The Cambridge Companion to Orthodox Christian Theology

The term “Orthodox” has two distinct but interwoven meanings in Christian theology. When used with a small “o” it means traditional Christian teaching which conforms to mainstream understanding of doctrine, as opposed to more liberal or radical interpretations; when used with a capital “O” it refers specifically to the, mostly indigenous, Christian churches of eastern Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. Essentially to be considered an Orthodox Church it must be in communion with the Patriarch of Constantinople who is a primus inter pares within the Orthodox Church hierarchy. In addition there are Oriental Orthodox churches which are not part of...