Standing in God's Holy Fire

Overview

The Orthodox Byzantine tradition is still often undervalued and misunderstood in the churches of the West. This book introduces students, clergy, and historians alike to the leading figures, key themes, and enduring values of this living and ancient form of Christian spirituality, which has endured and survived a recent history of systematic persectuion.

At the center of the Byzantine experience are ideas which western Christians share, and from which they still have much to learn: beauty, endurance, hopefulness. As John McGuckin writes, "Perhaps the writings of the Byzantine saints are just now about to enjoy their greatest era of influence in a brave new workd where the Church stands in deep need of consolidation, spiritual courage, and coherence."

A priest of the Romanian Orthodox Church, John Anthony McGuckin is Professor of early Church History at Union Theooogical Seminary and Adjunct Professor of Religioin at Columbia University, in New York City.