The Eastern Orthodox Church: History, Beliefs, and Why I’m Not Orthodox

Introduction

In this article, I want to give a brief overview of the Eastern Orthodox Church—its history, main doctrines, and key claims. Then, I’ll explain why, as a Protestant, I’m not Eastern Orthodox and where I believe they depart from biblical truth.

I’ve already written a similar piece on Roman Catholicism (with a fuller treatment of Church history there), so if you want a broader context, you may want to read that first.

I also want to make it clear: I’m not an expert. What follows is based on my own study and research. I’ll provide resources for both sides at the end because, even though I disagree with Orthodoxy, I want to represent it fairly and accurately.

Why Did the Eastern Orthodox Split with the Roman Catholics?

The official split—known as the Great Schism of 1054—happened when the Pope of Rome and the Patriarch of Constantinople excommunicated each other. But this was the breaking point after centuries of tension.

The main issue was authority.

• The Roman Catholic Church claimed that the Pope had supreme authority over the entire Church.
  
  
• The Eastern Orthodox Church believed that all bishops were equal in authority, with no single bishop having universal power.
  
  

Another major dispute was the Filioque controversy. Western Christians (the Roman Catholics) added the phrase “and the Son” (Filioque) to the Nicene Creed, making it say: “The Holy Spirit… who proceeds from the Father and the Son.”

• The East objected, saying this distorted the Trinity.
  
  
• They also opposed the West’s unilateral decision to change an ecumenical creed without the agreement of the whole Church.
  
  

Beyond theology, there were also cultural and political differences:

• The West spoke Latin, while the East used Greek.
  
  
• The Church’s role in politics differed in each empire.
  
  
• Geography and the division between the Byzantine East and the Latin West deepened the divide.
  
  

The Beliefs of the Eastern Orthodox Church

Orthodox doctrine can be summarized across key areas:

• God – Trinitarian, consistent with Scripture.
  
  
• Authority & Revelation – The Bible is part of Sacred Tradition (the highest part), but must be interpreted through the Church Fathers and the living tradition of the Church. The Apocrypha is considered Scripture, though with a lower status.
  
  
• Man – Humanity is fallen but still able to cooperate with God in the process of salvation, called theosis (deification).
  
  
• Sin – Seen as a sickness or brokenness rather than a dominating enslaving power (contrast Romans 7; Ephesians 2:1–10).
  
  
• Salvation – A synergy of God’s grace and man’s effort, with the sacraments playing a central role. The Incarnation and Resurrection are emphasized more than the substitutionary death of Christ.
  
  
• Creation – Historically affirmed a literal six-day creation, but some modern Orthodox accept evolutionary ideas.
  
  
• Worship – Focused on the Divine Liturgy, filled with reverence, symbolism, icons, chanting, incense, and the Eucharist. Worship is deeply traditional and highly ritualistic.
  
  

Why I’m Not Eastern Orthodox

Here are the main reasons I cannot accept Eastern Orthodoxy as biblical Christianity:

1. Salvation
   
   
   • Orthodoxy emphasizes deification (theosis)—becoming “godlike”—as the goal of salvation. While they do not mean literally becoming God, it places salvation more on a process of transformation than on justification by faith alone.
     
     
   • They emphasize the Incarnation and Resurrection but downplay the substitutionary atonement of Christ’s death, which Scripture teaches is central to our salvation (Romans 3:23–26; 1 Peter 2:24).
     
     
   • Salvation is seen as a cooperation between God and man. As a Protestant, I believe salvation is entirely by grace alone through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8–9).
     
     
2. Authority
   
   
   • Orthodoxy gives great weight to Sacred Tradition and the writings of the Church Fathers. While Protestants also respect church history, we believe Scripture alone is God’s inspired and final authority (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
     
     
   • Apostolic succession may have had value in the early Church, but to claim that modern bishops inherit apostolic authority risks elevating man’s words to the level of God’s Word.
     
     
   • Only Scripture is infallible. Human traditions are not.
     
     
3. The Role of Man
   
   
   • In Orthodoxy, man plays too large a role in salvation. God is seen as giving “help,” but man must complete the work. This diminishes the reality that we are completely dead in sin and unable to save ourselves apart from God’s sovereign grace (Ephesians 2:1–5).
     
     
4. Icons and the Saints
   
   
   • Icons are treated with deep reverence—as “windows to heaven.” Believers kiss them, bow before them, and use them in prayer. While Orthodoxy insists this is veneration and not worship, I see two problems:
     
     
     • Distraction: Time spent venerating icons could be better spent worshiping God directly. Saints should be honored as examples, not as ongoing participants in our devotion.
       
       
     • Danger: Even if meant as reverence, it is far too easy for the line between veneration and worship to blur. God commands our worship and devotion to be directed to Him alone (Exodus 20:4–5; Isaiah 42:8).
       
       

Conclusion

This has been my brief overview of the Eastern Orthodox Church—its history, teachings, and my Protestant critique. As a Southern Baptist, I know my own biases, but I hope I’ve represented Orthodoxy fairly while also pointing back to the authority of God’s Word.

At the end of the day, the central issue comes down to this:

• Do we trust God’s grace alone through faith in Christ’s finished work on the cross?
  
  
• Or do we add human tradition, works, and rituals as necessary for salvation?
  
  

I want to encourage every believer to worship God above all else, to cling to His Word as the final authority, and to rest in the finished work of Christ for salvation.