Among the world’s largest Christian churches, the Greek Orthodox Church is second only to the Catholic Church. It was founded in the 7th century and is among the most ancient Christian churches, with a history that dates back to the era of Jesus Christ. The Orthodox church is divided into several dioceses, each with its own unique characteristics. These differences make the Greek Orthodox church one of the most diverse and unique denominations in the world. The church is also very philanthropic, with a large division of its resources going to aging care homes and other institutions.
Table of Contents
Ancient beginnings
Despite the tense inter-church relations of the past, the Greek Orthodox Church has played a significant role in the Ecumenical Movement. Its leaders have played a major role in the struggle for civil rights and freedom in the United States.
The Orthodox Church is the second largest denomination in the world. It has around 225 million members. It has jurisdictions on all seven continents. There are four Patriarchates that maintain a shared Orthodox Apostolic Faith based on the New Testament.
The ancient beginnings of the Greek Orthodox Church took place in the first day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit descended upon the gathered believers. The Apostles were sent out to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. They traveled throughout Asia Minor and Rome, and eventually to Greece.
Second-largest Christian church in the world
Among the world’s Christian denominations, the Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest. Its population has nearly doubled in the past century, with 260 million adherents. Despite its relatively small size, it is central to the history of many countries.
The Catholic Church is the world’s largest church by membership. Its membership is reported to be 1.313 billion in 2017. However, that number may exclude lapsed Catholics and properly baptised Christians who are not in full communion with the Roman Pontiff.
The Assemblies of God is the fastest growing Christian movement in history. It traces its roots to Arkansas in the early 20th century. Its doctrines include the doctrine of end times and different plans of salvation for Jews and Gentiles.
Number of dioceses
Approximately 5 million Orthodox Christians live in nearly a dozen ecclesiastical jurisdictions. The Orthodox Church also has a presence in the Western Hemisphere, and has been present for more than 200 years. The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is one of those jurisdictions. It is located in New York City. It is a non-profit organization and includes several institutions across the United States.
The number of dioceses in the Orthodox Church is 84. These include the Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Church of Greece. The Ecumenical Patriarchate divides the administration of the two continents into four parts. These parts are the Church of Constantinople, the Church of Greece, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and the Orthodox Church in America.
Philanthropy division
Throughout its history, the Greek Orthodox Church has had a rich philanthropy division. In the early years of the church, it had a mission to provide aid for the poor, the elderly and the sick. These early efforts led to the creation of hospitals, orphanages and homeless shelters. The church has long since maintained this tradition.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America coordinates on the national level philanthropic activities, as well as works closely with many community organizations. IOCC is the Orthodox Church’s most renowned charity, offering disaster relief and long-term sustainable solutions. Its vision is to respond to the needs of the people in the community with dignity, respect and hope. It provides community-oriented solutions, with a focus on promoting the Orthodox Christian faith.
Aged care homes
Listed as the largest aged care facility in Australia, St Basil’s in Melbourne has made headlines over the past eight years. While it’s no secret that St Basil’s has received more than $73 million in taxpayer funding, there’s been very little discussion about how much it actually spent on residents.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia owns and manages fifteen aged care facilities across Australia. While it’s unclear how much it spends on aged care, it is well-known that St Basil’s has been a cash cow, churning out $13 million in revenue annually, according to federal government data.
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese did not answer questions posed via an email, but did provide the names of two directors of St Basil’s. The aforementioned Kontis and Joseph Ibrahim, head of the Health Law and Ageing Research Unit at Monash University.