Greek Orthodox Church - wikipedia Greek Orthodox Church This article is about all Orthodox jurisdictions of Greek cultural heritage. For the Orthodox Church in Greece, see Church of Greece. Greek Orthodox Church Flag used by the Orthodox Church in Greece, and the standard of the self - governed monastic state of Mount Athos. Founder Apostle Andrew Recognition Orthodox Primate The Patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, and the Archbishops of Athens, Cyprus, Albania and Mount Sinai Headquarters Various, but Constantinople is held in special regard Territory Eastern Mediterranean & diaspora Language Koine Greek, Arabic, English, and Russian, with other local languages used in the diaspora Members 23 -- 24 million ( about 50 % of whom are in Greece ) Part of a series on the Eastern Orthodox Church Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, Hagia Sophia Overview Structure Theology ( History of theology ) Liturgy Church history Holy Mysteries View of salvation View of Mary View of icons Background Crucifixion / Resurrection / Ascension of Jesus Christianity Christian Church Apostolic succession Four Marks of the Church Orthodoxy Organization Autocephaly Patriarchate Ecumenical Patriarch Episcopal polity Clergy Bishops Priests Deacons Monasticism Degrees of monasticism Autocephalous jurisdictions Constantinople Alexandria Antioch Jerusalem Russia Serbia Romania Bulgaria Georgia Cyprus Greece Poland Albania Czech lands and Slovakia North America Ecumenical Councils Seven Ecumenical Councils : First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Other important councils : Quinisext Council Constantinople IV Constantinople V Jassy Jerusalem History Church Fathers Pentarchy Byzantine Empire Christianization of Bulgaria Christianization of Kievan Rus ' Great Schism Russia Ottoman Empire North America Theology History of Orthodox Theology ( 20th century ( Neo-Palamism ) ) Apophaticism Chrismation Contemplative prayer Essence vs. Energies Hesychasm Holy Trinity Hypostatic union Icons Metousiosis Mystical theology Nicene Creed Nepsis Oikonomia Ousia Palamism Philokalia Phronema Sin Theosis Theotokos Differences from the Catholic Church Opposition to the Filioque Opposition to papal supremacy Liturgy and worship Divine Liturgy Divine Services Akathist Apolytikion Artos Ectenia Euchologion Holy Water Iconostasis Jesus Prayer Kontakion Liturgical entrances Liturgical fans Lity Memorial service Memory Eternal Omophorion Orthodox bowing Orthodox marriage Praxis Paraklesis Paschal greeting Paschal Homily Paschal troparion Prayer rope Prosphora Russian bell ringing Semantron Sign of the cross Sticheron Troparion Vestments Use of incense Liturgical calendar Paschal cycle 12 Great Feasts Other feasts : Feast of Orthodoxy Intercession of the Theotokos The four fasting periods : Nativity Fast Great Lent Apostles ' Fast Dormition Fast Major figures Athanasius of Alexandria Ephrem the Syrian Basil of Caesarea Cyril of Jerusalem Gregory of Nazianzus Gregory of Nyssa John Chrysostom Cyril of Alexandria John Climacus Maximus the Confessor John of Damascus Theodore the Studite Kassiani Cyril and Methodius Photios I of Constantinople Gregory Palamas Other topics Architecture Encyclical of the Eastern Patriarchs Orthodox cross Saint titles Statistics by country The name Greek Orthodox Church ( Greek : Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἑκκλησία, Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía, IPA : ( elinorˈθoðoksi ekliˈsia ) ), or Greek Orthodoxy, is a term referring to the body of several Churches within the larger communion of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, whose liturgy is or was traditionally conducted in Koine Greek, the original language of the New Testament, and whose history, traditions, and theology are rooted in the early Church Fathers and the culture of the Byzantine Empire. Greek Orthodox Christianity has also traditionally placed heavy emphasis and awarded high prestige to traditions of Christian monasticism and asceticism, with origins in Early Christianity in the Near East and in Byzantine Anatolia. Today, the most important centres of Christian Orthodox monasticism are Saint Catherine 's Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula ( Egypt ), Meteora at Thessaly in Greece, Mount Athos in Greek Macedonia, Mar Saba in the Bethlehem Governorate of the West Bank, and the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian on the island of Patmos in Greece. Historically, the term `` Greek Orthodox '' has also been used to describe all Eastern Orthodox Churches in general, since `` Greek '' in `` Greek Orthodox '' can refer to the heritage of the Byzantine Empire. During the first eight centuries of Christian history, most major intellectual, cultural, and social developments in the Christian Church took place within the Empire or in the sphere of its influence, where the Greek language was widely spoken and used for most theological writings. Over time, most parts of the liturgy, traditions, and practices of the church of Constantinople were adopted by all, and still provide the basic patterns of contemporary Orthodoxy. Thus, the Eastern Church came to be called `` Greek '' Orthodox in the same way that the Western Church is called `` Roman '' Catholic. However, the appellation `` Greek '' was abandoned by the Slavic and other Eastern Orthodox churches in connection with their peoples ' national awakenings, from as early as the 10th century A.D. Thus, today it is generally only those churches that are most closely tied to Greek or Byzantine culture that are called `` Greek Orthodox ''. Contents 1 Overview 2 Churches 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External links Overview Our Lady of Tinos The Greek Orthodox churches are descended from churches which the Apostles founded in the Balkans and the Middle East during the first century A.D., and they maintain many traditions practiced in the ancient Church. Orthodox Churches, unlike the Catholic Church, have no Bishopric head, such as a Pope, and hold the belief that Christ is the head of the Church. However, they are each governed by a committee of Bishops, called the Holy Synod, with one central Bishop holding the honorary title of `` first among equals. '' Greek Orthodox Churches are united in communion with each other, as well as with the other Eastern Orthodox Churches ( such as the Russian Orthodox Church ). The Eastern Orthodox hold a common doctrine and a common form of worship, and they see themselves not as separate Churches but as administrative units of one single Church. They are notable for their extensive tradition of iconography ( see also : Byzantine art ), for their veneration of the Mother of God and the Saints, and for their use of the Divine Liturgy on Sundays, which is a standardized worship service dating back to the fourth century A.D. in its current form. The most commonly used Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church was written by Saint John Chrysostom ( 347 -- 407 A.D. ). Others, are attributed to St. Basil the Great, St. James, the Brother of God and St. Gregory the Dialogist The current territory of the Greek Orthodox Churches more or less covers the areas in the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Eastern Mediterranean that used to be a part of the Byzantine Empire. The majority of Greek Orthodox Christians live within Greece and elsewhere in the southern Balkans ( especially in Albania ), but also in Jordan, the Occupied Palestinian territories, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, Anatolia, European Turkey, and the South Caucasus. In addition, due to the large Greek diaspora, there are many Greek Orthodox Christians who live in North America and Australia. Orthodox Christians in Finland, who compose about 1 % of the population, are also under the jurisdiction of a Greek Orthodox Church ( the Ecumenical Patriarchate ). There are also many Greek Orthodox Christians, with origins dating back to the Byzantine and Ottoman periods, who are of Arabic - speaking or mixed Greek and Arabic - speaking ancestry and live in southern Turkey, Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. They attend churches which conduct their services in Arabic, the common language of most Greek Orthodox believers in the Levant, while at the same time maintaining elements of the Byzantine Greek cultural tradition. Ethnic Greeks in Russia and Greeks in Ukraine, as well as Pontic Greeks and Caucasus Greeks from the former Russian Transcaucasus, often consider themselves both Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox, which is consistent with the Orthodox faith ( since Orthodoxy is the same across ethnic boundaries ). Thus, they may attend services held in Old Russian and Old Church Slavonic, without this in any way undermining their Orthodox faith or distinct Greek ethnic identity. Over the centuries, these Pontic Greek - speaking Greek Orthodox communities have mixed through intermarriage in varying degrees with ethnic Russians and other Orthodox Christians from mainly Southern Russia, where most of them settled between the Middle Ages and early 19th century. Churches A religious procession in Corfu Saint Therapon ( Mytilene ) The churches where the Greek Orthodox term is applicable are : The four ancient Patriarchates : The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, headed by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is also the `` first among equals '' of the Eastern Orthodox Communion Semi-autonomous Archdiocese of Crete The four eparchies of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople : The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy and Malta The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia The Greek Orthodox Church of Alexandria The Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch The Greek Orthodox Church of Jerusalem The Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai Three autocephalous churches : The Church of Greece The Church of Cyprus The Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania also known as `` Greek Orthodox Church of Albania '' or `` Church of Albania '' led since the collapse of the former Stalinist régime by Archbishop Anastasios, a Greek national. The Church conducts its liturgy in Koine Greek in the areas of Albania populated by the ethnic Greek minority, alongside the use of Albanian throughout the country. Gallery Seal of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople View of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem Cathedral of Evangelismos in Alexandria St Andrew 's Cathedral, Patras Hagia Sophia, Thessaloniki Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens Saint Dionysios Cathedral, Zakynthos Agios Minas Cathedral, Heraklion Agios Nikolaos church, Athens Kykkos Monastery, Cyprus Chiesa di St Giorgio dei Greci in Venice ( 1548 ) Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Vienna, designed by Theophil Hansen ( 1856 ) Cathedral of St Sophia ( 1925 ), Sydney, Australia Church of the Annunciation in Wauwatosa, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright Allerheiligenkirche in Munich ( 1995 ) See also Eastern Christianity portal East -- West Schism Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Orthodox Church History of the Orthodox Church Russian Orthodoxy Slavic Orthodox Armenian Apostolic Church Name days in Greece Pentarchy Ecumenism Greeks References Jump up ^ See : Jump up ^ See : Jump up ^ Tore Tvarnø Lind ( 2012 ). The Past is Always Present : The Revival of the Byzantine Musical Tradition at Mount Athos. Scarecrow Press. p. 34. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8108 - 8147 - 1. The yellow / black flag that can be seen on Mount Athos and elsewhere in Greece today is the modern flag of the Greek Orthodox Church. Jump up ^ The Flag Bulletin. 27. Flag Research Center. 1988. p. 105. It is not surprising that all symbols of Mount Athos, especially the Byzantine double - eagle and the Holy Virgin, who is the patron of the Holy Mount, represent old Byzantine traditions. (... ) The flag of Mount Athos ( Fig. 1 ) is golden yellow bearing the black Byzantine double - headed eagle with an imperial crown. The eagle holds on its claws an orb of black with golden bands and a black... Jump up ^ Vitali Vitaliev ( 1 September 1995 ). Little is the light : nostalgic travels in the mini-states of Europe. Touchstone Books. p. 108. ISBN 978 - 0 - 671 - 71925 - 8. The state flag of Mount Athos - a black two - headed eagle... Jump up ^ William G. Crampton ( 1990 ). The Complete Guide to Flags. Gallery Books. p. 57. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8317 - 1605 - 9. Greek Yellow with a 2 - headed Orthodox black eagle ( also for Mount Church Athos ) Jump up ^ Demetrios J. Constantelos, Understanding the Greek Orthodox Church, Holy Cross Orthodox Press 3rd edition ( March 28, 2005 ) Jump up ^ L. Rushton, Doves and magpies : village women in the Greek Orthodox Church Women 's religious experience, Croom Helm, 1983 Jump up ^ Paul Yuzyk, The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918 -- 1951, University of Ottawa Press, 1981 Jump up ^ Demetrios J. Constantelos, The Greek Orthodox Church : faith, history, and practice, Seabury Press, 1967 Jump up ^ Daniel B. Wallace : Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics : An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament, page 12,. Zondervan, 1997. Jump up ^ Robert H. Stein : The method and message of Jesus ' teachings, page 4,. Westminster John Knox Press, 1994. Jump up ^ Byzantium in Encyclopedia of historians and historical writing Vol. 1, Kelly Boyd ( ed. ), Fitzroy Dearborn publishers, 1999 ISBN 978 - 1 - 884964 - 33 - 6 Jump up ^ Edwin Pears, The destruction of the Greek Empire and the story of the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, Haskell House, 1968 ^ Jump up to : Millar, Fergus ( 2006 ). A Greek Roman Empire : power and belief under Theodosius II ( 408 -- 450 ). University of California Press. p. 279 pages. ISBN 0 - 520 - 24703 - 5. Jump up ^ Tanner, Norman P. The Councils of the Church, ISBN 0 - 8245 - 1904 - 3 Jump up ^ The Byzantine legacy in the Orthodox Church by John Meyendorff -- 1982 Jump up ^ Hugh Wybrew, The Orthodox liturgy : the development of the eucharistic liturgy in the Byzantine rite -- 1990 Jump up ^ The Christian Churches of the East, Vol. II : Churches Not in Communion with Rome by Donald Attwater -- 1962 Jump up ^ J Meyendorff, Byzantine Theology : Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes ( 1987 ) ^ Jump up to : Joan Mervyn Hussey, The Orthodox Church in the Byzantine Empire, 1990 ^ Jump up to : A.P. Vlasto, Entry of Slavs Christendom -- 1970 Jump up ^ Andreĭ Lazarov Pantev, Bŭlgarska istorii︠a︡ v evropeĭski kontekst -- 2000 Jump up ^ Janet Saltzman Chafetz ; Helen Rose Ebaugh ( 18 October 2000 ). Religion and the New Immigrants : Continuities and Adaptations in Immigrant Congregations. AltaMira Press. p. 155. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7591 - 1712 - 9. Retrieved 2 September 2013. The distinctive characteristics of the Greek Orthodox Church are its sense of continuity with the ancient Church of Christ and the Apostles and its changelessness. The Orthodox church traces its existence, through the ordinatinon of Bishops. directly back to the Apostles and through them to Jesus. Jump up ^ Sally Bruyneel ; Alan G. Padgett ( 2003 ). Introducing Christianity. Orbis Books. p. 7. ISBN 978 - 1 - 60833 - 134 - 5. Retrieved 2 September 2013. The Eastern Orthodox and the Roman Catholic Churches are the oldest with roots going back to the earliest Christian groups. Jump up ^ Benjamin Jerome Hubbard ; John T. Hatfield ; James A. Santucci ( 2007 ). An Educator 's Classroom Guide to America 's Religious Beliefs and Practices. Libraries Unlimited. p. 63. ISBN 978 - 1 - 59158 - 409 - 4. Retrieved 2 September 2013. The Orthodox Church traces its origins to the churches founded by the apostles in the Middle East and the Balkans in the first century. Jump up ^ Robert L. Plummer ( 6 March 2012 ). Journeys of Faith : Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Anglicanism. Zondervan. p. 128. ISBN 978 - 0 - 310 - 41671 - 5. Retrieved 2 September 2013. Catholicism holds that if a Church claims to be Christian, then it must be able to show that its leaders - its bishops and its presbyters ( or priests ) - are successors of the apostles. That is why the Catholic Church accepts Eastern Orthodox ordinations and sacraments as valid, even though Eastern Orthodoxy is not in full communion with Rome. Jump up ^ William A. Dyrness ; Veli - Matti Kärkkäinen ( 25 September 2009 ). Global Dictionary of Theology : A Resource for the Worldwide Church. InterVarsity Press. p. 244. ISBN 978 - 0 - 8308 - 7811 - 6. Retrieved 2 September 2013. This connection is apparent through the historical succession of bishops of churches in a particular geographic locale and by fidelity to the teachings of the apostles ( cf. Acts 2 : 42 ) and life as it developed in the patristic tradition and was articulated by the seven ecumenical councils. Jump up ^ Heidi Campbell ( 22 March 2010 ). When Religion Meets New Media. Routledge. p. 13. ISBN 978 - 0 - 203 - 69537 - 1. Retrieved 2 September 2013. There are three branches within Christianity : Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant... The Christian church draws its lineage and roots from the time of Jesus Christ and the apostles in CE 25 -- 30 and the birth of the Church at Pentecost in... ^ Jump up to : Wendy Doniger ( January 1999 ). Merriam - Webster 's Encyclopedia of World Religions. Merriam - Webster. p. 309. ISBN 978 - 0 - 87779 - 044 - 0. Retrieved 2 September 2013. EASTERN ORTHODOXY, one of the major branches of CHRISTIANITY, characterized by its continuity with the apostolic church, its liturgy, and its territorial churches. Jump up ^ `` Ecumenical Patriarchate ''. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain -- Home ''. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 11. Jump up ^ `` The Holy Orthodox Archdiocese of Italy and Malta ''. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 11. Jump up ^ The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America should not be confused with the Orthodox Church in America, whose autocephaly -- granted by the Russian Orthodox Church -- is not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and many other churches of the Eastern Orthodox Communion. Jump up ^ `` Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia ''. Retrieved 2010 - 01 - 14. Jump up ^ `` The official web site of Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa ''. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Greek Orthodox Church Of Antioch And All The East ''. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Jerusalem Patriarchate ''. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 09. Jump up ^ `` The Holy Monastery of the God - trodden Mount Sinai, Saint Catherine 's Monastery ''. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Ecclesia -- The Web Site of the Church of Greece ''. Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 09. Jump up ^ `` Church of Cyprus '' ( in Greek ). Retrieved 2009 - 03 - 09. Jump up ^ `` About Cyprus -- Towns and Population ''. Government Web Portal -- Areas of Interest. Government of Cyprus. Retrieved 19 January 2010. Jump up ^ `` Cyprus ''. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 19 January 2010. Jump up ^ Roudometof, Victor ( 2002 ). Collective memory, national identity, and ethnic conflict. Greenwood Press. p. 179. the only remaining issues between the two sides concern the extent to which minority members should have equal rights with the rest of the Albanian citizens as well as issues of property and ecclesiastical autonomy for the Greek Orthodox Church of Albania. Jump up ^ Thornberry, Patrick ( 1987 ). Minorities and human rights law ( 1. publ. ed. ). London : Minority Rights Group. p. 36. ISBN 9780946690480. Jump up ^ `` Albanian church attack ' act of religious hatred ' ''. WorldWide Religious News. Retrieved 12 June 2012. Jump up ^ `` Archbishop Anastasios - Medical Diagnostical Centre - ZoomInfo.com ''. ZoomInfo. Further reading Aderny, Walter F. The Greek and Eastern Churches ( 1908 ) online Constantelos, Demetrios J. Understanding the Greek Orthodox church : its faith, history, and practice ( Seabury Press, 19820 Fortesque, Adrian. The Orthodox Eastern Church ( 1929 ) Hussey, Joan Mervyn. The orthodox church in the Byzantine empire ( Oxford University Press, 2010 ) online Kephala, Euphrosyne. The Church of the Greek People Past and Present ( 1930 ) Latourette, Kenneth Scott. ' Christianity in a Revolutionary Age, II : The Nineteenth Century in Europe : The Protestant and Eastern Churches. ( 1959 ) 2 : 479 - 484 ; Christianity in a Revolutionary Age, IV : The Twentieth Century in Europe : The Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Eastern Churches ( 1958 ) McGuckin, John Anthony ( ed. ). The Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. 2 vols. ( Wiley - Blackwell, 2011 ). External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greek Orthodox Church. Byzantine Greece Provinces and regions Achaea Province Theme of the Aegean Crete Theme of Hellas Theme of Samos Macedonia Province Theme of Macedonia Theme of Strymon Theme of Thessalonica Theme of the Peloponnese Theme of Cephallenia Theme of Nicopolis Sclaviniae Melingoi and Ezeritai Tsakonia Great Vlachia People Justinian I Heraclius Justinian II Irene of Athens Nikephoros I Basil I Nikephoros II Phokas Basil II Nikephoros Melissenos Michael Choniates Leo Sgouros Leo Gabalas Michael I Komnenos Doukas Theodore Komnenos Doukas Demetrios Chomatenos John Apokaukos Michael II Komnenos Doukas Michael VIII Palaiologos John I Doukas of Thessaly Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas Thomas I Komnenos Doukas Gregory Palamas Demetrios Kydones Catalan Company Nicholas Orsini Andronikos Asen John II Orsini Andronikos III Palaiologos Michael Monomachos John Angelos Stephen Gabrielopoulos Nikephoros II Orsini Manuel Kantakouzenos Simeon Uroš Thomas Preljubović Esau de ' Buondelmonti Alexios Angelos Philanthropenos Theodore II Palaiologos Gemistus Pletho Constantine XI Palaiologos Demetrios Palaiologos Thomas Palaiologos Byzantine bureaucracy and aristocracy Byzantine scholars in Renaissance Historians : Niketas Choniates George Akropolites Nicephorus Gregoras John Scylitzes Eustathius of Thessalonica Michael Glykas Anna Komnene Joannes Zonaras George Kodinos George Sphrantzes Major centres Thessaloniki Athens Corinth Mystras Patras Thebes Arta Ioannina Greek states after 1204 Despotate of Epirus Empire of Nicaea Empire of Thessalonica Despotate of the Morea Thessaly History Persecution of paganism Byzantine Iconoclasm Arab -- Byzantine wars Muslim conquest of Crete Byzantine reconquest of Crete Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria Siege of Patras ( 805 or 807 ) Macedonian Renaissance East - West Schism Seljuq campaigns in the Aegean Byzantine -- Norman wars Sack of Thessalonica ( 1185 ) Fourth Crusade Battle of the Olive Grove of Kountouras Under the Palaiologos dynasty Battle of Prinitza Battle of Makryplagi Battle of Neopatras Battle of Pharsalus ( 1277 ) Battle of Demetrias Byzantine civil war of 1321 -- 28 Hesychast controversy ( Palamism ) Byzantine -- Genoese War ( 1348 -- 49 ) Zealots of Thessalonica Byzantine civil war of 1341 -- 47 Byzantine -- Ottoman Wars Siege of Thessalonica ( 1422 -- 1430 ) Battle of the Echinades ( 1427 ) Morea revolt of 1453 -- 54 Culture Byzantine art ( Macedonian art ) Byzantine music Byzantine literature Alexander romance Miracles of Saint Demetrius Suda Greek Anthology Acritic songs Byzantine architecture Byzantine dress Byzantine cuisine Eastern Orthodox Christianity Byzantine law Hexabiblos Monuments Acrocorinth Agios Eleftherios Church, Athens Angelokastro ( Corfu ) Church of the Holy Apostles, Athens Church of the Parigoritissa Daphni Monastery Gardiki Castle Hexamilion wall Hosios Loukas Kassiopi Castle Meteora Mount Athos Monastery of Saint John the Theologian Monemvasia Mystras Nea Moni of Chios Panagia Episkopi Paleochristian and Byzantine monuments of Thessaloniki Panagia Ekatontapiliani Patras Castle Greek Orthodox Church Patriarchates Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople Patriarchate of Alexandria Patriarchate of Antioch Patriarchate of Jerusalem Autocephalous and autonomous churches Church of Greece Church of Crete Church of Cyprus Church of Sinai Church of Albania History 33 -- 717 AD 717 -- 1204 AD 1204 -- 1453 AD 1453 -- 1821 AD 1821 -- 1924 AD 1924 -- 1974 AD 1974 - 2008 AD Since 2008 AD Eastern Christianity portal Religion in Greece Greek Orthodoxy ( Church of Greece, Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople ) Roman Catholic Church Protestantism Islam ( Muslim minority ) Judaism Ancient Greek religion, Hellenism Hinduism Sikhism VIAF : 149459646 GND : 4020030 - 9 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greek_Orthodox_Church&oldid=793292152 '' Categories : Greek Orthodoxy Eastern Orthodoxy in Europe Christian terminology Greek culture Christian groups in the Middle East Hidden categories : CS1 Greek - language sources ( el ) Pages using deprecated image syntax Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Alemannisch বাংলা Беларуская Čeština Cymraeg Ελληνικά Esperanto فارسی Français Frysk Gaeilge 한국어 Հայերեն Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Limburgs مصرى 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Simple English Slovenčina Svenska Українська اردو Tiếng Việt 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 31 July 2017, at 21 : 07. 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Question: how many members are in the greek orthodox church
Answer: 23–24 million