A History Of Christianity (2009)

Episode Overview

Eastern Orthodox Christianity thrives today in the Balkans and Russia, boasting over 150 million adherents globally. Distinct from Catholicism and Protestantism, its worship is intricately structured, with icons drawing believers into a profound connection with Christ, and the imposing double-headed eagle symbolizing its legacy. In the third segment of his exploration into Christianity's past, Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch delves into Orthodoxy's incredible struggle for survival. After its peak during the Eastern Roman Empire, it faced the onslaught of Muslim expansion, betrayal from crusading Catholics, appropriation by Russian tsars, and near annihilation under Soviet rule. MacCulloch travels to the Sinai desert to see the largest collection of early icons, examines a relic from the iconoclastic crisis in Istanbul, and visits Ivan the Terrible's cathedral in Moscow to uncover the mysteries behind Orthodoxy's resilience.