There have been many books written about the Eastern Orthodox Church, covering its history, worship, and spirituality. At the same time that the Orthodox Church has emerged from oppression in Eastern Europe, revealing a spiritual depth able to with stand genuine evil, it has also begun to attract members in Western Europe and North America, disappointed in the superficiality and materialism into which Western Culture has declined. Children of the Promise tells of those whose Orthodox vision is that of the West transformed rather than denied: Western Christian practice returned to the Orthodox faith that shaped the Western exprience for a thousand years.

Elizabeth I divided her episcopate at the outset of her reign between Geneva reformers and bishops who looked to the Fathers of the Early Church. Thereafter in the Church of England there would always be divines who were drawn to the orthodox East. Such men suffered mightily in the 17th century at the hands of the Puritans and then Whigs when these gained political power, and their suffering impelled them more and more to 'look to the east'. This book traces the fortunes of that quest, through the study of Greek texts, involvement in the intricate politics of the Near and Middle East, deprivation and isolation in the Nonjuror schism and finally the rejection by the Greek Patriarchs of requests for Orthodox Communion in the 1720s. It is a sad story involving much pain, but the steadfastness of the participants may have much to teach embattled churchmen today and inspire Orthodox readers to look with freah eyes at an attempt at unity whihc fialed as much through the weaknesses of the Orthodox Church at that time as from the inadequacies of those who wished to join them.

This rich anthology offers new insight into an ancient form of Christianity still little understood in the West. An introduction to the rich diversity of the six "Ancient and Oriental Orthodox" churches - Egyptian Copts, Armenians, Syrians, Indian Malankara, Ethiopian, and Eritrean - through their distinctive tradition of prayer and worship, it provides both a survey of the history and theology of these Eastern Orthodox traditions as well as an anthology of their personal prayers, blessings, and liturgical prayers. The collection highlights the distinctiveness of Eastern Christian spirituality along with its connections to Western theology and worship.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Israel expected the Messiah to be a conquering hero who would liberate the Jews from their Roman servitude. But instead, Christ came as a suffering servant to liberate all mankind from slavery to sin. The Gospel of Mark records Christ's public ministry as a journey to the Cross, yet-paradoxically again-as a time of vigorous action when His miracles astounded the multitudes, and His boldness infuriated His foes.About the commentary series This commentary was written for your grandmother. And for your plumber, your banker, and the girl who serves you French Fries at the nearby McDonald's. That is, it was written for the average layperson, for the nonprofessional who feels a bit intimidated by the presence of copious footnotes, long bibliographies, and all those other things which so enrich the lives of academics. It is written for the pious Orthodox layman who is mystified by such things as Source Criticism, but who nonetheless wants to know what the Scriptures mean.

A fascinating, vivid, and on-the-ground account of Russian Orthodoxy's resurgence "A compelling picture."-Irina Papkova, Russian Review "Powerful."-Philip Jenkins, Christian Century A bold experiment is taking place in Russia. After a century of being scarred by militant, atheistic communism, the Orthodox Church has become Russia's largest and most significant nongovernmental organization. As it has returned to life, it has pursued a vision of reclaiming Holy Rus': that historical yet mythical homeland of the eastern Slavic peoples; a foretaste of the perfect justice, peace, harmony, and beauty for which religious believers long; and the glimpse of heaven on earth that persuaded Prince Vladimir to accept Orthodox baptism in Crimea in A.D. 988. Through groundbreaking initiatives in religious education, social ministry, historical commemoration, and parish life, the Orthodox Church is seeking to shape a new, post-communist national identity for Russia. In this eye-opening and evocative book, John Burgess examines Russian Orthodoxy's resurgence from a grassroots level, providing Western readers with an enlightening, inside look at the new Russia.

The Orthodox Church is one of the three major branches of Christianity. There are over 300 million adherents throughout the world. The Orthodox Church is a fellowship of independent churches, which split form the Roman Church over the question of papal supremacy in 1054. The Orthodox adherents include people in: Greece, Georgia, Russia, and Serbia. There are an estimated one million members in the United States. This Advanced book explains the basic principles of Orthodox Christianity and describes in detail the holidays observed by the Orthodox Church. In addition, relevant book literature is presented in bibliographic form with easy access provided by title, subject and author indexes.

This volume includes 12 lectures on all the branches of the Eastern Church, with an introduction on the province, the methods and the advantages of the study of Church History, by the Stanley, Canon of Canterbury or Regius Professor of Church History at Oxford.

An English translation of the Daily Offices of the East Syriac, used today by the Assyrain Church of the East, the Chaldean Church, and the Syro-Malabar Church. (World Religions)

Using the Seven Ecumenical Councils as backbone, Hore provides the reader with an overview of the Greek Orthodox Church. Writing in an era when the Oxford Movement was reaching a wide array of Anglicans with the forgotten connections with orthodoxy, Hore presents a sympathetic view of Byzantine Christianity. Following the trials and difficulties of the early church after it received imperial approval, a sketch of the Greek Church, including the "separatist" Churches, emerges.

The process of globalization evokes either euphoria or alarm. Some view it as an unmistakable sign of progress, while others see it as a threat. Nevertheless, the accelerated development of economic, scientific, political and social links among all the peoples of the world has turned our planet into a megalopolis replete with slums. In this work, Archbishop Anastasios presents his conviction that the ecumenical vision of the Orthodox Church is the "best response" to the growing global condition. In the Orthodox tradition, everything is understood within a universal context, from the creation of the world to the vision of the new heaven and new earth. Human enterprise as a whole and the salvation of the entire world are seen as the basic themes of Holy Scripture. In this work, Archbishop Anastasios discusses Orthodox perspectives on human rights, the dialogue with Islam, and the relationship between culture and the gospel, and provides an analysis of world religions. His words invite us to broaden our field of vision to encompass the whole earth.

Mother Raphaela emphasizes the molding of character within community, where rough edges and prideful independence are transformed into gracious service to the neighbor. Illustrated with calligraphy by the author herself, this book contains insightful observations about the natural and spiritual realms.

In the last decade, Eastern Orthodoxy has moved from being virtually unknown to Western Christians to being a significant presence on the religious scene in North America and Great Britain. In light of Orthodoxy's growing presence, this book will introduce Western Christians to the Eastern Orthodox vision of the Christian life by examining Orthodox theology and worship and will also alert readers to the cultural and historical factors that shape any interpretation of the Christian faith.

There is enormous tension between entering fully into the Church Year and the pressures of society. We sometimes find ourselves walking a tight rope between what we think is the ideal of a holy life and the demands of our post-modern world.The beauty of the Church seasons is that they teach us how to balance our life. The Christian life is a whole life, an expansive life, a life in Christ, who gives Himself for the life of the world.This collection is author Donna Farley's own view from the tightrope. These short yet thoughtful reflections, written in an insightful and sometimes humorous style, will help weave together the great feasts into the fabric of our lives.

Thinking Orthodox in Modern Russia illuminates the significant role of Russian Orthodox thought in shaping the discourse of educated society during the imperial and early Soviet periods. Bringing together an array of scholars, this book demonstrates that Orthodox reflections on spiritual, philosophical, and aesthetic issues of the day informed much of Russia's intellectual and cultural climate. Volume editors Patrick Lally Michelson and Judith Deutsch Kornblatt provide a historical overview of Russian Orthodox thought and a critical essay on the current state of scholarship about religious thought in modern Russia. The contributors explore a wide range of topics, including Orthodox claims to a unique religious Enlightenment, contests over authority within the Russian Church, tensions between faith and reason in academic Orthodoxy, the relationship between sacraments and the self, the religious foundations of philosophical and legal categories, and the effect of Orthodox categories in the formation of Russian literature.

The memoirs presented in Women of the Catacombs offer a rare close-up account of the underground Orthodox community and its priests during some of the most difficult years in Russian history. The catacomb church in the Soviet Union came into existence in the 1920s and played a significant part in Russian national life for nearly fifty years. Adherents to the Orthodox faith often referred to the catacomb church as the "light shining in the dark." Women of the Catacombs provides a first-hand portrait of lived religion in its social, familial, and cultural setting during this tragic period. Until now, scholars have had only brief, scattered fragments of information about Russia's illegal church organization that claimed to protect the purity of the Orthodox tradition. Vera Iakovlevna Vasilevskaia and Elena Semenovna Men, who joined the church as young women, offer evidence on how Russian Orthodoxy remained a viable, alternative presence in Soviet society, when all political, educational, and cultural institutions attempted to indoctrinate Soviet citizens with an atheistic perspective. Wallace L. Daniel's translation not only sheds light on Russia's religious and political history, but also shows how two educated women maintained their personal integrity in times when prevailing political and social headwinds moved in an opposite direction.

Part 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.

Of the many sects that broke from the official Russian Orthodox church in the eighteenth century, one was universally despised. Its members were peasants from the Russian heartland skilled in the arts of animal husbandry who turned their knives on themselves to become "eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake.' Convinced that salvation came only with the literal excision of the instruments of sin, they were known as Skoptsy (the self-castrated). Their community thrived well into the twentieth century, when it was destroyed in the Stalinist Terror.

In a major feat of historical reconstruction, Laura Engelstein tells the sect's astonishing tale. She describes the horrified reactions to the sect by outsiders, including outraged bureaucrats, physicians, and theologians. More important, she allows the Skoptsy a say in deeming the contours of their history and the meaning behind their sacrifice. Her deft handling of their letters and notebooks lends her book unusual depth and pathos, and she provides a heartbreaking account of willing exile and of religious belief so strong that its adherents accepted terrible pain and the denial of a basic human experience. Although the Skoptsy express joy at their salvation, the words of even the most fervent believers reveal the psychological suffering of life on society's margins.

No foreign tribe or exotic import, the sect drew its members from the larger pant society where marriage was expected and adulthood began with the wedding night. Set apart by the very act that guaranteed their redemption, these "lambs of God" became adept at concealing their sectarian identity as they interacted with their Orthodox neighbors. Interaction was necessary,Engelstein explains, since the survival of the Skoptsy depended upon recruitment of new members and on success in agriculture and trade.

Realizing that some prejudices have changed little over the centuries, Engelstein cautions that "we must not cast the shadow of our own distress on the story of the Skoptsy. Their physical suffering was something they willingly embraced." In Castration and the Heavenly Kingdom, she has produced a remarkable history that also illuminates the mysteries of the human heart.

'Staniloae seeks always to indicate the inner coherence of dogmatic truth and the significance of each dogma for the personal life of the Christian. It is the theologian's task to make manifest the link between dogma and personal spirituality, to show how every dogma responds to a deep need and longing in the human heart, and how it has practical consequences for society. Dogmas, he is convinced, do not enslave but liberate; theology is essentially freedom.' Kallistos Ware>

A companion to "Prayers of the Eucharist: Early and Reformed "

The Churches of the East possess a sometimes bewildering array of Eucharistic prayers. "Essays on Early Eastern Eucharistic Prayer" offers a guide to the exploration of the principal prayers, and presents in a simple and succinct manner the current scholarship on the origins, development, and relationship of these particular prayers to other ancient prayers.

As well as summarizing the state of research and suggesting directions for future study, these essays explain the history of these prayers, their relationship to one another, and reveal how and why early Christian prayers developed as they did. In this way "Essays on Early Eastern Eucharistic Prayers" produces a clear picture of the way early Eucharistic prayers emerged and grew in the Eastern Churches.

"Essays on Early Eastern Eucharistic Prayers" serves as a companion to - and provides an extended commentary on the texts of early eastern Eucharistic prayers that are published in R. C. D. Jasper and G. J. Cuming's "Prayers of the Eucharist: Early and Reformed. Essays on Early Eastern Eucharistic Prayers" also offers more detail than is available in the introductions to either text or in other general histories of liturgy or early liturgical practice.

Articles and their contributors include Introduction: The Evolution of Early Anaphoras," by Paul F. Bradshaw; "The Anaphora of the Apostles Addai and Mari," by Stephen B.Wilson; "The Strasbourg Papyrus," by Walter D. Ray; "The Anaphora of St. Mark: A Study in Development," by G. J.Cuming; "The Archaic Nature of the Sanctus, Institution Narrative, and Epiclesis of the Logos in the Anaphora Ascribed to Sarapion of Thmuis," by Maxwell E. Johnson; "The Basilian Anaphoras," by D. Richard Stuckwisch; "The Anaphora of the "Mystagogical Catecheses" of Cyril of Jerusalem," by Kent J. Burreson; "The Anaphora of St. James," by John D. Witvliet; "The Anaphora of the Eighth Book of the "Apostolic Constitutions,"" by Raphael Graves; and "St. John Chrysostom and the Byzantine Anaphora That Bears His Name," by Robert F. Taft, S.J. Includes an index.

"Pal F. Bradshaw is professor of liturgy at the University of Notre Dame and was vice-principal of Ripon College, Cuddesdon, Oxford, England. He is the author of "Liturgy in Dialogue "and "Early Christian Worship" published by The Liturgical Press.""

Christians have often wondered about what might take place at the end of history. To answer their questions, they have turned to the Book of Revelation.

Meletij Smotryc kyj was one of the outstanding figures in the great flourishing of Orthodox spirituality that occurred in the late 16th and early 17th century in response to the challenge posed first by Polish heterodox religious movements, and later by the Polish Counter-Reformation. His biography reflects the tensions and contradictions that characterized his nation the Ruthenians, the Orthodox Christians of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth. Ruthenian patriots were torn between various allegiances to nation, church, and traditions. Thus, in Smotryckyj s life we witness one of the later acts in the drama of the European Age of Reform, all the more important because for the first time the Reformation and Counter-Reformation came into direct daily contact with the Byzantine world of Orthodox Slavdom.

Professor Frick's biography the first major English language work on Smotryc kyj examines the ways in which established cultures were altered by cross-cultural understandings and misunderstandings, resulting from the confrontation and mutual adaptation of two or more diverse cultures. This study, which has affinities with the microhistorical approach, seeks to reconstruct details in the lives of individuals and pays special attention to the ways in which individual world views conflicted with each other and with various higher authorities. "Meletij Smotryc kyj" will be of interest to scholars and students of Ukraine, Belarus, Poland-Lithuania, and those researching the history of the Uniate, Orthodox, and Roman Catholic Churches in Eastern Europe.

This is a compilation of essays on various historical and theological issues which discuss aspects of the estrangement between the two halves of the Christian world and present an evaluation of several attempts at healing the schism. It incluudes studies of various historical and theological issues which have arisen between East and West, and discusses the problems related to the Fall of Byzantium and the rise of Russia as a major centre of Orthodox mission and thought.

Translated into English, this is Pavel Florensky's final theological work. Composed in 1922, it explores the significance of the icon: its philosophic depth, its spiritual history, and its empirical technique. The volume also sketches an alternative history of both Western religious art and the Orthodox icon - a history under the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. An introductory essay included in the book covers Florensky's life and work in a historical and religious context.