Why Angels Fall: A Journey Through Orthodox Europe from Byzantium to Kosovo

Why Angels Fall fills an important gap in the Western literature about Orthodoxy-- the unvarnished examination of the current status of the Orthodox world. Much like the West's view of Islam, we are rarely presented with such a portrait. We see the "best foot" put forward by these other civilizations and in our self-destructive impulse, the worst about ourselves. This is reflected not only in our media but in our history and church history texts. The view of Orthodoxy presented there is often shallow and rosy, filling in no color of the broad worldview differences which make our civilizations different--not just an historical creedal disagreement. Here we learn, for example, about the Serbian perspective of the Balkan wars, which is quite different than the one we are accustomed to. Understanding, then, the information presented here, explains a lot more about Russian, Serbian, and other Orthodox policy orientations than we might really have the courage to face and is a nice complement to those who acknowledge the "Clash of Civilizations" posited by Harvard Political Scientist, Samuel P. Huntington. Only by understanding these other Civilizations from within, as Clark attempts to help us do, can we really objectively see it and our role in it from the West. About the book itself then, Clark has chapters on the major flashpoints of the Orthodox world including the Balkans, Greece, Russia, etc. Each chapter gives a light historical treatment in the context of relevant contemporary interviews and encounters. It's difficult to overstate how helpful this is--if only all history were given in context of contemporary worldview significance, maybe we'd understand it. Clark's perspective is definitely that of a secularist. Many other reviews identify this as purely negative, but for me, this was actually helpful because she was more of an outside observer with a stated bias, as opposed to an Eastern or Western church historian with political constraints.

I am Orthodox, and this Englishwoman is a good writer. I liked it, and she does not hide her bias. Good for her. Read it - altho I sure as "H" wouldn't pay the US$50+ they want for it new! LORD HAVE MERCY indeed!

Ms Clarks work is first and foremost an enjoyable and fun book to read, youll find yourself flipping page after page.As for the criticism youll see in the other reviews, Ill help you out. Theyre complaining that a book about roses doesnt talk about sunflowers. They say she doesnt write a scholarly academic book, She Doesnt Claim To! They say her book isnt a good introduction to the Orthodox Christian Faith, She never said it WAS!!She is a journalist and a rather average mind reflecting a rather average secular west euro point of view, all of which she tells you up front and honestly. Thats good , all Orthodox who read this book should take to heart how you are seen by such a person. Her book is about Nationalism and Mysticism in the Eastern Euro mindset, written in a popular not academic style(thank god!) illustrated by encounters with average Orthodox. If you want an intro to the Orthodox Faith try Timothy Ware The Orthodox Church, this book is about average people in real life not about an Orthodox ideal. P.S. the reviewer who said Ms Clark is part of an organized effort to smear the Orthodox proves the books point exactly

As a Christian who is not Orthodox, but studies and is sympathetic to Orthodox beliefs and practices, I struggled with this book. It's frustrating when non-believers critique Christian topics because their very non-belief renders them unable to understand Christian life and culture. But since believers often can't or won't provide useful critiques of faults in Christian organizations and practices, who else but non-believers like Victoria Clark will do the job?Yes, Clark drags up embarrassing or even repulsive incidents in Orthodox history and paints an unflattering portrait of many of the priests, monks and nuns she encounters on her 18-month "pilgrimage" through several Orthodox countries. But by the end of the book Clark seems more sympathetic to the plight of a 2,000 year old body of believers who have suffered centuries of Islamic and, to a lesser extent, Western European dominance and persecution. Clark positively describes the growing vitality and energy associated with monastic communities in countries she visits. And she describes, although a little grudgingly, warm encounters with Orthodox clergy and lay people.A theme Clark explores which also troubles me is the tendency of contemporary Orthodox churches to emphasize nationalistic and even militaristic, as opposed to Christian, agendas. The seeming lack of Orthodox interest in missionary endeavors and converts is also disappointing, but seems consistent with the xenophobia Clark exposes among some Orthodox. It seems many Orthodox are more interested in maintaining their separateness, keeping their wounds unhealed and playing the martyr than building on and attracting converts to their community. If Orthodoxy offers the prospect of a superior lifestyle and superior way to worship and know God, which I believe it may, then why don't Orthodox more enthusiastically display this side of their faith to "outsiders" - or in some cases even their own nominal adherents? Then perhaps Orthodox, particularly in Russia, could stop whining about Catholics and Protestants "stealing" from their flock. The Apostles certainly were not afraid to competitively demonstrate the superiority of their faith in the religious hodgepodge of the Roman Empire.Clark's non-belief is humorous is some ways. Several times she marvels how some "coincidence" allows her to meet just the right person or make just the right connection to propel her research to a new insight. A Christian wouldn't be so surprised by such "coincidences". Near the end, reflecting on some of the admirable Orthodox she encountered, Clark writes, "They made me wish I could believe as they did." Poor Victoria Clark... another soul unable to move beyond her dead end belief in postmodern, secular humanism.I do not recommend this book as your only source for information about Orthodox history and current affairs, much less theology and beliefs. But Orthodox and would-be-Orthodox should read it and ponder Clark's points as should anyone wa

The Times of London has a story on the Old Believers of Buryatia in the February 21, 2001 edition. If you have read this book, you will find the story interesting. I thought this was a great book, and gave me better understanding of the underlying causes of the dislike of America in the Eastern European countries today. In Lingua Franca magazine of March 2001 is the story of how Bulgarian Jews were saved in WWII.