| Oriental Orthodox Churches | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Non-Chalcedonian |
| Orientation | Eastern Christianity |
| Theology | Oriental Orthodox theology |
| Polity | Episcopal |
| Structure | Communion |
| Autocephalous churches | Syriac Orthodox Church Coptic Orthodox Church Armenian Apostolic Church Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church Indian Orthodox Church |
| Language | Coptic, Classical Syriac, Ge'ez, Armenian, Malayalam, Koine Greek, local languages |
| Liturgy | Alexandrian, West Syriac and Armenian |
| Founder | Jesus Christ, according to sacred tradition |
| Separated from | Roman state Church |
| Members | 50 million |
| Other name(s) | Oriental Orthodoxy, Miaphysite churches, Oriental Orthodox Communion |
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The Oriental Orthodox Churches are Eastern Christian churches adhering to Miaphysite Christology,[1][2] with approximately 50 million members worldwide.[3][4] The Oriental Orthodox Churches adhere to the Nicene Christian tradition. Oriental Orthodoxy is one of the oldest branches in Christianity.[5]
As some of the oldest religious institutions in the world, the Oriental Orthodox Churches have played a prominent role in the history and culture of Armenia, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Western Asia and the Malabar region of India. As autocephalous churches, their bishops are equal by virtue of episcopal ordination. Their doctrines recognize the validity of only the first three ecumenical councils.[6][1]
The Oriental Orthodox communion is composed of six autocephalous national churches: the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria; the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and its constituent autonomous Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church; the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church; the Armenian Apostolic Church comprising the autocephalous Catholicosate of Etchmiadzin in Armenia and the Catholicosate of Cilicia in the Levant and of diaspora; the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[7][8] The Malabar Independent Syrian Church—based in India—and the British Orthodox Church in the UK are independent Oriental Orthodox churches, having formerly been part of one of the mainstream Oriental Orthodox churches.[9]
Oriental Orthodox Christians consider themselves to be the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission, and its bishops as the successors of Christ's apostles. Three rites are practiced by the churches: the western-influenced Armenian Rite, the West Syriac Rite of the Syriac Church and the Malankara Syrian Church of India, and the Alexandrian Rite of the Copts, Ethiopians and Eritreans.
Oriental Orthodox Churches shared communion with the imperial Roman church before the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, and with the Church of the East until the Synod of Beth Lapat in AD 484,[10] separating primarily over differences in Christology.
The majority of Oriental Orthodox Christians live in Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, India, Syria, Turkey and Armenia, with smaller Syriac communities in Western Asia decreasing due to persecution.[11][12][13][14] There are also many in other parts of the world, formed through diaspora, conversions, and missionary activity.
- ^ a b "Orthodox Christian Churches". pluralism.org. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
- ^ "Oriental Orthodoxy « Western Prelacy". westernprelacy.org. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
- ^ Lamport, Mark A. (2018). Encyclopedia of Christianity in the Global South. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 601. ISBN 978-1-4422-7157-9.
Today these churches are also referred to as the Oriental Orthodox Churches and are made up of 50 million Christians.
- ^ "Orthodox Christianity in the 21st Century". Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. 8 November 2017.
Oriental Orthodoxy has separate self-governing jurisdictions in Ethiopia, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Armenia and Syria, and it accounts for roughly 20% of the worldwide Orthodox population.
- ^ "Orthodox churches (Oriental) — World Council of Churches". www.oikoumene.org.
- ^ Hindson & Mitchell 2013, p. 108.
- ^ "Dicastery For Promoting Christian Unity". christianunity.va. Dicastery For Promoting Christian Unity. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
- ^ "Orthodox churches (Oriental) — World Council of Churches". www.oikoumene.org.
- ^ Winkler, Dietmar (2019). "The Syriac Church Denominations: An Overview". In King, Daniel (ed.). The Syriac World. Routledge. p. 119. ISBN 9781138899018.
- ^ Brock 1999, p. 282.
- ^ Cardin, Adele (2024-10-05). "The Fading Light: Christianity's Struggle in its Middle Eastern Birthplace". The Rio Times. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ Jenkins, Phillip (January 25, 2024). "Is this the end for Mideast Christianity?". Baylor University. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ "Oriental Orthodox Churches | World Council of Churches". www.oikoumene.org. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
- ^ Author, No (2017-11-08). "Orthodox Christianity in the 21st Century". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2024-11-16.
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