× A NOTE TO THE EXPLORER History branches.It also intertwines. This atlas maps Christian churches, communions, movements, and historical communities. It is a growing, curated reference—not a claim to contain every denomination or congregation ever formed.
Lines distinguish a formal split, a gradual development, an organization, a merger, and an intellectual influence. A line is not a verdict about legitimacy, apostolic succession, or who counts as Christian.
Dates have different meanings A date may mark a traditional origin, a controversy, institutional independence, or a merger. The profile explains which. 1054 is a conventional marker for a centuries-long separation, not the founding date of either Catholicism or Eastern Orthodoxy. Earlier national-church origins may precede that marker.
Reading the map Scroll or drag to explore. Use Back to retrace your steps, or Start over to return to the beginning. Use the scrollbars, a trackpad, or one finger to move around. Hold Shift while scrolling to move sideways. Use Readable size to restore full-size text, or Fit map to see the whole diagram. Choose Full screen to expand the map, then Exit full screen or press Escape to return. Use the zoom buttons to move closer. With a mouse, hold Ctrl or Command while scrolling to zoom. Click a node to read its story; choose “Show lineage on map” to see ancestors and direct connections. “Show entire lineage” adds every connected descendant. Search and the tradition index include every entry, including branches outside the overview.
The horizontal scale spaces historical eras to keep the crowded modern centuries legible; it is not a uniform year scale. Lines show selected historical relationships, not every influence. Solid lines connect splits, developments, and organizations; dashed lines show influence and union. Church-family colors are navigational groupings.
Sources & interpretation Each profile links to further reading, prioritizing church histories, the World Council of Churches, and specialist historical references. Institutional self-descriptions are valuable but reflect their own perspective. Descriptions summarize traditions; beliefs and practices vary within them. Inclusion of non-Nicene movements records historical relationships without adjudicating Christian identity.
Historical coverage compiled October 2026. Dates marked “c.” are approximate. This atlas does not track current leaders, membership totals, or every jurisdictional change.