Independent Eastern Orthodox Churches
The
Independent Eastern Orthodox Churches, also known as autocephalous
or self-governing Orthodox Churches, are religious bodies
within the broader Eastern Orthodox tradition that have
gained ecclesiastical autonomy and self-administration.
They are not under the direct jurisdiction of one of the
major autocephalous Orthodox Churches, but instead, they
govern their own affairs, including the election of bishops
and the administration of sacraments, while maintaining
the essential teachings and liturgical traditions of Eastern
Orthodoxy. While they share common theological beliefs and
practices with the larger Orthodox communion, they often
emerged due to historical, geographical, or ecclesiastical
factors.These churches reflect the diversity and decentralisation
within Eastern Orthodoxy.
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