Education · All levels
Make sense of the history of the Orthodox Churches
A structured, self-paced course that takes you from the ancient patriarchates to the national Churches of today, one clear step at a time.
- 22 video lessons
- 6 clear modules
- Study at your own pace
- Lifelong access
- 14-day refund
Why this history feels so hard to piece together
Many people meet the Orthodox world in fragments: a name in a news report, a cathedral on a trip, a conversation about why one Church is called a patriarchate and another is not. The pieces rarely fit together, and the usual sources either assume a lot of background or skip the context altogether.
The history of the local Churches is genuinely complicated. Several ancient centres grew in different political worlds, new national Churches appeared over many centuries, and questions of authority, borders and language shaped how they relate to each other. Without a map of that story, current events are hard to follow.
This course gives you that map. It is built for adults who want systematic knowledge but cannot attend classes in person, and who prefer to study in the evenings, on weekends or in short sessions between other commitments.
You do not need a background in theology or history. Each lesson explains terms as they appear, places events on a timeline and connects them to what came before, so that by the end you can read about the subject with confidence.
What you will be able to do
After finishing the programme you will be able to:
- Explain how the local Churches are organised
You will know what a local Church is and how the ancient patriarchates differ from later national Churches.
- Place key events on a timeline
You will be able to put the major developments in the correct order and see how they influenced each other.
- Describe the role of the ancient centres
You will understand why certain cities became leading centres of Christian life and how that changed over time.
- Trace the growth of the national Churches
You will follow how Christianity took root among different peoples and how each Church gained its own structure.
- Read current news with context
You will recognise the historical background behind present-day questions of relations between Churches.
- Use the correct terminology
You will be comfortable with terms such as patriarchate, autocephaly and diocese when you read or discuss the subject.
- Navigate further reading independently
You will know which periods and regions to explore next, and how to judge what a book or article is claiming.
- 6
- modules
- 22
- video lessons
- 1
- clear timeline from antiquity to today
- 14 days
- refund window
The method: one story, told in layers
Rather than treating each Church as a separate subject, the course tells one connected story. You start with the ancient centres, then move outward to the Churches that grew around them, always returning to the same questions: who held authority, how did it change, and what shaped each Church's character?
Each module closes with a short recap that links its events to the earlier ones. This layered approach keeps the large number of names, places and dates from becoming a blur, and it makes the material easier to remember.
- Chronological order from first centuries to the present
- Recurring questions that tie every module together
- A recap at the end of each module
- Terms explained at the moment they first appear
How the course works
The course is delivered online as a library of recorded video lessons, organised into six modules. After you pay, you can start straight away and move through the lessons in order, or return to the topics that interest you most. There are no fixed class times and nothing to attend in person.
Most people work through one or two lessons at a time, which fits comfortably into a busy week. You decide the pace: finish the programme in a few weeks of focused study or spread it over several months.
Supporting materials accompany the lessons so you can review key points, revisit unfamiliar terms and keep your own notes in one place. Because everything is recorded, you can pause, rewind and rewatch whenever a passage needs a second listen.
The programme
Six modules, 22 lessons, arranged so that each one builds on the last.
1Module 1 — What a local Church isThe vocabulary and structure you need before the history begins.4 lessons
- What is meant by a local Church
- Patriarchates, metropolises and dioceses explained
- Autocephaly and autonomy: how Churches gain independence
- How the Churches are listed and how they relate
2Module 2 — The ancient centresThe cities where Christian life first organised itself.4 lessons
- The earliest Christian communities and their cities
- The rise of the great patriarchates
- The imperial capital and its growing influence
- The Churches of the East under changing rule
3Module 3 — Christianity among new peoplesHow the faith spread beyond the ancient heartlands.4 lessons
- Missionary work and the creation of written languages
- The Churches of the Caucasus
- The Churches of the Balkans in the Middle Ages
- How new Churches won their independence
4Module 4 — Under foreign ruleSurvival, adaptation and change in difficult centuries.4 lessons
- Life of the Churches in multi-faith empires
- Education and monastic life as means of preservation
- Relations with other Christian traditions
- National revival and the reshaping of Church borders
5Module 5 — The Churches in the modern eraFrom the nineteenth century to the present day.3 lessons
- New national states and new Churches
- The Churches in the twentieth century
- Diaspora communities and the question of jurisdiction
6Module 6 — The Orthodox world todayPutting the whole story to work.3 lessons
- How the Churches cooperate and where they disagree
- Reading current events with historical context
- Where to go next: a guide to further study
What you get
- 22 recorded video lessons
Organised into six modules that follow a single timeline.
- Supporting course materials
Notes and reference material to review each module.
- Module recaps
Short summaries that link new events to earlier ones.
- Clear explanations of terminology
Specialist terms are introduced and explained in context.
- Study at your own pace
No fixed schedule, no deadlines, no classes to attend.
- Lifelong access
Return to any lesson whenever you need it.
- Access on any device
Watch on a computer, tablet or phone.
- 14-day refund policy
If the course is not right for you, ask for your money back within 14 days.
Is this course for you?
This course is for you if…
- Adults who want a systematic introduction to the subject without attending classes
- Readers who keep meeting unfamiliar names and terms and want a framework to place them in
- People interested in the history and culture of the Orthodox world, whatever their profession
- Students of history, culture or religion who need an organised overview
- Anyone who prefers to study alone and in short sessions
Probably not a fit if…
- Those looking for an advanced academic seminar on a single narrow period
- Learners who expect live classes or personal tutoring
- Anyone seeking a formal academic qualification from this course
After the course
When you finish, the history of the local Churches will no longer be a scattering of unrelated facts. You will have a single timeline in your head, a working vocabulary and a clear sense of how the different Churches came to be where they are.
News stories, travel, books and conversations will be easier to follow, because you will know the background that they usually take for granted. You will also be able to tell which questions are historical, which are structural and which are still being debated.
Most importantly, you will know where to continue. The final lessons point you to periods and regions worth exploring further, so the course becomes a starting point for your own reading rather than an endpoint.
Questions before you buy
How much time do I need each week?
It depends on your pace. Many learners watch one or two lessons per week and finish in a few months, while others complete the programme in a few weeks of more intensive study. There are no deadlines.
Do I need any prior knowledge?
No. The course starts with the basic vocabulary and builds up step by step. Interest in the subject is the only prerequisite.
How does access work after I pay?
Once your payment is confirmed you receive access to the full programme and can start watching immediately. You can use any device with an internet connection.
What format are the lessons in?
The lessons are recorded video, supported by course materials. You can pause, rewind and rewatch as often as you like.
Is there a refund policy?
Yes. If the course is not what you expected, you can request a refund within 14 days of purchase.
Does the material stay available?
Yes. Your access does not expire, so you can come back to any lesson whenever you want to refresh your knowledge.
Are there live sessions or fixed class times?
No. The course is self-paced, so you study when it suits you and nothing has to be attended at a set time.
Can I skip around between modules?
You can, but the modules are designed to build on one another, so we recommend following the order at least the first time through.
Start building your map of the Orthodox world
Get the full programme today and begin with the first lesson this week.