The Friend of the Bridegroom offers a compelling theological interpretation of John the Baptist as seen through the eyes of Eastern Orthodoxy.
Written by Sergius Bulgakov, the leading Russian theologian of modern times, this book sheds new light on the mission and meaning of John the Baptist, commonly referred to in Orthodoxy as the 'Forerunner of the Lord.' Bulgakov traces the Baptist's life from beginning to end-his birth, his preaching of repentance, his baptism of the Lord, his agony, his death, his glorification, and his veneration in the context of Eastern Orthodoxy. In addition to probing the Gospel narratives, Bulgakov's interpretation is colored by sacred tradition as it is embodied in patristic literature, in liturgy, and in iconography.
But this is not a work of arcane scholarship intended just for academic readers; indeed, in the words of translator Boris Jakim, it is 'a work of prayer' that will stir the souls of Christians everywhere.