Ecclesialism

Ecclesialist church buildings often have grand architecture, ornate decoration, and an emphasis on visual splendor

Ecclesialism is a major branch of Christianity that encompasses traditions such as Roman Catholicism and Eastern, Assyrian or Oriental Orthodoxy, as well as other denominations characterised by their emphasis on the institutional Church, sacramental life, and apostolic succession. It evolved gradually over the centuries following the establishment of Christianity as the state religion of the Roman Empire by Emperor Theodosius I.

Ecclesialism distinguishes itself from other branches of Christianity, such as Protestantism and Restorationism, by maintaining continuity with historic church structures and traditions through a theological reliance on Church councils and creeds as well as a sacramental understanding of grace as something objectively conferred through liturgical rites administered by ordained clergy within the apostolic succession.

Ecclesialism does not generally accept sola scriptura and holds that the Church, with its authority rooted in tradition and apostolic succession, holds greater interpretive authority than the writings of the Apostles themselves.

Ecumenical councils

All Protestant denominations accept the first four Ecumenical councils, up to the Council of Chalcedon, and Anglicans accept the first seven, which are also the only seven agreed upon by both the Roman Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox churches, who then went on to form many more councils and creeds following the Great Schism of 1054. The Assyrian Nestorian Church only accepts the first two councils as Nestorianism was condemned at the Council of Ephesus. The Oriental Orthodox churches only accept the first three as Miaphysitism was condemned at the Council of Chalcedon.

Ecclesialist denominations

Denomination	Rites	Split	Size
Roman Catholicism	Alexandrian, Byzantine, Armenian	Great Schism of 1054	1.3 Billion followers
Eastern Orthodoxy	N/A	Great Schism of 1054	230 Million followers
Oriental Orthodoxy	Coptic, Ethiopian, Syriac, Armenian	Council of Chalcedon	50 Million followers
Assyrian Orthodoxy	N/A	Council of Ephesus	400,000 followers
Sedevacantism	Various sects	Various splits from Roman Catholicism in the 1800s, 1900s and 2000s	300,000 followers
Anglicanism ()	N/A	English Reformation	70 Million followers