As someone searching, I have a question: Do the Orthodox believe, in general, that other Orthodox are... er... Orthodox?
For example: I see people who list themselves as Coptic or Serbian or Ethiopian Tewahedo. Would all of you see each other as Orthodox (in general)? Or are there subgroups (e.g. Copts and Ethiopians intercommune, but not with Serbs who are on their own)? Do Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians see each other as Orthodox, doctrinal disagreements notwithstanding? Would the Russian church outside of Russia intercommune with the "true" Russian church? Is it all individual or is there a general structure?
Part of my confusion in researching Orthodoxy are all the subsplits. Even in the Greek Orthodox Church, there are subgroups that aren't in communion with each other, or at least it appears to be so.
Is there a chart somewhere? Or some way I can discern what joining Orthodoxy would entail if I choose Greek vs. Antiochian vs. Coptic vs. Ethopian vs. whatever?
Apologies in advance if this is dense.
For example: I see people who list themselves as Coptic or Serbian or Ethiopian Tewahedo. Would all of you see each other as Orthodox (in general)? Or are there subgroups (e.g. Copts and Ethiopians intercommune, but not with Serbs who are on their own)? Do Chalcedonians and non-Chalcedonians see each other as Orthodox, doctrinal disagreements notwithstanding? Would the Russian church outside of Russia intercommune with the "true" Russian church? Is it all individual or is there a general structure?
Part of my confusion in researching Orthodoxy are all the subsplits. Even in the Greek Orthodox Church, there are subgroups that aren't in communion with each other, or at least it appears to be so.
Is there a chart somewhere? Or some way I can discern what joining Orthodoxy would entail if I choose Greek vs. Antiochian vs. Coptic vs. Ethopian vs. whatever?
Apologies in advance if this is dense.