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Eastern Orthodox Facts & Worksheets

Eastern Orthodoxy, formally the Orthodox Catholic Church, is one of the three major Christian denominations.

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Eastern Orthodoxy, formally the Orthodox Catholic Church, is one of the three major Christian denominations. Its followers are mostly found in Greece, Russia, the Balkans, Ukraine, and the Middle East, but it also has a sizable following in North America and Australia.

See the fact file below for more information on Eastern Orthodox Religion, or you can download our 32-page Eastern Orthodox worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

INTRODUCTION OF EASTERN ORTHODOX RELIGION

  • The ecumenical patriarch of Constantinople (Istanbul) is the titular head of Eastern Orthodoxy, but its many territorial churches (including the massive Russian Orthodox church as well as the Greek Orthodox church) are ruled independently by head bishops or patriarchs, who must be single or widowed even though lower orders of the religious leaders may marry.
  • Eastern Orthodoxy has a substantial monastic heritage as well. The divide of the Eastern churches first from the Western, or Latin, branch began with Constantine I’s division of the Roman Empire into two sections, and a formal rupture was formalized in 1054.
  • Eastern Orthodoxy varies from Roman Catholicism in that it does not recognize the pope’s supremacy or the verse in the Western creed that indicates that the Holy Spirit flows from both the Father (God) and the Son (Jesus). The Orthodox Church recognizes the judgments of the seven ecumenical councils, as well as several subsequent councils.

THEOLOGY – TRINITY

  • Eastern Orthodox Christians believe in the Trinity, three distinct divine persons (hypostases) with no intersection or modality among them, each having one heavenly essence (ousia, Greek: o)—uncreated, immaterial, and eternal.
  • The Father is eternal, not begotten, and without beginning, the Son is eternal and begotten of the Father, and the Holy Spirit is static and continues from the Father.
  • Eastern Orthodox Christians believe in a monotheistic God (God is only one), who is both supreme (wholly independent of, and eliminated from, the material universe) and immanent (wholly within the material universe) (involved in the material universe).
  • When interpreting the Trinity as “one God in three people,” the focus should be on “three individuals” rather than “one God,” and vice versa. While the three people are unique, they are joined in one divine nature, and their oneness is manifested so thoroughly in community and activity that they cannot be comprehended individually.

THEOLOGY – SIN, SALVATION, AND INCARNATION

  • While Eastern Orthodox Christians speak of fallen nature, they do not mean that human nature has turned nasty in and of itself. Human nature is still made in the image of God; people are still God’s children, and God has never created anything wicked; nonetheless, fallen nature is still susceptible to evil intents and deeds.
  • The Eastern Orthodox sometimes say that humans are “disposed to sin,” which means that they find certain wicked activities appealing. 
  • Temptation tends to make wicked things appear more appealing, and it is the fallen nature of mankind that seeks or succumbs to the allure.
  • Eastern Orthodox Christians oppose the Augustinian concept that the offspring of Adam and Eve is genuinely responsible for their forefathers’ original sins.

THEOLOGY – RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

  • Eastern Orthodox Church considers Jesus’ death and resurrection to be true historical occurrences, as reported in the New Testament gospels.

THEOLOGY – ESCHATOLOGY

  • When a person dies, the soul is momentarily separated from the body, according to Eastern Orthodox Christians. 
  • Though it may stay on Earth for a brief time, it is eventually taken either to the sanctuary (Abraham’s bosom) or the gloom of Hades after the Temporary Judgment. 
  • The Catholic notion of Purgatory is not accepted by the Orthodox. 
  • The soul’s experience of any of these states is simply a “foretaste”—it is only felt by the consciousness of the Final Judgment when the spirit and body will be rejoined.
  • The Eastern Orthodox believe that the love and prayers of the righteous can affect the state of the soul in Hades until the Last Judgment. 
  • As a result, the Church offers special worship for the dead on the first, third, ninth, and fortieth anniversary of the death of an Eastern Orthodox Christian.
  • There are also many days set out throughout the year for general memorials of the deceased, which sometimes includes non-believers. These days are frequently on a Saturday since Christ was buried on a Saturday.
  • Eastern Orthodox People believe that after the Final Judgment:
    • All resurrected souls will be rejoined with their bodies
    • Every soul will completely comprehend their spiritual position.
    • Having been purified, the saints will continue to grow in their love for God, which translates to eternal bliss.

HOLY TRADITION AND PATRISTIC CONSENSUS

  • Holy tradition refers to “that religion which has been believed in all places, at all times,” the belief that was imparted by Jesus to the disciple’s given life by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and passed down to subsequent generations without additions or subtraction. 
  • Holy tradition in the Eastern Orthodox Church includes the concept of atonement, the nature of the one God who exists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the history of the church.
  • It also includes the relationship between God and his people that worship represents, which is also demonstrated between Christ and his followers, as well as the worship of the church, which evolved from the worship of the synagogue and temple and was expanded by Christ at the last supper. It also consists of the power that Christ granted to his followers when he appointed them as apostles.
  • Although the holy tradition is steadfast, even unyielding, it is not rigid or legalistic; rather, the church is where it is alive and well. Through the use of sacred tradition, which was prevalent in the early church, the entire Bible was regarded as authoritative. 
  • Holy tradition did not alter because “that faith which has been embraced anywhere, always, and by all” remained constant, without additions or subtractions, five centuries after the writing and adoption of the holy scriptures, by which time they had fully become a part of holy tradition. 
  • A comparable example of extension and growth “without alteration” may be seen in the historical evolution of the Divine Liturgy as well as other church worship services and devotional activities.

BELIEFS, DOCTRINE, AND SACRED TEXTS

  • Eastern Orthodox believers practice what they see as the apostles’ basic form of Christianity. 
  • They affirm the Trinity, the Bible as the inspired word of God, and Jesus as the son of God, much as Catholics and Protestants. 
  • The Orthodox Bible’s Old Testament, however, is based on an ancient Greek translation known as the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew. 
  • The Orthodox Church emphasizes “divinization,” the lengthy process by which regular Christians grow more like Christ rather than justification of faith. Other differences between the Catholic and Protestant traditions include Mary’s eternal virginity, infant baptism without regard for parental responsibility, and the possibility of losing one’s salvation.

LITURGY

  • Together with the yearly cycles, there are also shorter cycles. In addition to other possible foci, a weekly cycle of days mandates a certain concentration for each day:
  • The Weekly Cycle is divided into days that honor certain noteworthy remembrances. 
  • Tuesday is devoted to the prophets, especially Baptist of the Lord and St. John the Forerunner, the greatest of the prophets; Sunday is devoted to the Resurrection of Christ; Monday celebrates the holy bodiless forces (angels, archangels, etc.)
  • Saturday is dedicated to All Saints, especially the Mother of God, and to the remembrance of everyone who has passed away in this life in the hope of resurrection and everlasting life. Friday is also dedicated to the Cross and commemorates the day of the Crucifixion.

HOLY MYSTERIES – BAPTISM

  • The mystery of baptism is what changes an old, sinful person into a new, pure one; the previous life, the sins, and any mistakes made are erased, and a fresh start is provided. A person joins the Eastern Orthodox Church and is thereby baptized into the Body of Christ. 
  • The mystery of baptism is what changes an old, sinful person into a new, pure one; the previous life, the sins, and any mistakes made are erased, and a fresh start is provided. A person joins the Eastern Orthodox Church and is thereby baptized into the Body of Christ. 

HOLY MYSTERIES – CHRISMATION

  • Chrismation, also known as confirmation, is the mystery by which a person who has been baptized receives the blessing through anointing with Holy Chrism. 
  • It is typically administered right after baptism as part of the same service, but it is also used to receive Eastern Orthodox Church lapsed members.
  • Just as baptism is a person’s engagement in the resurrection and death of Christ, so Chrismation is a person’s involvement in the coming.
  • Regardless of age, an Eastern Orthodox Christian who has been baptized and chrismated is a full member of the congregation and is eligible to partake in the Eucharist.

HOLY MYSTERIES – HOLY COMMUNION

  • Only Eastern Orthodox Christians who have been baptized and chrismated and have fasted, prayed, and confessed are permitted to partake in communion. After baptism, tiny babies and children are taken to the chalice to receive holy communion. The priest gives the gifts using a spoon called a “cochlear” straight into the recipient’s mouth.

REPENTANCE

  • How frequently Eastern Orthodox Christians should attend confession varies according to various customs. 
  • There are numerous more variations, such as those that counsel confession before each Holy Communion reception or during each of the four fasting seasons.

MARRIAGE

  • Marriage is viewed as one of the holy mysteries or sacraments from an Orthodox standpoint. It serves to bind a woman and a man in heavenly union and love before God, as well as in many other Christian cultures, such as Catholicism, with the aim of adhering to Christ and his Gospel and creating a faithful, holy family through their holy union. 
  • The church acknowledges marriage to be the union of one man and one woman, and some Orthodox leaders have strongly opposed the civil institution of same-sex marriage.

HOLY ORDER

  • Priests and deacons who have been widowed are not permitted to remarry, and it is typical for them to enter a monastery after their divorce (see clerical celibacy). 
  • This also applies to widowed clergy wives who do not remarry and want to become nuns after their kids have grown up.
  • Despite the fact that deaconesses serve in the church in both a pastoral and liturgical capacity, only males are permitted to earn holy orders.

GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION

  • There are between 225 and 300 million Eastern Orthodox Christians in the world now, according to estimates. The majority religion in the nation, which makes up around half of this total, is Islam. 
  • It is the most prevalent religion in Ukraine, where 66% of people identify as practicing it. 
  • Greece is almost entirely Eastern Orthodox, with 95% to 98% of its people being followers.
  • Most of the nations that were formerly part of the U.S.S.R. and other Eastern European nations have a sizable proportion of Orthodox Christians. 
  • Following the genocide of the Armenians and the people between Greece and Turkey in 1923, their numbers in Turkey substantially decreased.

Eastern Orthodox Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Eastern Orthodox across 32 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Eastern Orthodox, formally the Orthodox Catholic Church is one of the three major Christian denominations.

Eastern Orthodox worksheets
Eastern Orthodox worksheets
Eastern Orthodox worksheets

Download includes the following worksheets.

  1. Eastern Orthodox Facts
  2. Word Hunt
  3. Write Your Knowledge
  4. Seven Days
  5. The Sacraments
  6. Right and Wrong
  7. One of the Top
  8. Uniqueness 
  9. Stained Glass
  10. Your Religion 
  11. Bingo 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Eastern Orthodox Church?

The Eastern Orthodox Church is one of the major branches of Christianity, alongside Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. It encompasses a group of autocephalous (self-governing) churches that share common beliefs, liturgical practices, and traditions. The Eastern Orthodox Church has its roots in the early Christian communities of the Eastern Roman Empire.

What are some key beliefs of the Eastern Orthodox Church?

The Eastern Orthodox Church holds to traditional Christian beliefs, including the belief in the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ, the importance of the Bible, and the salvation through faith and good works. It also places a strong emphasis on the veneration of icons and the importance of the sacraments.

Who is the leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church?

The Eastern Orthodox Church does not have a single central authority like the Pope in Roman Catholicism. Instead, it is a collection of autocephalous churches, each headed by a patriarch, metropolitan, or archbishop. The Patriarch of Constantinople, also known as the Ecumenical Patriarch, is often considered the “first among equals” among these leaders.

What is the significance of icons in the Eastern Orthodox Church?

Icons are religious images that hold great significance in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. They are considered windows into the divine and are used as aids for meditation and prayer. Icons depict Christ, the Virgin Mary, saints, and biblical events. The veneration of icons is an integral part of Orthodox worship and spirituality.

What is the liturgical tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church?

The Eastern Orthodox Church has a rich and elaborate liturgical tradition. Its worship services are known for their use of incense, chant, and intricate rituals. The Divine Liturgy, particularly the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, is the central worship service where the Eucharist (Holy Communion) is celebrated. The liturgical year follows a cycle of feasts, fasting periods, and commemorations.

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