St Vladimir’s Seminary Press Orthodox Christianity Series (4 vols.)

by Hilarion Alfeyev

Publisher:

St Vladimir’s Seminary Press

, 2011–2016

Overview

This monumental series is a detailed and systematic exposition of the history, canonical structure, doctrine, social and moral 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. This has been the law of the Church from ancient times: lex orandi, lex credendi, “the law of prayer is the law of faith.”

Key Features

• Focuses on the history and canonical structure of the Orthodox Church
• Examines the fundamental teachings of the Church, grounded in Scripture and Tradition
• Explores the history, structure, and meaning of the Church’s liturgical services

Orthodox Christianity Volume I: The History and Canonical Structure of the Orthodox Church

• Author: Hilarion Alfeyev
• Series: Orthodox Christianity
• Publisher: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press
• Publication Date: 2011
• Pages: 350

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.

Orthodox Christianity Volume II : Doctrine and Teaching of the Orthodox Church

• Author: Hilarion Alfeyev
• Series: Orthodox Christianity
• Publisher: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press
• Publication Date: 2012
• Pages: 597

This is the second 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 finds its expression and is shaped in the liturgical experience and church art—including icons, singing, and architecture. 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.

The first volume provided an account of the historical arc of the Orthodox Church during the first ten centuries after Christ’s nativity, then examined the canonical structure of the Orthodox Church. This volume examines the sources of Orthodox doctrine in Scripture and Tradition; its teaching on God in Trinity and Unity, in his essence and in his energies; on the world and man; on Jesus Christ, the incarnate God; on the Church, the body of Christ; on the Theotokos, Mary; and on eschatology, the last things.

Orthodox Christianity Volume III: The Architecture, Icons and Music of the Orthodox Church

• Author: Hilarion Alfeyev
• Series: Orthodox Christianity
• Publisher: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 370

This is the third 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 finds its expression and is shaped in the liturgical experience and church art— including icons, singing, and architecture. 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.

Volume One focused on the history and canonical structure of the Orthodox Church; Volume Two on the fundamental teachings of the Church, grounded in Scripture and Tradition. This third volume delves into the unique aspects of Orthodox art as expressed in its architecture, icons, and liturgical music. This includes a detailed examination of the theology of icons and their historical use by the Church through the centuries. The last section traces the importance and liturgical function of music as it developed in both Byzantine and Slavic Orthodoxy.

Orthodox Christianity Volume IV: The Worship and Liturgical Life of the Orthodox Church

• Author: Hilarion Alfeyev
• Series: Orthodox Christianity
• Publisher: St Vladimir’s Seminary Press
• Publication Date: 2019
• Pages: 382

This is the fourth 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.

Volume One focused on the history and canonical structure of the Orthodox Church; Volume Two on the fundamental teachings of the Church, grounded in Scripture and Tradition; Volume Three on the unique aspects of Orthodox art as expressed in its architecture, icons, and liturgical music. In Volume Four the history, structure, and meaning of the Church’s liturgical services—including the daily, weekly, yearly, and festal cycles—are explored and explained. Both beginners and experts can benefit from this thorough examination of Orthodox worship and liturgical life. In the services of the Church, heaven and earth meet. As St Vladimir’s envoys to Constantinople said, “We knew not whether we were in heaven or earth…. We only know that God dwells among men. We cannot forget that beauty.”