What about the Greek Orthodox Church?

Simply, the story is as follows:

Initially the Church (Christianity) was united and was conducted by local Bishops who, once in a while, gathered in synods (councils) to take decisions for all the Church.

In 1054, for several reasons, the Bishop of Rome (now the Pope) and the rest of bishops (now Eastern Orthodox communion) splitted. The event is called the Great Schism.

Eastern Orthodox is also called Greek Orthodox, and has several national Churches (of Jerusalem, of Greece, of Russia, of Romania, of Bulgaria etc.)

The Pope, as you know, leads the Roman-Catholic Church.

Later, the Reform happened, and Protestants split from the Catholic Church.

So, to answer your question, Eastern (Greek) Orthodox Churches have a long history, and resemble more to the the Catholic Church than any Protestant denomination do.

Among differences are: we (I am an Eastern Orthodox, too) don't recognize the Pope as the leader of the Church, we oppose the 'Filioque' clause in the Nicene Creed, we don't believe there is a Purgatory.

In rest, we have a really slow pace of changing traditions (they tend to remain the same thoughout history).

You won't see statues in our churches, but beautiful icons.

Cheers.

EDIT: Here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Chur... you have it all explained. Once again, the correct term is Eastern Orthodox. Greek (as opposed to Roman from Roman-Catholic) relates to the tradition of the church.

EDIT: @ Naymlap!!!!

Sorry to tell you, you're describing like a tourist. Eg confession (Romanian: "spovedanie") is practiced. But not in a confessional. It's done before major feasts, after fasting, which, again, is stricter than in Roman-Catholicism (RC) (no animal products at all). When you say "unfortunately women aren't ordained" you are biased (I bet you don't know why). You kneel during the service when the Gospel is read. The Inquisition stuff is, again, biased - it's a political/historical matter. The explanation of differences isn't philosophical, it's theological, based on Tradition (with capital) - one thing that Protestantism renounced at (eg when formulating the thesis that everyone can interpret the Bible, by contrast to RC and EO). You *have* to tell your sins. It's also a sin not telling them when you confess. The passage beneath the table you're talking about symbolizes you taking part in the burrial and resurrection of Christ (so it's not primitive, it's an act of penitence). Concluding, you're not sure of a lot of things. Sorry to tell you, if you don't know, at least don't missinform others.

The one true Church is the Catholic Church-- both East and West. Pope John Paul II called them the two lungs of the Church. But there was something called the Great Schism almost a millennium ago. This created a wound that has yet to heal. They are no longer in communion, but doctrinally they are one. Perhaps some individual members on both sides fail to grasp this. In fact, the word "Catholic" is from a Greek word. What most Christians don't realize is that within the Catholic Church there are many rites representing various cultures. Many of the Eastern Rite churches are in communion with Rome. The most well known rite is the Latin Rite, which many erroneously call the "Roman Church". Within Eastern Orthodoxy there are also many rites, known as the Orthodox Churches. This includes the Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Ukrainian Orthodox, and many more whose names I don't know. If you know someone who is Russian Orthodox, asked him your question and see what kind of an answer he gives.

I am an Orhtodox convert, first you don't need to use the adgitive Greek unless you are asking about specific Greek tradtions- as the Russian Antiochian Romanian American Bulgarian and Serbian Orthodox Churches are all in comunion with each other and make up the Eastern Orthodox church. There is also the Oriental Orhtodox which is the Syrian Coptica and Arminian Orthodox but I digress.

First we do beleive in the incarnation of God and Jesus christ is the savior of all mankind as well as the Holy spirit and the Father...we are trinitarian. There were 7 eccumincal councils that restated these teachings....

they are the following

1. Jesus is God and is fully human and fully devine with the devine and human natures and wills being united in the one person of Jesus Christ who was born crucified and rose from the dead for our salvation.All have a chance at salvation through Jesus Chrit's sacrifice as it is love not knowlege that saves while protetants stae "You just have to know your saved" this is not our teaching as salvation comes through a relationship with God and man and the aithful can slip and the unbeleviers can be hungering for rightousness and Christ said those who hunger are to be filled.

Sin seperates man and God and christ united man and God and tore down the barriers-

2. The Holy spirit is the 3rd person of the trinity and guides the Church keeping it from error.

unlike the Roman Catholics curch athority is colective and not with in one man. So a synod of bishops makes coelctive adminsitrative decisons we also have a traditon of trying to use the local languages even an old form.

Our relationship with the Bible is simple the Church wrote the Bible and so with out the Church one can not understand the Bible.

we use Icons uin the church as "windows" into heaven and srongly beleive in the real precencs of christ in the eucherest. The Orthodox church is not about being ethnic- it's about seeking Jesus christ in the purest form of worship available. One that has been unchanged for 2000 years.

Um...haha!

I was raised as greek orthodox,my mom's greek.They believe in the bible yes,they were good people yes,and they helped a lot by giving the apostoles place to stay when they were prosecuted.

The church as you know was united untill the 12th-13th century i don't exactly remember when,when it divided in the catholic church and the orthodox church.

it's the same faith only that they disagree in some matters like the power of man,the power of the wholy spirit and virgin mary,and there are differences in the mysteries and the books of the bible in whoch they believe.

Here's a link you might find helpful http://www.ocf.org/OrthodoxPage/reading/ortho_cath...

Just to make it clear cuz I know what i said is confusing.

The greek Orthodox church is part of the Orthodox faith and church but it's reffered to seperatly because they have their own council of ministers or whatever.They have a different leader than the jewish orthodox and the russian orthodox but all those leaders make up the council of the orthodox church.

I don't believe in god any more,but greek orthodox are normal people and they are less fanatic than the catholics.

We believe in all that, lol. You make it sound like we are really different! Some differing customs are our "first communion" is when we are a couple of months old, instead of 12 yrs, or whatever. And when we do our cross we do it on the right side first, instead of the left, but that might be with all Orthodoxs'.

If you're interested, this is a popular forum for Orthodox Christians, you may find more answers here...

http://christianforums.com/f145-the-ancient-way-ea...