Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches Books

Trade ReviewThis volume is a treasure house from which one may draw riches old and new. As an Orthodox priest, Pentiuc is immersed in his ancient tradition; as a biblical scholar he is au courant with the methods and controversies of 21st-century scholarship - a rare combination indeed. He builds on solid historical and textual foundations to urge the church forward. The book offers the clearest, most complete, and most accessible treatment in English of topics such as the Orthodox use of the Septuagint, the canon, and issues around the 'apocrypha,' not to mention its analysis of scripture in the liturgy. * Leslie Baynes, Religion *Both the study and usage of the Old Testament in the Orthodox tradition is undervalued in academic circles today, and Fr. Eugen s work will serve as an authoritative and much-needed work. A noted expert in both Semitic languages and Old Testament studies, Fr. Eugen s unique blend of scholarly finesse and fidelity to Orthodox tradition makes The Old Testament in Eastern Orthodox Tradition a book worthy of our closest attention. * On Behalf of All *In this extraordinarily learned book, Pentiuc sheds much-needed light on an often neglected aspect of the history of interpretation of the Bible. Appropriately, he discusses not just texts, but ritual and art as well, so that reading his book is like walking into a lavishly ornamented Eastern Orthodox church where the Divine Liturgy is being celebrated. This view from the inside is an invaluable contribution. * Michael Coogan, editor of The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Books of the Bible *This work is a major event: the first comprehensive and thorough analysis of the role of the Old Testament in the Eastern Orthodox tradition, written by the foremost Eastern Orthodox scholar of Scripture, internationally respected within both Church and Academy alike. Opening up the scriptural culture of Eastern Orthodoxy in all its dimensions, this illuminating volume will richly reward every reader. * V. Rev. Dr. John Behr, Dean and Professor of Patristics, St. Vladimir's Seminary *Table of ContentsContents ; Preface and Acknowledgments ; Abbreviations ; Part I. Reception ; 1. One Bible, Two Covenants ; 2. Text ; 3. Canon ; 4. Tradition ; Part II. Interpretation ; 5. Discursive ; 6. Aural ; 7. Visual ; Postscript ; Bibliography ; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince the collapse of the Soviet Union, Orthodox Christianity in Russia has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence. Many Russians are now looking to the history of their faith as they try to rebuild a lost way of life. Vera Shevzov has spent ten years researching Orthodoxy as it was lived in the years before the 1917 Revolution. In Russian Orthodoxy on the Eve of Revolution, she draws on a rich variety of previously untapped archival sources and published works unavailable in the West to reconstruct the religious world of lay people.Shevzov traces the means by which men and women shaped their religious lives in an ecclesiastical system that was often dominated by bureaucrats and monastic bishops. She finds vivid displays of resistance to the official system and equally vivid affirmations of faith. Focusing on various centers of religious life--the church temple, chapels, feasts, icons, and the Virgin Mary--she traces the rituals, beliefs, and communal dynamics that lent these centers meaning.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThecla, a disciple of the apostle Paul, became perhaps the most celebrated female saint and ''martyr'' among Christians in late antiquity. In the early church, Thecla''s example was associated with the piety of women - in particular, with women''s ministry and travel. Devotion to Saint Thecla quickly spread throughout the Mediterranean world: her image was painted on walls of tombs, stamped on clay flasks and oil lamps, engraved on bronze crosses and wooden combs, and even woven into textile curtains. Bringing together literary, artistic, and archaeological evidence, often for the first time, Stephen Davis here reconstructs the cult of Saint Thecla in Asia Minor and Egypt - the social practices, institutions, and artefacts that marked the lives of actual devotees. From this evidence the author shows how the cult of this female saint remained closely linked with communities of women as a source of empowerment and a cause of controversy.Table of ContentsI: THE CULT OF ST THECLA IN ASIA MINOR ; 1. Origins of the Thecla Cult ; 2. The Cult of Thecla at Seleucia in Asia Minor ; II: THE CULT OF SAINT THECLA IN EGYPT ; 3. Thecla Devotion Among Ascetic Women in Alexandria ; 4. Pilgrimage and the Cult of Saint Thecla in the Mareotis ; 5. The Spread of Thecla Devotion Outside Alexandria and Its Environs

Read more less

Book SynopsisBy the early twentieth century, a genuine renaissance of religious thought and a desire for ecclesial reform were emerging in the Russian Orthodox Church. With the end of tsarist rule and widespread dissatisfaction with government control of all aspects of church life, conditions were ripe for the Moscow Council of 1917-1918 to come into being.The council was a major event in the history of the Orthodox Church. After years of struggle for reform against political and ecclesiastical resistance, the bishops, clergy, monastics, and laity who formed the Moscow Council were able to listen to one other and make sweeping decisions intended to renew the Russian Orthodox Church. Council members sought change in every imaginable areafrom seminaries and monasteries, to parishes and schools, to the place of women in church life and governance. Like Vatican II, the Moscow Council emphasized the mission of the church in and to the world.Destivelle's study not only discusses the counTrade Review"As the centenary of the Russian Revolution approaches, Hyacinthe Destivelle’s study offers a valuable resource for assessing a critical dimension of that momentous event: the Orthodox Church Council of 1917–1918. Deploying a wealth of published sources to recount the origins, activities, and results of this remarkable gathering, Destivelle provides a synthesis that is at once insightful and accessible to a broad readership. His work covers the entire period from the first calls for a council in 1905 through the assembly’s conclusion in 1918, skillfully demonstrating how the conciliar ideal was translated into concrete ecclesiastical decrees. In doing so, Destivelle identifies the central players and the broad range of issues at stake in the Church’s reform, as well as the resonance of the council’s decisions for the rest of the twentieth century. His book represents a fine contribution to the growing scholarship on religion in Russia and provides an excellent point of entry for those seeking to understand the fate of the Orthodox Church in the twentieth century." —Paul W. Werth, University of Nevada, Las Vegas"Hyacinthe Destivelle's study is a much-needed and timely examination of the historic All-Russia Church Council of 1917–1918—a council that marked both the culmination and the beginning of a new epoch in modern Russian Orthodoxy. The English translation of the council's definitions and decrees, as well as the 'Statute of the Local Council of the Orthodox Church of All Russia,' along with Destivelle's exceptional commentary and annotations, will remain a foundational work for scholars and students of modern Christianity and Orthodoxy, as well as for scholars and students of Russian history, for decades to come." —Vera Shevzov, Smith College"Contemporary global Orthodoxy is in the process of confronting unprecedented challenges. . . . The autocephalous Orthodox churches address these challenges in various ways, as pastors and theologians appeal to notions of consensus among the Fathers in the past as models. Occasionally, pastors and theologians will also consider creative models of the church for engaging the modern world. The University of Notre Dame Press's recent translation and publication of Hyacinthe Destivelle's comprehensive analysis of the Moscow Council of 1917–1918 grants English-language readers access to one of the most discussed and perhaps least understood historical examples of such models . . . an instant classic and a necessary desktop resource for all serious students and scholars of Russian Orthodoxy and ecclesiology." —The Wheel“[Destivelle’s] book, which is based on the council documents and was originally published in French, is a brilliant and insightful analysis of the Moscow Council and its many fascinating ideas and challenges. It is not only a fair and balanced treatment of Russian Orthodoxy’s determination to make Christ’s enduring message of love and justice relevant to a people experiencing radical changes in society but also an incredibly rich presentation of original source documents.” —The Catholic Historical Review“This publication of this important work in English is an event of great significance. The book will serve as an indispensable handbook for historians, students of history and religion, and certainly also clerics and theologians wishing to acquaint themselves with the basics of a foundational even in the history of the modern Christian churches.” —The Russian Review“[This] book is characterized primarily by the concise provision of accurate information. However, there is nothing tedious about this careful exposition of a potentially emotive subjective. [There] could be no better introduction to [the Moscow Council] than this cogently organized and exceptionally well indexed book. . .” —Slavonic and East European Review“Destivelle’s volume is a welcome contribution to the ever-burgeoning field of the history of Orthodoxy in Russia. This book will certainly become a staple for anyone desiring to become acquainted with one of the most exciting moments in Russian Orthodox history.” —Theological Studies“Dominican friar Hyacinthe Destivelle of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity narrates the story of the Russian Church’s reassertion of its conciliar identity and the restoration of the Patriarch of Moscow.” —The Living Church

Read more less

Book SynopsisAre Eastern Orthodoxy and evangelicalism at all compatible? To some Western evangelicals, the practices of Eastern Orthodoxy seem mysterious and perhaps even unbiblical. From an Orthodox perspective, evangelicals lack the spiritual roots provided by centuries-old church traditions. Are the differences between these two branches of Christianity as sharp as they seem? Or is there room for agreement?This book allows five leading authorities to present their different views in a respectful manner, have them critiqued by their fellow authors, and then respond to those critiques. Writing from an Orthodox perspective with a strong appreciation for evangelicalism, Bradley Nassif makes a case for compatibility. Michael Horton and Vladimir Berzonsky take the opposite stance from their respective evangelical and Orthodox backgrounds. And George Hancock-Stefan (evangelical) and Edward Rommen (Orthodox) each offer a qualified perhaps. Table of ContentsCONTENTS Foreword: J. I. Packer 9 Introduction: James J. Stamoolis 13 1. ARE EASTERN ORTHODOXY AND 25 EVANGELICALISM COMPATIBLE? YES: BRADLEY NASSIF The Evangelical Theology of the Eastern Orthodox Church Responses Michael Horton 89 Vladimir Berzonsky 97 George Hancock-Stefan 100 Edward Rommen 105 Conclusion 107 2. ARE EASTERN ORTHODOXY AND 115 EVANGELICALISM COMPATIBLE? NO: MICHAEL HORTON An Evangelical Perspective Responses Bradley Nassif 145 Vladimir Berzonsky 149 George Hancock-Stefan 152 Edward Rommen 155 Conclusion 158 3. ARE EASTERN ORTHODOXY AND 167 EVANGELICALISM COMPATIBLE? NO: VLADIMIR BERZONSKY An Orthodox Perspective Responses Bradley Nassif 183 Michael Horton 185 George Hancock-Stefan 194 Edward Rommen 196 Conclusion 198 4. ARE EASTERN ORTHODOXY AND 203 EVANGELICALISM COMPATIBLE? MAYBE: GEORGE HANCOCK-STEFAN An Evangelical Perspective Responses Bradley Nassif 219 Michael Horton 221 Vladimir Berzonsky 224 Edward Rommen 228 Conclusion 231 5. ARE EASTERN ORTHODOXY AND 233 EVANGELICALISM COMPATIBLE? MAYBE: EDWARD ROMMEN An Orthodox Perspective Responses Bradley Nassif 251 Michael Horton 254 Vladimir Berzonsky 266 George Hancock-Stefan 271 Conclusion 274 Epilogue: James J. Stamoolis 279 About the Contributors 285 Scripture Index 287 Subject Index 289

Read more less

Book SynopsisJohn D. Zizioulas, Metropolitan of Pergamon, was previously Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Glasgow and Visiting Professor at King's College, London. He is the author of Communion and Otherness (2006), and has been a major Orthodox contributor to modern ecumenical discussion. Luke Ben Tallon is Lecturer in Systematic Theology at Codrington College, BarbadosTrade Review‘The new book by the Metropolitan John Zizioulas offers a passionate and extremely accessible study on the meaning of the Holy Communion: its biblical foundations and its role in manifesting the Kingdom of Heaven. Few works have been able to underline so emphatically the importance of the Eucharist in understanding the Church, and of its mysterious nature and its dynamic relationship with the world. In its development of the cosmic dimension of the Eucharist, this book seems to be very current. It shows that the Eucharist implies a veritable ethos in how we relate to the environment, man being not a master, but on the contrary a "priest", called to offer reverently to God all of creation. In the context of the major ecological crisis bearing down upon the world today, this book makes a decisive contribution to Christians and beyond.' - M. Michel Stavrou, Institut de Théologie Orthodoxe Saint-Serge, France. -- M. Michel Stavrou‘The writings of Orthodox Metropolitan John Zizioulas on the Eucharist belong with the work of a number of theologians from various traditions who, over the past half-century, have been moving towards a convergent doctrine of the sacrament. Particularly gratifying is our author's emphasis on the ecclesiological, eschatological and cosmic dimensions of the celebration. It is to be hoped that the cumulative effect will be to bring the divided churches from what Zizioulas calls their mutual post-baptismal excommunication towards a "gathering in one place" when they may enact their ecclesial reunion in a common Eucharist.' - Geoffrey Wainwright, Duke Divinity School, USA. -- Geoffrey Wainwright‘Metropolitan John Zizioulas is unequivocally the most ecumenically influential Orthodox theologian since the revival of the Orthodox intellectual tradition in nineteenth-century Russia. This collection of Zizioulas's most important (and not easily accessible) essays on the Eucharist is absolutely necessary for a fuller understanding of the eucharistic logic of Zizioulas's "system." Luke Ben Tallon is to be commended for providing a resource that demonstrates how Zizioulas's trinitarian theology, relational ontology and theology of personhood are ultimately grounded in a eucharistic experience and vision of the world; thus, dispelling misinterpretations of Zizioulas as promoting either social trinitarianism, an episcopo-centric ecclesiology, a denigration of nature, or an ethic that lacks practical import. This book amplifies how being as communion is a eucharistic mode of existence in the world.' - Aristotle Papanikolaou, Fordham University, USA. -- Aristotle Papanikolaou... Luke Ben Tallon, who has translated two of the eight chapters and written a helpful introduction, should be congratulated for editing such an engaging volume. -- Theological Book Review, Volume 23, No.2Table of ContentsIntroduction; Chapter 1: The Biblical Dimensions of the Eucharist; Chapter 2: The Eucharist and the Kingdom of God; Chapter 3: Symbolism and Realism in Orthodox Worship; Chapter 4: The Ecclesiological Presuppositions of the Holy Eucharist; Chapter 5: Some Reflections on Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist; Chapter 6: The Eucharistic Vision of the World and Contemporary Anthropology; Chapter 7: Proprietors or Priests of Creation?; Chapter 8: Preserving God's Creation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisVasile Mihoc is Professor of New Testament at Facultatea de Teologie 'Andrei Saguna' in Romania.Trade ReviewSummarized. * New Testament Abstracts *Table of ContentsIntroduction; Vasile Mihoc, Facultatea de Teologie 'Andrei Saguna', Sibiu, Romania. Basic Principles of Orthodox Biblical Hermeneutics as Rooted in the Greek Fathers' Interpretation; Daniel Patte, Vanderbilt University. How the Essays in this Volume Complement Each Other; Matthew W. Bates, University of Notre Dame. Prosopographic Exegesis and Narrative Logic: Paul, Origen, and Theodoret of Cyrus on Psalm 69:22-23; Steven DiMattei, University of Houston. Adam, an Image of the Future Economy: Romans 5:14 in the Context of Irenaeus' Christological Exegesis of Genesis 1:26; Archbishop Demetrios [Trakatellis], Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America. "Being Transformed": Chrysostom's Exegesis of the Epistle to the Romans; Vasile Mihoc, Theological School Sibiu. St. Paul and the Jews in John Chrysostom's Commentary on Romans 9-11; George Kalantzis, Wheaton College. The Voice So Dear to Me: Themes From Romans in Theodore, Chrysostom, and Theodoret; Bruce Lowe, Macquarie University-Sydney. What Does Proecho Really Echo in Romans 3.9? Re-evaluating Arethas & Photius' 9th-10th Century Greek Interpretations; Stelian Tofana, Babes Bolayi University. The Interdependency between Destiny, Humankind and Creation According to Rom. 8:18-23: An Orthodox-Patristic Perspective; Conclusion; Daniel Patte, Vanderbilt University. Some of the Theological; Hermeneutical, Contextual, and Analytical; Textual Choices Made by Greek Fathers and Eastern Orthodox Interpreters of Romans; Biographies of contributors; Indices.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book Sergey Horujy undertakes a novel comparative analysis of Foucault's theory of practices of the self and the Eastern Orthodox ascetical tradition of Hesychasm, revealing deep affinities between these two radical subject-less approaches to anthropology. In facilitating this unusual dialogue, he offers both an original treatment of ascetical and mystical practices and an up-to-date interpretation of Foucault that goes against the grain of mainstream scholarship.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSecond Revised Edition

Read more less

Book Synopsis Originally published in 1999, The Rites of Christian Initiation was haled for its clarity and comprehensiveness. Kalian McDonnell, OSB, called it the best overall treatment of Christian initiation available, and Paul Bradshaw predicted it would be the standard textbook on the subject for very many years to come. The current edition draws on new translations of early texts on baptism as well as recent scholarship on the early traditions in the East and West. It is sure to replace itself as the new standard reference on the rites of Christian initiation. Maxwell E. Johnson''s expanded and revised text provides a more complete view of the history and interpretation of the rites in the Eastern Church, including two chapters that explore the pre-Nicene Eastern and Western traditions in detail. Revisiting the theology of baptism, this edition also provides more nuanced positions on the Eastern and Western traditions. Finally, recent liturgical developments in American ProtestanTrade ReviewMax Johnson has done it again. If you have room in your library for only one reference book on initiation, this is the one to choose. . . . This revision paints and even broader, deeper, and therefore even more complex picture of how Christians have ritualized and understood Christian identity and the making of Christians.CelebrateThose who know Max Johnson’s work in the area of sacramental initiation need no introduction to this new edition of The Rites of Christian Initiation. In fact, they probably already own it. The 1999 edition was the definitive work on the history and theology of the liturgical rites of initiation and a major contribution to their spirituality. It has been widely used as a textbook, and I am sure that those who have used it have found its clarity and insights as challenging as I have. The new edition, with extensive updating and rewriting, is even better. . . . The book is indispensable for anyone interested in sacramental initiation.Catholic Books ReviewNo Catholic library should be without this revised and expanded version of The Rites of Christian Initiation: Their Evolution and Interpretation.Catholic Library World[A] necessary reference book for every initiation ministry team. . . . This book will offer helpful insights to those open to history and the wisdom of diverse communities within the Church. It’s perfect for those who know it’s time for a personal update—and this book highlights the fact that it is indeed time for most of us—or for use in any initiation course that goes beyond the surface of what is in the current liturgical books.CelebrateUsed as a textbook in university undergraduate and graduate religious studies programs, the work is accessible and informative to any reader interested in a historical perspective on Christian initiation rites.Midwest Book ReviewIf you think Maxwell Johnson has already written the definitive book on the history of Christian initiation rites, you are right. But now he has made it better. A revised and expanded edition is only necessary because scholars have new insights into the history of these rites, and because their contemporary celebration continues to develop. Johnson has written a textbook case of writing good textbooks: clear in organization, generous in quoting sources, precise in analysis, and provocative in expositing contemporary theological issues. Maxwell Johnson is a mystagogical Titan at the top of his form. Paul Turner, STDAuthor of When Other Christians Become Catholic (Liturgical Press) The revised and expanded edition of Maxwell Johnson’s The Rites of Christian Initiation: Their Evolution and Interpretation further enhances the reputation of the Liturgical Press for publishing first-rate liturgical studies that both keep abreast of the field and ahead of it. The first edition clearly established itself as the best overall treatment of the subject and the most widely used textbook available. This new edition captures the fast-moving developments in scholarship on the rites of both eastern and western Christianity. Particularly instructive is Professor Johnson’s discussion of the most recent fruitful engagement of Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches on initiation, including directions to be taken in the future. Most arresting, however, is his penetrating theology and spirituality of the rites of initiation. For everyone interested in the rites of Christian initiation, no matter from what faith tradition, this revised and expanded edition is must reading and studThe first edition has already established itself as the standard history of the rites of initiation, and the updating in this second edition will further enhance its reputation.Rev. Paul Bradshaw, PhD, Professor of Liturgy, University of Notre Dame

Read more less

Book SynopsisSaint Isaac of Syria was an ascetic, a mountain solitary, but his writings are universal in scope. They are addressed not just to the desert but to the city, not just to monastics but to all the baptized. With sharp vividness he speaks about themes relevant to every Christian.Trade ReviewNow at last, to my great delight, we have at our disposal a single book in English, offering us a balanced and comprehensive overview of Isaac's life, background and teaching. Wisely, Fr Hilarion Alfeyev has allowed Isaac to speak for himself. The book is full of well chosen quotations, in which Isaac's true voice can be heard.Kallistos Ware

Read more less

Book SynopsisPart of a classic trilogy on Oriental Christianity that had a ground-breaking effect in bringing an awareness of the broader Christian world to Westerners. It remains the most readable and authoritative source on the churches to the east of Rome. This volume is on the Orthodox Churches of the Byzantine rite.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less