Orthodoxy

   Also known as Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Following the Great Schism in 1054, western Christendom (Catholicism) and Eastern Orthodox Christianity grew into distinct faiths. Within the latter, a number of nationally distinct but theologically unified churches developed, the largest of which today is the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). Other Eastern Orthodox Churches include the Ukrainian, Belarusian, Serbian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Georgian, Albanian, and the Greek Orthodox Churches. Worldwide, there are approximately 225 million Orthodox Christians. Within Russia, the ROC is the dominant church, though there are adherents of most—if not all—of the other branches of Eastern Orthodoxy. Orthodox Christianity, alongside Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism, is recognized as one of the native religions of the Russian Federation, and enjoys the status of primus inter pares in relation to these other faiths. Following the rise of Vladimir Putin, there has been an increase in the role Russian Orthodoxy plays in education and public life in Russia. However, despite a rise in the political status of the religion, many Russians continue to declare atheism.