Orthodox Christianity Volume I: The History and Canonical Structure of the Orthodox Church

This is the first volume of a detailed and systematic exposition of the history, canonical structure, doctrine, moral and social teaching, liturgical services, and spiritual life of the Orthodox Church. The purpose of this series is to present Orthodox Christianity as an integrated theological and liturgical system, in which all elements are interconnected. Theology is based on liturgical experience, and church art—including icons, singing, and architecture—is shaped by theology and the liturgy. Theology and the services, in their turn, influence the ascetic practice and the personal piety of each Christian; they shape the moral and social teaching of the Church as well as its relation to other Christian confessions, non-Christian religions, and the secular world. This volume begins with an account of the historical arc of the Orthodox Church during the first ten centuries after Christ’s nativity, when the Christians of the east and west shared a common history. In examining the secon