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Year 6 - Religious education

The Christian Church in the East

The Church: Has there always been diversity?

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils will gain an overview of the history of the church after Jesus. They will learn how and why the Christian church now has different denominations through case studies that allow them to see the diverse Christianity of today.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain the importance of the Orthodox Church in Christian history.

Key Notes

  • The Orthodox churches are some of the most ancient forms of Christianity found today.
  • Orthodox churches can be found in European countries such as Greece, Russia and Ukraine.
  • There are Orthodox Church communities in the UK.
  • Orthodox services use ancient languages.
  • Orthodox Christians often move around and show devotion to icons during a service.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Orthodox Church: a major branch of Christianity with a history and tradition rooted in the Eastern Roman Empire
  • icon: a sacred religious image, most commonly a painting, that serves as a visual representation of a holy person (like Jesus, Mary, or saints), an event, or a concept
  • communities: a group of people having a particular characteristic in common

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • All churches share exactly the same beliefs and history.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain the lesson in two key points.

The Orthodox churches are some of the most ancient forms of Christianity found today. Orthodox churches can be found in European countries such as Greece, Russia and Ukraine.

2. What does this key word mean in this lesson? 'Orthodox Church'

a major branch of Christianity with a history and tradition rooted in the Eastern Roman Empire.

3. Correct this common mistake.

Mistake: All churches share exactly the same beliefs and history. Correction: The Christian Church shares many similar beliefs but also has different beliefs and practices which have developed in different areas over time.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 6 Religious education guide library.