D. Jo. Mich. Heineccii Königl. Preuszis. Consist. Raths, Inspectoris des Ministerii in Halle und in Saal=Grenz; Ober=Pfarrern zu U. L. Frauen und des Gymnasii Scholarchae, Eigentliche und wahrhafftige Abbildung der alten und neuen Griechischen Kirche, Nach ihrer Historie, Glaubens= Lehren und Kirchen = Gebräuchen, in III. Theilen, Nebst einem curieusen Anhange Unterschiedlicher hierzu dienlicher und zum Theil noch ungedruckter Schrifften Gerhardi Titii, Stephani Gerlachii, und anderer mehr; Alles mit höchster Treu und Fleisz abgefasset, auch mit nöthigen Kupfern und Registern versehen

Joh. Friedrich Gleditsch und Sohn

Johann Michael Heineccius was a Dutch preacher and theologian, who was born in Eisenberg, Germany. He became pastor at Leibfrauenkirche, Halle, where he was responsible for supervising music and writing cantata texts. He is also known for his systematic study of Germanic seals, “De veteribus Germanorum aliarumque nationus sigillis” published in Leipzig in 1710.

xxii=[i] t-p in red and black [ii] blank [iii] Dedication to King Friedrich I [iv] blank [v] Dedication [vi] blank [vii]-[xiv] Epistle, signed by Heineccius [xv]-[xxii] Epistle to the Reader; 1-236 Text to Part I; 1-422 Text to Part II; 1-474 Text to Part III; [1]=t-p to Appendix; 84=Appendix; [56]=Index

The work described here is a detailed account of the Greek church and is divided in three distinct parts, followed by a lengthy Appendix containing excerpts from previously unpublished writings by two famous German theologians, Gerhard Titius (1620-1681) and Stephan Gerlach (1546-1612). These are translated and annotated by Heineccius and are framed further by material on Church history.
The first part provides an outline of the history of the Greek Church from its origins to the end of the seventeenth century. This section also expounds on the differences and similarities between the Greek, Protestant and Catholic rites, and the schism of 1054. The second part is a detailed exposition of the doctrines of the Greek Church, in particular regarding God, Christ and the Holy Ghost; original sin; penance and repentance; the holy sacraments; death, resurrection and the afterlife. The third and final part deals with church practice and rituals, the priesthood, the significance of the various parts of ecclesiastical buildings, and religious rites and ceremonies.
The Appendix contains parts of a manuscript by Gerhard Titius entitled “Historia & Explicatio hodiernarum controversiarum” translated into German and annotated by Heineccius (pp. 3-16). Titius was a Lutheran theologian and pupil of Georg Calixt (1586-1656). He taught at the University of Helmstedt and was influential in establishing and consolidating Calixt’s theological views, especially on the points of contact among the various creeds. This is followed by extracts from Stephan Gerlach’s “Diary”, written while he was in Constantinople in 1573-1578 (pp. 16-21). Gerlach arrived in Constantinople in October 1573, serving as chaplain to David Ungnad von Sonnegk, Viennese ambassador to Turkey. Gerlach was carrying introductory letters from Martinus Crusius and during his stay at Constantinople he established close personal contacts with various dignitaries of the Church and played a pivotal role in the exchange of letters and opinions between Lutheran and Orthodox theologians. His Diary, which contains invaluable information on the period, was published posthumously in 1674, edited by his nephew Samuel Gerlach.