Istoria Biserici Ortodoxe -

The Orthodox Church views itself as the direct, uninterrupted continuation of the original Christian community established by Jesus Christ and His Apostles. In its early centuries, the Church was organized around five major patriarchal sees (the Pentarchy): Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. The Era of the Seven Councils

Moscow as the "Third Rome" and the expansion of the Russian Church.

The rise of national autocephalous churches (e.g., Romanian, Serbian, Bulgarian). The severe impact of Soviet and Eastern Bloc communism. Summary of Orthodoxy's historical resilience. The Church's role in the contemporary world. Istoria Biserici Ortodoxe

Istoria Bisericii Ortodoxe Române by Mircea Păcurariu — The definitive source if you are focusing specifically on the Romanian Orthodox Church context.

The 19th and 20th centuries saw the Ottoman Empire crumble and the rise of modern nation-states in the Balkans. This led to the establishment of self-governing () national churches, such as the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Church of Greece, and the Serbian Orthodox Church. The Communist Crucible The Orthodox Church views itself as the direct,

was strictly defended at the Seventh Council (787 AD), cementing visual art as a core component of Orthodox theology and worship. The Great Schism of 1054

The 7 Ecumenical Councils and the definition of core dogmas. The rise of national autocephalous churches (e

Thesis statement: The Orthodox Church maintained early Christian traditions while adapting to geopolitical shifts, resulting in a unique synthesis of theology, culture, and national identity.