Customer Reviews

The Eastern Christian Churches: A Brief Survey

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This is the most comprehensive and systematic presentation of the eastern christian churches I have ever seen. It clearly explains the differences between Eastern Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and the Church of the East. It also gives basic statistical data on each, and explains how they are related. I've had to research through dozens of other texts just to get at some of the information that is all neatly packaged in this book. Its an excellent resource for pastors, theologians, and anyone interested in understanding the Eastern part of the Christian world.

"Many western Christians are baffled by the complexity of the Christian East, which can appear to be a bewildering array of national churches and ethnic jurisdictions. The purpose of this survey is to provide a clear overview of the eastern churches for the non-specialist by furnishing basic information about each of them, and clearly indicationg the relationship between them." (From the back cover)

This is the most concise, organized, and readable presentation of the Eastern Christian Churches ever printed. Covering the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Assyrian Church of the East (Nestorian), and the Eastern Catholic Churches, Father Roberson presents essential statistical information such as patriarch or leading bishops, location, clergy and membership, as well as a history and context.

In six years of studying theology and ecclesiology, I have never come accross a more thorough and useful collection of information on the who, what, and how of the Eastern Churches. This text, now in its 6th edition, is a must-have handbook for all pastors, catechists, theologians, seminarians, and anyone interested in understanding these ancient forms of Christianity.

I have no connection to the author or the publisher, but have spent years trying to find information from hundreds of contradictory or incomplete sources that is all in this one neat little volume.

This book provides an excellent overview of the historic Eastern Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, Byzantine and non-Byzantine. It is arranged along the lines of historical spiritual patrimony. For example, all the Byzantine Churches are grouped together, as well as all the Antiochean Churches, Alexandrian Churches, etc... Don't worry if you don't understand the differences, the author explains it quite well.

Each Church is given its own entry, and the author provides a brief overview of its customs, patrimony, liturgy, history and spirituality. From the Orthodox perspective, all the main branches are covered such as the Greek and Russian Orthodox and those Orthodox Churches in communion with them, the Oriental Orthodox, the Assyrian Church of the East, and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

As a Catholic canonist who is often called upon to identify particular Orthodox Churches because of my interest in East-West ecumenism, I find this book an essential resource for my library.

Easy to understand, clearly written, extremely well organized. This book gave me a fantastic introduction to the Eastern Churches, which I am ashamed to admit were thoroughly muddled in my mind, despite six years of theological study. It doesn't go into great depth, but the bibliography provides excellent resources for those who want to do so, and in this internet age he provides internet addresses for those churches that have official sites. It's a fantastic introduction, and a great reference resource after that.

Ronald Roberson at the Pontifical Oriental Institute has written an interesting and concise review on the Eastern Christian Churches, which as a group have endured poverty and persecution, but have remained faithful and obedient to our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Eastern Christian Churches have especially begun to thrive since the Second Vatican Council begun by our beloved Pope John XXIII, and the tremendous support given by Pope John Paul II in the effort for Christian unity.
The fact that the Eastern Christian Churches allow married priests is especially relevant to our modern times, and I believe in the end these Churches will prove to be the future of Catholic Christianity.