The Eastern Orthodox Church is a communion of self-governing churches united in the Orthodox faith, the sacraments, apostolic succession, and the Byzantine liturgical tradition.
Communion and governance
Eastern Orthodoxy has no single universal earthly governor. Autocephalous churches are led by patriarchs, archbishops, or metropolitans and maintain communion through shared faith, episcopal recognition, and conciliar life.
Spiritual life
Its theology emphasizes the Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, the Ecumenical Councils, theosis, sacramental worship, icons, monasticism, fasting, and the continuity of Holy Tradition.