The Oecumenical Patriarchate: the Great Church of Christ.

Byzantium ulp Paliouras, Athanasios D., Damaskēnos, Metropolitan of Switzerland, 1936-, and Garo Nalbandian, Constantinople (Ecumenical Patriarchate). The Oecumenical Patriarchate: the Great Church of Christ. (Translation of: To Oikoumeniko Patriarcheio). Geneva, Switzerland: Orthodox Centre of the Oecumenical Patriarchate/Athens, Greece: E. Tzaferis S.A., 1989, 374 pages, illus. (many colored), bib, index. Very heavy and very large (34 cm) book. Good to very good in dust jacket. $50.00 Under lamp

Notes: [publication director, Solon Tzaferis; general supervision and editing, Athanasios Paliouras; contributors, Damascinos, V. Phidas, A. Pasadaios ... [et al.] ; translation, G.D. Dragas, H. Zigada ; photography, Garo Nalbandian].

From the blurb: "This authoritatively written and splendidly illustrated work is a special edition dedicated to the Oecumenical Patriarchate, 'the Great Church of Christ'. In 376 pages with a wealth of coloured photographs, plans and drawings, the book records the age-long history of the Oecumenical Patriarchate, from the beginning of the Byzantine era (A.D. 330) to the present time, and relates its struggles in accomplishing its holy mission through the centuries. The volume includes descriptions of the celebrated Byzantine monuments of Constantinople, where the Oecumenical Patriarchate has been seated since the time of its foundation. The remarkable illustrations of the magnificent ancient buildings, the exquisite mosaics and wall paintings, the fine icons, illuminated manuscripts and various objects of ecclesiastical art are matched by most interesting texts for the general reader as well as the specialist".