The Illuminating Icon

Excellent read, helped me to see the Russian Orthodox in a whole new light, as well as shedding light on Orthodoxy as a whole. Well worth adding to your library.

In the midst of the theological quagmire of the American religious scene, this book stands tall. I read this book as a part of a Modern Theology class in college. I was amazed at its clarity and its directness.Anton Ugolnik is a gifted writer who takes you on a journey through Communist Russia, showing examples of Christians who kept their faith in the midst of overwhelming repression. But he also shows quite well how Orthodoxy "fits" in America. It is a rich book, covering areas as vast as theology, political theory, hermeneutics, and the like. After reading this book, I finally understood the doctrine of the Trinity. It is not a Summa of Orthodox thought, or even Father Ugolnik's Magnum Opus, but it is a true diamond in the rough-- a refreshing break from the soulless theological meanderings that have overridden the Christian thought in America.