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[[Image:Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Bluff City Tennessee.jpg|thumb|300px|Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Bluff City, Tennessee.]]

[[Image:Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Bluff City Tennessee.jpg|thumb|300px|Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Bluff City, Tennessee.]]

===Orthodox Church in America===

===Orthodox Church in America===

After decades of a very cold relationship, in 1970 the Metropolia was granted [[autocephalous|autocephaly]] (think of it as administrative independence) by the Patriarch of Moscow and became known as the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).  When that happened, numbers of the Romanian, Bulgarian, and Albanian Churches in the USA and Canada merged with the OCA.  However, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (which claims it alone has the right to grant autocephaly to a church) has never recognized the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in America.

After decades of a very cold relationship, in 1970 the Metropolia was granted [[autocephalous|autocephaly]] (think of it as administrative independence) by the Patriarch of Moscow and became known as the [[Orthodox Church in America]] (OCA).  When that happened, numbers of the Romanian, Bulgarian, and Albanian Churches in the USA and Canada merged with the OCA.  However, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (which claims he alone has the right to grant autocephaly to a church) has never recognized the autocephaly of the [[Orthodox Church in America]].

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The Orthodox Church continues to grow in North America.  Most of its bishops were born in America, many having converted (either from religions outside Christianity or other Christian churches) as adults.  The Orthodox church has experienced a couple of waves of mass conversions, such as when several thousand Byzantine-rite Catholics converted in the early 20th Century.   

The Orthodox Church continues to grow in North America.  Most of its bishops were born in America, many having converted (either from religions outside Christianity or other Christian churches) as adults.  The Orthodox church has experienced a couple of waves of mass conversions, such as when several thousand Byzantine-rite Catholics converted in the early 20th Century.   

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Several monasteries have been established for men and women, and two (one in New York and one in Miami) have converted from other churches and have become Orthodox monasteries.

Several monasteries have been established for men and women, and two (one in New York and one in Miami) have converted from other churches and have become Orthodox monasteries.

===Antiochian Orthodox Church===

===Antiochian Orthodox Church===

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. They trace their roots to first century Antioch, the city in which the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). The Church of Antioch is one of the five ancient Patriarchates of the Christian Church, along with Alexandria, Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Rome. The Archdiocese is autonomous, the Synod of Antioch still picks its bishop, from a list of three candidates nominated by [[Antiochian Archdiocese of North America | North American archdiocese]]. The archbishop resides in Englewood NJ<ref>https://www.antiochian.org/home</ref>

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. They trace their roots to first century Antioch, the city in which the disciples of Jesus Christ were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). The Church of Antioch is one of the five ancient Patriarchates of the Christian Church, along with Alexandria, Constantinople, Jerusalem, and Rome. The Archdiocese is autonomous, the Synod of Antioch still picks its bishop, from a list of three candidates nominated by [[Antiochian Archdiocese of North America | North American archdiocese]]. The archbishop resides in Englewood NJ<ref>https://www.antiochian.org/home</ref>