Recommended history texts and/or lectures?

[Ignatius21]

I was wondering what historical sources people here can recommend that deal with church history (particularly "early" history) from an Eastern perspective, or at least a balanced perspective. I have read most of J.N.D. Kelly's work on historical theology, Early Church Doctrine, and found it both fascinating and fairly even handed. I've read an introductory work by Justo Gonzalez called The Story of Christianitythat is quite good, but generally focuses only on the west and is a very surface-level work, although well written. I've read some chunks of Philip Schaff's 19th-century history (really little bits of the massive 8-volume set) and although his work seems to be regarded as factually accurate, it definitely mixes history with polemics from a Protestant perspective. I also listened through a series of seminary lectures on church history through the 15th Century from Covenant Seminary (Presbyterian) that was very well done, but Eastern history got a few mentions in the earliest saints (Origen, etc.) and then got about 20 minutes later in the course.

I guess I'm looking for something that's actually readable by a non-specialist, but doesn't treat Eastern Christianity like it ceased to exist in 1054. I never realized how much Eastern Christianity is simply tossed aside and ignored by both Protestants and Catholics who are far more interested in disproving each other's historical claims.

I know Jarislov Pelikan's works are highly regarded, but his writing is extremely dense and scholarly and I don't know if I'd ever finish any of it

Thoughts?

 

[Mary of Bethany]

"The Orthodox Church" by Timothy (now Met. Kallistos) Ware sounds like just what you're looking for. Very easy to read, but very good as a historical outline of the Orthodox Church.

Mary

 

[E.C.]

I never realized how much Eastern Christianity is simply tossed aside and ignored by both Protestants and Catholics who are far more interested in disproving each other's historical claims.

Well, of course! After all, why bother listening to the voice of reason when one can get a rise out of making one's 500 year-old rival look bad?



All kidding aside now, "The Orthodox Church" by Timothy (now Metropolitan Kallistos) Ware is excellent. It is very well written and is in 20th century English for all the simpletons like me. Very basic, very easy to read, yet he covers everything very well. I can not recommend this book enough. I read it when I was sixteen and I lost hours and hours of sleep because I simply could not put it down.

If you are looking for early history, you can go straight to Eusebius' "Church History". Eusebius was around in the early 4th century and writes about Christianity from about Pentecost until the end of the persecutions by the Romans and a little bit after.

There is also "The Orthodox Faith" also called the "rainbow series" written by Fr. Thomas Hopko which can be read online for free here: OCA - The Orthodox Faith
One of them does go into Church history from the 1st century to the 20th.

 

[angrylittlefisherman]

The podcast "At the Intersection of East and West" is pretty good. You can find it at ancientfaithradio.com
or is it .org

 

[xenia]

Here's some great podcasts:

http://christinthemountains.blogspot.com/2009/01/orthodoxy-heterodoxy-what-are.html

 

[Kristos]

there are some good timelines on monachos.net that I find very interesting and useful in understanding the sequence of events.

 

[Tzaousios]

Here are some recommendations that I can give:

Barnes, Timothy David. Athanasius and Constantius: Theology and Politics in the Constantinian Empire. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1993.

Chadwick, Henry. East and West: The Making of a Rift in the Church : from Apostolic Times Until the Council of Florence. Oxford history of the Christian Church. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.

Christo, Gus George. Bishops As Successors to the Apostles According to John Chrysostom: Ecclesiastical Authority in the Early Church. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 2008.

Davis, Leo Donald. The First Seven Ecumenical Councils (325-787): Their History and Theology. Theology and life series, no. 21. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press, 1990.

Kesich, Veselin. Formation and Struggles: The Church, A.D. 33-450. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2007.

Louth, Andrew. Greek East and Latin West: The Church, AD 681-1071. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimirs Seminary Press, 2007.

Menze, Volker-Lorenz. Justinian and the Making of the Syrian Orthodox Church. Oxford early Christian studies. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.

Meyendorff, John. Byzantium and the Rise of Russia: A Study of Byzantino-Russian Relations in the Fourteenth Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981.

---. Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions: The Church, 450-680 AD. Church history, no. 2. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1989.

Papadakis, Aristeides, and John Meyendorff. The Christian East and the Rise of the Papacy: The Church 1071-1453 A.D. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1994.

---. Crisis in Byzantium: The Filioque Controversy in the Patriarchate of Gregory II of Cyprus (1283-1289). Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1997.

 

[Lukaris]

Ditto to above posts. Also The Early Church by Henry Chadwick and Early Christian Writings translated by Max Stanforth & later ed. by Andrew Luth. Byzantine Christianity: Emperor, Church & the West by Harry J. Magoulias (# 0814317057, isbn 13: 9780814317051, Wayne St. Univ. Press). The 1st 2 books are easily found since they are published by Penguin but the 3rd is not easily found. The 1st book is about 350 pp & a good history to the 5th century. The 2nd book is of the early post apostlic writings; so more of a living history & is about 200 pp. The 3rd book is about 200 pp & is a good (& substantial) overview from about Constantine to 1453 (a good source for understanding Trinitarian doctrine, 7 ecumenical councils, schism etc).

 

[tekiahteruah]

Fr. John Behr's The Way to Nicaea is a pretty great overview of the development of theology in the early Church, if that interests you. Also if you want a good history book that takes post-schism Eastern Christianity into account, checking out Byzantine historians can be helpful. John Julius Norwich's A Short History of Byzantium is quite good.

 

[buzuxi02]

If you are familiar with the teaching company, they have a course (lecture set on cd) entitled "world of byzantium" which includes alot of historical information on the eastern church and quite balanced. The lectures are lively and should hold your attention.

Also E-BAY always has a few issues of the December 1983 National Geographic for sale, usually for a few bucks. The feature story of that issue was on the byzantine empire and Orthodox church. The cover of this issue depicts the Virgin and Christ child icon of the "sweet-kissing". One of the most positive depiction of the achievements and ongoing heritage of this christian empire.

John Zizioulas book 'Eucharist Bishop Church' is a fascinating historical study of the church and its self understanding of the formative first 300 years. I highly recommend it.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Fr. John Behr's The Way to Nicaea

yeah I second this book. Met Kallistos Ware's book The Orthodox Church is also a good one to read. the Word From the Holy Fathers podcast also has some good stuff.

A Word from the Holy Fathers - Ancient Faith Radio