The Cross at the Heart of the Church

Study in Ecumenical Recognition

Dr Petre Maican (Radboud University, The Netherlands)

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English

T.& T.Clark Ltd
16 October 2025

Orthodox & Oriental Churches; Ecumenism; Christian theology

Can Eastern Orthodoxy apply the term “church” to other Christian communities?

Emerging from the 2016 Pan-Orthodox Council, this issue sparked one of the most heated ebated in contemporary Eastern Orthodoxy. According to Maican, grappling with this question within the current framework of Eastern Orthodox ecclesiology presents significant challenges. In this unifying work, he argues that neither the emphasis on the Eucharist nor the adherence to the Tradition of the Fathers is capable of accommodating legitimate Christian otherness. Instead, Maican proposes a cruciform ecclesiology, positing the cross as not only foundational to doctrines and sacraments but also as the primary criterion for discerning the ecclesial nature of a community. Through dialogue with Dumitru Staniloae, Hans Urs von Balthasar and Paul Tillich, this book employs a conversationalist approach to this intricate problem. Ultimately, Maican provides a nuanced examination of the cross in ecclesiology, yielding bold propositions for recognizing the ecclesial status of other Christian communities.

By: Dr Petre Maican (Radboud University The Netherlands)
Imprint: T.& T.Clark Ltd
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 238mm, Width: 164mm, Spine: 16mm
Weight: 800g
ISBN: 9780567720283
ISBN 10: 0567720284
Pages: 160
Publication Date: 16 October 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction 1 Form and Diversity in Ecclesial Context 2 The Form of Christ Crucified as the Centre of the Cosmic Church Section 1: Form as God’s Ecstasy Section 2: The Form of Human Ecstasy 3 The Form of Christ Crucified as the Centre of the Universal Church 4 The Form of Christ Crucified as the Centre of the Church at Denominational Level 5 Unity, Diversity and Ecclesial Recognition General Conclusion Bibliography Index

Petre Maican is a Research Fellow in the Institute for Christian Studies at Radbound University, The Netherlands.

Reviews for The Cross at the Heart of the Church: Study in Ecumenical Recognition

Maican provides a fascinating Orthodox engagement with Catholic and Protestant ecclesiologies, resulting in a dynamic understanding of ecclesiality as transparency to the form of Christ crucified, interpreted differently in the words and actions of each denomination. The author provides a meaningful way of recognizing the ecclesial character of the other, safeguarding intra-Christian diversity as the entire world moves towards deification – an eschatological unity in which creation becomes a cosmic church. Maican’s cruciform ecclesiology will surely have a resounding ecumenical impact. * Radu Bordeianu, Professor of Theology at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, USA * In an age of polarization and when ecumenism is on the defensive, this book could not be more timely. Maican moves the conversation around ecclesiology and ecumenism forward by providing a model for real recognition among the churches based on the form of Christ crucified. This theotic approach to understanding ""church"" will especially appeal to those tired of strict borders, enclave thinking, and mutual exclusivities. * Aristotle Papanikolaou, Professor of Theology, Archbishop Demetrios Chair in Orthodox Theology and Culture, Co-founding Director, Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University, USA *