A Summary of Christian Divinity

by Plato II

Publisher:

Oliphant, Waugh, & Innes

, 1814

Overview

A Summary of Christian Divinity, by His Eminence Plato II, Metropolitan of Moscow, provides a comprehensive overview of Eastern Orthodox doctrine. Originally written at the Russian court in 1765 for the heir apparent, Paul Petrovitch—son of Empress Catherine the Great and Plato II’s pupil for several years—A Summary of Christian Divinity is significant for both its comprehensive content and for providing a historical window into the development of Orthodox thought. Scholars note the influence of Western thought in this work, as well as the treatment of certain Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed doctrines.

Plato II won the admiration of intellectuals such as Voltaire during his time at the Russian court, and served as the religious instructor for several Russian leaders. However, despite his close relationship with the court, Plato II kept his intellectual independence, supervising the seminary instruction of succeeding archbishops, writing prolifically, and paving the way for the Russian Bible Society, which published an important Russian translation of the Bible in 1876. His A Summary of Christian Divinity is presented in English in this volume, translated by Robert Pinkerton, along with an introductory text on the ecclesiastical establishment in Russia and an appendix on Russian dissenters, also by Pinkerton.

Immerse yourself in this significant work, beginning with discussion of the existence and attributes of God, and explore topics such as justification, the Eucharist, fear of God, government of the Church, veneration, worship, prayer, and much more. With the Logos edition, you can streamline and enhance your study. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Bolster your study of Metropolitan Plato II’s work by cross-referencing and comparing with an extensive library of Orthodox scholarship. With Logos’ tablet and mobile apps, you can also take your study wherever you go. 

Key Features

• Offers a comprehensive summary of Orthodox Christian doctrine
• Includes a preliminary memoir on the ecclesiastical establishment in Russia, by Robert Pinkerton
• Provides an appendix on the different sects of Russian dissenters and their origin

Contents

• Preliminary Memoir
• Part I—Of the Knowledge of God as Derived From Nature, Being Subservient to the Belief of the Gospel
• Part II—Of the Faith of the Gospel
• Part III—Of the Law of God
• Appendix, Containing an Account of the Origin and Different Sects of Dissenters Russia

Product Details

• Title: A Summary of Christian Divinity
• Authors: Plato II of Moscow and Robert Pinkerton
• Translator: Robert Pinkerton
• Publisher: Oliphant, Waugh, & Innes
• Publication Date: 1814
• Pages: 368

About Plato II

Plato II or Platon II (29 June 1737 - 11 November 1812) was the Metropolitan of Moscow from 1775 to 1812. He personifies the Age of Enlightenment in the Russian Orthodox Church. He was born at Chashnikovo near Moscow as Platon Levshin in the family of a psalmodist, and was educated at the seminary and the Slavic Greek Latin Academy of Moscow. In 1757 he was appointed instructor in Greek and rhetoric at the latter institution, and became distinguished as a pulpit orator. (From Wikipedia.com. Released under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license found at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)