I was going to post this in response to Number 10 on the "Catholic Perspectives" thread.
Orthodox churches and the Roman Orthodox church were one branch and split. Rome has the right to believe their Orthodox is the absolute truth. And of course those other split ones may claim they are the only true one as well. But that doesn't change the historical fact that the other churches have the same ancestry and work in council together for centuries. The focus on "started by Jesus" of course is a purposeful statement, but the churches still worked together. Jesus, of course, commission his apostles to "go forth" so they were also extensions of his church.
Orthodox and Apostolic church history has some interesting turns. Not many know of the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church. This church is said to be founded by the Apostle Thomas.
The Ethiopian church ties its origins back to Phillip the Evangelist, Act 8:27. (Not an Apostle, but an example of the early church) They are an example of a peaceful non-colonial adoption of Christianity as a nation very early on. They also have the largest canon in orthodoxy with 81 books, including the book of Enoch.
Of course the Coptic Church was started by Mark and founded monasticism (monks).
The Syrian Orthodox church (Acts 11:26) is another Apostolic church that played a strong role in Christianity's foundations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_Orthodox_Church#Apostolic_foundation
Here's a good summary by an Orthodox church in Austin (Started in the 30s by Lebanese Christians)
http://www.sainteliaschurch.org/oorth.html
Orthodox churches and the Roman Orthodox church were one branch and split. Rome has the right to believe their Orthodox is the absolute truth. And of course those other split ones may claim they are the only true one as well. But that doesn't change the historical fact that the other churches have the same ancestry and work in council together for centuries. The focus on "started by Jesus" of course is a purposeful statement, but the churches still worked together. Jesus, of course, commission his apostles to "go forth" so they were also extensions of his church.
Orthodox and Apostolic church history has some interesting turns. Not many know of the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church. This church is said to be founded by the Apostle Thomas.
The Ethiopian church ties its origins back to Phillip the Evangelist, Act 8:27. (Not an Apostle, but an example of the early church) They are an example of a peaceful non-colonial adoption of Christianity as a nation very early on. They also have the largest canon in orthodoxy with 81 books, including the book of Enoch.
Of course the Coptic Church was started by Mark and founded monasticism (monks).
The Syrian Orthodox church (Acts 11:26) is another Apostolic church that played a strong role in Christianity's foundations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syriac_Orthodox_Church#Apostolic_foundation
Here's a good summary by an Orthodox church in Austin (Started in the 30s by Lebanese Christians)
http://www.sainteliaschurch.org/oorth.html