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[[Image:Russian Orthodox Church.jpg|right|300px]]

[[Image:Russian Orthodox Church.jpg|right|300px]]

The '''Orthodox Churches''' are the second largest body of [[Christians]], with an estimated membership between 250 million and 350 million people.  The Orthodox Churches understand themselves to constitute the original Catholic Christian Church founded by [[Jesus Christ]]. Members believe that theirs is the oldest Christian denomination in the world. The Orthodox faith is notable for its use of  [[icon]]s, candles, incense, relics of [[saint]]s, and beautiful vestments during her rich liturgical services.  It is often confused with the Byzantine-rite Catholics who are in communion with the Pope of Rome.  The Orthodox are not in communion with the [[Roman Catholics]], whom they view as holding several false doctrines.  While in the West the Orthodox Churches may be thought of as the Church in Russia, Greece, and other Eastern European countries, they are present on all inhabited continents and in most countries of the world. The original church or community of the East before the [[Great Schism]] in 1054 comprised: the Greek churches founded by Saint Paul. the Antiochian and Asia Minor churches founded by Saint Peter<ref>[https://stbartsestes.org/questions-and-interesting-facts/which-apostle-started-the-greek-orthodox-church.html],</ref>

The '''Orthodox Churches''' are the second largest body of [[Christians]], with an estimated membership between 250 million and 350 million people.  The Orthodox Churches understand themselves to constitute the original Catholic Christian Church founded by [[Jesus Christ]]. Members believe that theirs is the oldest Christian denomination in the world. The Orthodox faith is notable for its use of  [[icon]]s, candles, incense, relics of [[saint]]s, and beautiful vestments during her rich liturgical services.  It is often confused with the Byzantine-rite Catholics who are in communion with the Pope of Rome.  The Orthodox are not in communion with the [[Roman Catholics]], whom they view as holding several false doctrines.  While in the West the Orthodox Churches may be thought of as the Church in Russia, Greece, and other Eastern European countries, they are present on all inhabited continents and in most countries of the world. The original church or community of the East before the [[Great Schism]] in 1054 comprised: the Greek churches founded by Saint Paul. the Antiochian and Asia Minor churches founded by Saint Peter<ref>[https://stbartsestes.org/questions-and-interesting-facts/which-apostle-started-the-greek-orthodox-church.html],</ref>