Orthodox Constructions of the West

“The authors of these essays critique the predominant practice among many leading Orthodox thinkers of defining Orthodoxy as ‘that which Western
Christianity is not.’ Through successive layers of historical and theoretical
analysis, the volume shakes this dominant paradigm and demonstrates how much more complex–and problematic–Orthodox constructions of ‘the West’ are.”

—–Perry Hamalis, North Central College

This book represents a significant step in the direction of self-reflection and self-criticism that has almost completely eluded Orthodox identity narratives colored by centuries of political oppression and demographic challenges.
After too long a wait, such an initiative is all the more remarkable: it approaches the prophetic. Demacopoulos and Papanikolaou are to be recognized for having assembled a world-class array of scholars in diverse fields to produce a compilation that is fascinating, accessible, and at points highly challenging. It will inspire heated debate, and will surely become a staging point for future work.

—–Peter C. Bouteneff, St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

It [‘Orthodox Constructions of the West’] is a goldmine of insights and wonderfully refreshing blunt talk, making it an excellent book for the scholar and general reader alike.– “–Eastern Christian Books”

George E. Demacopoulos is Fr. John Meyendorff & Patterson Family Chair of Orthodox Christian Studies and Professor of Theology at Fordham University. He is also a Co-founding Director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University. He serves as a Senior Fellow at Dumbarton Oaks and as President of the Byzantine Studies Association of North America. He is the author of five monographs and dozens of scholarly articles of the history of Christianity in the premodern period.

Aristotle Papanikolaou is professor of theology, the Archbishop Demetrios Chair of Orthodox Theology and Culture, and a Co-Director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University. He is also McDonald Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Emory University Center for the Study of Law and Religion. He is the author of two monographs and numerous scholarly articles on Orthodox theology, as well as co-editor of ten volumes.