Product Description
A spiritual anthology drawn from the Greek and Russian traditions, concerned in particular with the most frequently used and best loved of all Orthodox prayers--the Jesus Prayer. Texts are taken chiefly from the letters of Bishop Theopan the Recluse, along with many other writers.
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Customer Reviews (21)

Prayer matters, prayer is breath
I am a little embarrassed to write a review of this text, and I am really for most of my reviews, because the book's subject matter is very holy, and I am not. I am writing it only in the hopes that someone may stumble upon it through my other reviews and find grace in prayer. While I cannot do justice with my words to the reality of experience that is open for all who become friends with God through prayer, I can say that as someone who is usually in a desert of spiritual longing, this book is a fresh class of water every time, and not because I have mastered anything, much less myself, but because the words are born out of the labor of true friends of God. Next to the Holy Bible, I am convinced that the words of the saints are most valuable. If what our Lord and His Apostles say about prayer is true, it should be as natural to us as breathing, or at least we should strive to always remember God and begin to offer our lives to Him. This book helps me do just that. And lest we forget, everyone who writes in this collection was a fervent participant in the prayer and sacraments of the Church. We are saved together. The only thing we do along is go to hell.

The look inside function gives a great overview of the main contents.

Other books of interest may include: The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way, The Power of The Name (Fairacres publication), The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer that Tunes the Heart to God, New Seeds of Contemplation, Prayer of Jesus - Prayer of the Heart

The Art of Prayer
"Let no-one think, my fellow Christians, that only priests and monks need pray without ceasing, and not laymen. No, no: every Christian without exception ought to dwell always in prayer. How can this be done? Thoughts jostle one another like swarming gnats, and emotions follow on the thoughts."(from The Art of Prayer)

In this modern and restless world is it even possible to always be in prayer? The cell phone is ringing, the computer dinging, the iPod singing - is there ever even a moment of silence in which to be in prayer? If you despair of ever having a moment of peace to pray, and are discouraged that, with your busy schedule, you cannot find a moment with the Lord, take heart. This little book (just 279 pages) can teach you how to always be in the presence of God.

Although at times repetitive, the points this book makes are worth repeating. Best taken in "niblets", or small bites, so as best to absorb the wisdom contained in it, it is ideal for just-before-bed reading, or to use for meditation. I highly recommend it for those who are serious about their prayer life, or who want to be.

A fantastic source of guidance and help
This collection of letters is a light on the road for those searching for communion with God. Not overly complicated but so profound in the truth that it presents. This is a wonderful guide for those seeking to live with God in their hearts, who through reading are shown the path that makes this possible.

This Book is a Blessing
Anyone seeking spiritual teachings will find them in this book.It is a treasure which I will share and re-read many times.

The Art of Prayer, truly an "Art"
The Art of Prayer is beyond superlatives.It is, quite simply, the very best compendium on prayer that I have ever read.I am 72, teach in a Christian seminary, and have read many, many books on prayer.This book can transform consciousness. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A concise Catachism of the Orthodox faith
This book is an excellent introduction to the faith of Orthodox Christianity. The material is presented in an easy to digest manner that reads more as conversation than as a theological catechism.At the end of each chapter there is a page titled "Reflection" with questions about the preceding chapter. I don't really care for this "study guide" type format, but it seems that Carlton's intent is that this book might be used in a class setting at some point and he has incorporated the reflection page for this purpose. I have read many other books that introduce the Orthodox Church and its beliefs but I haven't seen a better book than this for someone who is entering the Church and wants to understand the faith.

Thr Faith by Clark Carlson
Very in lighting. As an Orthodox Christian, I feel he stayed pretty much to tradition; which is true of the Orthodox Church. Other Christian and non-Christians should take a look at the Orthodox faith. It is not a religion; it's a faith, a church.

Outstanding Introduction to the Orthodox Church
This book is one in a series by author Clark Carlton. It is an excellent intro to Orthodoxy for anyone Orthodox or otherwise. Mr. Carlton explains clearly and concisley what the trinity is and why its so important to Christians. The Fall of Mankind, Fervant Intercessors[p.123], What a (S)aint is and is not[p.124] The teachings of Christ[p.127] The Birth and Mission of the Church[p.153] Missions and Evangelism[p.161] Holy Baptim [p.179] The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit[p.191] The Mystical Supper[p.203] And Much, Much more. The other books by Carlton are The Truth and The Faith which are companions and should also be available through Amazon. ... Read more

Product Description
Bartos studies a fundamental yet neglected aspect ofOrthodox theology: deification.By examining the doctrines ofanthropology, christology, soteriology and ecclesiology as they relateto deification, he provides an important contribution to contemporarydialogue between Eastern and Western theologians. ... Read more

Product Description
I believe that Raising Lazarus will do much to establish pastoral counseling as a vital integrative ministry within the modern Orthodox Christian Church and off er valuable perspective to those in other denominations as well. Surely the authors have responded successfully to Archbishop Demetrios' challenge to "off er Orthodox Christianity to contemporary America." Their reward will be that they will help many persons in their eff orts to achieve spiritual growth and healing. We are all grateful. Dimitrios G. Oreopoulos Raising Lazarus takes an adventuresome approach to the fundamental practical issue raised by the Christian faith: How are we to live the union of divine and human life that is off ered to us by Christ? The book's clear reply is: Certainly not by a 'spiritual' manner of living, if that means ignoring the psychological and bodily aspects of our being. In their diff erent ways the contributors invite us to use the insights of the Fathers as well as those of contemporary depth psychology in our search for wholeness in Christ, thereby confi rming that the Tradition of the Church is quite capable of facing the challenges of the new century in a lively and constructive manner. Bishop Basil of Sergievo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

"Go untie him!"
Christ commands Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, to rise from the dead. The Apostle John reports that Christ said: "Lazarus, come out!" commanding Lazarus to come out of the tomb in which his body laid in rest. The narrative continues: "The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

'Raising Lazarus' is an edited text with contributions by thirteen practitioners who had delivered addresses to the 2002 and 2003 annual conferences of the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion (OCAMPR), which is an inter-jurisdictional Orthodox association of physicians, psychologists/psychotherapists, and theologians primarily located in North America. The president of OCAMPR at time of publication (contributor Fr. Nicholas Graf) and at least one past-president (volume editor and contributor Stephen Muse) are two of twelve male contributors. The sole female contributor is Demetra Jaquet. The "founding father" of OCAMPR, John T. Chirban, receives the honor for the book's dedication.

'Integral Healing in Orthodox Christianity'--the colophon--indicates that something called "integral" characterizes healing in Orthodox Christian circles. Therefore, I turned to the Preface and Introduction for definition, but did not locate the adjective integral. Having discovered no index of terms, I returned to the titles of of contributions, which the editor grouped into four themes: "Healing the Bodymind" (sic), "Healing the Suffering Person," "Healing the Healers," and "Healing in Community." Neither thematic groups nor chapter titles employed the word.

The lexical search produced nothing. I had falsely believed that the word might have meant something integral, for lack of a better word. Instead, I noted related concepts in the Introduction and Chapter 1, which included personhood, ascetic practices as pathways to healing, partnered humility, and 'synergeia.' However, I asked myself how the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (of NIH) and bibliographic search engines employed integral at the time.

If the word meant anything and everything not part of an industry-controlled mainstream in western medicine, then I might cut the book some slack. My answer was that even a decade ago when these presentations were developed, not only was there emerging consensus about the definition of integral in reference to healing and medicine, but there was reticence on the part of Orthodox philosophers and theologians to haphazardly clothe ancient Orthodox constructs in a new ready-made suit. To make my long story short, the editor and the publisher blundered. The book might well have been intended to say something about integral healing, but without even a peep except in the title, it's safe to conclude that it says nothing at all. [You can't judge a book by its cover.]

The Introduction is misplaced from a logical home for its content, in my opinion. Its title and content, "Physicians for this World and the Next," would have suited a conclusion better. There is sufficient and efficient introductory material provided by Jamie Moran's chapter, "Spiritual War: The Relevance to Modern Therapy of the Ancient Eastern Orthodox Christian Path of Ascetical Practice" (Ch. 7, pp. 145-212 (26% of manuscript pages). By use of sufficient, I view Moran's chapter as comprehensive and engaging on themes of Orthodox healing as salvation. In addition, this chapter addresses the ancient strategy of Orthodox asceticism, as received from the Apostles, to reunite us to the Holy Trinity. In fact, Chapter 7 should be read first by anyone delving into the Orthodox way to be healed, which is a consistent theme throughout the book despite its overall poor organization.

There are at least a couple of controversial elements to this book. First, a case study of a man named "Ted" is presented by Stephen Muse in Chapter 4, which concludes with identifying DSM-IV axial clusters from the case along with spiritual discernment impressions including the "demon of fornication" and "demon of despair." Without grounding the reader in 'theoria,' which Moran's chapter could have provided, the effect is of a stone dropping a humorous anachronism of parallel universes without any chance of lexical harmony. Plop! Again, I return to the point about "integral," which I addressed above.

A second controversy in this book appears in Chapter 8, "Ekklesia: Fostering the Relational Heart of Community" (Fr. Nicholas Graff). The theme of vulnerability or the wounded-healer runs through this chapter, but Graff offers no references except Holy Scripture to provide context for numerous rhetorical questions and flourishes that unsettle two respondents, Frs. George Christakis and George Morelli, whose reflections appear in subsequent chapters.

There are beauties in this text that I will keep on my shelf. I might rip out a chapter or two, but I favor the text as a whole. Its strong Orthodox foundation and seasoned contributions are well worth every effort to digest.

Rare Depth
There is much work to be done at the intersection of psychology and spiritual healing.At issue is the simple but profound question:What is health?

_Raizing Lazarus_ delves deeply into this question and offers challenging answers and thought provoking angles from which to continue questioning.

I benefited a great deal from this meaningful book, and, on the whole, I would recommend it to anyone interested in pyschologically informed spiritual healing and/or spiritually informed psychological healing.

Spirituality in Pastoral Care
As a pastor in a local congregation, I am always looking for current writing on the subjects of counseling and pastoral care.Raising Lazarus is a wonderful addition to my personal library.As a Southern Baptist pastor, I was grateful for a new approach to pastoral care as outlined in the "orthodox" model.Each chapter in the book helped me to understand the importance of building and maintaining close relationships with my congregants.

I especially appreciated the emphasis of Trinitarian thought throughout the book.The role of God as Father, Son, and Spirit was integral to the care of persons seeking help.I am certain to refer to this book often as I minister to the members of our congregation.I highly receommend this book to all who have an interest in the spirituality of pastoral care. ... Read more

Product Description
In Keeping the Faith, Jennifer Jean Wynot presents a clear and concise history of the trials and evolution of Russian Orthodox monasteries and convents and the important roles they have played in Russian culture, both spiritually and politically, from the abortive reforms of 1905 to the Stalinist purges of the 1930s. She shows how, throughout the Soviet period, Orthodox monks and nuns continued to provide spiritual strength to the people, in spite of severe persecution, and despite the ambivalent relationship the Russian state has had toward the Russian church since the reign of Ivan the Terrible.

Focusing her study on two provinces, Smolensk and Moscow, Wynot describes the Soviet oppression and the clandestine struggles of the monks and nuns to uphold the traditions of monasticism and Orthodoxy. Their success against heavy odds enabled them to provide a counterculture to the Soviet regime. Indeed, of all the pre-1917 institutions, the Orthodox Church proved the most resilient.

Based on previously unavailable Russian archival sources as well as written memoirs and interviews with surviving monks and nuns, Wynot analyzes the monasteries' adaptation to the Bolshevik regime. She challenges standard Western assumptions that Communism effectively killed the Orthodox Church in Russia. She shows that in fact, the role of monks and nuns in Orthodox monasteries and convents is crucial, and that they are largely responsible for the continuation of Orthodoxy in Russia following the Bolshevik revolution. ... Read more

Product Description
This rich anthology offers new insight into an ancient form of Christianity still little understood in the West. An introduction to the rich diversity of the six 'Ancient and Oriental Orthodox' churches—Egyptian Copts, Armenians, Syrians, Indian Malankara, Ethiopian, and Eritrean—through their distinctive tradition of prayer and worship, it provides both a survey of the history and theology of these Eastern Orthodox traditions as well as an anthology of their personal prayers, blessings, and liturgical prayers. The collection highlights the distinctiveness of Eastern Christian spirituality along with its connections to Western theology and worship. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Oriental Orthodox Benedictus after a Holy Sanctus

"Praise be to the One who is praised and glorified, who has magnified the remembrance of his Mother in heaven and on earth. . .to whom glory and honour are appropriate at this time. . . and in all feasts, times, ages, and through all the days of our life for evermore. Amen."Syrian Liturgy of Our Lady,Advent



An Anglican writing about Copts?
Richard Marsh who served for a decade on the ecumenical staff of the Archbishop of Canterbury, provides a fascinating sampler from the Armenian, Coptic, Syrian, Malankara, and Ethiopian Churches. Canon Marsh is remarkably qualified to select, comment and expose to Western Christians the liturgical prayers of the Oriental Orthodox churches of the earliest Christian founding communities, from Alexandria to Antioch, and their faithful brothers and daughters in Armenia, Ethiopia, South India and Eritrea.

Coptic Hymnals:
Chanting Coptic hymnals, which I joined when I turned twelve as a Psalter, is a praising tradition inherited from the great Church of Alexandria, since the fourth century, before its separation from Byzantium after the advent of Islam. This doxological tradition is preserved within the liturgical corpus of Church worship, with ascetic practices of fasting, and tears, in commemoration of the martyrs, has been maintained for over fifteen centuries. The performing methodology of these hymns vary, but a fundamental difference with western churches is praising in two 'Antiphonal' choirs (north & south)in which the two choirs are praising in response, with harmonic tuning. Like their Jewish ascetic ancestors, the Therapeutae, they formed the twochoirs of both young boys and girls, and continued to practice the 'Alleluia', a non translated Hebrew expression for enthusiastic chanting hymns of praise. A diverse variety of ways of hymnal performance promote the mystical content hidden within the tunes. The participating congregation and the choirs answer the serving deacon or celebrating priest. There is also antiphonal solo with group praising, which led to the appearance of a "Virtuoso" chanter in the eastern churches ceremonials.

Liturgical Prayers:
Liturgical prayers, as communal worship started early, in the fourth century by the Oriental churches in Eastern Mediterranean. Coptic tradition is attested (De Principii 4.3) in the early third century by Origen, beloved Didaskalos (Teacher or Doctor of the Church), who wrote extensively on prayer.In the preface to 'On Prayer', he writes quoting St. Paul in Romans; " In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;" (Rom 8:26).The Euchologium attributed to Sarapion, bishop of Thmuis, contains a complete anaphora, which has two unique features, a prayer of offering and for mercy.

Oriental liturgical Traditions:
The icons found everywhere among Oriental Orthodox Christians, derived from a way of presenting a gospel story or event in the life of the apostles, as developed from the murals preserved in the ancient Monastry in Bawit. Mariology is characteristically Christocentric, there is no icons of St. Mary without baby Jesus.Armenians priests lead confession from among the people, starting first. In an Armenian wedding, the happy couple is reminded, that this world has all kinds of troubles, "Nevertheless it is God's commandment that you help one another until death." The Coptic reminds the bride of the authority of the groom, and to the groom is read St. Paul's commandments on love and care.
The Syrian Canon of the Faithful Brethren, reminds us, Marsh observes, that "I am never alone in my worship. . . I am part of something greater and more mysterious. I have a responsibility for its unity, its continuity, and to remember everyone when I bring my gift to the altar."

Expert Western Reviews:
"Richard Marsh has done the church a great service. It is hard to get more ecumenical than this: an Anglican writing about Copts in a book published by Lutherans that can teach the rest of us a great deal. ... 'He' shows us, how to emphasize the continuity of the Church across time and space."
"The beautiful Coptic Orthodox Prayer after Communion might likewise enrich a World Communion Sunday service. The Coptic Orthodox Prayer before Meals would give a worldwide perspective to either World Communion or an interfaith Thanksgiving Service. As Marsh observes, we easily forget "the importance of food and table-fellowship in our fast-food world. Not so Christians of the East, for whom food is valuable and precious. . . Fellowship at the table is something to be carefully cherished and offered to God."

Coptic Liturgies & Hymns (English, Arabic & Coptic)
Let Us Attend, A Journey Through the Orthodox Divine Liturgy

Good stuff...literally
Eye-opening to the eastern traditions and very well put together.This book has some of the most eloquent prayers I've ever heard.Definitely worth the read.

Through Prayer
If one wants to enter into the heart of a religion such as Eastern Orthodoxy, it is best accomplished through the prayers and worship of the faithful. This readable collection of prayers helps the reader pray their way into the heart of the faith. Well done.

If you have an interest in the Oriental Orthodox Church and how it relates the Christianity at large- Orthodox, Roman, Protestant, I would suggest the useful book "Christ in East and West" edited by Fries and Nersoyen. ... Read more

Product Description

Despite widespread persecution, Orthodox churches not only survived the Cold War period but levels of religiosity in Orthodox countries remained significant. This book examines the often surprising relations between Orthodox churches and political regimes. It provides a comprehensive overview of the dynamics between Eastern Christianity and politics from the end of the Second World War to the fall of communism, covering 40 Orthodox churches including diasporic churches in Africa, Asia, America and Australia. Based on research from recently-opened archives and publications in a wide range of European languages, it analyses church-state relations on both sides of the Iron Curtain. It discusses the following key themes: the relationship between Orthodox churches and political power; religious resistance to communism; the political control of churches; religion and propaganda; monasticism and theological publications; religious diplomacy within the Orthodox commonwealth; and religious contacts between East and West.

Product Description
I sing like a plain, unexceptional black-feathered bird. With every stroke of my pen, I sing my modest song of worship, not always melodiously. I am reduced to more or less efficacious poetic words; I am not like the eagles who soar and fly with their powerful wings and supply meat to their young. I am a tiny, easily chilled bird, pecking at seeds on the ground and chirping softly. I cannot go far. But if this is what God wants, then that is all it is sufficient for me to know. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A journey into light:
I have long struggled to balance my humanity with my higher self.So many times during my ups and downs, I felt alone, swathed in veils anguish and uncertainty. I searched for God on lonely paths and prayed for light and forgiveness. Through great travail, I came to have peace in my soul, not by my actions, but by the grace of the Almighty. Many times I wanted to tell of my struggle in hopes of helping someone else. I longed for words that might be a salve to the souls of those wounded by darkness and sin. But, alas, God did not bless me with the words to heal or to guide. I could write no book, or even a paragraph, that might condole and cajole others to keep on working and walking toward enlightenment.

Now however, when I meet someone in need of solace and struggling to find their place in the world or in Christ's Church, I will point them to this slim volume. Within its pages they will find a soul laid bare, void of ego and pride-- a soulat its most vulnerable and beautiful. A beautiful holy life that will let you know: you are not alone and that God loves you as you are, flaws included.

Whether or not you are not an Orthodox Christian, or even a Christian, this book will still inspire you. I ask you to do the same thing the Angel of God urged Elijah to do in the wilderness, "Eat, for the journey is long."The words of Logospilgrim will feed your soul and nourish your spirit.

Inspiring and spiritual
Logospilgrim has such a way with words. This book did not disappoint.She goes through being an atheist, becoming an Orthodox Christian, and her disappointment with the boundaries that seem to have been set up not only between Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christians, but also within the Orthodox church itself.Uplifting and inspiring you want to reaffirm your own faith after you finish this book. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume deals with the fundamental issues, presuppositions, and contexts which largely determine how the Bible is read and interpreted. The discussion centers aroubnd topics which pertain to Scripture as a whole - its nature and authority, its relationship to tradition, the patristic and modern approaches to Scripture, and the burning issue of interpretation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best Orthodox Book On Scripture, So Far...
As the title says this is the best book on Orthodox views of the New Testament that I have found.It does not deal much with the Old Testament, but the hermeneutical principals that are explained can be used for interpreting the OT.The author admits to having been, at least partially, educated in Protestant graduate schools and he displays a wide knowledge of the issues that they deal with.This also tends to make him somewhat more ecumenically inclined than I prefer.A Protestant or even Roman Catholic (as he also ierenically treats them) would find nothing overtly offensive in this book.
The author seems more "at home" dealing with liberal biblical criticism and footnotes helpful books from a variety of hermeneutical "flavors" such as feminist and liberation schools of thought.However, he fails to give any helpful books from the Protestant fundamentalist school and instead footnotes books that critique it instead.He also called me, and most Church Fathers by the way, an obscurantist three times in the book for actually affirming a belief in a literal 6-day creation.

Chapter 1 deals with the "Nature of Holy Scripture" and does so well.Chapter 2 is "The Authority and Uses of Holy Scripture." Chapter 3 is on Hermeneutics and the far to brief, in my opinion, forth chapter covers the Church Fathers on Scripture in 14 pages.Chapter 5 is on Modern Biblical Scholarship and critiques the post-Enlightenment "higher-critical" movements in academia.Chapters 6 & 7 deal with critiques of modern Orthodox exegetes and the authors own personal model for hermeneutics.2 short appendices are essays from St. John of Damascus & St. Symeon New Theologian excepted from a couple of Roman Catholic works translating them.Stylianopoulos does point out a deficiency in the RC translation of St. Symeon by C. J. deCatanzaro on p. 219.
Overall it is the best Orthodox hereneutical book that I have found so far and I would recomend it to Orthodox, RC and Protestants.I am still waiting for an excellent (read Traditional) Orthodox book dealing with the OT and especially the LXX vs. MT controversy.
... Read more

Product Description
The exposition of the Liturgy of St. James, which is basically the Celebration of the Holy Eucahrist, is most significant for the understanding of the mystery of the God in offering His only Son a vicarious sacrifice for the redemption of man. The purpose of the liturgy is to show the believer the right path and leads him by faith to salvation and eternal life through the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ represented in the form of Bread and Wine. To make it understandable, Rev. Saka explains not only the meaning of terms connected with the liturgy but of all the components of the vessels, the vesting, the censoring, the candles and the propitiatory prayers associated with them. This exposition should benefit both church and liturgical scholars and lay people interested in the profound spiritual meaning of their faith. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Showing the beauty of Orthodox contemplation, prayer and silence, but with environmental hangups
Nowadays, when people speak of "spiritual" exploration, they often have in mind the esoterica of Eastern religions or the fuzzy nebulosity of a personal faith that they try to reconcile with science at the same time as hoping for something beyond the physical world. The Traditions of Christian Spirituality series tries to show that there is just as much "spiritual" richness in the Christian tradition as in anything exotic and trendy. I don't know how true that is in other bodies calling themselves Christian, but in LIGHT THROUGH DARKNESS author John Chryssavgis makes his strong case that the Orthodox Church has precisely the kind of wisdom and beauty that the spiritual seeker needs.

Chryssavgis shows how Orthodoxy aims for spiritual transformation and union with God in all its facets. He speaks of the meaning of the liturgy and sacraments, personal prayer and contrition, the not always silent "silence" of the monastic life, and the role of a spiritual father in guiding the individual believer. I especially like his use of quotations from the Desert Fathers with stunning insight, which shows that Orthodox Christianity has wisdom far beyond the Zen koan.

I have only two complaints about the book. The first is that, though this series ostensibly is meant to show seekers that Christianity is worth exploring, the book seems to already assume a great deal of prior experience with the Christian tradition. I just wish that it were written at a level a bit more general. My second complaint is the frequencies of Chryssavgis' references to environmentalism. Chryssavgis is the theological advisor to the Ecumenical Patriach on environmentalism, and has written many texts pointing to a love of the natural world among the Fathers. However, here he makes it seem that environmentalism is a major part of Orthodox Christian practice, while in fact in the lives of the average believers (even Fathers) it is very much subjugated with the much more urgent task of the salvation of human souls. Linking the Orthodox Church with the environmental movement may win it some positive attention from modern secularists, but it risks distorting the actual life of the Church.

This book would seem to work best as some thought-provoking moments for the Orthodox Christian believer who wants to better appreciate the focus on a relationship with God in his own tradition.

Showing the beauty of Orthodox contemplation, prayer and silence, but with environmental hangups
Nowadays, when people speak of "spiritual" exploration, they often have in mind the esoterica of Eastern religions or the fuzzy nebulosity of a personal faith that they try to reconcile with science at the same time as hoping for something beyond the physical world. The Traditions of Christian Spirituality series tries to show that there is just as much "spiritual" richness in the Christian tradition as in anything exotic and trendy. I don't know how true that is in other bodies calling themselves Christian, but in LIGHT THROUGH DARKNESS author John Chryssavgis makes his strong case that the Orthodox Church has precisely the kind of wisdom and beauty that the spiritual seeker needs.

Chryssavgis shows how Orthodoxy aims for spiritual transformation and union with God in all its facets. He speaks of the meaning of the liturgy and sacraments, personal prayer and contrition, the not always silent "silence" of the monastic life, and the role of a spiritual father in guiding the individual believer. I especially like his use of quotations from the Desert Fathers with stunning insight, which shows that Orthodox Christianity has wisdom far beyond the Zen koan.

I have only two complaints about the book. The first is that, though this series ostensibly is meant to show seekers that Christianity is worth exploring, the book seems to already assume a great deal of prior experience with the Christian tradition. I just wish that it were written at a level a bit more general. My second complaint is the frequencies of Chryssavgis' references to environmentalism. Chryssavgis is the theological advisor to the Ecumenical Patriach on environmentalism, and has written many texts pointing to a love of the natural world among the Fathers. However, here he makes it seem that environmentalism is a major part of Orthodox Christian practice, while in fact in the lives of the average believers (even Fathers) it is very much subjugated with the much more urgent task of the salvation of human souls. Linking the Orthodox Church with the environmental movement may win it some positive attention from modern secularists, but it risks distorting the actual life of the Church.

This book would seem to work best as some thought-provoking moments for the Orthodox Christian believer who wants to better appreciate the focus on a relationship with God in his own tradition.

Interesting Look into Christian Mysticism and Orthodoxy
Interesting read for anyone that wants to learn more about Christian Spirituality and Mysticism ... Read more

Product Description
There is enormous tension between entering fully into the Church Year and the pressures of society. We sometimes find ourselves walking a tight rope between what we think is the ideal of a holy life and the demands of our post-modern world.

The beauty of the Church seasons is that they teach us how to balance our life. The Christian life is a whole life, an expansive life, a life in Christ, who gives Himself for the life of the world.

This collection is author Donna Farley’s own view from the tightrope. These short yet thoughtful reflections, written in an insightful and sometimes humorous style, will help weave together the great feasts into the fabric of our lives. ... Read more

Product Description
Using his keen analytic eye and with deep knowledge of the Greek Fathers, especially St. John Chrysostom, Fr. Philotheos Faros offers his diagnosis of the condition of contemporary Christianity in the East and in the West. His diagnosis is that the true nature of Christianity has been dangerously distorted, leading to an unhealthy dysfunction. His diagnosis focuses on the dysfunction within Orthodox Christianity in the West, but he also believes traditionally Orthodox lands that have been influenced by the extreme individualism and consumerism of western society also suffer from the same maladies. Some of the symptoms of the dysfunction and pathology of Christianity are scholasticism in theological studies, the distortion of the true nature of the Ekklesia through disunity, inequality, and selfishness, and a misunderstanding of human life, sexuality, and illness. Fr. Faros' diagnosis is, at times, blunt and painful, but his intent is to rouse Christians from their slumber and to begin the process of healing and growth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Philokalia Overview
This book is an overview of the Philokalia for laymen. For full effect, one needs to read this book, and then read the Philokalia with the guidence of their priest or spiritual father.

Orthodox Spirituality
This is perhaps the best introductory work for those enquiring about what Orthodox spirituality is...
And as well, it is a superb introduction to the Philokalia.

It can be bought brand-new and unopened from Light and Life Publishing for $17.95,
so you do not have to pay the $45 used rates listed here...

Arsenios ... Read more

Product Description
The second volume by one of the leading OrthodoxTheologians of the 20th century. Covering themes of the creation ofthe visible and invisible world, the creation of humanity, the Fall ofhumanity and the existence of evil. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"For God so loved the world..."
Ever since the publication of the first volume to be translated into English of Dumitru Staniloae's great work, The Experience of God: Revelation and Knowledge of the Triune God, I have been impatiently waiting for the arrival of the second volume, on The World, Creation and Deification. Was it worth the wait? Yes, it truly was, and is, and I hope I can tone down my enthusiasm enough to make this review believable to all those who might distrust a gushing review. Staniloae is a kind of theological genius, and I don't mean of the impossible to understand variety, but of the amazing insight after amazing insight variety! (See my review of volume one.) This time Staniloae turns his brilliant contemplative vision toward the created world and gives us a wonderful picture of the way God's glorious creation must be understood, valued and cared for, not just by Christians (although God knows many of us who honor that Name need to be closer to creation than we are) but by anyone who intuits that a great mystery of Love lies shimmering and shining behind everything that exists. Staniloae examines, respectively, creation-the visible world, the world as gift and word (a marvelous chapter on the quality of gift and inner word (logos) hidden in all created things), the creation of humanity, the unseen world of angels and demons, the fall (one of the finest and most enlightening reflections on the doctrine of the fall of man I have ever read), and on Divine providence and the deification of the world. He shows us, as few Christian theological writers of the present day can do, how “salvation and deification undoubtedly have humanity directly as their aim but not a humanity separated from nature, rather one that is ontologically united with it.” (The passages in quotation are from page one). Reading this book leads one to the insight, so needed today, especially in religion, that “nature both depends upon man and makes him whole, and man cannot reach perfection if he does not reflect nature and is not at work upon it.” Staniloae in this book shows us unmistakably that in the much beloved passage from John 3:16, beginning “For God so loved the world (Greek: cosmos), “world” must be understood as including all creatures, all creation, not humanity alone. A truly inspiring book that is itself a spiritual gift to anyone who reads it. Highest recommendation ... Read more

Product Description
An acclaimed expert in Christian mysticism travels to a monastery high in the Trodos Mountains of Cyprus and offers a fascinating look at the Greek Orthodox approach to spirituality that will appeal to readers of Carlos Castaneda.

In an engaging combination of dialogues, reflections, conversations, history, and travel information, Kyriacos C. Markides continues the exploration of a spiritual tradition and practice little known in the West he began in Riding with the Lion. His earlier book took readers to the isolated peninsula of Mount Athos in northern Greece and into the group of ancient monasteries. There, in what might be called a “Christian Tibet,” two thousand monks and hermits practice the spiritual arts to attain a oneness with God. In his new book, Markides follows Father Maximos, one of Mount Athos’s monks, to the troubled island of Cyprus. As Father Maximos establishes churches, convents, and monasteries in this deeply divided land, Markides is awakened anew to the magnificent spirituality of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Images of the land and the people of Cyprus and details of its tragic history enrich the Mountain of Silence. Like the writings of Castaneda, the book brilliantly evokes the confluence of an inner and outer journey. The depth and richness of its spiritual message echo the thoughts and writings of Saint Francis of Assisi and other great saints of the Church as well. The result is a remarkable work–a moving, profoundly human examination of the role and the power of spirituality in a complex and confusing world.Amazon.com Review
The spiritual traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church are all but unknown to most Christians in the West, who often think of Christianity as split into two camps: Bible-based Protestantism and sacramental Catholicism. Yet in The Mountain of Silence, sociologist Kyriacos Markides suggests that Orthodox spirituality offers rich resources for Western Christians to integrate the head and the heart, and to regain a more expansive view of Christian life. The book combines elements of memoir, travelogue, and history in a single story. Markides journeys to a cluster of monasteries on Mount Athos, an isolated peninsula in northern Greece and one of the holiest sites in the Orthodox tradition. He also visits the troubled island of Cyprus, largely occupied by Turkey since 1974, and makes the acquaintance of a monk named Father Maximos, who has established churches, convents, and monasteries. Markides, a native Cypriot, tells the tale of this journey in a tone that's loose and light, with many excursions on Church history and Greek and Turkish politics. But despite the easygoing tone, the importance of this book is potentiallyimmense. The Mountain of Silence introduces a world that is entirely new to many Western readers, and unveils a Christian tradition that reveres the mystical approach to God as much as the rational, a tradition that Markides says "may have the potential to inject Christianity with the new vitality that it so desperately needs." --Michael Joseph Gross ... Read more

Customer Reviews (49)

A few maps would help
The Mountain of Silence is Mt. Athos "in Northern Greece," home for 2000 Greek Orthodox monks and hermits; yet much of the narrative centers in Cyprus. A map would help to orient the reader. The author introduces us to architects, physicians and idealists who have abandoned the modern world for a life of prayer and austerity on remote Mt. Athos, "the Christian Tibet." Indeed, I feel like I am following a tenured hippie through a Christian ashram. Is this the way to "attain oneness with God?" Do the prayers of Mt. Athos ameliorate tragedies of this world? Maybe this is one way.

An inspiring spiritual awakening
This is a very well written book explaining the Christian Orthodox faith.The author has a mesmerizing style that enlightens the reader with insightful, exciting ideas and then temporarily diverts his story to allow the reader to ponder what has been written. Take your time, read this and rejoice.It is a flash of brilliance.

Ancient Faith Wisdom that will ground your Christianity
Kyriacos has written the life on the Holy Mountain that transpires over the course of weeks into what feels like a short day.You become immersed in the monastic setting and realize that everyone has the opportunity to become close with God, yet we are all on different rungs of the ladder.An awesome constrution of the path of deification.How the thought process can have a great impact on how we can estrange from God or grow close to God.Salvation is for all but the heart has to become open.I recommend this to all!!!CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST!HE IS AND EVER SHALL BE!

I really like this book
I was reading this at someones house I was staying at and never got to finish it. For a couple years I tried hard to remember the name of the book and would do all kinds of searches about anything I could remember about the book and one day it came up. I love the Jesus prayer and find it very helpful in my life. It helps remove obstacles and the root of things you long to remove from your heart and struggle with. It is a wonderful book, well written and I think there are messages for anyone in need that can be found.

Explains so much
Superb.This is not literature nor textbook, but a real dialog between real people during real events dealing with the depth and breadth of ... reality. I've read it twice and given away copies.Enjoy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A full and detailed explanation of spiritual growth
I hesitate to review this book because my understanding and application of the topic that it discusses is so poor. But others can remedy my weakness as they are able.

Dumitru Staniloae's goal in this book is to set out a complete exposition of the Orthodox spiritual path from beginning to end, and describing each step along the way with great detail. As he writes in the Introduction: 'the goal of Christian Orthodox spirituality is the perfection of the believer by his union with Christ. He is being imprinted to an ever-greater degree by the human image of Christ, full of God. So the goal of Christian Orthodox spirituality is the union of the believer with God, in Christ. But as God is unending, the goal of our union with Him, or of our perfection, has no point from which we can no longer progress.'

The content follows the typical division of spiritual growth into the categories of Purification, Illumination and Perfection (or Deification). Staniloae brings together teaching from a wide range of patristic and contemporary sources on these issues. He relies very strongly on the thought of Maximos the Confessor, Gregory Palamas, Symeon the New Theologian, and the French philosopher Maurice Blondel. This book is meant to be a counterpoint to modern existentialism, so he delves in depth into the way in which Orthodox spirituality engages with personhood and Being. Key issues that are dealt with (staples of Orthodox monastic writings) are the subjugation of the 'passions', the transformation of the mind and heart through contemplative prayer, the apophatic ascent to mystical knowledge of God, and the experience of the 'Divine Light' as the union with God.

Staniloae was a man of profound learning and spirituality, and also a humble man purified by suffering under communist oppression. This is a monumental work, written with simplicity and insight. It proves that Christianity has a store of spiritual knowledge and practice that is available to all believers for the transformation of their lives. I have reservations about how it might possibly be used as an esoteric guidebook to be followed apart from the life of the Church, and like many of these works the teaching comes from monastic settings that are separated from the 'secular' life. I struggle to see how these things could be taught to and practiced by ordinary Christian believers (though that is my difficulty, not Staniloe's). Another concern, which I also found with his systematic theology, is that there tends to be very little scriptural exposition compared with the vast amount of patristic theology that is quoted and explained. This book lacks the 'humanity' and concrete imagery of the Biblical spiritual writings. This is not necessarily a problem given Staniloe's goal with this work, but something to note and consider. These are minor quibbles, though, about a great book.


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Product Description
An exploration of the Beatitudes as they relate to the everyday experience of followers of Christ. The authors discuss the basics of Christian faith, while offering practical counsel for Christian living. By following the way of the Beatitudes, as the authors write, "We shall be happy in the Lord." ... Read more

Product Description
In the void left by the fall of Communism in Russia during the late twentieth century, can that country establish a true civil society? Many scholars have analyzed the political landscape to answer this question, but in The Orthodox Church and Civil Society in Russia, Wallace L. Daniel offers a unique perspective: within the church are individuals who hold the values and institutional models that can be vital in determining the direction of Russia in the twenty-first century.

Daniel tells the stories of a teacher and controversial parish priest, the leader of Russia’s most famous women’s monastery, a newspaper editor, and a parish priest at Moscow University to explore thoroughly and with a human voice the transformation from Communist country to a new social order. Daniel explores specific religious communities and the way they operate, their efforts to rebuild parish life, and the individuals who have devoted themselves to such goals. This is the level, Daniel shows, at which the reconstruction of Russia and the revitalization of Russian society is taking place.

This book is written for general readers interested in the intersection between politics, religion, and society, as well as for scholars. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A ground breaking collection of scholarly essays

"If Walter Bauer...can extrapolate backwards in time from such early second-century gnostic teachers as Basilides, Carporates, and Valentinus, it is equally valid to extrapolate into the first century other varieties of Christianity, including more 'orthodox' ones, such as are represented in other early second-century literature."B. Pearson



Christianity in Egypt:
The history of Christianity in Egypt dates back verily to the beginnings of Christianity itself.The Coptic Church tradition holds that Christianity was brought to Egypt by the Apostle John Mark in the early part of the first century AD. Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, in his Ecclesiastic History states that Saint Mark first came to Egypt between the first and third year of the reign of Emperor Claudius, which would make it sometime between AD 41 and 44, and that he returned to Alexandria some twenty years later to preach and evangelize. Saint Mark's first convert in Alexandria was Anianus, a shoemaker who later was consecrated a bishop and became Patriarch of Alexandria after Saint Mark's martyrdom. This succession of Patriarchs has remained unbroken down to the present day, making the Egyptian Christian, or Coptic, Church one of the oldest Christian churches in existence. Evidence for this age comes in the form of the oldest Biblical papyri discovered in remote regions of Upper Egypt. These papyri are written in the Coptic script and are older than even the oldest Greek copies of the Bible ordered by Constantine in AD 312, and copied in the Alexandrian scriptorium,

Roots of Egyptian Christianity:
The first volume produced by the project (The Roots of Egyptian Christianity, SAC 1.Fortress, 1986) contained revised versions of papers presented in its first conference. The Roots of Egyptian Christianity Project of the IAC (Institute of Antiquity & Christianity) was inaugurated with an international conference by that name held at Claremont and Santa Barbara in 1983, with sponsorship by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The project's goal is to foster scholarship on early Egyptian Christianity up to the time of the Arab conquest of Egypt in the seventh century. It seeks to understand the inception of Christianity in Egypt, first in Greek-speaking Alexandria, its further development and spread among the native populations of Egypt, and its emergence as the national religion of Egypt. By studying the development of Egyptian Christianity as an expression of Egyptian culture, often in reaction to the dominant culture of the Graeco-Roman world, one is better able to understand what makes Coptic Christianity Egyptian.
Several volumes have been published by members of the project, all in the Roots of Egyptian Christianity sub-series of the IAC series, Studies in Antiquity and Christianity. Since its inception the project has been directed by Birger A. Pearson, now Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The Essays:
This ground breaking collection of scholarly essays is grouped in five parts. The first of which deals with the various sources written by five experts in their fields covering Coptic manuscripts, Papyri, and inscriptions, and Arabic sources in Early Egyptian Christianity. The Early Egyptian Christianity background and milieu follows. Part three covers the emergence of Christianity and its Jewish roots. Part four and five are the most interesting to the non specialized reader, and should be briefly described:
IV. Theological Speculations and Debates; includes, Theological education in Alexandria, Jewish and Platonic speculations (Eugnostus, Philo, Valentinus, and Origen), Athanasius Vs. Arius, Anti-Chaledonian polemics in Coptic texts.
V. Monasticism; Pachomian studies, Shenute of Atripe, Monasticism and Gnosis, and the manichean Challenge to Egyptian Christianity.

The Contributors:
All contributors are towering scholars, led by Tito Orlandi, James Robinson, Charles kannengiesser, and Armand veilleux. The editors Birger Pearson and James Goehring gave a concise forward for the book and the project, while Robinson's Preface covered the IAC fourty volumes, with a detailed list of the Institutes various related projects.

The latest on origins of Egyptian Christianity
This is a scholarly work par excellence. Because of its appeal to experts some readers with a serious interest in the subject may be turned away by the first 100 pages. My advice: skip them. The remaining 200 pages are awealth of updated information and insight into a subject that has hauntedstudents for years. The most important contribution of this volume is theconvincing notion that Christianity in Egypt had its origins inmultiformAlexadrian Judaism. Therefore, as in other parts of the Empire Christianityin Egypt started as an urban phenomenon, albeit clothed in the variegatedcloth of Judaism. I also found enlightening treatments on what I term"the playground of theologians," i.e., gnosticism, both Christianand otherwise. The soil of the gnostic arena was made of a rich compostmixed up by Plato, Philo, Origen, Valentinus, and others. Insights into therelationship between Manichaeism and Egyptian asceticism and monasticismwere of special interest to this reviewer. The contributors to this bookare tops in their fields. I was captured by the topic, and finished it intwo days between other pressing duties. ... Read more