Church Union - The Uniates and The Edinovertsy

The Uniates and The Edinovertsy

The term "union" (e.g., the Union of Brest of 1596) is also used for the arrangement whereby a particular group of Orthodox Christians enters communion with the Pope of Rome, while maintaining the Eastern rites. Such groups are known generically as Eastern Catholic Churches. Their adherents are occasionally referred to as uniates.

In a somewhat parallel way, but on a much smaller scale, Russian Orthodox Church has integrated certain Old Believer communities, allowing them to keep their rites while recognizing the authority of the national church. This arrangement is known as Edinoverie.