Eastern Orthodox Christianity

Eastern Orthodoxy shares a common origin with Roman Catholicism in the early Christian church of the 1st century CE, but the two traditions formally split in the Great Schism of 1054. Orthodoxy has no single pope; instead, it is a family of autocephalous (self-governing) churches led by bishops and patriarchs. It teaches the Trinity, the divinity and resurrection of Jesus, the authority of Scripture and Tradition, and celebrates seven sacraments, especially the Eucharist.

It differs from Catholicism in rejecting papal jurisdiction and infallibility, using somewhat different liturgical practices (especially in the Divine Liturgy), and having distinct doctrinal emphases—for example on the “filioque” phrase in the Creed and on some Marian dogmas and views of original sin. Nevertheless, its sacramental and apostolic structure remains very close to Catholicism compared with many Protestant churches.