How many sects of Orthodoxy are there?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the view of the Coptic Orthodox Church, there is only one true Orthodox faith, which is the "Faith once delivered to the saints." However, when looking at the world today, the term "Orthodox" is used by two distinct families of churches that are currently not in full communion with each other.

It is vital to distinguish between our Coptic Orthodox Church (the true Orthodox) and others.

1. The Oriental Orthodox Churches (Non-Chalcedonian)

This is our family. We are the churches that rejected the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD because it attempted to divide the one nature of Christ into two. We follow the Miaphysite Christology of St. Cyril of Alexandria (—One Incarnate Nature of God the Word).

This family includes:

• The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria (The Mother Church, founded by St. Mark).
• The Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch.
• The Armenian Apostolic Church.
• The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
• The Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
• The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (India).

We are in full communion with each other; a Coptic Orthodox Christian can receive the Holy Mysteries in a Syrian or Ethiopian church because we share the exact same faith, dogmas, and rejection of the Chalcedonian heresy.

2. The Eastern Orthodox Churches (Chalcedonian)

These are the churches that accepted the Council of Chalcedon and the "two natures" formula. While they call themselves "Orthodox," we historically viewed their formula as drifting toward the heresy of Nestorius (dividing Christ). They are often referred to as "Byzantine" or "Rum" Orthodox.

This family includes:

• The Greek Orthodox Church.
• The Russian Orthodox Church.
• The Serbian, Romanian, and Antiochian (Greek) Orthodox.

The Difference: While we share many outward traditions (icons, vestments, incense), we differ on the core definition of the Nature of Christ. After 451 AD, they followed the Byzantine Emperors, while the Coptic Church suffered great persecution to preserve the true Miaphysite faith.

3. Are there "sects" within Coptic Orthodoxy?

No. The Coptic Orthodox Church is one body under the leadership of the Pope of Alexandria and the Holy Synod.

However, you must be careful of heretics or those who have broken away:

• The Coptic Catholic Church: This is a group that left the Orthodox faith to submit to the Pope of Rome. They are not Orthodox; they are Eastern Rite Catholics.
• Protestant "Copts": There are groups (like the "Evangelical Church of Egypt") that call themselves Copts because of their ethnicity, but their faith is Protestant. They reject the Sacraments, the Priesthood, and the Mother of God. They are heretics who have abandoned the Apostolic faith.

Summary

If you are looking for the "sects" of Orthodoxy, there are essentially two families:

1. Oriental Orthodox (Our family—the True Miaphysite Faith).
2. Eastern Orthodox (The Chalcedonian/Byzantine family).

Everything else—Protestants, Catholics, or modern "reformers"—is not Orthodox. We remain steadfast in the faith of St. Athanasius and St. Cyril, refusing to alter one letter of the Creed or the teachings of the Fathers.