greek national, the Church conducts its liturgy in Koine Greek in the areas of Albania populated by the ethnic Greek minority.

History of the term

Historically, the term Greek Orthodox has also been used to describe all Eastern Orthodox Churches, since "Greek" in "Greek Orthodox" can refer to the Greek heritage of the Byzantine Empire.[8][9] During eight centuries of Christian history most major intellectual, cultural, and social developments in the Christian church took place within the Empire or in the sphere of its influence,[10][11] thus most parts of the liturgy, traditions, and practices of the church of Constantinople were adopted by all, and still provide the basic patterns of contemporary Orthodoxy.[12][13][14] However, the appellation "Greek" was abandoned by Slavic and other national orthodox churches in connection with their peoples' national awakenings, from as early as the 10th century A.D.[15][16][17]

Greek Orthodox Church

Seal of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

Chiesa di S.Giorgio dei Greci in Venice, 1548

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Vienna, designed by Theophil Hansen in 1856

Cathedral of St Sophia (founded 1925), Sydney, Australia

Church of the Annunciation in Wauwatosa, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

Allerheiligenkirche in Munich, 1995

Agia Triada Greek Orthodox Church in Istanbul

References
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Demetrios J. Constantelos, Understanding the Greek Orthodox Church, Holy Cross Orthodox Press 3rd edition (March 28, 2005) L. Rushton, Doves and magpies: village women in the Greek Orthodox Church Women's religious experience, Croom Helm, 1983 Paul Yuzyk, The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 19181951, University of Ottawa Press, 1981 Demetrios J. Constantelos, The Greek Orthodox Church: faith, history, and practice, Seabury Press, 1967 Daniel B. Wallace: Zondervan, 1997. Robert H. Stein: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America should not be confused with the Orthodox Church in America, whose autocephaly granted by the Russian Orthodox Church is not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and many other churches of the Eastern Orthodox Communion. [8] Byzantium in Encyclopedia of historians and historical writing Vol. 1, Kelly Boyd (ed.), Fitzroy Dearborn publishers, 1999 (http:/ / books. google. com/ books?id=JBqWbDmFsfEC& pg=PA159& dq=Yunastan& lr=) ISBN 978-1-884964-33-6 [9] Edwin Pears, The destruction of the Greek Empire and the story of the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, Haskell House, 1968 [10] Tanner, Norman P. The Councils of the Church, ISBN 0-8245-1904-3 [11] The Byzantine legacy in the Orthodox Church by John Meyendorff 1982 [12] Hugh Wybrew, The Orthodox liturgy: the development of the eucharistic liturgy in the Byzantine rite 1990 [13] The Christian Churches of the East, Vol. II: Churches Not in Communion with Rome by Donald Attwater 1962 [14] J Meyendorff, Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes (1987) [15] Joan Mervyn Hussey, The Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire, 1990 [16] A. P. Vlasto, Entry of Slavs Christendom 1970 [17] Andre Lazarov Pantev, Blgarska istoriia v evropeski kontekst 2000

Greek Orthodox Church

External links
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Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Greek Orthodox Church Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=599023446 Contributors: 18alex12, 1oddbins1, Acroterion, Aidas, Alansohn, Albertmost, Alexikoua, AlfredCassis, Anoikswtostomamou, Aranea Mortem, Ashleeeeeyo, Athenean, BDD, Bagatelle, Balkanian`s word, Barneca, Bedford, Bestmeasurement, Beyond My Ken, Bluerasberry, Callanecc, Calldatabri, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Capanescu, Choster, CommonsDelinker, Copana2002, Corwin8, Cplakidas, Csernica, Cuchullain, DVdm, Dancecarryhstyu, DavidFWray, Deville, Dewritech, Didactohedron, Dionysios, Dirak, Discospinster, Dogface, Domitius, Download, Dr.K., Dr.orfannkyl, E-typikon, EJF, Eddy Assaad, Efghij, Emperorbma, Epeefleche, Erud, EtienneDolet, Excirial, Faigl.ladislav, Ferengi, Finn Bjrklid, Finnegas, FisherQueen, Fraytel, Frmaximos, Fryede, FunkMonk, Future Perfect at Sunrise, Gabbe, Gabby Merger, Gary D, GcSwRhIc, Georgekrantz, Getoar, Ghaly, Gollomboc, Gregorian III, Gscshoyru, Guy Peters, Guy27834928, Hectorian, Hugs076, IRISZOOM, Icarus3, Idolcrash, Infocidal, Inneroncefghf, Iokseng, Itai, J Bar, JS38797, Jax 0677, JetztWirdAbgesprizt, Jhf, John K, Johnbod, JonHarder, Joseph Solis in Australia, Jovianeye, Jstamos, Keep it Fake, Keithbob, Keycard, Kingofthebritons, Kinno Angel, Kolega2357, Kostja, Kozarets, LFaraone, Lanternix, Laurel Lodged, LeoO3, Litany, Lockley, Loopypoopy, LovesMacs, Lugia2453, Magioladitis, Mannerheim, Mark Marathon, Matthiasb, Melathron, Mesfushor, Mgiganteus1, Michael Hardy, Michaelbretski, Miskin, Mkill, Naseem abi shaheen, NetProfit, Nguyen-Nle, NinoPaichadze, Nylad, Ohff, Oknazevad, Olympic god, Onewhohelps, Orestes654, Outsider10, PHaze, Pais, Pavlovskteam, Peeperman, Philly boy92, Place Clichy, Ploutarchos, Politis, Preost, Presbyter3, Pseudo-Richard, Ptolion, Rbrandao, RenamedUser01302013, Rg787, Rgoodermote, Richard Arthur Norton (1958- ), Richard David Ramsey, Rjwilmsi, S3000, Sadbuttrue92, Sardaka, Sdcheung, Shirik, Smith2006, Sopholatre, SpaceFlight89, Sthenel, Sulmues, Tedernst, Thanatos666, The Coprophiliac, Tide rolls, Tomcat7, Unique85, Vanished user ewfisn2348tui2f8n2fio2utjfeoi210r39jf, Velfr, Welsh, Westfall, WhisperToMe, White Shadows, Widr, Withouthavingseen, Woohookitty, Xenovatis, ZjarriRrethues, Zujua, , -888, , , - , 241 , anonymous edits

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File:Flag of the Greek Orthodox Church.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_the_Greek_Orthodox_Church.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: F l a n ker File:Byzantine eagle.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Byzantine_eagle.JPG License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Colossus File:Venezia - Chiesa di S.Giorgio dei Greci.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Venezia_-_Chiesa_di_S.Giorgio_dei_Greci.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Godromil File:Greekchurchvienna-4.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Greekchurchvienna-4.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Contributors: ChristosV File:StSophiasChurch1.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:StSophiasChurch1.JPG License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Clytemnestra (talk) 09:06, 28 December 2009 (UTC) File:Annunciation Church Apr09.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Annunciation_Church_Apr09.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Original uploader was Freekee at en.wikipedia File:Griechisch-orthodoxe Allerheiligenkirche Muenchen-Schwabing-1.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Griechisch-orthodoxe_Allerheiligenkirche_Muenchen-Schwabing-1.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Rufus46 File:Agia_Triada_Greek_Orthodox_Church,_stanbul.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Agia_Triada_Greek_Orthodox_Church,_stanbul.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:Darwinek file:Commons-logo.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Commons-logo.svg License: logo Contributors: Anomie

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