Short answer, though: I serve in a parish of the Russian Orthodox Church. The difference between Russian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox (or Bulgarian or Albanian)or whatever is about like the difference between American Presbyterians and Korean Presbyterians: there are ethnic and cultural differences, but they’re pretty much on the same page.

With Orthodox Christians it’s even more so. When I visit the Greek parish in the next town over, or the Antiochian (Arab) parish a little further down the highway, it’s all familiar: it’s the same faith and we all pray the identical Liturgy. What’s different is mostly the language of the chatter over coffee after the service. In the Liturgy, the Russians tend to like choirs and harmony, while the Greeks tend have cantors singing distinctly Middle-Eastern melodies – but under the music, the hymn texts and the prayers are the same.

It’s been said that most any Orthodox bishop could finish any other Orthodox bishop’s sentences for him :-)

In any case, great poem here from the 5th Century.

Edgar.