The Orthodox Church

by Sergius Bulgakov, Lydia W. Kesich (Translator)

With a foreword by Thomas Hopko Father Thomas Hopko states in his ...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 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.

Genres: Religion, Philosophy, Church, Nonfiction, Theology

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1935

About the author

Sergei Nikolaevich Bulgakov (/bʊlˈɡɑːkəf/;[1] Russian: Серге́й Никола́евич Булга́ков; 28 July [O.S. 16 July] 1871 – 13 July 1944) was a Russian Orthodox Christian theologian, philosopher, and economist.

Reviews

[Маргарита Яровенко · Rating 5 out of 5]

Книга «Православие. Очерки Учения Православной Церкви» — очень хорошее введение в основы православной веры. Написана просто, но при этом богословски глубоко. Особенно полезна для тех, кто только начинает изучать православие и хочет разобраться в его богослужебной, исторической и духовной составляющей.

Если интересует более глубокое понимание, например, вопроса о том, как православие относится к идее перевоплощения, рекомендую прочитать статью христианство и реинкарнация. Она отлично дополняет богословские темы, поднятые в книге.

[Warfawek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sergius himself would later be defrocked and his opinions, accessible and interesting as they are, are not canonical. And yet this is a decent introduction for the layman curious about them Catholics and Orthodoxes doing Catholic Orthodox things (as well as to the points in which they differ from one another and Russian religious philosophy).

[Tim]

Honestly one of the better books with this title

[Evan Herberth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful introduction to the Orthodox faith. I'm surprised it seems to be virtually unknown even among those who are very interested in Orthodoxy. Fr. Bulgakov writes with such force of clarity and manifest love of truth that his bright personality spills from every page; which also serves to make it a smooth read.

Within each topic he is relatively concise, and there are times at which I wished he'd gone into greater detail, but the topics covered are numerous:


Ch. I - The Church
Ch. II - The Church as Tradition
Ch. III - The Hierarchy
Ch. IV - The Unity of the Church
Ch. V - The Sanctity of the Church
Ch. VI - Orthodox Dogma
Ch. VII - The Sacraments
Ch. VIII - The Virgin and the Saints In Orthodoxy
Ch. IX - The Orthodox Church Service
Ch. X - Icons and Their Cult
Ch. XI - Orthodox Mysticism
Ch. XII - Orthodox Ethic
Ch. XIII - Orthodoxy and the State
Ch. XIV - Orthodoxy and Economic Life
Ch. XV - Orthodoxy and Apocalyptic Thought
Ch. XVI - Orthodox Eschatology
Ch. XVII - Orthodoxy and Other Christian Confessions
Ch. XVIII - Conclusion

Of special interest to me is his attitude toward Western Christians. He exhibits a charity that is refreshing as much as it is clarifying. The book is replete with contrasts on certain issues between Orthodoxy and Catholicism (and sometimes Protestantism). He strikes a perfect balance by defending Orthodoxy on all fronts, as he believes it to be the one true Church of Christ, while constantly affirming what is best in each tradition; even to the point of acknowledging God's special gifts to Western Christianity (Catholicism and Protestantism), as unique from Orthodoxy.

This is especially hopeful, as many times Orthodox tend to divide along the line of those completely hostile to the 'heresy of ecumenism' on the one hand, and those who are eager for visible unity even prior to all the proper ado and pontifications and deliberations on the other. Perhaps Fr. Bulgakov offers a vision that has true fidelity to his own faith, while resolving these unfortunate opposites (that often result in vitriol and reactionary thought) and paves a path of charity for genuine dialogue among Christians.