Changes

===Church of Constantinople===

===Church of Constantinople===

This church which had always had a strong missionary zeal has suffered greatly under the heel of [[Islam]].  Also, the effect Roman Catholic invasion of Constantinople during the 4th Crusade can not be overstated.  That event saw most of the relics carted away or destroyed, and a Roman Catholic pretender put in the place of the Orthodox [[patriarch]]. Nevertheless, in the last hundred years this Church has recaptured it’s missionary heritage, establishing churches in Singapore, Malaysia, [[Australia]], and South America.  The Church of [[Constantinople]] also provides arch-pastoral services for some Orthodox in the U.S. who are not part of the Orthodox Church in America.  This Church was established by [[St. Andrew]] but was a very small and almost insignificant Church until [[St. Constantine]] moved the capitol of the [[Roman Empire]] to this city and the [[Council of Nicea]] gave the Church there second place after [[Rome]].

This church which had always had a strong missionary zeal has suffered greatly under the heel of [[Islam]].  Also, the catastrophic effect of the Roman Catholic invasion of Constantinople during the 4th Crusade can not be overstated.  That event saw most of the relics carted away or destroyed, and a Roman Catholic pretender put in the place of the Orthodox [[patriarch]]. Nevertheless, in the last hundred years this Church has recaptured its missionary heritage, establishing churches in Singapore, Malaysia, [[Australia]], India, Korea, New Zealand, North America, Mexico, and South America.  The Church of [[Constantinople]] also provides arch-pastoral services for some Orthodox in the U.S. who are not part of the Orthodox Church in America.  This Church was established by [[St. Andrew]] but was a very small and almost insignificant Church until [[St. Constantine]] moved the capitol of the [[Roman Empire]] to this city and the [[Council of Nicea]] gave the Church there second place after [[Rome]].

===Church of Alexandria===

===Church of Alexandria===

===Church of Russia===

===Church of Russia===

Though there were already Orthodox Christians in some of the Black Sea ports, and though [[Viking]] traders had become Christians in Constantinople and had built some churches along their Volga river trade-route, and though the Polish had begun some missionary activity along the western frontier of Kievan state, the year conventionally recognized as the establishment of the Church of Russia is 988 when [[St. Prince Vladimir]] decreed Orthodox Christianity as the state religion.  This church, like many of the Orthodox Churches suffered from Islamic invasion, but also [[Mongol]] conquest and most recently, severe persecution under the [[Communists]].  This last persecution produced more than 50 million holy [[martyrs]].

Though there were already Orthodox Christians in some of the Black Sea ports, and though [[Viking]] traders had become Christians in Constantinople and had built some churches along their Volga river trade-route, and though the Polish had begun some missionary activity along the western frontier of the Kievan state, the year conventionally recognized as the establishment of the Church of Russia is 988 when [[St. Prince Vladimir]] decreed Orthodox Christianity as the state religion.  This church, like many of the Orthodox Churches suffered from Islamic invasion, but also [[Mongol]] conquest and most recently, severe persecution under the [[Communists]].  This last persecution produced more than 50 million holy [[martyrs]].

===Church of Georgia===

===Church of Georgia===

===Church of Serbia===

===Church of Serbia===

This church was devastated by communism, and later confused by the nationalist movement of [[Slobodon Milosivic]].  Though the bishops did not fall for his “Orthodoxy is Nationalism” heresy many of the poorly-prepared Orthodox laity did.  The results were devastating.  The spiritual heartland of this Church is [[Kosovo]] where Muslim Albanians are waging a terrible war against the Orthodox Serbs.  Many centuries old monasteries and churches have been destroyed.   

This church was devastated by communism, and later confused by the nationalist movement of [[Slobodon Milosivic]].  Though the bishops did not fall for his “Orthodoxy is Nationalism” heresy many of the poorly-prepared Orthodox laity did.  The results were devastating.  The spiritual heartland of this Church is [[Kosovo]] where Muslim Albanians are waging a terrible war against the Orthodox Serbs.  Many centuries-old monasteries and churches have been destroyed.   

===Church of Romania===

===Church of Romania===

===Church of Bulgaria===

===Church of Bulgaria===

Established by the brothers St. Cyril and St. Methodius in the 9th century this ancient patriarchate was suppressed and was made a part of the Church of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in the 15th Century. Missionaries from Bulgaria were key in the evangelization of the lands of Serbia, [[Romania]], and Montenegro. Only in the 1870s did the Church of Bulgaria regain its autocephalous status.

Established by the brothers St. Cyril and St. Methodius in the 9th century this ancient Patriarchate was suppressed and was made a part of the Church of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in the 15th Century. Missionaries from Bulgaria were key in the evangelization of the lands of Serbia, [[Romania]], and Montenegro. Only in the 1870s did the Church of Bulgaria regain its autocephalous status.

===Church of Cyprus===

===Church of Cyprus===

Established by St. [[Lazarus (brother of Mary)|Lazarus]] (the one Jesus raised from the dead) this church never did much in the way of missionary work.  It has been autocephalous since the Council of Ephesus made it so A.D. 431.  Nevertheless, it is an important pilgrimage site since the relics of St. Lazarus are there. Two stories about St. Lazarus still circulate on the island.  One that he laughed aloud at a man who stole a clay pot saying “clay stealing clay” and that he always served something sweet at every meal.

Established by St. [[Lazarus (brother of Mary)|Lazarus]] (the one Jesus raised from the dead) this church never did much in the way of missionary work.  It has been autocephalous since the Council of Ephesus made it so A.D. 431.  Nevertheless, it is an important pilgrimage site since the relics of St. Lazarus and St. Barnabus are there. Two stories about St. Lazarus still circulate on the island.  One that he laughed aloud at a man who stole a clay pot saying “clay stealing clay” and that he always served something sweet at every meal.

===Church of Greece===

===Church of Greece===

===Church of Albania===

===Church of Albania===

This Church is the only Church in Europe that has to deal with a Muslim government.  Oddly, the primate of this church, Archbishop Anastasios is one of the most loved people in Albania. Even Muslims come to him for blessings on their marriages and for prayers when they are sick.   

This Church is the only Church in Europe that has to deal with a Muslim-majority population.  Oddly, the Primate of this church, Archbishop Anastasios is one of the most loved people in Albania. Even Muslims come to him for blessings on their marriages and for prayers when they are sick.   

 

===Church of Poland===

===Church of Poland===

===Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia===

===Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia===

The brothers St. Cyril and St. Methodius established this Church in the Czech region of Moravia in the 9th century.  But when the brothers died Pope Stephen V of Rome ordered that their mission be destroyed, and forced all of the people who converted under the Sainted brothers to leave the Moravia and settle in what is now Slovakia.  There , due to the influence of the nearby Orthodox Poles and the Kievan state the Orthodox were able to survive, barely.  In 1921 many people began leaving the Roman Catholic Church and converting to Orthodoxy under a Serbian Bishop.  On of them was a Roman Catholic priest who took the name Gorazd upon his conversion.  A few years after his conversion he was consecrated Bishop of Moravia.  Under his apostolic ministry the Church Bohemia and Moravia, as well as Slovakia experienced tremendous growth.  He was martyred by the Nazis in 1942.  The Church suffered greatly under the [[Nazis]] and the communists and is only now regaining its footing.  It was officially recognized as autocephalous sby the other autocephalous churches in 1998.   

The brothers St. Cyril and St. Methodius established this Church in the Czech region of Moravia in the 9th century.  But when the brothers died Pope Stephen V of Rome ordered that their mission be destroyed, and forced all of the people who converted under the Sainted brothers to leave Moravia and settle in what is now Slovakia.  There, due to the influence of the nearby Orthodox Poles and the Kievan State the Orthodox were able to survive, barely.  In 1921 many people began leaving the Roman Catholic Church and converting to Orthodoxy under a Serbian Bishop.  On of them was a Roman Catholic priest who took the name Gorazd upon his conversion.  A few years after his conversion he was consecrated Bishop of Moravia.  Under his apostolic ministry the Church Bohemia and Moravia, as well as Slovakia experienced tremendous growth.  He was martyred by the Nazis in 1942.  The Church suffered greatly under the [[Nazis]] and the communists and is only now regaining its footing.  It was officially recognized as autocephalous sby the other autocephalous churches in 1998.   

===Orthodox Church in America===

===Orthodox Church in America===