This is the first volume of a detailed and systematic exposition
of the history, canonical structure, doctrine, moral and social
teaching, liturgical services, and spiritual life of the Orthodox
Church. The purpose of this series is to present Orthodox
Christianity as an integrated theological and liturgical system, in
which all elements are interconnected. Theology is based on
liturgical experience, and church art - including icons, singing,
and architecture - is shaped by theology and the liturgy. Theology
and the services, in their turn, influence the ascetic practice and
the personal piety of each Christian; they shape the moral and
social teaching of the Church as well as its relation to other
Christian confessions, non-Christian religions, and the secular
world.
This volume begins with an account of the historical arc of the
Orthodox Church during the first ten centuries after Christ's
nativity, when the Christians of the east and west shared a common
history. In examining the second millennium, the author, a hierarch
of the Russian Orthodox Church, delves deeply into the life of
Christianity in Russia, providing a case study, as it were, of how
Orthodoxy can infuse the literature, art, and philosophy of an
entire culture. He then goes on to discuss the canonical structure
of the Orthodox Church, describing the emergence and development of
diocesan structures, metropolias, and patriarchates, as well as the
contemporary structure of world Orthodoxy and the principle of
"canonical territory," which forms the basis of inter-Orthodox
relations.
Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev)has authored numerous works on theology and church history, and is an internationally recognized composer of liturgical music. In the words of Patriarch Alexei II of blessed memory, "his many years of service to the mother church, his rich creative activity, and his broad perspective enable him to present the tradition of the Orthodox Church in all its diversity."
Are you an Orthodox Christian who wonders how to explain to your Baptist grandmother, your Buddhist neighbor, or the Jehovah’s Witness at your door how your faith differs from theirs? Or are you a member of another faith who is curious what Orthodoxy is all about? Look no further. In Orthodoxy & Heterodoxy, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick covers the gamut of ancient heresies, modern Christian denominations, fringe groups, and major world religions, highlighting the main points of each faith. This book is an invaluable reference for anyone who wants to understand the faiths of those they come in contact with—as well as their own.
Fr. Aidan Wilcoxson describes a year in his life as a parish priest, and as you'll discover, his heart beats full of a contagious joy that spills over into these pages. For those who are curious how a priest spends his time, this book will be enlightening. For those who tend to get discouraged by the daily grind, it will be uplifting. And for all who love to sing to the Lord—literally or figuratively—Aidan’s Song will definitely have you humming along in praise.

We will add to these periodically. Please check back.