Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

A member of any of the Eastern or Oriental churches. The following groups of Eastern Christians exist. (1)   eastern orthodox , the family of churches united by acceptance of seven ecumenical councils . There are several Eastern Orthodox churches not in communion with the main body of Eastern Orthodox, for example the true orthodox or old calendarist churches and the old believers . (2)  Oriental Orthodox, the family of churches united by acceptance of three ecumenical councils and by the rejection of the ecumenical authority of chalcedon . Within this group, the Mar Thoma Church ( see india ) is a special case as a reformed Oriental church which still has a recognizably Oriental Orthodox ethos. (3)  The church of the east , which accepts only the Council of Nicea as of ecumenical authority. (4)  The eastern catholic churches, Eastern or Oriental in rite and discipline, but united in dogma and communion with rome . (5)  Eastern Catholics living under the authority of Latin bishops. (6)  Dissident Eastern communities, e.g. the now extinct dualist paulicians and bogomils , various Judaizing movements and the so-called russian sects , Khlysty, Doukhobors, Molokans and Skoptsy. There also exist Protestant churches such as the coptic evangelical church and the Armenian Evangelical church, which, while more Western in worship and doctrine, retain a particular sense ... log in or subscribe to read full text