Description:
'... I have sailed the seas and come
To the holy city of Byzantium.'
W. B. Yeats
From the foundation of Constantinople in 330 to its fall in 1453, this brief history explores the key components of Byzantine Christianity, including the development of monasticism, icons and iconoclasm, the role of the emperor in relation to church councils and beliefs, the difficult relationship with the papacy and the impact of the Crusades.
The book also considers Byzantine Christianity as a living force today: the variety and vitality of Orthodox churches, the role of the Church in Russia and the enduring relevance of a spirituality derived from the church fathers.
Brief description: DAME AVERIL CAMERON, FBA, was formerly Warden of Keble College, Oxford. She is President of the Society for the Promotion of Byzantine Studies.
Review Quotes: Averil Cameron's work has transformed our understanding of Byzantium, and here she offers an authoritative survey of its history and legacy . . . This is a lucid, informative and impressively wide-ranging brief history.