Orthodox Church

Father John Anthony McGuckin is a Stavrofor Priest of the Romanian Orthodox Church. He is the Nielsen Professor of Early Christian and Byzantine Church History at Union Theological Seminary, and Professor of Byzantine Christianity at New York’s Columbia University. Professor McGuckin has published more than twenty books on religious and historical themes and is considered one of the most articulate spokespersons of the early Christian and Eastern Orthodox tradition writing in English today.

"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)

• Preface xiList of Illustrations xiiiList of Abbreviations xivNote on Sources xvIntroduction: Strange Encounters 11 The Pilgrimage of the Orthodox through History 5A Brief History of the Orthodox from the Apostolic Era to the Middle Ages 5Perspectives of history 5Earliest Christian foundations 7The development of ecclesiastical centres 12The age of the Fathers 14Creeds and councils 17East and West: the parting of ways 20The Slavic mission 23The Organization of the Orthodox Churches from Medieval to Modern Times 24The extension of the Orthodox Church 24Synopsis of the organization of the Orthodox churches 30The ancient patriarchates 31The Orthodox Church of Cyprus 44The Church of Sinai 46The Russian Orthodox Church (patriarchate of Moscow) 47The wider Russian heritage 55The Orthodox Church of Greece 61The patriarchal Church of Bulgaria 62The patriarchal Church of Serbia 65The patriarchal Church of Romania 66The Church of Georgia 70The Church of Poland 71The Church of Albania 72The Church of the Czech lands and Slovakia 73The three autonomous Orthodox churches 73The various Orthodox diaspora communities 76The Orthodox Church in America 802 The Orthodox Sense of Tradition 90The Holy Tradition 90Sources of Authority in Orthodoxy 100Orthodoxy's Reading of the Scriptures 102An ecclesial reading 103The principle of consonance 106The principle of authority 108The principle of utility 109Patristic and Conciliar Authorities 110The Symbolical Books 111The Pedalion (Holy Canons) 115Tradition and Revelation 1163 The Doctrine of the Orthodox Church I: The Glory of the Lord 120The Christian God 120The Holy Spirit 126The Lord Jesus 141The Immortal Father 158The Holy Trinity 1664 The Doctrine of the Orthodox Church II: The Economy of Salvation 182Humanity and its Sufferings 182Salvation and the Call to Ascent 198The Song of Creation 204The Blessed Theotokos: Joy of All Creation 210The Dance of the Blessed: The Angels and the Saints 222Outside the Gates: Demonology and the Enigma of Evil 234The Church: Bride of the Lamb 2385 The Holy Mysteries and Liturgies 277Greater and Lesser Mysteries 277The mystery of baptism 282The mystery of chrismation 285The mystical supper: communion in the Holy Eucharist 288The eucharistic liturgy 296The mystery of metanoia 300The mystery of the great anointing 306The mystery of marriage 309The mysteries of ordination 323The lesser blessings of the church 335The services of prayer 336The Trisagion prayers 338The daily offices 339Personal prayers 346Traditions of Orthodox Prayer and Spirituality 346Methods of prayer 347Prayer of the heart 349The Jesus Prayer 351Hesychasm 352Fasting and feasting 353The Holy Icons: Doors to the Kingdom 354Sacred art 354The Orthodox vocabulary of worship 356Icons and iconoclasm 357Icons of the Lord 361Icons of the Virgin 362Icons of the saints 3636 'The God-Beloved Emperor': Orthodoxy's Political Imagination 380Caesaro-Papist Caricatures 380Byzantine Models of Godly Rule 381The Ambiguity of Scriptural Paradigms of Power 384The Concept of the Priestly King 388Dominion as Apostolic Charism 390Patristic Ideas on Symphonia 391New Polities in the Aftermath of Byzantium 3957 Orthodoxy and the Contemporary World 399The Poor at the Rich Man's Gate 399The Grace of Peace and the Curse of War 402Freedom in an Unfree World 408A New Status for Women 411Biological and Other New Ethical Environments 415Sexual Ethics and Pastoral Care 420Ecumenism and the Reunion of the Churches 424Religious Pluralism in the Global Village 426Evangelism in a New Millennium 430Glossary of Orthodox Terminology 436Select Bibliography 443Index 453