Changes

Orthodox Christians take widely different attitudes toward ecumenism. A few embrace the Anglican "branch theory" which implies that the various divisions in Christianity all represent branches of the same Church just as the branches of a tree are all integrally part of the same living tree. Many object to this theory on the ground that it tends to minimize Orthodoxy, reducing its stature as exclusively the one holy catholic and apostolic Church to that of a relatively small segment of the Church.  Some regard ecumenism as an opportunity to present Orthodoxy as a unique witness to the ancient Christian faith and to the Church as the indivisible body of Christ. Others feel that ecumenism necessarily undermines this witness and feel that Orthodoxy will be forced to alter traditional practices and even the very content of the ancient apostolic faith.  In the Twentieth Century particularly, some ecumenical activities have drawn sharp criticism from various voices within the Orthodox Church, particularly participation in the [[World Council of Churches]] and the [[National Council of Churches]] in the US. Those opposing ecumenism are often self-labelled as ''Traditionalists'' and may be either within or outside mainstream Orthodoxy, particularly within the [[Old Calendarist]] movements, who often regard the [[New Calendar]] as being a symptom of "branch theory" ecumenism.