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Book Review

STEPHEN STAVROU

Introducing Eastern Orthodox
Theology. Andrew Louth. £12.99.
SPCK Publishing, 2013. 192 pp;
paperback. ISBN: 978-0281069651.

THIS BOOK is accessible, but at
the same time, profound. It is cer-
tainly ambitious, seeking to out-
line the depth and richness of Or-
thodox theology in a few short
chapters, but it achieves this
without seeming hurried or cur-
tailed. Andrew Louth, is of course
a name that will be familiar to
nearly everyone with an acquain-
tance with Orthodoxy in this
country. As both priest and aca-
demic, this book displays his faith
and scholarship in equal measure.

The introductory chapter on ‘Who are the Orthodox’ is ex-
tremely helpful in setting the scene on what is a complex state of a?airs.
Louth succinctly summarises key moments in the history of Eastern
Christianity and the controversies of the Early Church. To some extent,
this book could be used by anyone as an introduction to aspects of
Christian theology in general. As a foundation, it is often necessary for
Louth to outline much theology that is common to all Christians who
have a high regard for Tradition and the Fathers. However, in each
chapter we come to a point where Louth branches into subjects and
issues that speci?c to Orthodoxy, and this is where the book becomes

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