Orthodox Christianity

Orthodox churches in Vologda, Russia

History Of The Eastern Orthodox Church

History Of The Eastern Orthodox Church According to the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the history of the Eastern Orthodox Church is traced back to Jesus Christ and the Apostles. The Apostles appointed successors, known as bishops, and they in turn appointed other bishops in a process known as Apostolic succession. Over time, five Patriarchates were established to organize the...

Filippo Lippi, Vision of St. Augustine, c. 1465, tempera, Hermitage Museum, Saint Petersburg

Apophatic Theology

Apophatic Theology Apophatic theology, also known as negative theology, is a form of theological thinking and religious practice which attempts to approach God, the Divine, by negation, to speak only in terms of what may not be said about the perfect goodness that is God. It forms a pair together with cataphatic theology, which...

Madonna and five angels, Botticelli, c. 1485

Marian Devotions

Marian Devotions Marian devotions are external pious practices directed to the person of Mary, mother of Jesus, by members of certain Christian traditions. They are performed in Roman Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity, but generally rejected in Protestant denominations. Such devotional prayers or acts may be accompanied by specific requests for Mary’s intercession with God. There is significant diversity of form and...