The Byzantine Legacy in the Orthodox Church

Rating:
Summary: The Byzantine Mind
Review: Fr. John Meyendorff, who died about ten years ago, was one of the leading spokesman for Eastern Orthodoxy in the Western world. Haven written more than a score of books, he remains a respected guide into the mind and heart of the east. His thoughts are balanced, very informed, and full of insights that weigh the best of past and present scholarship. Combined with an almost freaky familiarity with the primary sources, Meyendorff is top-notch.

This book is a collection of eleven essays on themes that all relate to Eastern Orthodoxy in its Byzantine form. Divided into five parts, topics include 1) They Byzantine Church 2) Church and State relations 3) Church and Culture 4) Theology 5) Authority and Structure in the Church.

Parts four and five were of special interest for this reader, finding much to digest from chapter 7 on the Holy Spirit, as God. Each essay stands alone, but reading them together gives a strong flavor of the themes that ran through the culture and Church.

Meyendorff's masterpiece, "Byzantine Theology" is strongly recommended for beginner and expert. Enjoy!