orthodokos

Orthodokos is the transliteration of the Greek term Ορθόδοξος, meaning “orthodox” or “right-believing.” The word derives from the Greek roots orthos, meaning right or correct, and doxa, meaning opinion or belief. In Greek usage, orthodokos functions as both an adjective and a noun.

In Greek, the term describes individuals, communities, or doctrines that adhere to traditional or established beliefs within the Orthodox Christian tradition. The masculine form is Ορθόδοξος, the feminine Ορθόδοξη, and the neuter Ορθόδοξο. Common phrases include Ορθόδοξος Χριστιανός (Orthodox Christian), Ορθόδοξη Εκκλησία (Orthodox Church), and Ορθόδοξοι πιστοί (Orthodox faithful).

In English and other languages, the term is typically rendered as orthodox. When referring to the Christian tradition, Orthodox with a capital O usually denotes the Eastern Orthodox Church and its members, while orthodox in lowercase can describe beliefs or practices regarded as traditional or in line with established doctrine, as distinct from heterodox or unorthodox. The term can also be used in broader secular contexts to indicate conventional or mainstream positions.

Notes and distinctions: in Christianity there are several overlapping traditions described as Orthodox, including the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, each with its own liturgy, hierarchy, and history. The Greek term orthodokos itself does not by itself specify these doctrinal or organizational divisions, but it underpins the general concept of adherence to traditional belief within these communities.