Overview

An exposition of Orthodox systematic theology, 'Gazing on God' is written from the point of view of the experience of the faithful, drawing on traditional icons and liturgy. By tracing the depth of some key Christian concepts -salvation, Logos, the Trinity- Andreas Andreopoulos provides a framework for the theology of experience. In the following chapters seven select icons are analyzed, in order to demonstrate the theological ideas and themes that may be revealed by studying Christianity through iconography. The analysis touches on topics such as time (the eternity of God, 'flat' liturgical time), space, the Church as the Body of Christ, and the Trinity. 'Gazing on God' offers to all Christian traditions a demonstration that, while our understanding of the development of Christian views and attitudes is guided by the history of theological ideas, Christianity includes from the beginning a strong dimension of meta-linguistic knowledge, which is expressed in its liturgy, as well as in its symbolism.

Full Product Details

9780227174463

Table of Contents

Reviews

The author takes us through his exhibition of chosen icons and shows how they convey biblical and theological truth, and so incorporate us into the life of the church though meditative looking, The author uses illustrations from his native Greek culture, and this introduces an approach that maybe fresh and unfamiliar [...] He shows us not only that there are varied ways of appropriating the tradition of faith, but also that faith has to be expressed and communicated within a specific culture and that each age has to discover its own language, images and experiences, in order to express faith in a way that lives. The Revd. Dr John Binns, Church Times, (Sept, 2014) This is a gem of a book, and although it doesn't claim to give a full account of the theology of the icon, like the classic two-volume work of Leonid Ouspensky, a number of popular misconceptions are corrected. It is, as Andreopoulos writes, less about what we see as about who sees us (pp. 60 and 130). Christopher Irvine, in Theology , vol. 118, issue 1

The author takes us through his exhibition of chosen icons and shows how they convey biblical and theological truth, and so incorporate us into the life of the church though meditative looking, The author uses illustrations from his native Greek culture, and this introduces an approach that maybe fresh and unfamiliar [...] He shows us not only that there are varied ways of appropriating the tradition of faith, but also that faith has to be expressed and communicated within a specific culture and that each age has to discover its own language, images and experiences, in order to express faith in a way that lives. The Revd. Dr John Binns, Church Times, (Sept, 2014) This is a gem of a book, and although it doesn't claim to give a full account of the theology of the icon, like the classic two-volume work of Leonid Ouspensky, a number of popular misconceptions are corrected. It is, as Andreopoulos writes, less about what we see as about who sees us (pp. 60 and 130). Christopher Irvine, in Theology , vol. 118, issue 1 This is an excellent and interesting book that I hope will be read by anyone who is interested in in iconography, and more broadly, anyone who is interested in the interaction of liturgy, aesthetics and theology. Stephen Stavrou, in Art and Christianity , vol 81, Spring 2015 Taking his readers through an exhilarating examination of the Divine Liturgy, Andreopoulos links its various elements with scripture, temple sacrifice, Greek tragedy, and even agriculture in order to draw some profound theological conclusions [...] Andreopoulos definitively succeeds in providing a unique exposition of the Orthodox faith by means of shared Orthodox experience. This book is well worth reading for anyone interested in the Orthodox Church, Orthodox Studies, or iconography in particular. -- Andrew Blaski, The Expository Times, Volume 126.11, August 2015

"""The author takes us through his exhibition of chosen icons and shows how they convey biblical and theological truth, and so incorporate us into the life of the church though meditative looking, The author uses illustrations from his native Greek culture, and this introduces an approach that maybe fresh and unfamiliar [...] He shows us not only that there are varied ways of appropriating the tradition of faith, but also that faith has to be expressed and communicated within a specific culture and that each age has to discover its own language, images and experiences, in order to express faith in a way that lives."" The Revd. Dr John Binns, Church Times, (Sept, 2014) ""This is a gem of a book, and although it doesn't claim to give a full account of the theology of the icon, like the classic two-volume work of Leonid Ouspensky, a number of popular misconceptions are corrected. It is, as Andreopoulos writes, less about what we see as about who sees us (pp. 60 and 130)."" Caroline Williams, in ""The Association for the Study of Travel in Egypt and the Near East Bulletin"", issue 62, winter 2014-15 ""This is an excellent and interesting book that I hope will be read by anyone who is interested in iconography, and more broadly, anyone who is interested in the interaction of liturgy, aesthetics and theology. "" Stephen Stavrou, in ""Art and Christianity"", vol.81, Spring 2015 Andreopoulos brings Art History to bear in a lively and relevant Theological fashion ... this is a stimulating work that would be a good partial introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy for Undergraduates and non-academics. Christopher Villiers, Theological Book Review, volume 26, no 1, 2014"

The author takes us through his exhibition of chosen icons and shows how they convey biblical and theological truth, and so incorporate us into the life of the church though meditative looking, The author uses illustrations from his native Greek culture, and this introduces an approach that maybe fresh and unfamiliar [...] He shows us not only that there are varied ways of appropriating the tradition of faith, but also that faith has to be expressed and communicated within a specific culture and that each age has to discover its own language, images and experiences, in order to express faith in a way that lives. The Revd. Dr John Binns, Church Times, (Sept, 2014)

The author takes us through his exhibition of chosen icons and shows how they convey biblical and theological truth, and so incorporate us into the life of the church though meditative looking, The author uses illustrations from his native Greek culture, and this introduces an approach that maybe fresh and unfamiliar [...] He shows us not only that there are varied ways of appropriating the tradition of faith, but also that faith has to be expressed and communicated within a specific culture and that each age has to discover its own language, images and experiences, in order to express faith in a way that lives. The Revd. Dr John Binns, Church Times, (Sept, 2014) This is a gem of a book, and although it doesn't claim to give a full account of the theology of the icon, like the classic two-volume work of Leonid Ouspensky, a number of popular misconceptions are corrected. It is, as Andreopoulos writes, less about what we see as about who sees us (pp. 60 and 130). Caroline Williams, in The Association for the Study of Travel in Egypt and the Near East Bulletin , issue 62, winter 2014-15 This is an excellent and interesting book that I hope will be read by anyone who is interested in iconography, and more broadly, anyone who is interested in the interaction of liturgy, aesthetics and theology. Stephen Stavrou, in Art and Christianity , vol.81, Spring 2015 Andreopoulos brings Art History to bear in a lively and relevant Theological fashion ... this is a stimulating work that would be a good partial introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy for Undergraduates and non-academics. Christopher Villiers, Theological Book Review, volume 26, no 1, 2014

Author Information

Revd Dr Andreas Andreopoulos is Reader in Orthodox Theology at the University of Winchester and an Orthodox priest. He is also the author of 'This is my Beloved Son: The Transfiguration of Christ', 2012, 'Art as Theology: From the Postmodern to the Medieval', 2007, 'The Sign of the Cross: The Gesture, the Mystery, the History', 2006, and 'Metamorphosis: The Transfiguration in Byzantine Theology and Iconography', 2005.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available