The Concise Encyclopedia of Orthodox Christianity

Based on the acclaimed two-volume Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity (Wiley Blackwell, 2011), and now  available for students, faculty, and clergy in a concise single-volume format

• An outstanding reference work providing an accessible English language account of the key historical, liturgical, doctrinal features of Eastern Orthodoxy, including the Non-Chalcedonian churches
• Explores the major traditions of Eastern Orthodoxy in detail, including the Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopic, Slavic, Romanian, Syriac churches
• Uniquely comprehensive, it is edited by one of the leading scholars in the field and provides authoritative articles by a team of leading international academics and Orthodox figures
• Spans the period from Late Antiquity to the present, encompassing subjects including history, theology, liturgy, monasticism, sacramentology, canon law, philosophy, folk culture, architecture, archaeology, martyrology, and hagiography
• Structured alphabetically and is topically cross-indexed, with entries ranging from 100 to 6,000 words

“"Still, the encyclopedia fills an important gap in the reference literature of the Orthodox Church. The features of the work enhance the content with beautiful illustrations, maps, a useful index, and list of entries. Finally, articles cross reference and also provide short bibliographies for further reading." ( American Reference Books Annual , 1 November 2015) "the volume is to be recommended for the high quality of the scholarship throughout. It is a useful volume for lower-level undergraduates and even advanced secondary students." (Theological Book Review, 2016) the volume is to be recommended for the high quality of the scholarship throughout. It is a useful volume for lower-level undergraduates and even advanced secondary students.”

Praise for The Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity

"The encyclopedia as a whole is a remarkable achievement ... the preface by the editor is a masterpiece."
—Theology

"An authoritative, scholarly reference work ... that will have the greatest utility for researchers at every level. In 30 years of studying Orthodox Christianity, this reviewer has been no comparable work ... essential."
—Choice 

"This monumental work ... provides a wealth of knowledge about global Orthodoxy during historical cycles of growth, repression and renewal."
—European History Quarterly

"Still, the encyclopedia fills an important gap in the reference literature of the Orthodox Church. The features of the work enhance the content with beautiful illustrations, maps, a useful index, and list of entries. Finally, articles cross reference and also provide short bibliographies for further reading." (American Reference Books Annual, 1 November 2015)

"... the volume is to be recommended for the high quality of the scholarship throughout. It is a useful volume for lower-level undergraduates and even advanced secondary students." (Theological Book Review, 2016)

John Anthony McGuckin is Nielsen Professor of Early Church History at Union Theological Seminary, and Professor of Byzantine Christian Studies at Columbia University in New York. An Archpriest of the Romanian Orthodox Church (Archdiocese of the  Americas), Professor McGuckin is the author of  twenty five books on religious and historical themes, including The Orthodox Church (2008) and TheEncyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity (2-volume set, 2011), both published by Wiley Blackwell.

Professor McGuckin is assisted by two Associate Editors: Dr. Julia Konstantinovsky and Dr. Justin Lasser.

The separation that occurred between the Eastern Orthodox world and Western Catholicism was one of the most extensive disruptions to Christian unity until the time of the European Reformation. Today the Eastern Orthodox Churches remain the second largest grouping of Christians in the world. The Concise Encyclopedia of Orthodox Christianity is an outstanding reference work providing an accessible English language account of the key historical, liturgical, and doctrinal features of Eastern Orthodoxy, including the Non-Chalcedonian churches. Compiled and edited by one of the leading scholars in the field, this uniquely comprehensive volume brings together a large panel of internationally respected writers. It explores the major traditions of Eastern Orthodoxy in detail, including the Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopic, Slavic, Romanian, Syriac churches. Spanning the period from Late Antiquity to the present, it encompasses subjects including history, theology, liturgy, monasticism, sacramentology, canon law, philosophy, folk culture, architecture, archaeology, martyrology, and hagiography. The Encyclopedia is structured alphabetically and is topically cross-indexed, combining essay-length articles and brief, informative notations on hundreds of topics central to the history and theology of Eastern Orthodoxy.

The separation that occurred between the Eastern Orthodox world and Western Catholicism was one of the most extensive disruptions to Christian unity until the time of the European Reformation. Today the Eastern Orthodox Churches remain the second largest grouping of Christians in the world. The Concise Encyclopedia of Orthodox Christianity is an outstanding reference work providing an accessible English language account of the key historical, liturgical, and doctrinal features of Eastern Orthodoxy, including the Non-Chalcedonian churches. Compiled and edited by one of the leading scholars in the field, this uniquely comprehensive volume brings together a large panel of internationally respected writers. It explores the major traditions of Eastern Orthodoxy in detail, including the Armenian, Byzantine, Coptic, Ethiopic, Slavic, Romanian, Syriac churches. Spanning the period from Late Antiquity to the present, it encompasses subjects including history, theology, liturgy, monasticism, sacramentology, canon law, philosophy, folk culture, architecture, archaeology, martyrology, and hagiography. The Encyclopedia is structured alphabetically and is topically cross-indexed, combining essay-length articles and brief, informative notations on hundreds of topics central to the history and theology of Eastern Orthodoxy.

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