Oriental Orthodox Churches

The Oriental Orthodox Churches are Eastern Christian churches adhering to Miaphysite Christology,[1][2] with approximately 60 million members worldwide.[3][4] The Oriental Orthodox Churches are part of the Nicene Christian tradition, and represent one of its oldest branches.[5]

Oriental Orthodox Churches
Clockwise from top: Etchmiadzin Armenian Apostolic Cathedral, Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral, Enda Mariam Eritrean Orthodox Cathedral, Holy Trinity Ethiopian Orthodox Cathedral, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Catholicate Palace, Saint George Syriac Orthodox Cathedral.
Type	Eastern Christian
Classification	Non-Chalcedonian
Theology	Miaphysitism
Polity	Episcopal
Structure	Communion
Language	Coptic, Classical Syriac, Armenian, Ge'ez, Malayalam, Koine Greek, English, Arabic and others
Liturgy	Alexandrian, West Syriac and Armenian
Founder	Jesus Christ, according to Oriental Orthodox tradition
Separated from	Chalcedonian Christianity
Members	60 million
Other name(s)	Oriental Orthodoxy, Miaphysite churches, Oriental Orthodox Communion

Part of a series on
Oriental Orthodoxy
Oriental Orthodox churches
Coptic Orthodox Tewahedo Ethiopian Eritrean Armenian Cilicia Syriac Indian
Subdivisions Autonomous churches grouped by tradition: Armenian: Constantinople, Jerusalem Syriac: Malankara Jacobite
Noncanonical/Independent churches Independent churches grouped by tradition: Coptic: British Syriac: Malabar Independent
History and theology Coptic history Tewahedo history Syriac history Saint Thomas Christians Ecumenical Councils: First Second Third Historical topics and events: Peshitta Tur Abdin Miaphysitism 2nd Council of Ephesus 3rd Council of Ephesus 1st Council of Dvin 2nd Council of Dvin 3rd Council of Dvin Council of Manzikert Council of Capharthutha Coonan Cross Oath
Liturgy and practices Apostolic Church-Ordinance Armenian calendar Coptic calendar Ethiopian calendar Coptic fasting Coptic monasticism Coptic saints Debtera Ethiopian chant Fast of Nineveh Holy Qurbana Tabot Tewahedo fasting Timkat
Major figures Abgar V Nine Saints of Ethiopia Gregory the Illuminator Tiridates III Mar Awgin Athanasius of Alexandria Ephrem the Syrian Ezana of Axum Frumentius Shenoute Mesrop Mashtots Cyril of Alexandria Dioscorus of Alexandria Severus of Antioch Abraham of Farshut Yared Simon the Tanner Gregory of Narek Nerses IV Michael the Syrian Bar Hebraeus Tekle Haymanot Giyorgis of Segla Mar Thoma I Gregorios Abdal Jaleel Geevarghese Gregorios
Related topics Abuna Catholicos Coptic cross Cross of St. Thomas Ethiopian cross Ethiopian titles Maphrian Tewahedo biblical canon
Christianity portal
v t e

Part of a series on
Christianity
Jesus Christ Nativity Baptism Ministry Crucifixion Resurrection Ascension
Bible Foundations Old Testament New Testament Gospel Canon Church Creed New Covenant
Theology God Trinity Father Son Holy Spirit Apologetics Baptism Christology History of theology Mission Salvation
History Tradition Apostles Peter Paul Mary Early Christianity Church Fathers Constantine Councils Augustine East–West Schism Crusades Aquinas Reformation Luther
Denominations Groups Western Western Catholic Protestant Adventist Anabaptist Anglican Baptist Evangelical Holiness Lutheran Methodist Moravian Pentecostal Quaker Calvinism Eastern Eastern Catholic Eastern Orthodox Eastern Protestant Oriental Orthodox Church of the East (Nestorian) Restorationist Jehovah's Witness Latter Day Saint Iglesia ni Cristo
Related topics Criticism Culture Ecumenism Glossary Index Other religions Outline Prayer Sermon Symbolism Worship
Glossary Index Outline  Christianity portal
v t e

As some of the oldest religious institutions in the world, the Oriental Orthodox Churches have played a prominent role in the history and culture of Armenia, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Western Asia and India. As autocephalous churches, their bishops are equal by virtue of episcopal ordination. Their doctrines recognize the validity of only the first three ecumenical councils.[6][1]

The Oriental Orthodox Churches are composed of six autocephalous churches: the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.[1] They consider themselves to be the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ in his Great Commission, and that its bishops are the successors of Christ's apostles. Three rites are practiced by the churches: the western-influenced Armenian Rite, the West Syriac Rite of the Syriac Church and the Malankara Church of India, and the Alexandrian Rite of the Copts, Ethiopians and Eritreans.

Oriental Orthodox Churches shared communion with the Roman Church before the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD, and with the Church of the East until the Council of Ephesus in AD 431, separating primarily over differences in Christology.

The majority of Oriental Orthodox Christians live in Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, India, Syria, Turkey and Armenia, with smaller Syriac communities in Western Asia—decreasing due to persecution. There are also many in other parts of the world, formed through diaspora, conversions, and missionary activity.