A great book. While it poses some controversial ideas about the universality of the visible church and about heresy, there is much to learn and to hold your attention. A pretty quick read for a 'history' book. Always puzzles me why we would call Mary the 'Mother of God' as that seems ludicrous and close to blasphemy even though as a defence of Jesus' deity, I get it. Less so how the whole iconoclast controversy ended with the church's approval to use/pray to icons considering our connection to Judaism and opposition to graven images. Much is here about the Nestorians and Jacobites - it is respectful but I wish for more info on them - the official rejection of them as heretical, the personalities and debates that happened, etc.

I think the church as a whole needs to recognize our brothers & sisters among the Palestinians, Syrians, Egyptians, etc. not only the orthodox churches but evangelicals among those peoples. We suffer and bear one anothers' burdens, or at least are called to. Remember whatever we do for them, we have done for the Lord. (Matt 25)