The Papacy and the Orthodox: Sources and History of a Debate

by A. Edward Siecienski

Overview

The Papacy and the Orthodox examines the centuries-long debate over the primacy and authority of the Bishop of Rome, especially in relation to the Christian East, and offers a comprehensive history of the debate and its underlying theological issues.

Siecienski masterfully brings together all of the biblical, patristic, and historical material necessary to understand this longstanding debate. This book is an invaluable resource as both Catholics and Orthodox continue to reexamine the sources and history of the debate.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190245252
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/09/2017
Series:	Oxford Studies in Historical Theology
Pages:	528
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 6.40(h) x 1.70(d)

About the Author

A. Edward Siecienski is Associate Professor of Religion and Pappas Professor of Byzantine Culture and Religion at Stockton University.

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction

Chapter 1: The Historical Peter
Chapter 2: Peter in Scripture
Chapter 3: Peter in the Exegesis of the Fathers
Chapter 4: The Church of Rome in the Patristic Era
Chapter 5: The Papacy from the Seventh through the Tenth Centuries
Chapter 6: The Age of the Great Schism and the Gregorian Reform
Chapter 7: The Fourth Crusade to the Eve of the Council of Florence
Chapter 8: The Council of Ferrara-Florence to Vatican I
Chapter 9: The Twentieth and Twenty-first Centuries

Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

"I applaud Siecienski's study for what it is: rigorous yet accessible scholarship put in the service of Christians in both East and West, especially those who would seek to better understand the "sources and history of a debate" that will doubtless continue for some time." — Gaelan Gilbert, ST VLADIMIR'S THEOLOGICAL QUARTERLY

"Siecienski has written a very valuable and credible assessment of the development of the debate between East and West over the role of the Bishop of Rome in the Christian Church. His knowledge of the issues, already explored partly in his study of the filioque, is commendable. His familiarity with the various documents and authors that contributed to the Orthodox response to the papal claims is impressive. And his extensive bibliography (eighty pages) is a great complement to a remarkable study, making it an invaluable resource for this debate. Indubitably, this volume is a welcome addition to the Oxford Studies in Historical Theology series." — Denis Fortin, Andrews University Seminary Studies

"An immensely learned and scrupulously fair account of an historic debate." —Aidan Nichols, Faith

"[A] work of exceptional breadth, perceptiveness, and learning; an excellent addition to an excellent series." —Jon Balserak, Reading Religion

"A peaceful, common reading of history, particularly with regard to the role of the bishop of Rome, is an essential requirement for the restoration of full communion between Orthodox and Catholics. Edward Siecienski's impressive study demonstrates that such a reading is attainable. Wide-ranging, abundantly referenced, and fair-minded, this is a most refreshing and helpful contribution to Catholic-Orthodox rapprochement."—Paul McPartlan, Carl J. Peter Professor of Systematic Theology and Ecumenism, Catholic University of America

"The papacy is a definitive, albeit delicate, issue in the history and thought of Christianity, especially in relation to ecumenical exchanges and confessional reconciliation. Discerning facts in historical sources and demythologizing fiction in skewed misconceptions are an essential foundation for rekindling this centuries-old debate between East and West, but also a critical premise for impartial dialogue between Orthodox and Roman Catholics. This exceptional book provides a significant and substantial step toward this goal."—The Rev. Dr. John Chryssavgis, author of Primacy in the Church: The Office of Primate and the Authority

"Weighing controverted evidence with unfailing judiciousness, and writing with cogency and elegance, Siecienski's book is superlative ecumenical scholarship."—Adam A.J. DeVille, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Theology-Philosophy, University of Saint Francis

"A more skillfully balanced guide to 'the problem of the papacy' would be hard to find. As a closely argued study—a genuine tour de force, really—it should convince everyone of its importance. It is by any account an unusually accurate, accessible narrative, for which we owe the author the duty of full attention. In a field where objectivity is often in short supply, this superb study will before long become the definitive standard." Aristeides Papadakis, author of The Christian East and the Rise of the Papacy

From the Publisher