The Antiochian Orthodox Church is in full communion with the other Eastern Orthodox churches, meaning it is part of the same sacramental fellowship as churches like the Greek Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America. It is not in full communion with the Oriental Orthodox churches such as the Coptic Orthodox Church, so members normally do not receive Communion across that boundary.

In communion with

  • The other Eastern Orthodox autocephalous and autonomous churches.
  • Churches recognized as part of the Eastern Orthodox communion, including the Greek Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church in America.

Not in communion with

  • The Oriental Orthodox churches as a group, including the Coptic Orthodox Church.
  • Other non-Orthodox churches, such as the Roman Catholic Church, are not in full communion with Antiochian Orthodoxy.

Important nuance

There have been occasional jurisdictional or regional tensions inside the Orthodox world, such as the Antioch–Jerusalem break over Qatar, but that is different from Antioch’s overall communion status with the rest of Eastern Orthodoxy. A few online discussions also mention limited or disputed local arrangements involving some Oriental Orthodox communities, but those are not the same as full church-wide communion.

Simple rule of thumb

If a church is Eastern Orthodox , it is generally in communion with the Antiochian Orthodox Church. If it is Oriental Orthodox or outside Orthodoxy, it is generally not in full communion.