Orthodox Christianity
With 158 million* followers, the Orthodox Eastern Church is the
second largest Christian community in the world. It began its split
from the Roman Catholic Church in the fifth century; the break was
finalized in 1054. The followers of the Orthodox Church are in fact
members of many different denominations, including the Church of
Greece, the Church of Cyprus, and the Russian Orthodox church. Orthodox
religion holds biblical Scripture and tradition, guided by the Holy
Spirit as expressed in the consciousness of the entire Orthodox
community, to be the source of Christian truth. It rejects doctrine
developed by the Western churches. Doctrine was established by seven
ecumenical councils held between 325 and 787 and amended by other
councils in the late Byzantine period. Relations between the Orthodox
churches and Roman Catholicism have improved since Vatican Council
II (1962-65).
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