Synopses & Reviews
Since its first publication thirty years ago, Timothy Ware's book has become established throughout the English-speaking world as the standard introduction to the Orthodox Church. Orthodoxy continues to be a subject of enormous interest among Western Christians, and the author believes that an understanding of its standpoint is necessary before the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches can be reunited. In this newly revised and updated edition he explains the Orthodox views on such widely ranging matters as ecumenical councils, sacraments, free will, purgatory, the papacy and the relations between the different Orthodox Churches.
In Part One he describes the history of the Eastern Church over the last two thousand years with particular reference to its problems in twentieth-century Russia, and in Part Two he explains the beliefs and worship of the Orthodox Church today. Finally, he considers the possibilities of reunion between East and West. In this latest edition, he takes full account of the totally new situation confronting Eastern Christians since the collapse of Communism.
Synopsis
This updated edition describes the history of the Eastern Church over the last two thousand years.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 329-[344]) and index.
About the Author
Timothy Ware, His Excellency the Most Reverend Meropolitan Kallistos of Diokleia, was Spalding Lecturer of Eastern Orthodox Studies at Oxford University until his retirement in 2001.
Table of Contents
Map
Introduction
Part One: History
1. The Beginnings
2. Byzantium, I: The Church of the Seven Councils
3. Byzantium, II: The Great Schism
4. The Conversion of the Slavs
5. The Church under Islam
6. Moscow and St. Petersburg
7. The Twentieth Century, I: Greeks and Arabs
8. The Twentieth Century, II: Orthodoxy and the Militant Atheists
9. The Twentieth Century, III: Diaspora and Mission
Part Two: Faith and Worship
10. Holy Tradition: The Source of the Orthodox Faith
11. God and Humankind
12. The Church of God
13. Orthodox Worship, I: The Earthly Heaven
14. Orthodox Worship, II: The Sacraments
15. Orthodox Worship, III: Feasts, Fasts, and Private Prayer
16. The Orthodox Church and the Reunion of Christians
Further Reading
Index