Istoria Bisericii Ortodoxe Române by Mircea Păcurariu — The definitive source if you are focusing specifically on the Romanian Orthodox Church context.
The "Rum Millet" system under Ottoman occupation. Istoria Biserici Ortodoxe
Thesis statement: The Orthodox Church maintained early Christian traditions while adapting to geopolitical shifts, resulting in a unique synthesis of theology, culture, and national identity. Istoria Bisericii Ortodoxe Române by Mircea Păcurariu —
The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 marked a major turning point. The fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Empire
Tensions gradually mounted between the Greek-speaking East and the Latin-speaking West. Disagreements over papal supremacy and the Filioque clause (the insertion of "and the Son" into the Creed by the Western Church) led to the Great Schism in 1054. This event formally divided the Chalcedonian Church into the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Captivity and Expansion
The Ecumenical Patriarch was granted religious and administrative authority over all Orthodox Christians in the empire, preserving the faith under Islamic rule.
The 20th century brought the severe trial of state atheism under Soviet and Eastern Bloc communist regimes. Tens of thousands of clergy were martyred, and thousands of churches were destroyed. Despite this brutal systematic oppression, the faith survived underground and experienced a massive resurgence after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. 📚 Suggested Academic References