Customer Reviews (2)

Concise and informative
Much like the companion book on Judaism, it is a great little book for the rest of us to appreciate an unfamiliar religion.

Excellent pocket-size abbreviated introduction to the Orthodox Christian Faith
4.5 STARS of 5

While this pocket-size 131-page book may seem expensive, it is worth every penny of it.John Garvey does an excellent job at explaining the multi-faceted faith (beliefs and practice) of Eastern Orthodoxy to the average reader (Christian or non-Christian).

In the introduction the author acknowledges that "Eastern Orthodox Christianity is a mystery to most Christians from other backgrounds," and with this in mind Garvey does not write a polemical treaty of Orthodoxy.Rather this book is from a teaching perspective and it is meant to be a primer of sorts.The writing and explanations are very easy to follow.After finishing the book in one sitting I can say that John Garvey has been faithful to his goal (stated in the Introduction) of "no attempt to convince Catholics, Protestants, members of any other faith, or non-believers of the errors of their views."

The book has 9 chapters:
1) What is Orthodox Christianity? (12 pages)
2) Authority in the Orthodox Church (8 pages)
3) Original Sin and the Fall (4 pages)
4) Deification (4 pages)
5) The Sacraments (16 pages)
6) The Church Year (12 pages)
7) Eastern Orthodox Spirituality (26 pages)
8) Orthodoxy and Other Religions (6 pages)
9) Contemporary Problems and Challenges for Orthodoxy (12 pages)

The Appendix includes the Anaphora of St. Basil the Great (taken from "The Divine Liturgy According to St. John Chrysostom"), followed by 4 pages of Some Common Orthodoxy Prayers, and a 3 page bibliography to more in-depth books on Eastern Orthodoxy.

In my opinion this book would not be a good read for a seminarian due to its lack of depth, index, and bibliography.For furhter great reading on the topic of Orthodox Christianity I would like to second John Garvey's vote for the following books: "The Orthodox Church" and "The Orthodox Way" by Timothy Ware (now Bishop Kallistos). ... Read more

Product Description
Orthodox parish life in North America, particularly in the United States, challenges many traditional assumptions as to how thechurch functions. The parish as a public corporate entity, the expandingroles of lay and ordained leadership, the coexistence of multiple jurisdictions-all of these are new realities for OrthodoxChristianity.This volume addresses these and other related issues. Historians such as John Erickson, Thomas FitzGerald and Patrick Viscuso analyze the factors that have shaped these realities in America, from earlier eras to the present day. Theologians such as Thomas Hopko, Jaroslav Pelikan and Stanley Harakas reflect on the theological significance and implications for the Orthodox Christian understanding of the church's very nature. Liturgical scholars Alkiviadis Calivas, John Klentos and Paul Meyendorff discuss the challenges of liturgical life in today's Orthodox parish. Thomas Lelon and George Papademetriou examine parish management and leadership issues. Other essays address topics such as distance learning and the Internet, interChristian marriage, preaching, evangelization and mission.This book provides an excellent, realistic overview of contemporary Orthodox parish life in the United States, and a thought-provoking look at diverse scenarios for the future. ... Read more

Book Description
These essays were written at intervals during Dr. Ashanin's teaching career of thirty-five years. They were published in various publications as a response to the theological challenges which his generation had to face. He wrote them to elucidate the historical issues of my time from the Christian perspective. Although these essays were written in particular periods of time, they have present day relevance, because he tried to interpret the issues discussed in them under the aegis of the recurring, underlying themes. A Christian historian, while he observes all rules of the historical method and deals with his subject sub specie temporis, cannot escape awareness that there is another dimension which he cannot ignore, a dimension in all human aff airs to which he must pay attention in his writings, that of sub specie Aeternitatis. He must combine epis temology, the knowledge of things, with eschatology, the divine goal to which everything is guided by divine wisdom. In philoso phy, this aspect is known as teleology, the aim to which every thing leads. While these may not be found explicit in his writings, they are implicit in them, because his intellectual consciousness is imbued with this orientation, and it is inevitable that it is embodied in his work. ... Read more

Book Description
Includes index and appendices.

The discipline of "bioethics" has developed in response to unprecedented advances made during the past three decades in the area of biomedical technology.Many of those advances have an extraordinary potential for good; nevertheless, much of the new technology has placed us on a dramatic slide down the "slippery slope," from partial-birth abortions to physician-assisted suicide, from surrogate gestation to the cloning of human embryos.How does Orthodox Christianity view these developments?

This book focuses on these issues from the perspective of Scripture and Orthodox patristic tradition.Beginning with a discussion of present-day bioethical dilemmas, it provides an overview of major theological themes that condition any Orthodox response to issues involving the creation and termination of human life.The following chapters then take up questions concerning the meaning of sexuality and the morality of various forms of sexual behavior; the question "when does human life begin?" a moral assessment, from an Orthodox perspective, of procedures such as abortion, in vitro fertilization, and genetic engineering (including human cloning); and end of life issues, including the meaning of suffering, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and care for the terminally ill.

The Sacred Gift of Life provides clear, rich, and compassionate evaluation of these issues.Its informed assessment of various therapeutic protocols makes it of special interest to those medical professionals who want to inform themselves of the unique theological perspective that Orthodoxy Christianity brings to bear on these difficult and controversial questions.

The Very Reverend John Breck was Professor of New Testament and Ethics at St Vladimir's Seminary from 1984 to 1996.He is presently Professor of Biblical Interpretation and Ethics at St Sergius Theological Institute, Paris, France, and with his wife, Lyn, he directs the St Silouan Retreat Center near Charleston, SC. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Life
Fr. John Breck does a wonderful job in this book of demonstrating an Orthodox approach to the ethics of life issues. He also responds to some of the contemporary work by ethicists from other church "denominations." This work shows discernment and care in dealing with these issues. If someone were to want to know how the Orthodox think about issues such as birth control, abortion, euthanasia, embryo research and other related issues, this is the book to read. This book is a much needed beginning by an outstanding Orthodox theologian on these issues, but does not exhaustively answer all questions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Decent read, unprovocative
This is what it is--a textbook on the Egyptian Coptic Church.It's history book gruel--not particularly insightful or engaging, but it gets the job done.One of the strengths of the book is it is a general history of post-Hellenistic-to-Sadat Egypt.An in-depth analysis of Coptic theology is missing from this book, and that's a bit disappointing.The book tends to focus on the cultural role of Coptic Christians in Egyptian history, such as the influence in business inspite of persecution, poll-tax, and Nasserite socialism.That's good to know, but again, not the stuff you'd look for when reading a book on Traditional Egyptian Christianity.

Coptic Christianity : Survival of Alexandrine Orthodoxy
Coptic Orthodox Faith:
The Copts, followed the pioneer Alexandrine Christians, therapeutae for Christ, who believed so vividly in Emmanuel that they became a Church of Martyrs, their strive being to preserve their Church Orthodoxy; in Christology as well as in Doxology, "We magnify you O Mother of the True Light, we glorify you O Theotokos, saintly Mother of God for you have borne unto us the Savior of the world. Glory to Thee O Christ, our Master and King; pride of the Apostles, crown of the martyrs, rejoicing of the righteous, steadfastness of the churches, and forgiveness of sins. We proclaim the Holy Trinity, One Godhead, that we worship and glorify. Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy, Lord bless, Amen."

History of Traditional Egyptian Christianity:
On my first visit to Coptologist Orval Prof. Wintermute, in Duke University, he asked me if I read Th. Partrick book on the Coptic Church History. Oops, for a while I thought; why should any devotee of Christian history expose himself to the hard task of retrieving sour memories of martyrdom, monastic sufferings, heroic defense of true faith and schismatic persecution by the Byzantine. A long list of violations of Coptic identities by Arabs imposing Islam by sword and Mamlukes thirsty for power, let alone Al Hakim who plundered them, to the Turks who exiled their artisans to be finally exposed to Islamic fundamentalist terror in the last few decades.

History's Hard Task accomplished:
Fr. Partrick started his romance with this sour part of Christian history through Origen, and Coptic language. He taught early church history which was very well glorified in the nascent heroic Church. His research and bibliography are very extensive with 12 pages of exhaustive Index.
"Because of the complexity of a history that involves research in Greek, Roman, Persian, Syriac, Ethiopic and Arabic sources, the story is available to scholars in bits and pieces, primarily in the form of articles or monographs provided by specialists in areas such as Patristics, Christian theology, or Arabic studies. Now, Hall Partrick has woven all of that together for a full account which is reported in clear English and brings the story up to the present century. It is a much needed work. There is no comparable modern survey of Coptic history in English." R. Orval Wintermute, Prof. Emeritus of Coptic & Semitics, Duke Divinity

CCR Book Review:
'Since 1967, when prof. A. Ateya wrote a concise survey of Coptic Church History in his book 'history of Eastern Christianity', there has been no scholarly attempt to write a modern Coptic history that includes the material available in new articles and monographs in various languages.By this book, the author who is an Episcopal priest and professor of early Church history tries to fill this gap. With hundreds of footnotes, and a 25-page biography of primary and modern sources, he divides the book into 11 chapters, each covering a period in the life of the church since its birth in the first century. In less than 250 pages, Partrick does the impossible task of covering the work of the school of Alexandria, the Church leadership in the ecumenical councils, the rise of monasticism, the suffering under different Moslem rulers after the Arab conquest, and finally the revival in the 20th century.
The author should be commended for the massive information he has put in this book. It deserves a place in every library and should be put in the hands of the Coptic youth.' (Coptic Church Review, Vol 17,No 4, winter 1996 )

Good for those who have no clue what Coptic Christianity is
The book is good for giving a lot of information about the Coptic Orthodox church, but the author doesn't give the church enough credit for its role in ancient and modern Christianity. I don't think its a book the Coptic Church will promote.

good research but hard to read
I found this book very difficult to sit and read.It seems to be a great reference book but the style is dull and I end up taking a nap after I read it.It is good to have by your nightstand.

Quick Review
As the title states, this is a history of the Coptic Orthodox Church.We in the West simply don't hear enough about this topic.

Not for the faint of study, this is probably the only book you'll need on the Coptic branchof Christianity. ... Read more

Book Description

The Teachings of Modern Orthodox Christianity on Law, Politics, and Human Nature examines how modern Orthodox Christian thinkers have answered the most pressing political, legal, and ethical questions of our time. It discusses the enduring teachings of important Orthodox Christian intellectuals of the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Leading contemporary scholars analyze these thinkers' views on the nature and purpose of law and authority, the limits of rule and obedience, the care of the needy and innocent, the ethics of war and violence, and the separation of church and state, among other themes. A diverse and powerful portrait of Orthodox Christian legal and political thought, this volume underscores the various ways Orthodox Christian intellectuals have shaped modern debates over the family, the state, religion, and society. The book concentrates on Russian philosophers Vladimir Soloviev (1853-1900) and Vladimir Lossky (1903-1958); Russian theologian Nicholas Berdyaev (1874-1948); Russian nun and social reformer Mother Maria Skobtsova (1891-1945); and Romanian theologian Dumitru St?niloae (1903-1993).

Product Description
Worry, despair, insecurity, fear of death . . . these are our daily companions, and even though we attempt to ignore them or try to crowd them out, they are there, waiting for us in our quieter moments. It is precisely where we hurt most that the experience of the Orthodox Church has much to offer. The remedy is not a pep talk, or any simple admonitions to fight the good fight, cheer up, or think positively. Rather, the Orthodox method is to change the way we look at the human person (starting with ourselves). According to two thousand years of experience, Orthodoxy shows us how tobe transformed by the renewing of our mind-- a process that is aided by participation in the traditional ascetic practices and Mysteries of the Church.In this unique and accessible book, Archimandrite Meletios Webber first explores the role of mystery in the Christian life, then walks the reader through the seven major Mysteries of the Orthodox Church, showing the way to a richer, fuller life in Christ. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Spiritual Gift
I highly recommend "Bread & Water, Wine & Oil." Father Meletios states it best: "We (Orthodox Christians) identify ourselves most clearly by being quite sure who we are not." True to his "who we are not" theme, Father Meletios explores every dimension of Orthodoxy and its Mysteries, and richly interprets the almost unexplainable. Anyone seeking Orthodoxy will find his engaging style, and clarity of thought about Orthodox teachings most illuminating and spiritually eloquent. Those already engaged in the Orthodox spiritual life will be refreshed with deeper understanding. His genuine and practical anecdotes connect an ancient Faith with modern life, ever so adeptly. Father Meletios' writings are an immeasurable gift to his readers, and I am grateful for his monumental effort. This book is to be read carefully and savored. It is a treasure; certainly it will be an enduring one. Thank you, Father Mel, from one of the lucky ones who has grown under your spiritual guidance.

a book destined to become a classic
A key passage at the beginning of "Bread and Water, Wine and Oil" focuses on the on the Orthodox use of the word "mystery":

"One of the most noticeable features of Eastern Christianity is that it is this word, `mystery,' rather than the word `sacrament,' which describes those actions of God which have a specific, decisive and eternal significance in the lives of those who take part in them. Everyday substances -- oil, water, bread, wine -- together with simple actions -- offering, blessing, washing, anointing -- become the means by which God intervenes in our lives. These interventions -- in which God does all the work, and our only contribution is to be prepared and present -- color and shape our lives beyond the extent that would be possible through any human encounter. However, unlike most human interactions, they do not take us from a place of ignorance to a place of knowledge. Rather, the Mysteries lead us deeper and deeper into the Mystery -- the Mystery which is the presence of God Himself."

Mystery, in the Orthodox sense, has nothing to do with mystery novels and films. The divine mystery has no solution. As the author writes:

"In the East, on the other hand, a mystery is an area where the human mind cannot go, and where the heart alone makes sense, not by `knowing,' but by ;being.' The Greek word mysterion leads you into a sense of `not-knowing' or `not-understanding' and leaves you there. All a person can do is gaze and wonder; there is nothing to solve."

Father Meletios's book is a profoundly challenging book about the journey from the mind (always struggling to explain, solve and de-mystify, yet always seething with emotions and passions) to the depths of the heart, the center of being rather than of knowing.

"Bread and Water, Wine and Oil" seems likely to become a Christian classic, the sort of book the reader returns to again and again and keeps recommending to friends. ... Read more

Book Description
With a foreword by Thomas Hopko

Father Thomas Hopko states in his Foreword: ...Those who are serious in their seekings, whether their theological and spiritual convictions, are obligated at some point to come to terms with Fr Sergius Bulgakov.The results for the courageous cannot fail to be enlightening and inspiring: perhaps not in the ways that the Russian thinker imagined but in ways known to the Master he served.

Having been a classic introduction to the Orthodox Church for many decades, it is remarkable that this short book by Bulgakov still retains its freshness and relevance in the ecumenical scene today.The Orthodox concepts of conciliarity (sobornost), of salvation as a process of becoming divine, and of truth and infallibility in the Church, will open new vistas in discussions concerning Christian unity.Bulgakov writes from within the context of the ecumenical community, addressing the key issues and providing a basis for Western Christians to understand their brothers and sisters in the Eastern Church.Useful also to the Orthodox, the book provides answers and directions to the most commonly asked questions that are addressed to the general membership of the Church.

Sergius Bulgakov (1871-1944), former Dean and Professor of Dogmatic Theology at St Sergius Theological Institute in Paris was a prolific writer, powerful preacher, and profound confessor.Though controversial for his creative approach to theology he will remain as a great and seminal thinker who has contributed more than other toward shaping the direction and ethos of modern Orthodox theology.The Orthodox Church is the only book by Bulgakov available in the English language. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A Journey into Orthodoxy
The book opens with a forword by Fr. Thomas Hopko and it is best ignored when one starts to read this book. Fr. Hopko's forword praises Bulgakov and belittles Bulgakov, reflecting the ambivalent attitude towards Fr. Bulgakov in certain Orthodox circles.

Ch. 1 "The Church"
Ch. 2 "The Church as Tradition"
Ch. 3 "The Hierarchy"
Ch. 4 "The Unity of the Church"
Ch. 5 "The Sanctity of the Church"
Ch. 6 "Orthodox Dogma"
Ch. 7 "The Sacraments"
Ch. 8 "The Virgin and the Saints in Orthodoxy"
Ch. 9 "The Orthodox Church Service"
Ch. 10 "Icons and their Cult"
Ch. 11 "Orthodox Mysticism"
Ch. 12 "Orthodox Ethic"
Ch. 13 "Orthodoxy and the State"
Ch. 14 "Orthodoxy and the Economic Life"
Ch. 15 "Orthodoxy and Apocalyptic Thought"
Ch. 16 "Orthodox Eschatology"
Ch. 17 "Orthodoxy and the Other Confessions"
Ch. 18 "Conclusion"

From this index it is clear that the book is a comprehensive study of Orthodoxy, covering a very broad range of the areas of life, in particular Orthodox life. Bulgakov takes the reader by the hand and takes the reader on a journey thru Orthodoxy. It is a book that one does not finish and lays aside, rather one reads it again and again and again,..

It does not contain explicit reference to Sophiology, a doctrine with which Bulgakov's name will forever be associated. It is a book about Orthodox dogmatic theology with little reference to history, which has been treated by H.H. Kalistos Ware Bishop of Diokleia elsewhere ("The Orthodox Church"). For Fr. Bulgakov's sophiology one should turn to the trilogy "The Bride of the Lamb", "The Comforter" and "The Lamb of God" of which only the first has yet appeared in English; and of course the small introduction to "sophiology" called "Sophia: The Wisdom of God."

The book is a powerfull and convincing testimony to the energy and life that is contained in Orthodox theology. The book allows one to grow deeper, and much more firmly in Orthodox theology; especially in the light of Western challenges to Orthodoxy.

The book is best read as a companion, as a dogmatic travel-guide. Reading it is a journey into Orthodoxy in its dogmatic aspect (which must NEVER be separated from Orthodox praxis) re-reading it frequently is like "tuning ones inner Orthodox instrument" to make sure ones "tone remains Orthodox." It is a book that will be of enormous help to become Orthodox and to continue to become Orthodox; for becoming Orthodox does not end in Baptism and Chrismation, it merely begins from there on and this book will nurture ones contineous Journey into Orthodoxy.

"All Christians who now discover the need of facing a new future, are beginning to understand the world importance of Orthodoxy.
Does that future exist for the Church? Yes, for Orthodoxy is not yet achieved, either in fact or even in principle. Above Orthodoxy there is no other dome than the vault of Heaven. (..) It is Orthodoxy, and Orthodoxy only, which is the manifest and the hidden truth of all Christian confessions, divided now, but called to reunite in one flock under One Pastor, May God grant it!"

Get it, you won't regret it! ;-) ... Read more

Product Description
\"The book . . . is a superb presentation of the faith, history, and practice of the Greek Orthodox Church that is comprehensive and readable. It is a book that should be in the religious section of every library.\" Choice\"Addressed to the nonspecialist, as for example undergraduate college students, the book would be ideal reading for a Roman Catholic preparing for marriage with a Greek Orthodox. One would hope too that this title would be assigned as required reading in Catholic seminaries . . . Constantelos holds our attention as an experienced pedagogue.\" Emmanuel\"The most readable and instructive monograph on the Greek Orthodox Church and faith to appear in many years . . . an honest appraisal by one who knowswhereof he speaks. Recommended for anyone wanting sound information on Greek Orthodoxy and the Greek Church.\" Religious Studies Review\"Most thought-provoking is his analysis of the formative infl uence of Greek thought on early Christianity . . . readers interested in the meaning and influence of this . . . church will find the book fascinating.\" Library Journal ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Many reasons to respect Greek Orthodox thought
Contantelos makes a clear presentation of Greek Orthodox tradition, giving basic insight into the values, rites and spiritual practices of the oldest living church. Concerning marriage for the clergy for example, he explains why most of the common priests remain married. Even the bishops were often married until the council of Trullo in 691, when the Greek Church decreed that a bishops role required undivided commitment, without the distraction of family life. For the rest of the clergy, marriage remained the standard. As Constantelos explains, "The fact that the [Greek Orthodox] Church has not made an official pronouncement placing celibacy above marriage indicates that the conscience of the Church has accepted marriage as a more courageous state of being". (p. 73.)

I came away from the book with greater respect for the depth of thought behind Greek Orthodox traditions.

--BG, author of "Different Visions of Love" and "The Gardens of Their Dreams"

Good introductory text on the Greek Orthodox Church
I was very pleased with this book.I had previously used the third edition, but the fourth edition is even better. It is a good introduction to the history, doctrine and culture of the Orthodox Church.It also devotes suffient space to outlining the history of Orthodoxy in the United States (Chapter 5).

Chapters 2 and 4 are superb chapters on some of the core beliefs and practices of Orthodoxy, and are very easy to understand.A major regret is that the author doesn't go sufficiently (in my opinion) into the Orthodox calendar, though he certainly does touch upon it.A list and subsequent explanation of Orthodox holy days, such as Lazarus Saturday or the Sunday of Orthodoxy, would be useful, since sacred time is very important to the Orthodox Church.Perhaps in future editions this will be included.

The history chapter (Chapter 3) is good, but I would suggest that future editions include more information on the filioque clause, due to its importance, (it only gets one page), and might recommend explanding the conciliar history and development of Greek Orthodox theology.I would also like to see more on the development of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (including the role of St. Andrew).Ultimately, I think that the history chapter needs a major overhaul (in a fifth edition???) perhaps dividing into two chapters due to its significance.For example, one chapter on general Orthodox history, the other on the development of doctrine and relations with Western Christianity.The latter would include, among other things, a one or two-page list of the Seven Ecumencial Councils and what each did.

With these rather minor exceptions, I strongly recommend this book to people interested in beginning a study of the Greek Orthodox Church.

EXCELLENT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Mr. Constantelos has done a Major service to Christianity in general and Orthodoxy in particular in presenting this book.He clearly explains in a language that is easy to understand such sujects as 1) The divinity in history 2)The Holy Spirit 3)Life in the Church 4)The Relevance of the Church today 5)The Patristic and Monastic Aspects of the Church.The book is well ballanced and very informative. ... Read more

Book Description

For the first time, English-speaking Orthodox Christians have an edition ofthe New Testament and Psalms that offers Bible study aids written from the Orthodoxperspective. Prepared under the direction of canonical Orthodox theologiansand hierarchs, The Orthodox Study Bible presents a remarkable combinationof historic theological insights and practical instruction in Christian living.Clergy and laity who want to learn more about the Orthodox Christian faith andliturgical and sacramental foundations in the Scriptures will gain a wealthof information for the preparation of sermons and lessons as Orthodox Christiandoctrine is clearly explained.

Customer Reviews (46)

Been long in the waiting
This new testament study bible was just what we orthodox needed to educate and expand our knowledge. I am now waiting for the fully study bible in March 2008.

Great Orthodox Bible but Better Was Just Released
I love this bible which is beautifully enhanced with icons and commentary from church fathers. However this edition does not include the old testament, only psalms. The new edition was just released including everything here plus the old testament. Concilliar Press offers this new edition in hardcover and leather.

Not the best option
There are several problems with this edition of the New Testament. First, it uses the NKJV text, which is not a translation that the Orthodox Church has recognized as being without fault. I understand the use of it from one perspective, since many of the people who convert to our faith are from a Protestant background, and the King James is familiar.

More troubling, though, is the astounding lack of patristic commentary. We have 18 centuries of Church Fathers (and Mothers, too!) to draw on for proper understanding of the Scriptures, and there is hardly a lone footnote to be found that references St. John Chrysostom, Cyril of Alexandria or (in the case of Revelation) St. Andrew of Caesarea. Why?

This lack of patristic emphasis is especially evident in the page-long commentaries on the sacraments. These commentaries seem to be less geared toward proper Orthodox understanding and more aimed at defending our doctrine against evangelical claims. Again, hardly surprising, since many of the editors of this edition are from the evangelical background.

The icons are nice, though, as are the liturgical lectionary notes. The inclusion of the morning and evening prayers in the back is always nice. For a really good edition of the Orthodox New Testament, though, skip this one. Get the two-volume edition put out by Dormition Skete at Holy Apostles Convent. The translation is good, and the commentary is 100% patristic.

Beautiful presentation, woefully inadequate commentary
This Bible fills a great need, and it is beautifully presented.However, as other reviewers have noted, the commentary and introductions to the books take very little account of the last 200 years of biblical scholarship, even critical Orthodox scholarship. Some introductions are painfully simplistic. I'm sure this appeals to ex-fundamentalist, Protestant converts to Orthodoxy who long for a Church in which there is not a hint of ambiguity, but it does a service to no-one to keep readers in the dark about some of the hypotheses of recent Biblical scholarship, even if one has good reasons for disagreeing with them.A case in point:Telling readers that St. Polycarp attributed a certain pseudo-Pauline epistle to Paul may be interesting Orthodox history, but the editors of this Bible should at least tell readers why some scholars have reason to doubt the Pauline authorship of some epistles. Perhaps this study Bible was intended to be more devotional than scholarly...That's okay, but be sure to also have something like the Harper Collins Study Bible on hand.I'm still waiting for the day when we will see an Orthodox Bible that combines the best of scholarly and devotional approaches.

Would the REAL King James please stand up!
This Bible is literally a God send to all Christians and especially us Liturgical ones (Roman, Anglican as well as Orthodox) as it looks at the New Testament and Psalms from an Apostolic point of view along with the Godly traditions passed down by the Church through the centuries.The study aids and information about the Orthodox Church are very useful as well.The gallery of Icons scattered throughout the text are lovely. Alas, why can't it be in the time honoured King James Version instead of the somewhat sterile NKJV?I hope that a complete Old Testament along with the New Testament study Bible is forthcoming. ... Read more

Book Description
An idea growing in popularity among some Orthodox over the last few decades has been the admission of women to the sacerdotal priesthood. The source for this idea is not the Scriptures, the Fathers, the Councils of the Church, but comes to us from the world, specifically the feminist movement. It has implications for the secularization of the Church. On one level, advocates view the ordination of women as something owed the female sex, a sign of the Church's repentance, so to speak, atonement for the centuries of female stereotyping and powerlessness, that is to say, denying her the right to creatively express her ingenuity, to exercise her freedom and to exhibit her dedication. Not unaware of the objections in holy Tradition to the ordination of women to the presbytery (and consecration to the episcopacy), the strategy of its proponents is to declare this innovation an "open question." It is, in fact, not a subject to be debated. The theological and ecclesial facts need only to be reviewed to make the point. This book provides an understanding of those facts based on the only authorities (criteria) available to us - the Scriptures, the Fathers and the Canons. They have unalterably defined the place of women in the Church from the beginning. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Vigorous Defence of Tradition
Fr. Michael Azkoul vigorously defends the Tradition of the Orthodox Church in this answer to both extreme and moderate elements in society pushing for admission of women into Christ's priesthood. The book examines the issue from the perspective of the Church's traditions, canons, and commentary of its saints. While this approach is welcome, I refrain from giving it five stars, because it could have addressed the Holy Scripture's teaching on this issue in more depth. Also, as an Oriental Orthodox layperson without much of a window into the happenings and factions within the other Orthodox churches, I felt this book offered too much information concerning the dissension within them. I would have been contented with the Orthodox Church's answer to this issue without the references to politics, but that is just my personal preference.

In summary, anyone seeking to understand this issue from the Orthodox perspective is well-advised to read this book.

not bad
author does attack subject with great vigor but fails to address the growing number of those who are transgendered and transexual who wish to enter the priesthood.

No holds barred
If you are looking for a no-holds-barred defense of the priesthood as male-only than this is it.While written by, for, and from the perspective of the Orthodox, all the points apply equally well if not better for Catholics.There is no equivocation and the points are made rather bluntly.There is no sugar-coating or pussy-footing around in this book.The case in favor of the male-only priesthood is made in a clear and reasoned manner.Be forewarned that the forceful and somewhat authorative manner of the book my be off-putting to some but that is the only manner in which such an important topic can be addessed if one truly believes the Church. ... Read more

Book Description
For any dialogue between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches to be fruitful, we must first understand our differences. Popes and Patriarchs covers some of the distinctives in theology and worldview that separate the churches of the East from those of the West, focusing primarily on the claims of papal supremacy.

Author Michael Whelton, a convert from Catholicism to Orthodoxy, discusses some of the theological and historical issues that led him to explore the teachings of the Orthodox Church, including the doctrine of original sin, the influence of Medieval scholastic thought on the Western Church, and the modern trend toward evolutionary Christianity.

Part II examines in depth the true attitude of the early Eastern saints of the Church toward the papacy, an attitude radically different from that frequently attributed to them by Roman Catholic apologists.

A final chapter is devoted to typical questions Roman Catholics raise about the Orthodox Church, including a comprehensive discussion of divorce and remarriage. ... Read more

Book Description
This introduction describes the life of the Orthodox Churches of the Christian East from the accession of the Emperor Constantine in 312 up to the year 2000. It discusses the distinctive Orthodox approaches to the themes of liturgy, theology, monastic life and spirituality, iconography, popular religion, mission, politics and the schism between East and West. The final chapter examines the response of the Churches to the new freedom following the collapse of communism and the prospects for the future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An informative but dry and imperfect survey
John Binns' AN INTRODUCTION TO THE CHRISTIAN ORTHODOX CHURCHES is a rare book in that it attempts to familiarise the reader with all of the Orthodox Churches, and not merely (as is common in English-language works on Orthodoxy) with those which accepted the Council of Chalcedon. While Binns' isn't successful in giving as much attention to these obscure Middle Eastern churches as to the well-known Byzantine church, his approach is worthy of some attention.

Binns starts his overview of Orthodoxy's diversity by examing the various bishops found along Straight Street in Damascus. The city has five patriarches, all representing different traditions in this fragmented faith. After this example, Binns proceeds to tell the history of Orthodoxy. He assumes that readers will already be familiar with the basics of Christian thought and the early spread of the faith, and so he begins this history from the moment when Orthodoxy gained a distinct characteristic from Western Christianity, namely with the rise of Byzantium.

The middle of the book is dedicated to Orthodox faith and practise and how these might vary from Western Christianity. The chapter on liturgy I found to be among the most interesting portions of Binns' work, for it describes not only the well-known Divine Liturgies of Constantinople, but also the little-known liturgies of the churches in the Middle East. The chapter on icons commendably describes the theological arguments for and against in considerably more depth than many descriptions of Orthodoxy.

Forty pages are dedicated to the complicated issue of church-state relations within Orthodoxy. I found this to be somewhat disappointing, for he doesn't speak of the simultaneous willingly collaboration and underground resistance of the Church in Romania and several other oppressive regimes, though the former Soviet Union gets sufficient attention. This chapter is followed by one on the relations between Orthodoxy and the churches of the West from the schism (which was much gradual than one would have thought) to modern-day ecumenism. Finally, the work concludes with a brief survey of Orthodoxy's triumphant return after the fall of Communism and its contemporary struggles.

While the book is generally informative, it is somewhat flawed. Binns occasionally fails to maintain a neutral tone. Whether this is due to a personal commitment to Orthodoxy or a desire to present everything from the view of his subject is uncertain. However, I was made uneasy at several points, and downright appalled when he suggested that calls for the Russian Church to distance itself from anti-semitism is undesirable Western meddling. I was also disappointed by a number of small errors which show insufficient fact-checking. Though the work was first published in 2002 Binns uses, for example, the anachronism "the Ukraine" for "Ukraine", and "Kiev" for "Kyiv". He also shows a misunderstand of European geography when he speaks of "the border between Slovakia and Russia."

For one looking for a basic introduction to Byzantine Orthodoxy, this book is far too dry and unfocused to please. I would suggest getting Bishop Kallistos Ware's THE ORTHODOX CHURCH instead, a modern classic by one of the most respected bishops of the Church and a book continually updated and reprinted. If you are looking for a wider perspective on Orthodoxy including the non-Chalcedonian churches of the East, Binns' work might be appropriate. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description
These two classic introductions to Orthodoxy by Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia are subjected to critical examination, not in order to impugn their overall usefulness and worth, but in order to safeguard the unwary reader from doctrinal pitfalls and to correct a number of serious errors of fact and interpretation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Old-Calendarist Critique of Bishop Ware's Theology.
_The Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Way Reviewed_ by Hieromonk Patapios is a critique from the ultra-conservative True Orthodox Church of Greece of two popular books on Orthodox Christianity by Bishop Kallistos (Timothy) Ware.The pamphlet consists of two in depth reviews scrutinizing Ware's books and is published by the Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, which disseminates a number of texts on theological issues relating to controversies within the Orthodox Church.Much of their publications are polemics against the ecumenical movement and the adoption of the Gregorian (Western) calendar by the Patriarch of Constantinople and the Church of Greece under the Archbishop of Athens.They view the ecumenical movement as a syncretistic heresy that dilutes the identity of the traditional Orthodox Church.Ware is involved in ecumenical dialogues, and Patapios goes to great lengths to show how Ware's more liberal theology is somewhat divergent from traditional Orthodoxy.Patapios takes issue with Ware's methodology and theological positions in _The Orthodox Church_ and compares an early edition of Ware's book from the 1960s and the edited version published in 1993.Some of Ware's "flaws" is that he does not elevate Orthodoxy as absolute truth in his work, taking a more relative theological stance that stands at odds with Old Calendarist ecclesial positions.However, Patapios concludes that Ware's _Orthodox Church_ is the best available introduction to Orthodox Church history available and accessible to a wide audience and that no traditionalist scholar has produced a work in English of equal depth.

The second review examines Ware's _The Orthodox Way_, a popular tract on Orthodox mysticism.Patapios disapproves of Ware's citations of non-Orthodox sources (like Thomas Merton and William Blake), early ecclesial writers who were not elevated to the status of Church Fathers (like Origen who was posthumously condemned in the sixth century), modern Orthodox authors whose writings have been recently condemned (Fr. Sergius Bulgakov) and Orthodox authors involved in the ecumenical movement (Fr. Dimitru Staniloae).Furthermore, Patapios takes Ware to task on the fact that he maintains the notion (from Origen and Gregory of Nyssa) of a universal redemption-even of Satan and that God's love even extends to souls suffering in Hell.Another issue in _The Orthodox Way_ is Ware's theology which weaves around the "impassibility" of God as defined by the Fathers of the Church.Patapios asks the rhetorical question of whether or not one is qualified to go outside the theological parameters established unanimously by the _consensus partum_ which defines Orthodox doctrines, dogmas, theological study and inquiry.Ware also apparently holds to a somewhat slanted view of Christ maintaining that the Lord's human nature was too close to that of fallen man and not God incarnate.It does not appear that Christ suffered despair before the Cross in a sinful manner or that the Lord was tortured in Hell in addition to the suffering at the Cross as some Protestant theologians have maintained.Patapios points out the shortcomings, not to mention theological complexity, of these two issues.I do not know of how much value this book would be to one who has not already read Ware's books critiqued here and who is unfamiliar with Old Calendarist literature and how it differs from canonical (i.e., in communion with the Patriarch of Constantinople) Orthodox Churches.
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