The History & Holy Sacraments Of Orthodox Christianity

Having recently struggled through Karen Armstrong's comprehensive study a History of God, which offers some very interesting theological insights amidst endless pages of historical detail, I was up for a zippy waltz through the history of the Orthodox Church. The History & Holy Sacraments of Orthodox Christianity, however, is just as arid as its title suggests. Which is not to say it doesn't do the job: it does. Part 1, The Beginnings, looks at the birth of Christianity and the wedding of Greek philosophy with orthodox religious thought to create the backbone of Christian morality in Roman society (except for when people like Nero were using Christians as living torches to illuminate gardens). The Christian religion gained the upper hand under the Emperor Constantine, and Part 2, Byzantium, chronicles the flourishing of Constantine's empire, the Great Schism, the Crusades, and the eventual fall of Byzantium. Part 3, The Hidden Treasure, examines the survival of Orthodoxy under Islamic rule, the rise of Orthodoxy in Russia, and ponders the fate of the Orthodox Church today. Shot on location, the program offers many interesting religious architectural sights, as well as historical paintings and onscreen graphic maps; however, the narration is a bit dry, and the numerous interviewees reading cue cards is awkward. For an overview of the early history of Christianity, The Trial & Testimony of the Early Church (reviewed in our March 1992 issue) is still far superior, but this series will do for a basic understanding of the history (particularly modern) of the Orthodox Church. Recommended for larger collections. (R. Pitman)