Eastern Orthodox Roman Catholic Protestant

Church

Abbreviation EO RCC

Meaning of Name “Ortho” - Right “Catholic” means Started as a “protest”

“Dox” - belief universal. against the Catholic
Church.
The EO church started
in a split from
Catholicism over true
understanding of
Christian beliefs.

Who leads the Hierarchical - but no Pope with a Differs across the
church? Pope hierarchical structure different
under him. denominations.

How are people The process by which A combination of faith By faith only.
saved (made right a person becomes and good works.
with God)? more like God made
possible through faith
in Jesus' death.

How do they know Through the Church’s Through the Church’s Through the Bible only.
about God? teaching which is teaching and through
informed by the Bible. the Bible.

Focus on Mystery and not being Knowing and loving Coming to understand
fully able to know God. God as part of the God in a personal
community and rituals relationship by reading
of the Catholic Church. and the Bible and
prayer.

After a believer dies They go to an They go to purgatory They go straight to be

immediate state where to atone for any sins with Jesus.
they can be prayed for. that were not dealt with
on earth.

Ministers Called Priests, can Called Priests cannot Normally called

marry but must do so marry (must stay ministers or pastors.
before entering the celibate). Can marry.
priesthood.