The Encyclopedia of Eastern Orthodox Christianity - 9781405185394

In the preface editor McGuckin expresses his joy in bringing together this two-volume reference--a resource that breaks ground by making accessible comprehensive coverage of a religion that is rising once again after enduring some of the greatest challenges of its history--the 20th-century repressive regimes of eastern Europe. Arrangement of entries is alphabetical. They range from brief descriptions to essays, and each includes references and cross references. Seventy-nine b&w photos support the text. A thorough index is included in the second volume, but future editions would be enhanced by inclusion of a thematic grouping of entries in the front matter and a timeline--to help the uninitiated navigate the material. The appendix, which occupies about half the pages of the second volume, comprises a reference to the foundational documents of orthodox theology. Contributors are English-speaking scholars based primarily in the US and the UK, with a few based in Greece, Romania, and Switzerland. Editor McGuckin is affiliated with the Union Theological Seminary, New York; he signed the preface as follows: V. Revd. Prof., Priest of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Feast of the Learned Hierarch St. Grigorie Dascalui, Metropolitan of the Romanians. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)