Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia

The Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia has a history that dates back to the arrival of Saints Cyril and Methodius in the 9th century, who brought Orthodox Christianity and the Cyrillic script to the region. However, the church's autocephaly was only officially recognised by all of the Orthodox churches in 1998. After the peaceful separation of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993, the Church of Czechoslovakia assumed its current name and structure, with separate ecclesiastical jurisdictions for each nation while maintaining close ties. Throughout its history, the church has faced periods of suppression under various ruling powers, including the Habsburg monarchy and communist regimes, but it has persistently preserved its Orthodox faith and heritage and has become an integral part of the spiritual and cultural life in both countries.