It is the largest autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church, headed by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus' in Moscow.
The Russian Orthodox Church traces its origin to the baptism of Kievan Rus' in 988 and became a patriarchate in 1589. After suppression under the Soviet Union, it revived after 1991 and now includes dioceses and parishes across Russia and many other countries.
Sources
Primary
- Charter of the Russian Orthodox Church, adopted by the Bishops Council in 2000
Secondary
- Timothy Ware, The Orthodox Church (1993)