The Orthodox Church An Introduction to Eastern Christianity

“Orthodoxy claims to be universal . . .”

Since it's first publication fifty years ago, Timthy 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 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 relation 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 the East and the West.

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.