Orthodox Christianity

In 11 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, a median of 66% say being a member of the country's official or preferred faith is important to belong to the nationality.

Christians were harassed by governments or social groups in a total of 128 countries in 2015 – more countries than any other religious group.

A substantial share of adults in Central and Eastern Europe hold traditional views of women and the family, especially in countries with Orthodox majorities.

Russia is widely viewed by the region’s Orthodox Christians as an important counterweight to Western influences and as a global protector of Orthodox and ethnic Russian populations.

Religion has reasserted itself as an important part of individual and national identity in many places where communist regimes once repressed religious worship and promoted atheism.

Religion has reasserted itself as an important part of individual and national identity in a region that was once dominated by atheist communist regimes.

The U.S. religious landscape is already in the midst of some dramatic changes when it comes to the growth or decline of people with certain religious identities. And while it is impossible to predict exactly how that landscape will shift in the future, some key demographic factors — particularly age — can provide a clue as to how things might unfold in the coming decades.

A historic event within global Christianity is set to take place Friday as Pope Francis meets Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill in Cuba – the first-ever meeting between the leaders of the Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches since the Orthodox tradition broke away from Catholicism nearly 1,000 years ago.