Byzantine Rome and the Greek Popes

Ekonomou has penned an important scholarly work on the little studied and poorly documented political and religious history of Rome under Byzantine rule in the seventh and eighth centuries... Recommended. CHOICE There is a great deal to learn from this new take on an important phase in the history of the papacy. The Catholic Historical Review A significant and serious work of scholarship...Ekonomou...amply and convincingly documents the often unexpected and even counterintuitive ways in which the Greek-speaking East influenced the West-Roman Church and papacy. Logos: Journal Of Eastern Christian Studies Dr. Ekonomou's book is a nicely written monograph on a topic that cried desperately for attention in the course of the last century and more. Apart from shedding much more light on some crucial aspects of what is considered the darkest of the Dark Ages, this is a work that for the first time focuses on the Greek/Byzantine/Hellenic dimension of the Roman Papacy and thoroughly investigates the background to a number of Popes of Greek/Byzantine/Hellenic/Eastern origin that shaped the Roman Church. This is a book that will be greatly appreciated by anyone interested in the early Papacy, Rome and Byzantium. A great complement to books such as The Republic of St. Peter by T.F.X. Noble and the translated parts of the Liber Pontificalis. -- Alexander Alexakis, University of Ioannina A learned, interesting, wide-ranging book that tackles an important subject that has long been controversial. Journal of Religion