Papacy and the Orthodox

The Papacy and the Orthodox examines the centuries-long debate over the primacy and authority of the Bishop of Rome, especially in relation to the Christian East, and offers a comprehensive history of the debate and its underlying theological issues. Edward Siecienski begins by looking at the sources of the debate, analyzing the history and texts that have long divided the Catholic and Orthodox world, and ends by examining the Second Vatican Council andrecent attempts at dialogue on the issue of the primacy. Starting with the historical Apostle Peter and the role he played in the early church, the book turns to the evidence long used in arguments for and against the Roman primacy. Siecienski details the 2000-year history of the papacy's reception—andrejection—among the Orthodox, beginning with the question that continues to bedevil ecumenists: what was the role of the Bishop of Rome during the time of the undivided church? Although Eastern attitudes towards the papacy often differed depending on time and place, by the time the First Vatican Council (1870) defined the pope's infallibility and universal jurisdiction—doctrines the Orthodox vehemently rejectedit was clear that the papacy, long seen by Catholics as the ministry of unity, hadbecome the chief obstacle to it. Siecienski masterfully brings together all of the biblical, patristic, and historical material necessary to understand this longstanding debate. This book is an invaluable resource as both Catholics and Orthodox continue to reexamine the sources and history of thedebate.

I applaud Siecienski's study for what it is: rigorous yet accessible scholarship put in the service of Christians in both East and West, especially those who would seek to better understand the "sources and history of a debate" that will doubtless continue for some time., Siecienski has written a very valuable and credible assessment of the development of the debate between East and West over the role of the Bishop of Rome in the Christian Church. His knowledge of the issues, already explored partly in his study of the filioque, is commendable. His familiarity with the various documents and authors that contributed to the Orthodox response to the papal claims is impressive. And his extensive bibliography (eighty pages) is a great complement to a remarkable study, making it an invaluable resource for this debate. Indubitably, this volume is a welcome addition to the Oxford Studies in Historical Theology series., [A] work of exceptional breadth, perceptiveness, and learning; an excellent addition to an excellent series., A peaceful, common reading of history, particularly with regard to the role of the bishop of Rome, is an essential requirement for the restoration of full communion between Orthodox and Catholics. Edward Siecienski's impressive study demonstrates that such a reading is attainable. Wide-ranging, abundantly referenced, and fair-minded, this is a most refreshing and helpful contribution to Catholic-Orthodox rapprochement., The Papacy and the Orthodox is a definitive, albeit delicate, issue in the history and thought of Christianity, especially in relation to ecumenical exchanges and confessional reconciliation. Discerning facts in historical sources and demythologizing fiction in skewed misconceptions are an essential foundation for rekindling this centuries-old debate between East and West, but also a critical premise for impartial dialogue between Orthodox and Roman Catholics. This exceptional book provides a significant and substantial step toward this goal.

A. Edward Siecienski is Associate Professor of Religion and Pappas Professor of Byzantine Culture and Religion at Stockton University