Table of Contents

Contents

Foreword by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
Preface
The Origins of This Book
The Intended Audience for This Book
How This Book Should Be Read
Introduction
Assumptions and Terminology
The Approach
Change?
1. The Orthodox Christian Worldview
"Returning" to the Unknown Ancient Church?
The Orthodox Church in the Christian World
East Is East and West Is West
The Primacy of Worship
Come and See!
"Doing Theology" in Orthodox Christianity
2. The Church
Joined Together in the Church
What Is the Church? Where Is the Church?
The Orthodox Church Today
What Is "This Rock"?
One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic
3. Communion and Revelation
What Holds the Orthodox Church Together?
Communion and Conciliarity
Holy Tradition
The Eikōn
Holy Scripture
Holy Icons
4. Ministry and Leadership
The Royal Vocation of All People
First among Equals
Three Orders of Clergy
Ordination of Women
Apostolic Succession
5. Christology
The Word of God Is a Person
Who Is Jesus?
Early Challenges to Christology
The Rule of Truth
Error and Heresy
Christology and the Ecumenical Councils
Singing Theology
6. Who Are We? What Are We to Do?
Created for Communion
Tragedy in the Garden
Being Saved
Theosis
All Creation Rejoices
Humanity, We Have a Problem
The Cross and Resurrection
7. The Holy Trinity
The Revealed Trinity
Trinitarian Taxis
The Cappadocian "Settlement"
The Holy Spirit
The Church as an Icon of the Trinity
8. Orthodox Worship
Liturgy
An Earthly Heaven
Relevant and Ancient
The Holy Mysteries
Sin, Confession, and Reconciliation
Epilogue
Appendix: Excerpts from Selected Apostolic and Patristic Writings
Excerpts from the Epistle of St. Ignatius to the Philadelphians
Excerpts from the Epistle of St. Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans
Excerpts from Against Heresies 3.3 by St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons
Full Text of The Didache: The Lord's Teaching through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations
Glossary of Orthodox Terms
Index