Orthodoxy

Orthodoxy is adherence to correct or accepted norms, more specifically to creeds, especially in religion. In the Christian sense, the term means "conforming to the Christian faith as represented in the creeds of the early Church".

Following the 1054 East-West Schism, both the Western and Eastern Churches continued to consider themselves as the right one, considering the other one as a heretic. Over time the Western Church gradually identified with the "Catholic" label and people of Western Europe gradually associated the "Orthodox" label with the Eastern Church, although there is also Eastern Catholicism.

The two Churches only removed the mutual excommunication in 1966. Only recently has the dialogue between them been effectively resumed in order to try to recommence together, erasing the schism. For all intents and purposes, the Pope of Rome is currently for the Orthodox only the Patriarch of the West (now in the 21st century).

It is very important to say that the Orthodox believe that all Patriarchs are co-equal, while Catholics recognize only the authority of the Patriarch of Rome, this is one of the main differences between the two Churches.

Orthodox two largest communions are Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox.