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Pantokrator: An Introduction to Orthodoxy
Author: Trevor Curnow
Date Of Publication: Aug 2007
Isbn13: 9781847182418
Isbn: 1-84718-241-0
Although most people think of Greek philosophy as “Western”, its religion is commonly referred to as “Eastern”. For those who have not spent time in countries where Orthodox Christianity is the dominant religion, it can seem exotic and alien. Even those who visit these countries can come away with little understanding of it. Pantokrator: an Introduction to Orthodoxy helps those unfamiliar with Orthodoxy to become acquainted with the history of the Orthodox Church, what it teaches, how it is structured, and how it differs from other churches. There is also a brief guide to the architecture and internal design and decoration of Orthodox churches. Because monasticism plays an important role in the life of the Orthodox Church, an account is given of the monastic life. This is illustrated with reference to how that life is lived on Mount Athos, an enclave within Greece run entirely by monks. The history and organisation of the Holy Mountain, as Athos is called, is explained in general terms with a more detailed account of one of its monasteries, Pantokrator.

Trevor Curnow is Reader in Philosophy at St Martin’s College, Lancaster. His previous publications include Wisdom, Intuition and Ethics (Ashgate, 1999), Thinking through Dialogue (Practical Philosophy Press, 2001), The Oracles of the Ancient World (Duckworth, 2004), The Philosophers of the Ancient World: an A to Z guide (Duckworth, 2006) and Ancient Philosophy and Everyday Life (Cambridge Scholars, 2006). He is a regular visitor to Mount Athos.

This is an admirable book, which succeeds in the difficult task, implied by its title, of combining an account of a particular Athointe monastery with concise and illuminating introduction to Orthodoxy. It will be found useful equally by those planning a visit to the Holy Mountain and by those who have been there on pilgrimage and wish to understand better that they have experienced. I found that objects, practices and statements which I had seen and heard in the monasteries were frequently illuminated by Curnow's account.

Michael Llewellyn Smith, Friends of Mount Athos, Annual Report 2008

Price Uk Gbp: 29.99
Price Us Usd: 44.99

Sample pdf (including Table of Contents)

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