Orthodoxy Explained: A Global Beginner’s Guide to the Divine Liturgy, the Holy Mysteries, and Life in the Orthodox Church (Christianity Explained, Band 4) - Softcover

Inhaltsangabe

What actually happens inside an Orthodox church?

Why do worshippers kiss icons, light candles, fast, pray for the dead, and receive Communion from a shared chalice? Why is the priest often facing the altar? Who leads a worldwide Church without a pope, and why do Orthodox jurisdictions sometimes disagree?

Orthodoxy Explained is a clear, global introduction to Eastern Orthodox Christianity for readers who want more than romantic imagery, unexplained rituals, or internet polemics.

Beginning inside the Divine Liturgy, Paul Abeto explains how Orthodox worship, theology, history, and daily practice fit together.

Inside, you will learn:

• how to follow your first Orthodox Divine Liturgy;
• what the Eucharist and the Holy Mysteries mean;
• why Orthodox Christians venerate icons, the Theotokos, saints, and relics;
• how Scripture, Holy Tradition, councils, bishops, and autocephalous churches relate;
• what salvation as theosis means;
• how prayer, fasting, confession, marriage, and monasticism shape Orthodox life;
• how Eastern Orthodoxy differs from Oriental Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and Protestantism;
• why Orthodox jurisdictions sometimes disagree about primacy, autocephaly, calendars, nationalism, and Ukraine;
• how abuse, clerical failure, safeguarding, and accountability challenge the Church’s own claims.

The book follows Daniel, a skeptical first-time visitor, as curiosity becomes serious inquiry. It neither pressures the reader to convert nor hides the institutional and pastoral problems found inside the Orthodox world.

Written for seekers, converts, spouses, students, culturally Orthodox readers, and anyone trying to understand one of Christianity’s oldest living traditions.

Enter the Liturgy. Understand the theology. Face the difficult questions. Decide what the next honest step should be.

Die Inhaltsangabe kann sich auf eine andere Ausgabe dieses Titels beziehen.