Eastern Orthodox Christians: Why do you believe the Eastern Orthodox Church is the ch

Eastern Orthodox Christians: Why do you believe the Eastern Orthodox Church is the church founded by Christ?

The Church was founded by people (Apostles) who were direct students of Christ. We kept their teachings unchanged and we are the true heirs of CHristian faith because there aren't any gaps between them and us (Apostles=>ancient bishops=>.....=>modern bishops)

EO Church didn't arise out of nowhere as many Protestant denominations did.

EASTERN ORTHODOX, ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH
Our name, or rather, our names tell a great deal about us. Many names have been used throughout the centuries to describe our Church and its some 300 million adherents. "Greek", "Eastern", "Orthodox", "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic" are all appropriate designations of the Church.

Our Church is called the "Greek Church" because Greek was the first language of the ancient Christian Church from which our Faith was transmitted. The New Testament was written in Greek and the early writings of Christ's followers were in the Greek language. The word "Greek" is not used to describe just the Orthodox Christian peoples of Greece and other Greek speaking people. Rather, it is used to describe the Christians who originated from the Greek speaking early Christian Church and which used Greek thought to find appropriate expressions of the Orthodox Faith. "Orthodox" is also used to describe our Church. The word "Orthodox" is derived from two short Greek words, Otho's, meaning correct, and docs, meaning belief or glory. Thus, we used the word "Orthodox'' to indicate our conviction that we believe and worship God correctly. We emphasize Apostolic tradition, continuity and conservatism over a 2,000 year history.

Our name, or rather, our names tell a great deal about us. Many names have been used throughout the centuries to describe our Church and its some 300 million adherents. "Greek", "Eastern", "Orthodox", "One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic" are all appropriate designations of the Church.

Our Church is called the "Greek Church" because Greek was the first language of the ancient Christian Church from which our Faith was transmitted. The New Testament was written in Greek and the early writings of Christ's followers were in the Greek language. The word "Greek" is not used to describe just the Orthodox Christian peoples of Greece and other Greek speaking people. Rather, it is used to describe the Christians who originated from the Greek speaking early Christian Church and which used Greek thought to find appropriate expressions of the Orthodox Faith. "Orthodox" is also used to describe our Church. The word "Orthodox" is derived from two short Greek words, Otho's, meaning correct, and docs, meaning belief or glory. Thus, we used the word "Orthodox'' to indicate our conviction that we believe and worship God correctly. We emphasize Apostolic tradition, continuity and conservatism over a 2,000 year history.

http://www.goarch.org/archdiocese/

We were First Called Christians at Antioch.

WE ARE ALL ONE. THOUGH CHRIST WHO CAME FOR ALL
Romans 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the ...For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;. King James Bible ...
scripture text.com/romans/10
http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/galatians/galatians3.htm

The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian communion in the world, estimated to number between 225-300 million total members. It is considered by its adherents to be the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church established by Jesus Christ and his Apostles nearly 2000 years ago. The Church is composed of numerous self-governing occlusion bodies, each geographically and nationally distinct but theologically unified. Each self-governing (or hydrocephalus) body is shepherded by a Synod of independent bishops whose duty is, among other things, to preserve and teach the Apostolic and patriotic traditions and related Church practices. All Eastern Orthodox bishops trace their lineage back to one of the twelve Apostles through the process of Apostolic Succession.

Today?s Eastern Orthodox Church traces its development back through Slavic, Greek, and Middle Eastern traditions, among others; back through Byzantine and Roman empires; back to the earliest church established by St. Paul and the Apostles. It clings tenaciously to its ancient traditions and practices, believing in growth without change.

Orthodox Christians believe that the ultimate goal of every Christian is to become like God, to love perfectly, to become little ?Jesus Christs? within Jesus Christ. This process is called thesis or deification.

The Biblical text used by the Orthodox includes the Greek Septuagint and the New Testament. It includes the Deuterocanonical Books, which are generally rejected by Protestants, and a few texts that are not in the Western canon. Eastern Orthodox Christians utilize icons as focal points in their daily worship while rejecting 3-dimensional statuary.