The Eastern Orthodox Church
A New History
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- $16.99
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- $16.99
Publisher Description
An insider’s account of the Eastern Orthodox Church, from its beginning in the era of Jesus and the Apostles to the modern age
In this short, accessible account of the Eastern Orthodox Church, John McGuckin begins by tackling the question “What is the Church?” His answer is a clear, historically and theologically rooted portrait of what the Church is for Orthodox Christianity and how it differs from Western Christians’ expectations.
McGuckin explores the lived faith of generations, including sketches of some of the most important theological themes and individual personalities of the ancient and modern Church. He interweaves a personal approach throughout, offering to readers the experience of what it is like to enter an Orthodox church and witness its liturgy. In this astute and insightful book, he grapples with the reasons why many Western historians and societies have overlooked Orthodox Christianity and provides an important introduction to the Orthodox Church and the Eastern Christian World.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
McGuckin (The Book of Mystical Chapters), an emeritus professor of early Christianity and Byzantine studies, traces the history of the Eastern Orthodox Church from its founding to the present in this lucid if sometimes tough-going introduction. McGuckin's opening explanation of Orthodox theology often veers into the abstract while breaking down "apostolic traditions," but it serves as useful grounding for the rest of the book by shedding light on historical events such as the split between the Western Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions. With the majority of the book rushing over 2,000 years of history the Ecumenical councils of the first millennia CE, the 11th century Great Schism McGuckin's telling is engrossing but often overwhelming, and most readers with little knowledge of the material would benefit from more explanation of how the various branches of the church relate to one another. The closing chapters are more accessible, introducing notable 20th-century Orthodox figures and discussing what to expect when visiting an Orthodox church, from respect for icons to standing during prayer services. McGuckin's thorough history will appeal to readers with a deep interest in non-Western forms of Christianity.