Oriental Orthodoxy

Oriental Orthodoxy is a group of six Eastern Christian Churches that accept only the first three ecumenical councils (the First Council of Nicaea, the First Council of Constantinople and the Council of Ephesus). They reject the dogmatic definitions of the Council of Chalcedon. Those Churches are also called Old Oriental Churches. 

Oriental Orthodox Churches are different from the churches that call themselves "Eastern Orthodoxy".

 Oriental Orthodox Churches 

 The Coptic Orthodox Church 
The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria (based in Egypt) is the spiritual leader of all the Oriental Orthodox Churches. This is because the Pope of Alexandria (the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church) is also given the title of Patriarch of all Africa on the Holy See of St. Mark the Apostle.Guirguis  M. and van Doorn-Harder N. 2011. The emergence of the modern Coptic papacy: the Egyptian Church and its leadership from the Ottoman period to the present. Cairo: American University in Cairo Press, 2011, pp. 111–127.

This spiritual leadership isn't like the relationship between the Eastern Orthodox Churches and the Patriarch of Constantinople. It does not give any special rights to the Church of Alexandria. But the position is an honor and a sign of respect.

 Other Churches 
In addition to the Coptic Orthodox Church, these are five other Oriental Orthodox Churches:

 Syriac Orthodox Church 
 Armenian Apostolic Church
 Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
 Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church
 Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church

 History 
The schism (division) between the Great Church Orthodox, Catholic, and Oriental Orthodox Churches happened in the 5th century after the Council of Chalcedon.

 Sources 
 Betts, Robert B., Christians in the Arab East , Lycabbetus Press (Athens, 1978)
 Charles, R. H. The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu: Translated from Zotenberg's Ethiopic Text, 1916. Reprinted 2007. Evolution Publishing, . 

 References 

 Other websites 
 Website on the unity between Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches