In what country did the Greek Orthodox religion originate?

Answer 1

The principal early Christian sects are generally known today as Catholic Orthodox Christianity and Gnosticism, although other groups also existed. Eventually, Roman state patronage for the Catholic Orthodox Church ensured that it was able to expropriate the property of other churches which did not share their views, and provided a cover for persecution until there was essentially only one Christian Church left in the Roman Empire. The Council of Nicaea, called by the Roman Emperor Constantine, decided that Christianity in the Roman Empire would be led by four senior bishops or Metropolitans representing Rome, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem. The Council made also provision for Constantinople and Carthage, where Metropolitans were subsequently appointed, although the role was short-lived in Carthage. The view held by religious authorities in the mainly Greek-speaking eastern regions was that the Metropolitans were of equal authority, but the bishop of Rome, designated as the Pope, insisted that he had greater authority than the others. Gradually, differences built up until the Great Schism of 1054, when Pope Leo IX and Patriarch Michael I excommunicated each other. There were attempts at reconciliation and the Churches came close to being reunited in 1274 and in 1439, but the schism eventually became permanent. The western Church, based on Rome, has become known as Roman Catholic, while the eastern Churches have become known as Orthodox Churches. Constantinople, in modern Turkey, was the main centre of the Greek Orthodox Church.