Oriental and Eastern Orthodox: questions

[John Charmley]

Dear Fr. Gregory,

Many thanks for this. Markides' book is an interesting one which offers much food for thought.

Is it that, perhaps because of a shortage of translated works, we in the west lack the adequate account of the Oriental Orthodox tradition; or is there not one to be had? I have several studies of the Coptic Orthodox Church, but none of them actually gives me much in the way of an account of how its thought has developed since, say, the seventh century. To what extent is this a reflection of the want of suitable studies in translation; or just of suitable studies?

Or is it something deeper? To what extent have the years of Muslim ascendancy meant that the Copts have had to devote most of their energy to surviving - and that it is only with the growth of the last half century or so that they have begun to do more than that?

In Christ,

John