Recent political events in the Middle East and eastern Europe have brought eastern Christianity to global attention. The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity provides an unparalleled account of the history and development of these vital Christian traditions, at the same time placing contemporary events in their full context. The Companion provides authoritative and lively essays on the main Eastern Orthodox traditions, such as the Greek, Russian, and Georgian churches, as well as the Oriental Orthodox traditions, including the Armenian, Coptic, and Syrian churches. The in-depth articles of the Companion, which are written by an international team of experts, offer a comprehensive survey of the history, theology, doctrine, worship, art, culture, and politics that make up the churches of Eastern Christianity. The Companion can also be used alongside the respected Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity (Blackwell, 1999), providing detailed discussions and assessments to complement the Dictionary's shorter entries.