Orthodox Christianity: A Very Short Introduction

Very Short Introductions #615

by A. Edward Siecienski

To many in the West, Orthodoxy remains shrouded in mystery, an exotic and foreign religion that survived in the East following the Great Schism of 1054 that split the Christian world into two camps--Catholic and Orthodox. However, as the second largest Christian denomination, Orthodox Christianity is anything but foreign to the nearly 300 million worshippers who practice it. For them, Orthodoxy is a living, breathing reality; a way of being Christian ultimately rooted in the person of Jesus and the experience of the early Church. Whether they are Greek, Russian, or American, Orthodox Christians are united by a common tradition and faith that binds them together despite differences in culture. True, the road has not always been smooth -- Orthodox history is littered with tales of schisms and divisions, of persecutions and martyrdom, from the Sack of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire and seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch, to the experience of the Russian Orthodox
Church under the Soviet Union. Still, today Orthodoxy remains a vibrant part of the religious landscape, not only in those lands where it has made its historic home (Greece, Russia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe), but also increasingly in the West. Orthodox A Very Short Introduction explores the enduring role of this religion, and the history, beliefs, and practices that have shaped it.

ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Genres: Religion, Christianity, Nonfiction, History, Theology, Audiobook, Christian

136 pages, Paperback

Published July 9, 2019

Reviews

[Julian Worker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Orthodox Church is the second largest Christian denomination in the world with between 250 and 300 million adherents.

I found this book so interesting as I've always thought that Orthodox christianity appears more spritual than Catholicism due to the chanting, incense, and the people involved in the religious ceremonies.

Whereas the Roman Catholic church has the pope as the head of the church, modern Orthodoxy has no universal head which prevents the church from presenting itself as a united entity. The Orthodox church is organised into fourteen self-governing churches that often don't get along with each other.

The biggest source of friction between the Western Catholic church and the Eastern Orthodox church is the word 'filioque' meaning 'of the son'. The western church believes that the Holy Ghost emanates not only from God but from the Son of God too, whereas the Orthodox church does not.

The book covers the history of the Orthodox church and explains fascinating facts such as why The Old Believers came into existence in Russia shortly after 1652 when Patriarch Nikon of Moscow initiated some changes they didn't agree with.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps listening to this book in audio format rather than reading it did the actual work a disservice, as the narrator’s butchering of the Greek drove me up the wall. If you want to narrate a book with significant Greek content, particularly of the theological sort, you should at least google the pronunciation.
Anyway, aside from that, there were significant theological errors, such as claiming the Orthodox believe Mary was sinless. The author uses the liturgical references of “all pure” and “all holy” as making the same statement as the Catholic doctrinal declaration of Mary’s sinlessness. The Orthodox venerate her above all women, but hold fast to the idea that only God is sinless, and the all-blessed, all-pure, all Holy Virgin, did, indeed, sin, just like every other human, and needed her Son’s redemptive grace just like the rest of us. Which is part of what makes her so balls-to-the-wall awesome. And yes, that’s the scholarly term for it ;)
Now, errors and some opinionated statements aside, the author presents a decent overview, and it’s an ok read for people who aren’t familiar with Orthodoxy, whether they’re Orthodox, or heterodox. I personally find that one of the strengths of the book is also one of its greatest problems. The author is apologetic about certain issues facing the Orthodox Church today (the jurisdictional mess in the US, etc.) While I’m glad he takes the time to explain and justify it, it doesn’t belong in a bare-bones introduction of Orthodox Christianity. You have 188 pages to cover 2000 years, and in your introductory chapter you’re like “yeah... kind of a mess in America, guys, but this is why”. If you’re going to mention it at all, put it in the end. You’re weirding people out before they even know what a “jurisdiction” is.
To be fair, the author is both familiar and well-disposes towards Orthodoxy, and there isn’t that unbearable Catholic or Protestant undertone many books on the subject have. He is fair and unbiased towards all religions, and presents a coherent and balanced view. I feel that if I knew less, I would have given the book five stars, but I’m holding it to a very high standard.
Overall, ok, but not great, and for the love of all that is jurisdictional, don’t listen to it on audiobook if you dislike the senseless massacre of foreign words.

[Nick Rolston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given that this is indeed a very brief overview that takes a cursory look at Orthodoxy, I found it to be quite informational. The first few chapters on history was a bit too crammed to easily digest, and I did not retain as much as I had hoped there. However, the chapters that followed were quite insightful. I particularly enjoyed the discussion on the present-day aspects of Orthodoxy in terms of describing the autocephalous churches, the sacraments, the mystical aspects of the faith, and the descriptions of how Orthodox Christianity is distinct from other Christian sects. Ultimately, the author makes the claim that although Orthodox is the ancient faith, it does not strictly live in the past—as although the liturgical worship and service is meant to replicate traditions and prayers from the early century ecumenical councils—the church has more than a glorious past and is not simply a museum piece to be preserved. Orthodoxy is a living entity which has evolved with time just as people have, and the church leadership has taken a forward-minding stance in terms of acknowledging the need to be good stewards of the environment and acceptance of all people. I'd recommend this book to anyone wanting a better sense of Orthodox Christianity.

[Illiterate · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lacks any external critical perspective.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history sections were wonderful but the later chapters where the author could show his biases were lame and unhelpful.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked a longer more in depth book on the subject. But I enjoyed what was here. My main take away was the number of schisms that have occurred in the church, and the number of councils trying to reconcile what the church believes and teaches.

To me it was a testimony of the need for a restoration of Christ’s teachings, which I believe occurred when Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ appeared to the young Joseph Smith.

[Halina]

Good introduction! As expected, I have forgotten 70% of it already. One cool word I remembered: iconodule - person who venerates images. Also they don't believe in original sin? Great!

[Adam Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: A brief introduction to Orthodox Christianity.

I have said a number of times that as much as the Very Short Introduction series is uneven, I keep coming back to it because it serves a helpful niche. These are books that are about 100-125 pages, usually with good bibliographies, that give someone without much background an introduction to the important aspects of a topic. I read at least 3 or 4 a year, especially when I can find them at my library on Audible's lending library (Premium Plus catalog). This one was free for me to listen to with my Audible membership.

The book was divided into three main parts. The first was Christian history, focusing on Nicaea to the spread of Orthodoxy into Russia. The second was about Orthodoxy's theological and liturgical development. The third focused on what made Orthodoxy different from Roman Catholicism. There was a concluding section about modern challenges and developments within Orthodoxy.

Overall this is was one of the better VSI books. The author was clear about what was important, and the audience, without getting too distracted by any particular part. As with any book of this sort, there can be quibbles with what was and was not included. And I wouldn't be reading it if I were not interested in more background, so in some ways the very act of reading it is admitting that I don't have the content background to evaluate the decisions. But this isn't my first book, or my fifth, on Eastern Orthodoxy, and based on what I do know, I think this was a good introduction.

This was originally posted on my blog at https://bookwi.se/orthodox-christianity/

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the beliefs, practices, and history of the Orthodox Church. While one could wish for more details in nearly every chapter, the concise format is very useful.

[Justin Tapp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Orthodox Christianity: A Very Short Introduction by A. Edward Siecienski

The author is Associate Professor of Religion and Pappas Professor of Byzantine Culture and Religion at Stockton University.

I'd previously learned about Orthodoxy from reading some histories of the early church and learned a basic amount about Russian Orthodoxy during trips to Russia. I found Lance Ralston's The History of the Christian Church podcast to be particularly helpful in understanding the basics of the early Councils and the split between East and West. Living in Cyprus, I've encountered the storied history of the Greek Orthodox church with its fasting days, holidays, and local traditions. When my library made this audiobook available, I was pleased, although I wish I'd found it when it was published a couple years ago. I recommend it to anyone traveling to Greece or Cyprus.

There are three parts to the book. The first covers the history of the church from the Council of Nicaea through the Schism of 1054, the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and the shift toward Moscow to the modern times of a mostly-united Greek Orthodoxy loosely affiliated with Moscow. The second part delves into the development of some of the doctrine and the writings of John Chrysostom and others who are held revered. The Filioque was the key component of several controversies leading to the Greek-Latin split in 1053. The Filioque is the author's specialty and he has written a book about the subject.

In the author's own words:

"East and West profess their faith in the Trinitarian God using different language. In the Orthodox East, the faithful profess their belief in 'the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father.' In the West, however, they say they believe in the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from the Father 'and the Son'-in Latin 'filioque.' For over a millennium Christendom's greatest minds have addressed and debated the question (sometimes in rather polemical terms) in the belief that the theological issues at stake were central to an orthodox understanding of the trinitarian God... (T)o tell the story of the filioque is to tell of the rise and fall of empires, of crusades launched and repelled, of holy men willing to die for the faith, and of worldly men willing to use it for their own political ends."

The Eastern churches hardly read Augustine, whose writings were essential both to the Roman Catholic church and later Protestant reformers (example: the doctrine of Original Sin. Just as in the filioque controversy regarding a subtle difference in explaining the same doctrinal concept, East and West developed slightly different ways of performing the same rituals (example: Orthodox make the sign of the cross with three fingers) and using subtly different liturgical phrases (obviously in Greek versus Latin). My takeaway is that Roman Catholic councils and synods have nailed down specific explanations and doctrines for certain theological ideas that Orthodoxy prefers not to explain, maintaining the mystery of a personally unknowable God. According to the author, Orthodox believe that the purpose of man is to become more like God, coworkers with God, becoming more indwelled with God and therefore more like him. This indwelling must be demonstrated by good works to the poor and others, as emphasized by John Chrysostom. Prayers and ritualize emphasize consecration of common objects to show others God's power.

Part three particularly looks at the differences between Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox churches, ecumenical efforts, and the state of the modern Orthodox church. There are 16 (or 17? It's confusing.) autocephalous Orthodox churches with none having ultimate power, unlike the Roman Catholic model. Baptism and communion are done differently. The Orthodox church uses the Gregorian calendar which calculates dates differently, hence key holidays are celebrated at different times. The trinity is always emphasized in prayers and liturgy as opposed to just "God." Orthodoxy also includes histories of the church that are not found in Scripture or Catholic teachings, something that is evident in the artwork of some of the oldest churches on Cyprus dating back to at least the 12th century. There is much more emphasis on fasting for various reasons, with many more fasting days and seasons. Orthodox are similar to protestants in seeing Peter as given no more power than the other Apostles and therefore not having Rome be the head of the church. They also emphasize baptism by immersion rather than sprinkling.

The author mentions recent history such as the decline of Orthodoxy in the Middle East (due to the rise of ISIL and other extremists forcing them out), and the quirks of the American church. While the patriarchates are purely country-ethnic based (Cyprus being one), America is different in that in the American Orthodox church (not recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate?) people worship by ethnicity, be it Greek, Russian, or other historic church primarily due to their immigrant roots (0.5% of Americans attend an Orthodox church). After experiencing persecution in Soviet days, the Orthodox church experienced a resurgence in more recent times. The author oddly never mentions Russia's annexation of Crimea, but simply mentions that as of 2019, the Russian Church no longer recognizes Kiev and has split with Constantinople and the other Orthodox patriarchates in that regard. The modern Orthodox church has the same issue as Catholics and Protestants in that there is an increasing divide between progressives and conservatives (particularly right-wing ethnic conservatives) that is making it more challenging.

Orthodox are perhaps more well-known for their iconography and are often accused of worshiping the images. Some have stated that images were to teach the illiterate masses. But the author argues that is not the case and, to Orthodox, having various icons and images in the church remind the faithful they are surrounded by the "great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1). The worshippers show honor to the memory of the saints but are not worshipping them.

In Cyprus, I find that Orthodoxy has syncretic components, including adherents making pilgrimages to tombs and holy sites that are thought to have mystical healing powers. Aphrodite was (and perhaps still is in some places) long-worshipped on the island of her alleged birth, and many have commented on similarities in various rituals and reverence regarding the Virgin Mary. The author does not get into these local differences and does not discuss any differences the various patriarchates may have in doctrine or practice. In all, I give it 3.5 stars out of 5. It's a very useful introduction.

[Daniel Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter 1: "In the beginning"
Chapter 2: Byzantines and Franks
Chapter 3: Constantinople and Moscow
Chapter 4: Persecution and resurrection
Chapter 5: Sources of Orthodox thought
Chapter 6: "I believe"
Chapter 7: "Pray unceasingly"
Chapter 8: "One holy, catholic, and apostolic church"
Chapter 9: "We no longer knew whether we were in heaven or on earth"
Chapter 10: The mysteries
Chapter 11: Orthodoxy and the modern world

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting if not well written introduction to Orthodox Christianity.

The first section on the history of the Orthodox church is well written, but after a quarter or a half o fthis short book, the narrative dissipates into this meandering exploration of the Church's theology and other aspects of the religion. This section is hard to follow, just because it lacks a narrative. It feels more like a list of facts about Orthodox Christianity.

Siecienski also has an annoying tendency to confuse "Western Christianity" with "Roman Catholocism." At one point, he says that Orthodox Christians do full baptisms, unlike Christians in the West, who simply do sprinkling baptisms. Of course, Baptists and several other sects of Protestantism are full-body dunkers. He frequently thinks that Roman Catholicism represents all Western Christianity.

Still, there was quite a bit of good information about Orthodox Christianity for a neophyte to the subject like myself. Worth the read, even if it was annoying and hard to follow at times.

[Павел Качнов · Rating 5 out of 5]

Orthodox Christianity: A Very Short Introduction offers an insightful and engaging exploration of a rich and ancient tradition. This book is exceptionally informative, providing clear and concise answers to many Christian questions and shedding light on their historical evolution. I found it particularly helpful in delineating the schism between the Orthodox and Catholic churches, detailing what led to this split and how the two traditions differ. Additionally, the book provides detailed context about the structure of modern-day Orthodoxy and its daily practices. The author has succeeded in making complex theological and historical concepts accessible.

[Andrzej Stelmasiak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally very much appreciate Siecienski's writings, but this book is definitely below his usual standard - not as perceptive and astute.

It has a few oversimplifications (like when it comes to 'the icon smashers'.......). I sometimes think that instead of writing a new book, Siecienski should simply add chapters about the most recent history to Timothy Ware's book to make it up-to-date. Although Ware's book has this kind of 'hagiographical' feel to it, just applied not to a person but to a denomination. It's not as easily detectable in Siecienski's case, not at all. And he is able to be a little bit, but not too much, critical of his own camp, which is always appreciated.

What I liked about it is that he attempted to reference the vague 'Protestants' or 'the Reformation' on an occasion or two.

What I like about Siecienski (and Ware), is that they are converts to EO - I believe Siecienski was RC, and Ware was Anglican.

Great little book to begin a broad overview of EO. Just don't stop there, it's very basic introduction.

[Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is perfect for people new to the church. I walked into an Orthodox Church as a Pentecostal when I needed some help about a spiritual matter that I knew preachers weren’t equipped for. I never expected it to feel like my home or like it was something I’d been missing all along. I borrowed this book from a library since I’m still new to the theology and it answered so many questions. It made me appreciate converting to Orthodoxy even more than I already did and helped me understand why I felt at home the moment I crossed the threshold. This book is a great starting point that leads you to other texts and ideas to research further.

[J]

Exactly what you want in one of these: brief, lucid, and informative.

It's funny though, he really buries the lead: On an aesthetic and theological level, Orthodoxy seemed quite attractive to me-- with its emphasis on caring for the poor and its broad mysticism -- but when Siecienski finally address Orthodox Christianity as a modern political reality, it became a lot less appealing. He reminds us, unintentionally I think, what Orthodoxy really and inevitably is: An ideology of misogyny, homophobia, and obscurantism corruptly wedded to state power.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This did exactly what it claimed to do, and that is to provide a very short introduction to Orthodox Christianity. I knew close to nothing about the orthodox religion and this little book told me all about the history of the faith, the doctrines, the liturgy, and what to expect in a church. It was nice to see some comparisons to other religions and how the Orthodox differ in their beliefs and teachings. Very basic, but this book does its job. If you want something more in depth you'll have to find a bigger book.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was informative and interesting to me, coming to it with little knowledge of Orthodox Christianity. The part I found most interesting was the order of the typical Orthodox liturgy and the details of it. I also learned the Greek origins of "philanthropy" and "liturgy." I didn't know that Coptic Christians historically do not accept the Council of Chalcedon. I also did not previously know that the Orthodox church considers itself to be the only true church of Jesus, which is especially interesting when considering the collusion of the Russian Orthodox Church with Putin.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siecienski, author of three scholarly monographs of Eastern Orthodox history (published by Oxford), is more than qualified to offer an introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy (EO) and he doesn't disappoint with this solid, clearly written and, I must add, go-to introduction to EO for anyone interested in having a birds-eye-view of what makes EO distinctive from the other major streams of Christianity. Highly recommended.

[Marcin Zalewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief talk on orthodox Christianity. The section on the causes of the schism is really well presented; it was highly interesting and informative. I found the chapters on theology and modern church to be less fascinating. In any case, I believe it is a fantastic illustration of how a large subject can be presented in a concise and engaging manner.

[Gavin Kierulf · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is indeed a very short introduction. Took me from very little knowledge on the Orthodox church to being able to cursorily understand Orthodox Christianity's main 'mysteries,' histories, and contentions with other sects of Christianity. Easily digestible and a fun quick read to lead one on to further (deeper) learning on the subject.

[Daniel Prohaska · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book delivers on its promise: it is a very short introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy. As a Protestant, it was a helpful starting point to understand more about the Eastern Orthodox Church, but also as a Protestant there were obvious points of significant disagreement that I experienced throughout the book.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book - focused more on the history of the Orthodox Church than the present day. Does as well as could be done given the brevity of the topic and some of the theologically heady concepts within.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

these short intros are always so interesting to read. they’re informative, but they’re certainly not trying to be objective. regardless, they’re great ways to understand the contours of a particular subject.

[Mikhail S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the book for a Christianity class, overall a quick and digestible read that gives western readers a way to position Orthodoxy among catholic or protestant traditions, even being Orthodox myself there was a lot of historical knowledge I wasn't fully aware of.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d read Kallisto Ware’s history about a decade ago. This didn’t cover anything that wasn’t covered in that book, but if you’re looking for a balanced, non-polemical take intro to the EO then this is definitely it. And it’s free on Audible.

[Brian Mikołajczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great primer on Orthodox Christianity! It starts with the Byzantine Empire through the Great Schism and various efforts to mend the schism and all the way to the recent breaking of the Ukrainian Church from the Russian in 2019.

[Tomasz Aleksander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jest to dobre wprowadzenie w temat, zgodnie z założeniem serii. Można się jednak przyczepić do nieuwzględniania nowszych prac historycznych dotyczących np. ikonoklazmu czy bezkrytycznego powoływania się na starożytnych autorów chrześcijańskich w kwestii rzymskich prześladowań.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was a good overview of Eastern Orthodoxy and I feel like it covered the history and theology well for its length. it's a very short introduction so there's a lot more to go into but it served it's purpose as a book.

[Paddy]

Excellent book!