The History of the Christian Church. An Exhaustive Account

The Orthodox Church, founded by Jesus Christ and the apostles, remains the original, unchanged New Testament Church. It grew from five ancient patriarchates, surviving persecution and preserving apostolic tradition through Holy Fathers and Ecumenical Councils. The 1054 Schism divided East and West; the Orthodox Church stayed true to original teachings, while the Roman Church introduced changes and Protestantism later fragmented Christianity further.