Description
Book Synopsis - This important work offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date account of the Orthodox Church available, providing a detailed account of its historical development, as well as exploring Orthodox theology and culture
- Written by one of the leading Orthodox historians and theologians in the English-speaking world
- Offers an in-depth engagement with the issues surrounding Orthodoxy''s relationship to the modern world, including political, cultural and ethical debates
- Considers the belief tradition, spirituality, liturgical diversity, and Biblical heritage of the Eastern Churches; their endurance of oppressions and totalitarianisms; and their contemporary need to rediscover their voice and confidence in a new world-order
- Recipient of aCHOICE Outstanding Academic Title for 2009 award
Trade Review"As a handbook for what would be considered the traditional Orthodox position on matters of Christian belief, thought, and praxis, it is reliable, with relatively few omissions, and well written." (
CHURCH HISTORY, June 2009)
“The volume's detailed, comprehensive treatment will require and repay a careful reading. Summing Up: Essential.” (
Choice, April 2009)
Throughout he writes with passion, deep sensitivity, and a wonderful evocative clarity.” (Logos, May 2009)
"[The book] will help the Orthodox to a deeper understanding of the riches of their faith and will introduce the non-Orthodox to fresh ways of thinking about their faith, and both to a renewed engagement with the life of the church." (Ecclesiastical History, April 2009)
"McGuckin's hope that his book may contribute to the dialogue between East and West deserves to be realised." (Church Times, October 2008)
Table of ContentsPreface xi
List of Illustrations xiii
List of Abbreviations xiv
Note on Sources xv
Introduction: Strange Encounters 1
1 The Pilgrimage of the Orthodox through History 5
A Brief History of the Orthodox from the Apostolic Era to the Middle Ages 5
Perspectives of history 5
Earliest Christian foundations 7
The development of ecclesiastical centres 12
The age of the Fathers 14
Creeds and councils 17
East and West: the parting of ways 20
The Slavic mission 23
The Organization of the Orthodox Churches from Medieval to Modern Times 24
The extension of the Orthodox Church 24
Synopsis of the organization of the Orthodox churches 30
The ancient patriarchates 31
The Orthodox Church of Cyprus 44
The Church of Sinai 46
The Russian Orthodox Church (patriarchate of Moscow) 47
The wider Russian heritage 55
The Orthodox Church of Greece 61
The patriarchal Church of Bulgaria 62
The patriarchal Church of Serbia 65
The patriarchal Church of Romania 66
The Church of Georgia 70
The Church of Poland 71
The Church of Albania 72
The Church of the Czech lands and Slovakia 73
The three autonomous Orthodox churches 73
The various Orthodox diaspora communities 76
The Orthodox Church in America 80
2 The Orthodox Sense of Tradition 90
The Holy Tradition 90
Sources of Authority in Orthodoxy 100
Orthodoxy's Reading of the Scriptures 102
An ecclesial reading 103
The principle of consonance 106
The principle of authority 108
The principle of utility 109
Patristic and Conciliar Authorities 110
The Symbolical Books 111
The Pedalion (Holy Canons) 115
Tradition and Revelation 116
3 The Doctrine of the Orthodox Church I: The Glory of the Lord 120
The Christian God 120
The Holy Spirit 126
The Lord Jesus 141
The Immortal Father 158
The Holy Trinity 166
4 The Doctrine of the Orthodox Church II: The Economy of Salvation 182
Humanity and its Sufferings 182
Salvation and the Call to Ascent 198
The Song of Creation 204
The Blessed Theotokos: Joy of All Creation 210
The Dance of the Blessed: The Angels and the Saints 222
Outside the Gates: Demonology and the Enigma of Evil 234
The Church: Bride of the Lamb 238
5 The Holy Mysteries and Liturgies 277
Greater and Lesser Mysteries 277
The mystery of baptism 282
The mystery of chrismation 285
The mystical supper: communion in the Holy Eucharist 288
The eucharistic liturgy 296
The mystery of metanoia 300
The mystery of the great anointing 306
The mystery of marriage 309
The mysteries of ordination 323
The lesser blessings of the church 335
The services of prayer 336
The Trisagion prayers 338
The daily offices 339
Personal prayers 346
Traditions of Orthodox Prayer and Spirituality 346
Methods of prayer 347
Prayer of the heart 349
The Jesus Prayer 351
Hesychasm 352
Fasting and feasting 353
The Holy Icons: Doors to the Kingdom 354
Sacred art 354
The Orthodox vocabulary of worship 356
Icons and iconoclasm 357
Icons of the Lord 361
Icons of the Virgin 362
Icons of the saints 363
6 'The God-Beloved Emperor': Orthodoxy's Political Imagination 380
Caesaro-Papist Caricatures 380
Byzantine Models of Godly Rule 381
The Ambiguity of Scriptural Paradigms of Power 384
The Concept of the Priestly King 388
Dominion as Apostolic Charism 390
Patristic Ideas on Symphonia 391
New Polities in the Aftermath of Byzantium 395
7 Orthodoxy and the Contemporary World 399
The Poor at the Rich Man's Gate 399
The Grace of Peace and the Curse of War 402
Freedom in an Unfree World 408
A New Status for Women 411
Biological and Other New Ethical Environments 415
Sexual Ethics and Pastoral Care 420
Ecumenism and the Reunion of the Churches 424
Religious Pluralism in the Global Village 426
Evangelism in a New Millennium 430
Glossary of Orthodox Terminology 436
Select Bibliography 443
Index 453
