History of Oriental Orthodoxy

Oriental Orthodoxy is the communion of Eastern Christian churches that held distinct Miaphysite Christology and recognize only first three ecumenical councils—the First Council of Nicaea, the First Council of Constantinople and the Council of Ephesus. They reject the dogmatic definitions of the Council of Chalcedon. Hence, these churches are also called Old Oriental Churches or non-Chalcedonian churches.

Foundation

Much like other Eastern Christian communions and the Catholic Church in the West, history of Oriental Orthodoxy ultimately dated back to the beginnings of Christianity, as their institutional and ecclesiastical presence was once part of both Great Church and later Nicene Christianity.

Missionary roles

The Oriental Orthodox Churches had a great missionary role during the early stages of Christianity and played a great role in the history of Egypt.

Coptic Orthodoxy spread to Nubia during sixth century, with support from Empress Theodora and later, to Axumite Ethiopia. Armenian Church spread unto neighboring Caucasian Albania and remained so until early Muslim conquests. Syriac Orthodoxy on the other hand, spread unto Mesopotamia and to Arab Ghassanid Kingdom.

Chalcedonian schism

According to the canons of the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the four bishops of Rome, Alexandria, Ephesus (later transferred to Constantinople) and Antioch were all given status as patriarchs, the ancient apostolic centers of Christianity by the First Council of Nicaea (predating the schism). Each patriarch was responsible for the bishops and churches within his own area of the universal catholic Church (with the exception of the patriarch of Jerusalem, who was independent of the rest) with the Bishop of Rome as "first among equals" as the successor to Peter and seat of the Petrine Ministry of unity and authority.