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The Church Today21 entries

The worldwide Orthodox communion, its jurisdictions, and how Orthodoxy relates to the rest of the Christian world.

How the Church Is Organized

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What Is Autocephaly?Self-governing churches explained: one faith, many administrations

Becoming Orthodox

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How to Become an Orthodox ChristianThe path from inquirer to communicant, step by stepThe Inquirer StageAttending services, meeting the priest, and discerning before commitmentThe CatechumenateBeing enrolled as a catechumen: the rite, the classes, the timelineReception by Baptism or ChrismationHow converts are received and why practice varies by jurisdictionChoosing a Patron SaintHow converts select a saint's name with their priestYour First Confession and CommunionThe life confession before reception and communing for the first timeFinding a ParishJurisdictions, languages, and choosing a spiritual home in practice

The Orthodox World Today

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Orthodoxy around the World TodayGlobal map and numbers: where the ~260 million Orthodox liveThe Ecumenical Patriarchate TodayConstantinople's modern role: first among equals, its prerogatives and disputesThe Russian Orthodox Church TodayThe largest Orthodox church: structure, reach, and current controversies

Orthodoxy in America

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Orthodoxy in America: An OverviewHow one Russian mission became many overlapping jurisdictions — a newcomer's mapThe Alaskan Mission (1794)Russian monks in Alaska: the beginning of American OrthodoxyThe Orthodox Church in America (OCA)From Russian Metropolia to 1970 autocephaly; its disputed recognitionThe Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (GOARCH)The largest US jurisdiction, under the Ecumenical PatriarchateThe Antiochian Orthodox ArchdioceseThe Arabic-heritage jurisdiction and its embrace of American convertsThe Russian Church Outside Russia (ROCOR)The émigré church born of the Revolution and its 2007 reunion with Moscow

Modern Issues & Inter-Christian Relations

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Orthodoxy and Roman CatholicismWhat still divides and what unites the two ancient communions todayOrthodoxy and ProtestantismHow Orthodoxy relates to Reformation traditions and where they differThe Oriental Orthodox ChurchesCopts, Armenians, Syriacs, Ethiopians: the 1,500-year separation and modern dialogueThe Calendar Question: Old and NewJulian vs revised Julian — why Orthodox celebrate on different dates