The Melody of Faith: Theology in An Orthodox Key

In the Orthodox Christian faith the elements of liturgy, scripture, hymnody, and iconography are the instruments or voices of a melody of faith. Here Vigen Guroian introduces his readers to the fundamental beliefs of Orthodox Christianity through the musical metaphor of melody. Often drawing on his personal religious experience for illumination, Guroian weaves together the themes of creation and new creation, beginning and end, sin and holiness, Incarnation and deification, sacrifice and salvation.??Guroian explores the dogmatic foundation of this rich faith through six chapters, or "movements." Through discussion of Syrian, Armenian, Byzantine, and Russian iconography and Gospel illuminations - illustrated by 1015 icons and Armenian miniatures - he further reveals how Orthodox Christianity expresses theology as much in art as through language.***??The Melody of Faith*** not only reflects the spirit of Orthodox Christianity but also takes the reader to the theological heart of the Orthodox faith.*??"It may be that the musical metaphor is especially appropriate to theology. It may be that theology is nearer in origin and character to music than architecture, despite modern assumptions to the contrary. . . . Music originates at the wellspring of human emotions and expresses an experience of the numinous."?*  
from the preface  
***-Publisher.***  
  


In the Orthodox Christian faith the elements of liturgy, scripture, hymnody, and iconography are the instruments or voices of a melody of faith. In The Melody of Faith Vigen Guroian introduces his readers to the fundamental beliefs of Orthodox Christianity using the metaphor of melody. / Often drawing on his personal religious experience for illumination, Guroian weaves together the themes of creation and new creation, beginning and end, sin and holiness, Incarnation and deification, sacrifice and salvation. By discussing several iconography traditions and illuminations from ancient gospels, he illustrates how Orthodox Christianity expresses theology in art as well as through language. / The Melody of Faith is a book that not only reflects the spirit of Orthodox Christianity but that also takes the reader to the theological heart of the Orthodox faith.Read less