Monergism Books

Time: 1 hr 30 min
Production Year: 1992

Availability: Usually Ships the Same Business Day

Description: This ambitious project is designed to be the most detailed worldwide television presentation of the Orthodox Church, Her traditions, and Her sacramental life. The programs, produced in English and Greek, will serve as an educational tool for the Christian Orthodox Church in addressing the needs of a world-dispersed audience, and in making Orthodoxy better understood among those who are unfamiliar with this ancient Christian Church.

PART 1: THE BEGINNINGS- Church and State - Ecumencial Councils - Nicene Creed - Iconoclasm - Fathers of the Church - Monasticism - The Splendor of Aghia Sophia - Mission to the Slavs - The Great Schism - Crusades - Fall of Byzantium (Running Time: 28:30)

PART 2: BYZANTIUM - The Early Church - From Jerusalem to the Nations - Christianity and Hellenism - Catacombs and Persecution - The Early Martyrs - Administrative Structure - Birth of Byzantium Legalization of the Church (Running Time: 28:30)

PART 3: HIDDEN TREASURE - Church in Captivity - Moscow: The Third Rome - Greek Revolution - The Ancient Patriarchates Today - New World - Russia After Communism - Challenges for the Future - The Essence of the Church (Running Time: 28:30)

Review Video Librarian, Mar./Apr. 2006

Produced by Greek Orthodox Telecommunications, this three-part program does an excellent job of recounting the history and beliefs of Orthodox Christianity, while also examining the differences between the various branches. Artistically filmed on location in Israel, Greece, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Russia, England, and the U.S., the first part – "The Beginnings" – explores the founding of the Church, from the New Testament-related life and death of Jesus Christ, through the missionary work of the apostles, and subsequent persecutions and martyrdoms, while magnificent art and architecture of the period help to illustrate the narrative. The other two episodes in the series – "Byzantium" and "A Hidden Treasure" – look at the Crusades, the rise of the Church during the flowering of the Byzantine Empire and suppression after Byzantium's fall in Islamic and Communist countries, waves of immigration to the West that brought orthodoxy to the New World, ad the state of the Church today. Highly recommended.

Includes printed study guide.

Monergism Note: Obviously we do not endorse many of the theological views expressed on this DVD. Orthodox Christians are largely synergistic and embrace, a Semi-Pelagian, and thus heretical, view of salvation and sanctification. However, we recommend that you get to know and understand their views so we can intelligently interact with them.  As a result, we only recommend this to those who are well grounded in their faith. Not recommend for those new to the faith.