The Orthodox tradition developed from the Christianity of the Eastern Roman Empire and was shaped by the pressures, politics and peoples of that geographical area. Since the Eastern capital of the Roman Empire was Byzantium, this style of Christianity is sometimes called 'Byzantine Christianity'.

Is Eastern Orthodox the same as Byzantine?

Historically, the term "Greek Orthodox" has been used to describe all Eastern Orthodox churches in general, since the term "Greek" can refer to the heritage of the Byzantine Empire. ... Thus, Eastern Orthodox came to be called "Greek" Orthodox in the same way that the Western Christians came to be called "Roman" Catholic.

Was the Byzantine Empire Eastern Orthodox?

The Empire gave rise to the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Byzantium was almost always a Christian empire, but over the centuries its Greek-speaking church developed distinct liturgical differences from the Catholic, Latin-speaking church in the West.