The Orthodox Church

Father Thomas Hopko states in his Foreword: ...Those who are serious in their seekings, whether their theological and spiritual convictions, are obligated at some point to come to terms with Fr Sergius Bulgakov. The results for the courageous cannot fail to be enlightening and inspiring: perhaps not in the ways that the Russian thinker imagined but in ways known to the Master he served.

Having been a classic introduction to the Orthodox Church for many decades, it is remarkable that this short book by Bulgakov still retains its freshness and relevance in the ecumenical scene today. The Orthodox concepts of conciliarity (sobornost), of salvation as a process of becoming divine, and of truth and infallibility in the Church, will open new vistas in discussions concerning Christian unity. Bulgakov writes from within the context of the ecumenical community, addressing the key issues and providing a basis for Western Christians to understand their brothers and sisters in the Eastern Church. Useful also to the Orthodox, the book provides answers and directions to the most commonly asked questions that are addressed to the general membership of the Church.

Sergius Bulgakov (1871-1944), former Dean and Professor of Dogmatic Theology at St Sergius Theological Institute in Paris was a prolific writer, powerful preacher, and profound confessor. Though controversial for his creative approach to theology he will remain as a great and seminal thinker who has contributed more than other toward shaping the direction and ethos of modern Orthodox theology. The Orthodox Church is the only book by Bulgakov available in the English language.Sergius Bulgakov