Byzantine Church

The Byzantine Church refers to the Eastern Christian tradition that developed in the Byzantine Empire (primarily modern-day Greece and Turkey) after the Great Schism of 1054, which separated it from Western Roman Catholicism. It is characterized by its unique liturgy, theology, and iconography, emphasizing the divine nature of Christ and the use of ornate churches and religious icons. The Byzantine Church played a major role in preserving Christian doctrine, art, and culture during the Middle Ages and later influenced Eastern Orthodoxy, which continues today as a major branch of Christianity.