Orthodox Church: Its Past and Its Role in the World Today
John Meyendorff wrote this comprehensive introduction to Eastern Orthodox Christianity during the Cold War era, when Western understanding of Orthodoxy remained limited despite its significance as the second-largest Christian communion. As a Russian Orthodox priest-theologian teaching at St. Vladimir's Seminary, Meyendorff recognized the need for an accessible yet scholarly account that could bridge the gap between Orthodox self-understanding and Western curiosity about this ancient tradition.
The work traces Orthodox Christianity from its Byzantine roots through the Ottoman period to its twentieth-century renewal and global expansion. Meyendorff demonstrates how Orthodox theology developed through the conciliar process and patristic synthesis, emphasizing the centrality of theosis—human participation in divine life—as the goal of Christian existence. He explains distinctive Orthodox approaches to authority, liturgy, and spirituality, showing how the Eastern tradition maintained theological continuity while adapting to diverse cultural contexts from Russia to the Balkans to the Middle East. Rather than merely cataloging differences from Western Christianity, Meyendorff presents Orthodoxy as a living theological tradition with its own internal logic and spiritual coherence.
This volume became a standard introduction to Orthodox Christianity in Western academic and ecclesiastical circles, valued for its combination of historical depth and theological sophistication. Meyendorff's ability to explain Orthodox perspectives without defensiveness or triumphalism made the work particularly influential in ecumenical dialogue during the latter half of the twentieth century.
Who should read this: Students of church history and comparative theology seeking a reliable introduction to Orthodox Christianity, as well as Western Christians curious about Eastern theological perspectives. This is not devotional literature but rather an academic introduction requiring some familiarity with Christian theological vocabulary.