Editing Greek Orthodox Church

The name '''Greek Orthodox Church''' ([[Modern Greek language|Monotonic Greek]]: Ελληνορθόδοξη Εκκλησία, [[Polytonic Greek|Polytonic]]: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἑκκλησία, elinorˈθoðoksi ekliˈsia) is a term referring to the body of several Churches within the larger [[full communion|communion]] of [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] [[Christianity]], whose [[liturgy]] is traditionally conducted in [[Koine Greek]], the original language of the [[New Testament]], and which share a common Greek cultural tradition. The current territory of these Churches more or less covers the areas in the [[Eastern Mediterranean|Eastern]] [[Mediterranean]] that used to be a part of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. Their origins lie in the ancient Christian Church, and they maintain many traditions practiced in the Ancient Church. Among these traditions are the use of incense, Liturgical Worship, Priesthood, making the sign of the cross, etc. 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 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 in their veneration of the Virgin Mary and the Saints, and for their use of the [[Divine Liturgy]] on Sundays, which is a standardized worship service dating back to the fourth century A.D. in its current form. The Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church was written by Saint John Chrysostom (347-407 A.D.).

==Churches==
The churches where the Greek Orthodox term is applicable are: 

*The [[Pentarchy|four ancient Patriarchates]]:
** The [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]], headed by the [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]], who is also the "[[Primus inter pares|first among equals]]" of the [[Orthodox Church organization|Eastern Orthodox Communion]]
*** The four [[Eparchy#Church_hierarchy|eparchies]] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople:
**** The [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain]]
**** The [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy|Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy and Malta]]
**** The [[Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]]
**** 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 [[autocephaly|autocephalous]] churches:
** The [[Church of Greece]]
** The [[Church of Cyprus]]

* The [[Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai]]
*[[Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania|Orthodox Church of Albania]] also known as "Greek Orthodox Church of Albania" led since the collapse of the former Stalinist régime by [[Archbishop Anastasios of Albania|Archbishop Anastasios]], a [[Greece|Greek]] national, the Church conducts its liturgy in [[Koine Greek]] in the areas of Albania populated by the [[Greeks in Albania|ethnic Greek minority]].

== History of the term ==
Historically, the term Greek Orthodox has also been used to describe all [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]es, since "Greek" in "Greek Orthodox" can refer to the Greek heritage of the [[Byzantine Empire]]. 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 influence|sphere of its influence]], 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. However, the appellation "Greek" was abandoned by [[Slavic Orthodox|Slavic]] and other national orthodox churches in connection with their peoples' [[Romantic nationalism|national awakening]]s, from as early as the 10th century A.D.

== See also ==

*[[East–West Schism]]
*[[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople]]
*[[Orthodox Church]]
*[[History of the Orthodox Church]]
*[[Slavic Orthodox]]
*[[Name days in Greece]]
*[[Pentarchy]]
*[[Ecumenism]]
*[[Greeks]]


== References ==


==External links==


[[Category:Greek Orthodoxy]]
[[Category:Christianity in Europe]]
[[Category:Eastern Orthodoxy]]
[[Category:Christian terms]]
[[Category:Chalcedonianism]]
[[Category:Greek culture]]

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