Eastern Orthodoxy

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This article deals with Eastern Orthodoxy as it relates to NationStates. For more general information, see the Wikipedia article on this subject.

An orthodox cross.
The Eastern Orthodox Church (encompassing national Orthodox jurisdictions such as Greek Orthodox, Taraskovyan Orthodox, etc.) is a body of Christians who believe their origins extend directly back to Jesus and his Apostles through unbroken Apostolic Succession. Non-Orthodox historians, however, regard Orthodoxy as having emerged and developed gradually from a number of competing early Christian varieties of belief between the 1st and 4th centuries. It is then seen as developing its doctrines further through a series of church councils, the most authoritative being the "Seven Ecumenical Councils" held between the 4th and 8th centuries.

There are several autocephalous Orthodox churches in the NS world. The various local churches within the Orthodox Church are distinct in terms of administration and local culture, but for the most part exist in full communion with one another. The autocephalous Orthodox churches are:

Orthodox Church of Constantinople

(Main article: Orthodox Church of Constantinople)

The Orthodox Church of Constantinople consists of the Greek Orthodox Church in Pantocratoria and a small number of dioceses and metropolises outside of Pantocratoria under the direct authority of Patriarch Stephanus III, Ecumenical Patriarch, Archbishop of Constantinople New Rome, as elected by the Greek Orthodox bishops of Pantocratoria. The Pantocratorian Greek Orthodox community had long been surpressed and driven underground to avoid persecution by the state, which had definitively abandoned the Greek rite and asserted that the Pantocratorian Church was Roman Catholic during the reign of Emperor Demetrius VII, and it wasn't until recently that changes in the law made it possible for the parts of the Pantocratorian Church which had always been Greek Orthodox at heart to declare themselves as such.

Taraskovyan Orthodox Church

(Main article: Taraskovyan Orthodox Church)

The Taraskovyan Orthodox Church (Vigvar Patriarchate) was formed in the Grand Duchy of Tarasovka by Russian immigrants on the base of the Russian Orthodox Church. Starting out as a mere eparchy and then blossoming into an autonomous church, it was granted Autocephalous status in 781 A.S. (After Strife). Today, with an estimated three quarters of the Taraskovyan population, the Taraskovyan Orthodox Church is by far the most powerful religious denomination in a country where it traditionally had a high influence. The Taraskovyan Church is also the biggest known Orthodox Church in the NSverse and, due to its cordial relationship with the Grand Ducal government, has established itself as a major player not only in the Eastern Orthodox world, but also in the general international arena.

Constantian Orthodox Church

The Constantian Orthodox Church is the oldest and by far the largest Christian denomination in the Holy Socialist Republic of Constantinopolis. It traces its origins to the Greek missionnaries who brought Christianity to the lands that form present-day Constantinopolis in the 11th century A.D. Over the next few centuries, those lands were divided between various small (and often short-lived) political entities, some of which were Christian and some of which were pagan. In 1436, however, the Christian voivod Vladimir Ivanov the Great united Constantinopolis and Orthodox Christianity became the official state religion. From that point on, the power and influence of the Constantian Orthodox Church grew considerabely, and it was granted autocephaly in 1694. Unfortunately, with power came corruption, and by the late 19th century the Church was rife with hypocrisy. While its numbers of adherents remained high on paper, in practice many people lost their faith. To make matters worse, the Constantian Orthodox Church continued to support the deposed imperial dynasty after the Great September Revolution, which put it on the losing side of the Civil War. But, ironically, the separation of Church and State instituted by the new communist authorities invigorated the Constantian Orthodox Church, by ending the corruption that had plagued it for centuries. The Church has remained a significant force in public life throughout the 20th century and, sometimes working closely with the Christian Socialist Party, it has helped to preserve the Christian character of Constantian society. Today, 43% of the population of Constantinopolis belongs to the Constantian Orthodox Church.

Danaan Orthodox Church

(Main article: Danaan Orthodox Church)

The Danaan Orthodox Church is the state church of Bilbtoria in the Resurgent Dream. It is an Eastern Orthodox Church which employs the Greek rite and recognises Patriarch Stephanus III as the Ecumenical Patriarch and first amongst equals of Orthodox bishops. Its leader is His Beatitude Andreas Papriga, Archbishop of Artistonople and All the Resurgent Dream.

Aguan Orthodox Church

The Aguan Orthodox Church split from communion with Rome in the 19th Century, and is an autocephalous body headed by a council of Bishops, with the Archbishop of Roslin being considered Primus Inter Pares. It is the second largest religious denomination in Roania, and recognises Patriarch Stephanus III as the Ecumenical Patriarch.


Khallaynan Orthodox Chruch

The Khallaynan Orthodox Church is the largest (and only) Christian organization within the Empire of Khallayne. Even though this religious institution has been present within Khallayne for three centuries it was only with the Proclamation of Religious Freedom by Empress Diane I that the Khallaynan Church could come out of the shadows. The Khallaynan Church is under the rule of Patriarch Diamond I.

The Imperial Orthodox Church

The Imperial Orthodox Church is the official church of Rhomanoi, and is followed by 95% of that nations' populace in one form or another. It is autocephalous of the Orthodox Church of Constantinople, though the current Patriarch has expressed his willingness to recognise its overall leadership, pending negotiations. It is headed by His All Holiness Theodore VIII, Patriarch of Nicopolis and all Rhomanoi, and follows an amended version of the Greek Liturgy, in order to accomodate its Rhomanois' unique social mix.

The Valerian Orthodox Church

The Valerian Orthodox Church is the official autocephalous church of Magnus Valerius, and by last census, approximately 76.9% of the empire's populace practiced the religion. The Church had its roots in Greek missionaries who came to the nation to spread their faith amongst the pagan Valerians. When Theodoric X converted to Christianity, he declared all Christians in his kingdom as part of 'his church'. The Church, however, was granted autocephalous status from Constantinople much later under the reign of Tigranes, five centuries later. The Valerian Orthodox Church follows the Greek rite and its head is currently Patriarch Feodor III.


The Bethlehem Orthodox Church

The Bethlehem Orthodox Church is the official church of the Greek speaking population of Christiana Terra. These Orthodox Christians comprise about 17% of the country's Christian population, being the second largest branch of Christianity in this country.


The Orthodox Church of the Holy Empire

This is the autocephalous Orthodox church of both nations in the Dreamed Realm: the Holy Empire of Alasdair I Frosticus and the Holy Monastic Republic of the Archregimancy. The head of the Church is the Patriarch of Alasdairopolis. Due to the secretive nature of the Holy Empire and its Basileus, most other nations and regions are only ever in contact with the Church through the Archregimancy, the Holy Synod of which is an autonomous - but not autocephalous - body within the broader OCHE. The Archregimancy forms a vast seminary and monastic retreat for the Church as a whole, and is active in missionary activity to the non-Orthodox nations of Ordinary Physical Reality through its extensive - if perhaps slightly quixotic - involvement in international sporting activity.

Dawnsian Orthodox Christianity

(Main article: Dawnsian Orthodox Church)

This is the Orthodox Christian Church of The Resplendent Dawn which exists within the Middle East. The Middle East itself is apart of a group of isolationist regions known as the Nationstates World Regions