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What are the major branches of Christianity?
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Christianity
Christ as Ruler, with the Apostles and Evangelists (represented by the beasts). The female figures are believed to be either Santa Pudenziana and Santa Práxedes or symbols of the Jewish and Gentile churches. Mosaic in the apse of Santa Pudenziana basilica, Rome, 401–417 ce.
Christianity is the world's largest religion, with its constituency divided into three primary branches. These major branches are:12
- Roman Catholic Church: The largest branch of Christianity, characterized by its intricate organizational structure under the central authority of the papacy.312
- Eastern Orthodox churches: A major branch that developed from the historical division between the Eastern and Western parts of the church, emphasizing the administrative independence of national churches.41
- Protestant churches: Broadly defined as non-Roman Western Christianity, this branch encompasses significant diversity and is often categorized into four major confessional families: Lutheran, Anglican, Reformed, and Free Church.15
Additionally, the Oriental Orthodox churches constitute one of the oldest branches of the tradition, having been separated from Western Christianity and Eastern Orthodoxy since the 5th century due to disputes over Christology. Beyond these, the broader Christian world includes numerous independent churches and significant movements such as Pentecostalism and Charismatic Christianity.16