988–1448 Russia formed an
ecclesiastical province under the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
15th Century Moscow emerged as the centre
of the growing Russian Empire.
1453 After the fall of Constantinople, the
Russian Church claimed autonomy with its own ecclesiastical head.
1472 Grand Duke Ivan III married the
niece of the last Byzantine Emperor and laid claim to the legacy of Constantinople.
1510 Moscow was called the “Third
Rome” for the first time.
1589 Moscow was made a patriarchate.
