The Divine Mosaic: Piecing Together Catholic and Orthodox Unity

This book collects essays, speeches, and presentations given over the course of James Likoudis’ seven decades as a Catholic. As a convert from Eastern Orthodoxy, he has devoted the greater portion of his life to the work of ecumenism, “that they all may be one” (Jn. 17:21). Within these pages, he attempts to refute common objections to Catholicism as well as provide a sound basis for a truly Catholic ecclesiology. It is hoped that this book will be a welcome contribution to ecumenism and will bring the Church of Christ, which subsists fully within the Catholic Church, that much closer to healing its wounds and offering a vision of a united Christianity to the world–a prerequisite of fulfilling the mission entrusted to it by Christ.Testimonials:“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. 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“For many years, 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.” – Marcellino D’Ambrosio, PhD, Senior Fellow, St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology; Author of When the Church Was Young: Voices of the Early Fathers“In James Likoudis's 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.” – Tim Staples, Senior Apologist, Catholic Answers; Author of Behold Your Mother: A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines (From the foreword)“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 and Theology; Author of Answering Orthodoxy: A Catholic Response to Attacks from the East (From the afterword) Read more