'''Greek Orthodox Church''' (
Greek: ''Hellēnorthódoxē Ekklēsía'') can refer to any of several
hierarchical churches within the larger group of mutually recognizing
Eastern Orthodox churches. Any Eastern Orthodox church that is ethnically
Greek and uses a Greek
liturgy may be considered "Greek Orthodox". The various autonomous branches of the contemporary Greek Orthodox Church are:
★ the
Orthodox Church of Constantinople, headed by the
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, who is also the "
first among equals" of the
Eastern Orthodox Communion
★ the
Church of Greece, which has been
autocephalous since
1833
★ the
Orthodox Church of Cyprus
★ the
Orthodox Church of Mount Sinai
★ Other
Eastern Orthodox churches with an ethnic Greek clergy include:
★
★ the
Eastern Orthodox Church of Alexandria
★
★ the
Orthodox Church of Jerusalem
★
★ the
Albanian Orthodox Church
★
★ the
Antiochian Orthodox Church, native to the
Middle East, had an ethnically Greek clergy until
1898.
Greek Orthodox churches in the
Americas and
Australia are subject to the Constantinopolitan hierarchy. These should not be confused with the Slavic-rite
Orthodox Church in America, which is partly recognised as an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church, having been granted autocephaly in 1970 by the
Patriarch of Moscow. This status is not recognized by the
Ecumenical Patriarch nor by any other autocephalous Church.
Although the
Orthodox Church of Constantinople, headed by the Patriarch of Constantinople, has resided for many centuries in
Istanbul, the local orthodox population has decreased dramatically in the
20th century.