The concept of Orthodoxy in Christianity essentially is the abidance to the tenets of Scriptures that the early Church represented. The decrees of the seven ecumenical councils guiding Orthodox Christianity include the condemnation of views that Son (Jesus Christ) is a created being inferior to the Father, the definition of the nature of the Holy Spirit as being equal in the concept of Trinity, the confirmation of Mary as the birth giver of God, the affirmation of Jesus as being God and man, the condemnation of pre-existence of the soul, declaration of the human and divine wills of Christ and the support of veneration of icons while forbidding their worship, which is regarded as the Triumph of Orthodoxy. In Nigeria, there are several churches that adopt these beliefs.
This is a list of Orthodox Churches in Nigeria:
-
Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, Lagos
Location: No. 144B Olabode George Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
-
Saint George Coptic Orthodox Church, Cross River
Location: School Housing, No. 5 Edem Street, Atekong, Calabar City, Cross River State
-
Saint Mary Coptic Orthodox Church, Akansco
Location: Akansco, Cross River State
-
Saint Mark Coptic Orthodox Church
Location: Ikot Asuquo Edem, Atimbo East City, Akpabuyo, Cross River State
-
Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul (Orthodox Anglican Communion), Lagos
Location: Oluyole Bus Stop, No. 49 Ibijioke Street, Off Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos State
-
Orthodox Archdiocese of Nigeria, Lagos
Location: Mushin, Lagos Mainland, Lagos State
-
Saint Stephen Indian Orthodox Church, Lagos
Location: Ilupeju, Lagos State
-
Antioch Christian Evangelical Assembly, Lagos
Location: No. 82 Old Ojo Road, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos State
-
Byzantine Orthodox Church
Location: Makogi, Magboro Town, Magboro-Owode, Ogun State
-
Pan-African Orthodox Christian Church, Lagos, Victoria Island
Location: No. 1C Admiralty Road, Off Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos State
-
Orthodox Christian Mission Centre
Location: Lagos State
-
The Ecumenical Orthodox Church
Location: St. Peter’s Parish, No. 4 Alumuku- Mbele Road, Mbaga Ushongo, Benue State
-
Saint Anthony The Great Monastery
Location: Lagos State
-
Universal Orthodox Church
Location: Sagamu, Ogun State
-
Saint Anthony Orthodox Ecclesiastical Seminary
Location: Lagos, Lagos State
-
The Cathedral in honour of the Resurrection of Christ
Location: Victoria Island, Lagos State
-
Saint Anthony Orthodox Chapel
Location: Victoria Island, Lagos State
-
Saint Apostle Peter Apostle Chapel
Location: Festac Town, Lagos State
-
Saint Apostle Andrew Orthodox Monastery
Location: Tarkwa Bay, Lagos State
-
Saint Apostle Varnavas Orthodox Church, Abonnema
Location: Abonnema, Rivers State
-
Saint John’s Orthodox Church, Ibadan
Location: Sanyo, Ibadan, Oyo State
-
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church
Location: Umuhuokobia, Imo State
-
Saint John Chrysostom Orthodox Church, Amakohia
Location: Amakohia, Imo State
-
Temple in the name of Saint Christofer
Location: Awo-Idemiri, Imo State
-
Saint Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church, Port Harcourt
Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers State
-
Saint Archangel Orthodox Church, Neni
Location: Neni, Anambra State
-
Annunciation of the Theotokos Orthodox Church, Benin City
Location: Benin City, Edo State
-
Saint Nectaire Orthodox Church, Gboko
Location: Gboko, Benue State
-
Saint Andrew Orthodox Community
Location: Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
-
Saint John the Prodrom Orthodox Church, Ozubulu
Location: Ozubulu, Anambra State
-
Saint Basil Orthodox Church
Location: Etti, Ananka, Orumba North, Anambra
-
Saint Mark Orthodox Church, Onitsha
Location: Onitsha, Anambra State
-
Nakna Town Orthodox School
Location: Orumba, Anambra State
-
Dormition of Mary Orthodox Cathedral
Location: Nkwo-Agu, Nanka, Anambra State
-
Transfiguration of Our Saviour Orthodox Church, Ihiala
Location: Ihiala, Anambra State
-
Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, Ihiala
Location: Ihiala, Anambra State
-
Saints Apostles Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Akokwa
Location: Akokwa, Anambra State
-
Holy Cross Orthodox Church, Akokwa
Location: Akokwa, Anambra State
-
Saint Anthony Orthodox Church
Location: Akokwa, Anambra State
-
Saint Moses the Black Orthodox Church, Anambra
Location: Agbilagba, Anambra State
-
Saint John the Chrysostom Orthodox Church, Awka
Location: Ifite, Awka, Anambra State
-
Saint Mark Orthodox Church, Onitsha
Location: Onitsha, Anambra State
-
Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, Enugwu-Agidi
Location: Enugwu Agidi, Njikoka, Anambra State
-
New Testament Church of the Orthodox Apostolic Faith, Abuja
Location: Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
-
New Testament Church of the Orthodox Apostolic Faith
Location: Edo State
-
New Testament Church of the Orthodox Apostolic Faith
Location: Ekiti State
-
New Testament Church of the Orthodox Apostolic Faith
Location: Kogi State
-
New Testament Church of the Orthodox Apostolic Faith
Location: Kwara State
-
New Testament Church of the Orthodox Apostolic Faith
Location: Niger State
-
New Testament Church of the Orthodox Apostolic Faith
Location: Plateau State
-
Genuine Orthodox Church
Location: No. 7 Association Avenue, Makogi, Ogun State
-
Saint Michael’s Orthodox Parish, Uli
Location: Uli, Anambra State
-
African Church, Abeokuta
Location: Idi Aba, Abeokuta, Ogun State
-
African Church, Osogbo
Location: Isale-Ijebu, Egbatedo, Osogbo, Osun State
-
Nigerian Diocese of the Alexandrian Orthodox Church
Location: Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
-
Saint Ignatius the Theophorus Orthodox Church
Location: Ukpor, Anambra State
-
Orthodox Church of Saint Dionysius
Location: Borno State
-
Y.N LCC Bulumkutu, Maiduguri
Location: Maiduguri, Borno State
-
Bethel Covenant International Sanctuary Inc., Kwamba
Location: No. 3 Mallam Isah Street, Kwamba, Niger State
-
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Abuja
Location: Wuse II, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
-
Church of Christ (COCIN), Yola
Address: Yola, Adamawa State
Conclusion
The start of Orthodox Christianity in Nigeria stemmed from the period of colonialism and was spearheaded by the Greek nationals. However, it was in 1966 that the first Orthodox Church in Nigeria was built by Anastasia and Christoduola Levedi for the Greek community residing in the country at that time. Thereafter, Orthodox Churches sprung over the country, particularly in the Southern region, that is, South-East, South-West, and South-South of Nigeria.
The distinctive attributes of Orthodox churches are entrenched in the tenets and principles that guide them. The belief in one God, and in Jesus as Son of God, and the affirmation of Mary as the birth giver of God are values upheld by Christian Orthodoxy. Orthodox Churches also uphold the belief in the death and subsequent resurrection of Jesus, the equality of the Holy Spirit with the other members of the trinity, and the admission of baptism cleansing the filth of sins. The adherents of the orthodox doctrines rely on the observances of early churches of the apostles to guide them navigate the practice of Christianity in contemporary times.
