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Rating: 
Summary: A good starting place.
Review: A thorough, understandable and entertaining history of the Greek Orthodox Church from the fall of Byzantium to the eve of Greek independence. Sir Steven Runciman, the world's foremost Byzantine authority, excels in his down to earth scholarly style. A must for Byzantine scholars, history buffs, and for those wishing to understand the Orthodox Church.
Rating:
Summary: "We knew not whether we were on earth or in heaven..."
Review: I'll say right off what my quibble with this well-written study is: it would rate 5+ stars if it were illustrated. It is really too bad the publishers didn't bother to put in a few portraits of various Patriarchs of Constantinople, several representative Icons, a map of the city showing the Phanar, and some photos of the remaining churches and chapels. We have plenty of this sort of thing in books on western Christianity; why not in a book about eastern Orthodoxy? That said, it is an excellent read. It took me awhile to pick it up, perhaps out of fear of it being too "scholarly". Once underway, I was very much engaged by it, and it filled in a significant gap in my knowledge of the eastern churches. I'm grateful to Runciman for having given me a learning experience, which I wish I could say about many other authors, but can't. This is strongly recommended for students of Christian and near- and middle-eastern history, Orthodox believers who want to know more about their faith, and readers who like to explore what happens when cultures collide. I enjoyed reading this while curled up in a big comfy chair with a pot of tea. A nicely written study of a neglected part of human history!
Rating: 
Summary: Enlightening
Review: The dilemma facing English speakers of Greek decent is that there are so few books written in English on Greek medieval history, and I can think of none written specifically on the Orthodox Church during the turkocratia, except of course Runciman's "The Great Church in Captivity". At first, I was skeptical. After all, Runciman is an Englishman and I was leery about potential ignorance or bias which could seep its way into his book. No need to be concerned. Runcimen's book is a well researched and a thorough history on the subject. I could hardly put it down. Generally, the book was easy to read and very informative. One chapter deals heavily with theology, and finding the subject brain numbing, I must admit, I skipped over most it. No matter, the balance of the book, which deals with Church history, was very enlightening. I do have one issue with Runcimen's account, however. Greek history teaches that during the captivity, Greek children were taught Greek by the clergy, under covert conditions, usually at night in underground caves, so as to not alert the Turks. By doing this, the Greek people were able to maintain their identity through language and religion, and resist turkification. This is a fact of paramount significance to the Greek people, a legend of heroism passed down from generation to generation, yet there is no mention of it by Runciman. Even though this account was omitted, there is so much content in this book, that I highly recommend it to those interested in the history of the Orthodox Church. To Greeks: A bit of warning to the wide-eyed and uninitiated: You were not taught this history at home or in Sunday school, so you may be shocked by some of this. I was.
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Summary: Brilliant and enlightening!
Review: The Great Church in Captivity is indispensable for anyone interested in the tragedy of Byzantium's demise. Sir Steven Runciman provides an excellent overview on the Patriarchate before the abomination of Ottoman domination and provides a unique glimpse into the fate of the Greek people and their Great Church under centuries of Turkish occupation. A definite must-read indeed.
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Summary: A Must Read For Christian History Enthusiasts!
Review: This gifted British historian captures you with his prose and holds on to you with his glorious tale and historiography which is second to none. A must read for anyone interested in the Orthodox Church or Christianity. He deals with his subject with a sense of empathy without losing his objectivity. A must buy!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: A masterful work by a masterful historian
Review: While I can't say I "ate this book up" as I did his history of the Crusades (read in Nov and Dec of 1974) or his book on the Sicilian vespers (read 7 Nov 1982) the fault is mine, not Runciman's. This book discusses the Patriarchate of Canstantinople before the fall in 1453 and then relates how it fared under Turkish rule. It is not a happy story, but well worth reading. I see Runciman has a book on the fall of Constantinople, and it seems that would be great reading.
Rating:
Summary: Enlightening
Review: While I can't say I "ate this book up" as I did his history of the Crusades (read in Nov and Dec of 1974) or his book on the Sicilian vespers (read 7 Nov 1982) the fault is mine, not Runciman's. This book discusses the Patriarchate of Canstantinople before the fall in 1453 and then relates how it fared under Turkish rule. It is not a happy story, but well worth reading. I see Runciman has a book on the fall of Constantinople, and it seems that would be great reading.
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