By the fourth century A.D., under the Emperor Constantine the Great, Christianity as a religion became tolerated and legal-keeping in mind that since apostolic times the Church was persecuted. By the fifth century, Orthodox Christianity became so widespread that it became the only religion recognized by the Roman government. The great centers of Orthodox Christianity were Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem. The bishops of these great cities and their surrounding regions governed the entire Church for the most part. For this reason, they were given honorary titles such as: Pope, Patriarch, Archbishop or Metropolitan, depending on the size of their flock or importance of their geographic or historic domain. All bishops were/are equal whether they preside over a small region or great city. No bishop may interfere within the jurisdiction of another bishop unless it is proven by a council of bishops that he has fallen into heresy.

• Origin of the Orthodox Church
• The Orthodox Church in the First Centuries after Christ
• The Spread of Orthodox Christianity
• The Great Schism: Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism
• Continuity vs Reformation
• Orthodoxy in America
• The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America

The Orthodox Faith

• God
• Jesus Christ
• The Holy Spirit
• The Virgin Mary
• The Bible
• Holy Tradition
• The Sacraments
• Icons
• The Clergy and the Laity

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