The Cambridge Companion to Orthodox Christian Theology

This Companion focuses on the way Orthodox theological tradition is understood and lived today.

Mary B. Cunningham (Edited by), Elizabeth Theokritoff (Author)

9780521683388, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 18 December 2008

348 pages, 1 map
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.55 kg

'… a collection of very well written essays, which all say something important about their respective topic … a recommended volume.' Sobornost

Orthodox Christian theology is often presented as the direct inheritor of the doctrine and tradition of the early Church. But continuity with the past is only part of the truth; it would be false to conclude that the eastern section of the Christian Church is in any way static. Orthodoxy, building on its patristic foundations, has blossomed in the modern period. This volume focuses on the way Orthodox theological tradition is understood and lived today. It explores the Orthodox understanding of what theology is: an expression of the Church's life of prayer, both corporate and personal, from which it can never be separated. Besides discussing aspects of doctrine, the book portrays the main figures, themes and developments that have shaped Orthodox thought. There is particular focus on the Russian and Greek traditions, as well as the dynamic but less well-known Antiochian tradition and the Orthodox presence in the West.

Part I. Doctrine and Tradition: 1. Who are the Orthodox Christians? A historical introduction Mary Cunningham and Elizabeth Theokritoff
2. Scripture and tradition in the Church Theodore G. Stylianopoulos
3. Biblical interpretation in worship Archimandrite Ephrem Lash
4. God in Trinity Boris Bobrinskoy
5. Creator and creation Elizabeth Theokritoff
6. Christ and salvation Peter Bouteneff
7. Eschatology Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev
8. The Church Matthew Steenberg
9. Theology of the icon Mariamna Fortounatto and Mary Cunningham
10. The human person as image and likeness of God Nonna Verna Harrison
11. The spiritual way John Chryssavgis
Part II. Contemporary Orthodox Theology: Its Formation and Character: 12. Church Fathers and the shaping of orthodox theology Augustine Casiday
13. The patristic revival and its protagonists Andrew Louth
14. The Russian religious revival and its theological legacy Michael Plekon
15. Some key themes and figures in Greek theological thought Athanasios N. Papathanasiou
16. Personhood and its exponents in twentieth-century orthodox theology Aristotle Papanikolaou
17. The witness of the church in a pluralistic world: theological renaissance in the Church of Antioch Nicolas Abou Mrad
18. Russian theology after totalitarianism Leonid Kishkovsky
19. Orthodox Christianity in the West: the ecumenical challenge John Jillions.

Subject Areas: Christian theology [HRCM], Ecumenism [HRCJ], Orthodox & Oriental Churches [HRCC8]