The Holy Orthodox Church Around the World

Jesus commissioned His Disciples to “go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19). Following the first Pentecost, the apostles were divinely assigned to various corners of the world. James was in Jerusalem, Peter went to Antioch and Rome, Paul went to Cyprus, Asia Minor, and Greece, Andrew went to Scythia (future Ukraine) and Greece, John went to the island of Patmos and Ephesus, Mark went to Egypt, Thomas went to India, Simon went to Persia, and Jude also went to Persia. By the 4th century, Orthodox Christianity had spread throughout the entire Roman Empire, and by the 10th century, reached from Great Britain to Russia. Today, the Divine Liturgy takes place throughout the world in diverse languages, but holding to the same ancient teachings and traditions of Jesus and the Apostles.