Orthodox Church
Written by Timothy Ware (later Bishop Kallistos Ware) while he was still a young Anglican scholar at Oxford, this work emerged from a recognition that Orthodox Christianity remained largely unknown and misunderstood in the English-speaking world. Published just before Ware's own conversion to Orthodoxy, the book aimed to present Eastern Christianity not as an exotic curiosity but as a living tradition with profound theological insights and spiritual wisdom.
The work unfolds Orthodox Christianity through both historical development and contemporary practice. Ware traces the church's origins from Pentecost through the great councils, the schism with Rome, the Byzantine period, and the church's survival under Ottoman rule to its modern diaspora. Rather than merely chronicling events, he illuminates how Orthodox theology developed organically through liturgical life, mystical experience, and conciliar decision-making. The book explores distinctive Orthodox approaches to authority, scripture and tradition, the nature of God, salvation, and the spiritual life. Ware particularly emphasizes the Orthodox understanding of theosis—humanity's participation in divine life—and how this transforms approaches to prayer, icons, and the sacramental life. He presents Orthodoxy not as Eastern exoticism but as catholic Christianity with its own theological coherence and spiritual depth.
For over sixty years, this work has served as the standard English-language introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy, valued for its combination of scholarly rigor and spiritual sensitivity. Ware's insider-outsider perspective—writing as a sympathetic Anglican on the verge of conversion—allows him to anticipate Western questions while honoring Orthodox distinctiveness. The book has shaped interfaith dialogue and introduced countless readers to Orthodox spirituality and theology.
Who should read this: Anyone seeking to understand Eastern Christianity beyond stereotypes, whether for academic study, ecumenical dialogue, or personal spiritual exploration. This is not for readers wanting either devotional material or detailed theological arguments, but rather those needing a comprehensive yet accessible foundation in Orthodox history, theology, and practice.