What are the historical
origins of Orthodoxy?
The Origins of the Orthodox church are traced back to the earliest Christian movement of Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The Orthodox Church was founded on the day of Holy Pentecost in Jerusalem in 33 AD. The first Orthodox community was founded in Jerusalem, followed by communities in Antioch, Alexandria and others. Orthodoxy has preserved the original teachings of Jesus and his Apostles. Originally the Roman Catholic Church was also part of the Orthodox Church, believing the same teachings, doctrines and sacred tradition. In 1054 the Churches broke away from each other in what is known as the Great Schism. It involved the Latin Church of Rome and the Orthodox Church of Constantinople separating due to doctrinal issues and differences in cultural factors as well as speaking different languages. One of the main issues brought up during the split was the authority of the Pope, he claimed he held authority over the four Eastern patriarchs though it was said that he was the "first among equals". The major Patriarchs of; Jerusalem, Antioch, Alexandria and Constantinople have remained Orthodox up to present. Today, the highest concentration of Orthodox Christians remains in the former Byzantine Empire and in Russia. But Orthodoxy is found throughout the world, with approximately 225 million people being Orthodox Christians.