Originally, when the Orthodox churches were formed they all agreed to follow the same rules and beliefs, but as all empires in history develop complications arise. The Eastern Orthodox Church is a result of disagreements between the Eastern churches of Greek descent and the Western churches of Latin descent. Under the Orthodox name many different patriarchies were formed, these churches were founded by the Apostles themselves and followed Christian beliefs which include the Patriarchies of Alexandria founded by St. Mark, Antioch by St. Paul, Constantinople by St. Andrew, Jerusalem by St. Peter and St. James, and Rome by St. Peter and St. Paul; these were the five original churches, though years later through missionary work the .
Churches of Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Sinai, Ukraine, and a hand full of others were formed under the Orthodox name. All of the above churches remain independent while still holding on to their banded faith, Apocalistic tradition, doctrine, sacraments, liturgies and services, all except the Church of Rome. This was the outcome of a lengthy difference of opinions between the east and the west concerning the Roman Church's attempt at dominating universal authority. The patriarch of Constantinople at the time was Michael Cerularius who refused Rome any authority over the Eastern church unwillingly caused mutual recriminations. The end result was in 1054 C.E. a mutual excommunication was reached and this is what is now referred to as the Great Schism. The Great Schism wasn't the one of the most important events in the Orthodox Church, a second important event took place in 1453 C.E. with the collapse of the Byzantine Empire. This meant that besides Russia, the Orthodox Church was under the control of the Ottoman Turks, who placed the eastern churches under the administration of the patriarch of Constantinople. In the nineteenth century, the Ottoman empire diminished and the churches belonging to that establishment were free to do as they pleased which is where many of the smaller Orthodox Churches gained their independence while still to this day retaining their original Orthodox beliefs.
