When History Books Ignore the East: The Story of the Orthodox Church
From its apostolic roots to the “divorce” of the Great Schism in 1054, I’m moving past the dry dates to uncover a story of deep human resilience. This is the first half of a two-part series where I bridge the gap between ancient tradition and our modern world. If you’ve ever wondered why some traditions refuse to be swept away while everything else around us changes, join me as I pull back the curtain on the history you weren’t taught.
Further Reading & Resources
To help you dive deeper into the history covered in this episode, here are the core sources and recommended readings:
“The Orthodox Church” by Timothy Ware (Kallistos Ware): Widely considered the standard, accessible introduction to the history, theology, and life of the Orthodox Church.
“The Great Schism: The Estrangement of Eastern and Western Christendom” by Steven Runciman: An excellent, concise look at the breakdown of the relationship between the two halves of the Christian world.
“Orthodoxy and the West” (Historical Studies): For more on the resilience of the Church during the Ottoman period, exploring the “tacit” history often omitted from Western European curricula.
The History of the Pentarchy: Further research into the early ecclesiastical structure of the Church prior to 1054.