ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of Eastern Orthodox Churches in the 20th century

Okay, kiddo. So, you know how there are different kinds of churches like the one we go to or the one grandma goes to? Well, there's another kind of church called Eastern Orthodox.

A long time ago, many people followed this type of church, especially in Eastern Europe and Russia. Over time, different groups started forming within this church, and some of them had disagreements about things like tradition and leadership.

In the 20th century, things got really challenging for Eastern Orthodox churches. Wars and disagreements between countries made it hard for people to go to church, and many churches were destroyed.

Some leaders of the church even disagreed so much that they ended up creating their own churches, like the Orthodox Church in America. This made things even more complicated for people who wanted to follow this religion.

Despite all of this, though, many people still believe in Eastern Orthodox and continue to practice it today. They try their best to work together and create a community of people who believe in the same things.