| During the first three Christian centuries, in spite of often vicious
persecution, the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church spread
throughout the civilized world and developed its theology, worship,
and administrative structure as far as was possible for a catacomb
Church. The Church was governed by bishops, who were first the
Apostles themselves and then men whom they chose and appointed. Every
new bishop was consecrated by another bishop who could trace his
spiritual "heritage" back to one of the Apostles. This is called the
"apostolic succession," and it still holds in the Orthodox Church
today.
When the Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan in AD 312,
making Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire, the
Church emerged from hiding. At this time, bishops from all over the
empire-many of them crippled, blind, or maimed as a result of
persecution-were finally able to meet and establish uniformity among
the churches in matters of doctrine and practice. The Church's
structure was solidified at this time, but not essentially changed
from what it had been all along.
The Church under Constantine and his immediate successors was united
throughout the world. The entire Church was divided into five
patriarchates, with a patriarch in each of the major cities of the
empire: Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Alexandria, and-by courtesy
because it was the Holy City-Jerusalem. These five patriarchs were
equal in authority. By custom the patriarch of Rome received the honor
of "first among equals," but his authority was no greater than the
others'. However, all the patriarchs were titular heads, not
independent decision-makers. The government of the Church was
conciliar-all important decisions were made by synods of bishops.
Essential matters of theology could only be decided by an ecumenical
council representative of all the bishops of Christendom. Seven
officially recognized ecumenical councils were held between the fourth
and eighth centuries.
In addition to these, there were a number of councils whose decisions
were not accepted because the councils were not properly
representational or because the decisions did not receive the "Amen"
of the people when the bishops returned home. The laity are one of the
three pillars of the Church, along with the clergy and the monastics;
each of these three has been instrumental at various times in
preserving the Church in truth.
What is The Orthodox Christian Church?: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
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