The Divine Mosaic gathers essays, speeches, and presentations given over the course of James Likoudis’s seven decades as a Catholic. A convert from Greek Orthodoxy, Likoudis devoted his life to the cause of Catholic–Orthodox reconciliation, and these shorter writings piece together—mosaic-like—the larger vision that animated his major books.
Compiled and edited by Andrew Likoudis, the volume carries a foreword by Tim Staples and ranges across papal primacy, the filioque, the procession of the Holy Spirit, Palamism, and the path toward full communion between East and West.
“In our modern era of mass communication, the Ecumenical work of reunion will not be carried out in full without lay involvement. And there is, perhaps, no member of the laity of either of the ‘two lungs’ of apostolic faith that has done more to further the dialogue than James Likoudis. In his masterpiece, The Divine Mosaic: Piecing Together Catholic and Orthodox Unity, we have laid out for us the intellectual framework that all of us can benefit from. Whether you are a seasoned apologist, theologian, or philosopher, and whether you are clergy or laity, you are going to benefit and learn from this great work. It is my prayer that every Catholic who is serious about his or her faith will place this book at the top of the list of necessary reads.”
Tim Staples, Senior Apologist, Catholic Answers; Author of Behold Your Mother: A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines (from the foreword)“What are the principal obstacles to the prospects of Catholic–Orthodox unity? Dr. James Likoudis, himself a convert from Greek Orthodoxy, offers a unique and challenging answer in this marvelous new collection of essays, articles, and speeches: the chief impediments are not primarily the dogmatic divides between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, but rather the internal divisions—both administrative and magisterial—within and between the Byzantine Orthodox churches themselves. Without descending into triumphalism, Likoudis makes a fraternal, detailed and compelling case that the underlying historical issues inherent in Orthodoxy’s presumptive imperial ecclesiology without an emperor and synodality without the Divine Primacy leads to a divisive power vacuum which can only and ultimately be filled by the diaconal service of the Apostolic See of Rome.”
Fr. Daniel Dozier, MA, Adjunct Professor of Sacred Scripture, Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius; Author of 20 Answers on Eastern Catholicism“In these essays, Dr. Likoudis addresses the stumbling blocks that stand in the way of reconciliation. He tackles the historical roots of these controversies while dispelling strawman arguments against Catholic ecclesiology. In doing so, he demonstrates that Eastern Orthodoxy and Catholicism are not as far apart as some Orthodox apologists would have us believe.”
Rev. Deacon Anthony Dragani, PhD, Professor of Religious Studies, Mount Aloysius College; Author of Adrian Fortescue and the Eastern Christian Churches“I’m thrilled to learn of the publication of The Divine Mosaic: Piecing Together Catholic and Orthodox Unity. For many years its author, James Likoudis, has been a tireless laborer for fraternal dialogue between Catholic and Orthodox Christians. Few know these two ecclesial worlds so thoroughly and few can so successfully untie the knots of misunderstanding that have gotten in the way of reconciliation. My hope is that this important collection of essays will receive a careful reading from those in East and West that care about the unity and catholicity of Christ’s Church.”
Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio, PhD, Senior Fellow, St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology; Author of When the Church Was Young: Voices of the Early Fathers“Dr. Likoudis balances between the extreme of pretending that there are no significant differences between Catholics and Orthodox, and the other extreme of consigning one another to the darkest pits of Hades. Dr. Likoudis is a living example of how to dialogue with the Orthodox about important differences without falling into a rigid fundamentalism that refuses to see grace present in the Orthodox church.”
Michael Lofton, Founder, Reason & Theology; Author of Answering Orthodoxy: A Catholic Response to Attacks from the East (from the afterword)Stay connected with the Foundation
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.