Holy Cross Orthodox Church

This is the catechism for us average folk. Fr. Coniaris takes us into the Orthodox Church and makes all those confusing theological terms make sense. He relates the teachings of the Church to everyday life and is well-known for his edifying and sometimes amusing anecdotes. This is recommended as a good general catechism.

A newly revised and updated edition of the indispensable classic. Meyendorff reviews the great events and principle stages in the history of the Church, including the development of its theology and institutions, an authoritative presentation of its cultural and spiritual traditions, its connection to other Christian churches, and its position n post-Communist Eastern Europe.

Sources of Christian doctrine, The Symbol of Faith and The Holy Trinity.

The Church Building, The Sacraments, The Daily Cycles of Prayer, The Church Year and The Divine Liturgy.

The Bible, The Old Testament, The New Testament, Salvation History and Church History.

Orthodox Spirituality, The Beatitudes, The Virtues, The Greatest Virtue is Love, Prayer, Fasting and Alms-Giving, Sexuality, Marriage, and Family, Sickness, Suffering and Death and The Kingdom of Heaven.

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, What a Saint is and is not, The teachings of Christ, The Birth and Mission of the Church, Missions and Evangelism, Holy Baptim, The Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit, The Mystical Supper and much more…

In Thirsting for God, philosophy professor Gallatin expresses many of the struggles that a Protestant will encounter in coming face to face with Orthodoxy: such things as Protestant relativism, rationalism versus the Orthodox sacramental path to God, and the unity of scripture and Tradition. He also discusses praying with icons, praying formal prayers, and many other Orthodox traditions.

An outstanding book that will help Orthodox readers more deeply appreciate their faith and will give Protestant readers a more thorough understanding of the Church.

Our Heart's True Home features fourteen warm, inspiring stories of women discovering the ancient Christian faith. These women come from a wide variety of backgrounds, yet there's a common thread: no matter how they struggled, their journeys are infused with the love and mercy of God. Wherever a woman might be in her spiritual life, she will find someone to identify with in these pages. If she has always been Orthodox, the struggles, triumphs and joys of these women will touch and inspire readers with a new appreciation of their faith. Our Heart's True Home is highly recommended for women's church study groups, and for anyone seeking inspirational stories showcasing the Christian search for God and meaning in today's secular world.

In this long-awaited sequel to Christ in the Psalms, popular pastor and scholar, Patrick Henry Reardon, once again applies his keen intellect to a topic he loves most dearly. Here he examines the lives of almost one hundred and fifty saints and heroes from the scriptures, everyone from Abigail to Zephaniah, Adam to St. John the Theologian. This well-researched work is a veritable cornucopia of Bible personalities: Old Testament Saints, New Testament Saints, 'Repentant Saints', 'Zealous saints', 'Saints under pressure' - they're all here, and their stories are both fascinating and uplifting.

But Christ in His Saints is far more than just a biblical 'who's who'. These men and women represent that ancient family into which, by baptism, all believers have been incorporated. Together they compose that great 'cloud of witnesses' cheering us on and inspiring us through word and deed.

Fr. Thomas Hopko
'Fr. Patrick Reardon gives us desperately needed reflections on the saints in a style and substance fit for contemporary people.'

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.”

In Kyriacos C. Markides's newest book, Eastern Orthodox mysticism meets Western Christianity as the internationally renowned author takes readers on a deep journey back in time to unveil the very roots of authentic spirituality. In his previous book The Mountain of Silence, Markides introduced us to the essential spiritual nature of Eastern Orthodoxy in a series of lively conversations with Father Maximos, the widely revered charismatic Orthodox bishop and former abbot of the isolated monastery on Mount Athos. In Gifts of the Desert, Markides continues his examination of Easter Orthodox mystical teachings and practices and captures its living expression through visits to monasteries and hermitages in Greece and America and interviews with contemporary charismatic elders, both male and female.

Markides's pursuit of a deeper understanding of Orthodoxy takes him to the deserts of Arizona and a stay at a new monastery in Sedona; to the island of Cyprus and a reunion with Father Maximos; on a pilgrimage to holy shrines aboard a cruise ship in the Aegean Sea; and finally to the legendary Mount Athos, home to more than two thousand Orthodox monks. Markides relates his journey and reflections in a captivating style while providing important background material and information on historical events to give readers a highly accessible, in-depth portrait of a tradition little known in the West.

Gifts of the Desert will appeal to a wide range of people, from Christians seeking insights into their religion and its various expressions to scholars interested in learning more about the mystical way of life and wisdom that have been preserved on Mount Athos since the fall of the Byzantine Empire and the Great Schism that separated the Eastern and Western Churches. Perhaps most important, however, is the bridge it offers contemporary readers to a Christian life that is balanced between the worldly and the spiritual.

Patristic literature provides an age-old, tried and tested model of spiritual life, foreign to fleeting fashions. Throughout the last two thousand years, Christ has raised up patristic writers who have defended that original model. In modern times, however, this model is being pushed aside, the taste for genuine mystical expression is disappearing, and the initial Christian impetus is being disfigured.

That is why the works of St. Theophan the Recluse are so vital for today. He keeps the ancient patristic model sharp and clear, presenting it in modern language. He speaks to contemporary people who have been exposed to new realities, and thus renders inestimable help in linking them to the original Christian impetus and revealing to them the way into the Heavenly Kingdom.

The works of St. Theophan changed the spiritual face of Russia in the 19th century. With the publication of his greatest work, THE PATH TO SALVATION, the English-speaking world now has the opportunity to benefit likewise from this powerful inheritance to the people of the modern age.

Saint Theophan the Recluse is first and foremost a Church Father for modern times. Deeply aware of the roots of the modern age, he reinterprets ancient patristic wisdom in order to adapt it to the needs of the modern unchurched mind, which has been divorced from the Orthodox philosophy of life and even from the rudimentary principles of practical Christianity.

This classic textbook of spiritual life, now being offered in its entirety for the first time in English, seems to have been sent directly to today's readers by the great Russian recluse himself. Every line breathes his profound psychological understanding, his intricate experience in spiritual struggle, and above all his love, compassion and all-consuming desire that every person might be saved. Inspiring the reader with a sober longing for acquiring the Kingdom of Heaven, St. Theophan provides an infallible system for taking the Kingdom by force, in a Christian life of grace and repentance.

St. Theophan the Recluse, possessing a rare degree of patristic scholarship, combined with a thorough understanding of the soul of his native Russia and of contemporary people in general, was enabled to carve out a genuine understanding of spirituality for modern man. He made this understanding accessible to the average person, for he knew that each 'average person' is the possessor of an immortal soul, and each soul is to be attuned here upon earth to live eternally with God in Paradise.

The Spiritual Life... was the result of a correspondence between a young lady of the upper middle class and St. Theophan the Recluse. In the compilation of his letters of spiritual direction to her, it can be seen that St. Theophan strove to make sure that this young soul would not only be familiar with the principles of spiritual life, but first of all be able to keenly hear the right 'tone' of spiritual life.

This tuning of the soul is necessary so that the soul will be in harmony with the voice of God's Providence echoing in the instrument of the heart. In that light, The Spiritual Life and How to be Attuned to It could rightly be called a primer to be used before embarking into the realm of spiritual life.

Though steeped in the ancient patristic and ascetic tradition, Theophan the Recluse was down-to-earth and very real, making profound, mystical realities understood by those he counseled. St. Theophan had the exceptional gift of being able to encourage all, no matter where they were on the spiritual path, to go further in their fight against the passions and in their preparation for union with the Bridegroom Christ. His inspirational teaching is for all that sincerely seek the heavenly realm.

He often used folk expressions in order to make profound, mystical realities understood by all Christians of his time. Bishop Theophan—young, zealous and energetic—felt a dire need to raise Orthodox women to a higher spiritual level in a society which was rapidly changing, going in step with modern ways.

Kindling the Divine Spark offers his instructions given to women, examining many essentials of the spiritual life, including: how the heart is purified, inner suffering, spiritual zeal, how to train oneself to pray, and mystical union with the Lord. It contains 20 sermons to convents and a brief Life with unique information appearing for the first time, accompanied by rare photographs. Though originally offered as a volume of sermons given in women's monasteries, it comprises a conscious teaching of spirituality suited to the needs of both men and women, whether lay or monastic.

The garden is a personal place of retreat and delight and labor for many people. Gardening helps us collect ourselves, much as praying does. For rich and poor - it makes no difference - a garden is a place where body and soul are in harmony. In Inheriting Paradise Vigen Guroian offers an abundant vision of the spiritual life found in the cultivation of God's good creation. Capturing the earthiness and sacramental character of the Christian faith, these uplifting meditations bring together the experience of space and time through the cycle of the seasons in the garden and relate this fundamental human experience to the cycle of the church year and the Christian seasons of grace.

The tilling of fresh earth; the sowing of seeds; the harvesting of rhubarb and roses, dillweed and daffodils - Guroian finds in the garden our most concrete connection with life and God's gracious giving. His personal reflections on this connection, complemented here by delicate woodcut illustrations, offer a compelling entry into Christian spirituality.

From the Author
I am a theologian and a college professor. I like being both. But what I really love to do - what I get exquisite pleasure from doing - is to garden. I think that gardening is nearer to godliness than theology.

This book is a general account of the doctrine, worship and life of Orthodox Christians by the author of the now classic The Orthodox Church. It raises the basic issues of theology: God is hidden yet revealed; the problem with evil; the nature of salvation; the meaning of faith; prayer; death and what lies beyond. In so doing, it helps to fill the need for modern Orthodox catechism. Yet this book is not a mere manual, a dry-as-dust repository of information. Throughout the book, Bishop Kallistos Ware shows the meaning of Orthodox doctrine for the life of the individual Christian. Doctrinal issues are seen not as abstract propositions for theological debate but as affected the whole of life.

A wealth of texts drawn from theologians and spiritual writers of all ages accompanies Bishop Kallistos' presentation. They too reveal Orthodoxy not just as a system of beliefs, practices and customs but indeed as the Way.

This present book which is now published in English consists of nine talks addressed to the Catechists of the Holy Archdiocese of Athens, Greece and is aimed at locating various ecclesiological problems, without, of course, exhausting the subject. Nevertheless, they set out the foundation of Ecclesiology according to the Fathers and they try to help us avoid the temptations of so called "Baptismal theology" and of "dogmatic syncretism" as well as avoid the dangers of legalism and secularization. —from the Preface

'The author presents the Orthodox doctrine of salvation in an easy-to-understand format, fully supported with scriptural references and quotations from the Fathers. [It] addresses several issues related to the doctrine of salvation, including issues that many find confusing. Among these are the immortality of the soul and the resurrection, the relationship of faith and works, and what it means to have a 'personal relationship' with Christ.' —from the back cover

The Eastern Church Fathers stressed that the Bible is not sui generis but was born and shaped in a community of faith. They understood scripture to be an essential element of Holy Tradition: the apostolic witness passed down and developed into the fundamental teachings of Orthodox Christianity.

This book offers a fresh look at the way Eastern patristic writers used scripture in elaborating what would become the body of Orthodox doctrine. It begins with a discussion of the aims and methods of biblical interpretation as they were developed among the Greek Fathers. The second section introduces the reader to the ancient literary form known as chiasmus and shows how important a proper 'chiastic' reading of the biblical text can be for revealing its 'literal' meaning.

The final section takes up several crucial issues concerning the Orthodox doctrines of Christ and the Holy Spirit. Raising from a new perspective the divisive question of the filioque, it demonstrates the continuing relevance of the Nicene Creed for expressing the most basic and significant teachings of Orthodoxy: God as Trinity and God incarnate. These doctrines reflect as clearly as any others the way scripture takes shape in Tradition, while it serves as the ground and measure of Tradition.

The Very Rev. John Breck was Professor of New Testament and Ethics at St Vladimir's Seminary from 1984 to 1996. He is presently Professor of Biblical Interpretation and Ethics at St Sergius Theological Institute, Paris, France, and with his wife, Lyn, directs the St Silouan Retreat Center near Charleston, SC.

Speculation about the apocalypse has almost become an industry. 'The world is coming to an end,' the prophets cry. We know the Lord will come again and eagerly await Him, but where is the sober teaching on the apocalypse?

T.L. Frazier, in A Second Look at the Second Coming, has provided a balanced, well-researched treatment of the end-times, interpreted from the Christian East, by faithful Orthodox saints, martyrs, and spirit-filled Fathers of the Faith.

About the Author
T.L. Frazier has written numerous articles and books defending historic Christian beliefs. He has recently written Holy Relics for Conciliar Press, and has coauthored, Undertanding the Divine Liturgy with Father Michel Najim. He lives in Southern California with his wife and two daughters.

'[This book] offers us fresh insight into the mystery of evil, sin, and illness, and their place within our struggle toward holiness- It gives us renewed hope, by locating the 'problem of pain' in a profoundly theological framework, in which ultimate resolution of the mystery of illness and suffering is provided by the healing touch of Christ Himself, the Physician of our souls and bodies.' — John Breck, from the Foreword

Jean-Claude Larchet's The Theology of Illness, already translated into several languages, now appears in English and explores biblical and patristic perspectives on sickness and redemptive suffering. The questions Larchet considers are fundamental: the origins of sin in a fallen world, its impact on physical health, and the healing of human nature by the incarnate Son of God. He explains healing as a means of glorifying God, stressing again the crucial role of prayer and sacramental grace in promoting genuine health. When illness plunges us into unfamiliar territory, even to the point of death, Larchet teaches us to marshal spiritual reserves in a society dominated by technology and materialism. In a time when the physician has been dubbed the high priest of the god of Modern Medicine, Larchet encourages us to situate these crucial experiences within the framework of their relationship to the unique reality of the Holy Trinity.

Jean-Claude Larchet is an Orthodox layman and a professor of philosophy in a French lyce in Strasbourg.

'This is a remarkable collection of Fr Alexander Schmemann's sermons delivered over the course of many years over Radio Liberty to listeners in the Soviet Union. Selected from over 3000 sermons, his broadcasts were widely acclaimed. Alexander Solzhenitsyn, in a private letter written in 1972, characterized with particularly accuracy and clarity Fr Alexander's gift of preaching:

'It amazes me how authentic, contemporary and eloquent is the art of his preaching. There is not a note of affectation, not a millimeter of stretching the interpretation-but always, there is powerfully deep thought and deep feeling.'

The first half of the book discusses 'what is belief? what is faith?' and the second half enumerates the Nicean Creed phrase by phrase to describe what it meant to it's authors and what it means to Christians today.

There is no human society without celebrations, holidays and feasts, 'The feast is part of man's inescapable rhythm of work and rest,' observes Fr Schmemann. But beyond the need to rest from work, the development of celebrations in human culture has much deeper root in man's absolutely irrepressible need, not just for rest, but for joy, for meaning that we find the true source of celebration and its tenacity in human society. Feasts, in every culture, have become the repository and expression of a society's goals, ambitions, and worldview. As Fr Schmemann writes, 'tell me what you celebrate, and I will tell you who you are.'

This book goes through each Feast of the Church giving background and explanations along the way.

"Fr. Meletios Webber… relates the Steps to Orthodox Christian spirituality with clarity, conviction, and appealing personal engagement." —Fr. Thomas Hopko, author and speaker

"Steps of Transformation is very simple, easy to read, and right on target about… alcoholism." —Floyd Frantz, CAC, St. Dimitrie Addictions Treatment Center, Romania

Interest in the ways of the early church has never been more intense. What did early Christians believe about the divinity of Christ? What were the beliefs of those who sat at the feet of Jesus' disciples? Now, for the first time, a unique dictionary has been developed to allow easy access to the ancient material and furnish ready answers to these questions and others like them. David W. Bercot has painstakingly combed the writings of these early church leaders and categorized the heart of their thinking into more than 700 theological, moral, and historical topics to create A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs. Wonderfully suited for devotional or thematic study as well as sermon illustration, this resource offers a window into the world of the early church and affords a special opportunity to examine topically the thoughts of students of the original apostles, as well as other great lights in the life of the early church.

Guroian's book is an extended argument with Jack Kevorkian, not about euthanasia but about whether medicine should be separated from religion. Guroian does not so much argue as assert that it should not be. He evokes a classical Christian understanding of "living toward dying" as antidote both to denial of death and to its too-eager embrace in the "thanatos syndrome." As an antidote, it is not convincing to those who don't already believe it; but readers may find Guroian's weaving of a variety of literary allusions into his evocation of theological tradition instructive as they construct their own responses to death and Dr. Kevorkian. —Steve Schroeder

It is one of the great mysteries of life that in atmospheres of the harshest cruelty, a certain few not only survive but emerge as beacons of light and life. Father Arseny, former scholar of church art, became Prisoner No. 18736 in the brutal "special sector" of the Soviet prison camp system. In the darkness of systematic degradation of body and soul, he shone with the light of Christ's peace and compassion. His sights set on God and his life grounded in the Church, Father Arseny lived by injunction to "bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).

This narrative, compiled from accounts of Father Arseny's spiritual children and others whom he brought to God, gives stirring glimpses of his life in prison camp and after his release. It also tells the stories of people whose lives, often during times of almost unimaginable crisis, were touched and transfigured through their connection with Father Arseny.

Emerging from the context of the particular tragedies of Soviet Russia, this book carries a universal impact certain to be felt by readers in the West today.

Repentence is the theme of this book, with thoughts on and hagiography of Saints Mary of Egypt, Mary Magdalene, Pelagia, Thais and Maria the neice of Abraham.

"Drawing on that rich but often neglected source, the Lives of the Saints, this book provides us with a representative selection of models, of icons in words, to encourage us on our own journey to the kingdom, whether we are married or not… . What is striking first of all about the examples chosen is their diversity. They are spread in time across nearly four thousand years, from the Old Testament era up to our own day. In space they extend no less widely: from Persia in the east to Alaska in the west, from Egypt in the south to England in the north… . In each case the story has been told in a simple but vivid style, with frequent quotations from the original sources and from the liturgical texts… . And, whether we are married, monastics or single, as we look at the living icons of the Holy Trinity on the pages that follow, may we all of us be brought to a deeper appreciation of this 'great mystery' (Ephesians 5:32)." — from the Foreword by Bishop KALLISTOS (Timothy) Ware, author of The Orthodox Church and The Orthodox Way.

This classic work of Russian spirituality has charmed countless readers with its tale of a nineteenth-century peasant seeking the truth with simple humility, finding joy and plenty everywhere in life.

"Deep in a northern Russian forest of jade and brown, far from any hint of civilization, Valaam monastery sinks into the seasons of the year as it has for a thousand years before… ."

So begins the story of John Oliver, a young American on a journey of discovery —a journey that leads him to an ancient Russian monastery, a place of peace and a place of struggle. For on Valaam, he encounters the great depths of Orthodox Christianity and is reminded that the Christian life is not for the faint of heart. And on Valaam, the treasure of stillness requires a fierce guarding.

This Holy Man: Impressions Of Metropolitan Anthony by Gillian Crow (an Orthodox writer and the Diocesan Secretary the Russian Patriarchal Diocese of Sourozh, Great Britain) is the true story of churchman, spiritual writer, and leader of the Russian Orthodox Church in Britain, Metropolitan Anthony (1916-2003). From his early childhood, to conversion, to his life's work and dedication in spreading his religious message, This Holy Man follows Anthony's experience through war, reconstruction, and dramatically changing times. This Holy Man balances its portrayal of Anthony's charisma, faith, and kindness with a sober look at his own personal demons of shyness, insecurity, and depression. A handful of inset black-and-white photographs illustrate this respectful biography of a true believer.

This spiritual classic was written by Lorenzo Scupoli, a sixteenth-century Venetian priest. Immensely popular in its own day, it was ranked by Francis de Sales with the Imitation of Christ. In the general rapport between Western and Eastern Christendom, it reached Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, who first recognized its immense spiritual worth, and later, in the nineteenth century, Theophan the Recluse, both of whom edited and translated the work.

Rich in its references to the teachings of the saints and Fathers, Unseen Warfare combines the insights of West and East on that spiritual combat which is the road to perfection and the stripping away of all that militates against it. Staretz Theophan wrote in his foreword, "the arena, the field of battle, the site where the fight actually takes place is our own heart and all our inner man. The time of battle is our whole life."

Unseen Warfare is a perfect complement to the Philokalia.

This book demonstrates once and for all that the ancient Christian writers are not the hyper-misogynists they are made out to be by some hyper-feminists. This is careful textual analysis of the writings of John Chrysostom on all those passages relating to sexuality, marriage, family, children, chastity, equality, submission, leadership, adultery, virginity, and the body. "Was there sexual intercourse in Eden? Was Eve primarily responsible for the Fall? Is sexuality intrinsically prone to distortion? Is the body evil? What reasonable objections may be lodged against absolute egalitarianism in the family? Is there a Christian doctrine of male submissiveness? Do women have a public role? How do women bring glory to men? What special responsibilities do men bear? Should women be priests?" All of these questions were dealt with in considerable detail in the fourth century by John Chrysostom, the most influential biblical commentator in ancient Eastern Christianity.

These same questions remain today for us to consider and debate. We can do so either without or with the wisdom of the ancient Christian writers. "In Women and Men in the Early Church: The Full Views of St. John Chrysostom, David Ford has opened a broad window of access to these questions that has not been looked through before. Look through this window, I plead with you. Let the wisdom found there illumine present dilemmas of sexuality, family, and marriage. I pray that this book may become a means of grace to women and men seeking to embody the praise of God in their sexual and spiritual lives. "I was privileged to watch this project on John Chrysostom's teaching on women and men grow from its inception and early stages to the definitive argument that it now has become. I can think of no project in which I have been involved at the Drew University Graduate School that has given me more joy than this one. This book deserves careful reading not only by theological students and pastors, but also by historians and interpreters of feminism — and most of all, by couples trying to order their sexual and family lives before God… ."
(From the Foreword by Dr. Thomas C. Oden, distinguished author and Professor of Theology at Drew Graduate School and Seminary, Madison, N.J.)

"Drawing on that rich but often neglected source, the Lives of the Saints, this book provides us with a representative selection of models, of icons in words, to encourage us on our own journey to the kingdom, whether we are married or not… . What is striking first of all about the examples chosen is their diversity. They are spread in time across nearly four thousand years, from the Old Testament era up to our own day. In space they extend no less widely: from Persia in the east to Alaska in the west, from Egypt in the south to England in the north… . In each case the story has been told in a simple but vivid style, with frequent quotations from the original sources and from the liturgical texts… . And, whether we are married, monastics or single, as we look at the living icons of the Holy Trinity on the pages that follow, may we all of us be brought to a deeper appreciation of this 'great mystery' (Ephesians 5:32)."
— from the Foreword by Bishop KALLISTOS (Timothy) Ware, author of The Orthodox Church and The Orthodox Way.

"This work... applies in a concrete manner the profound spiritual wisdom of Orthodox to the realities of the common life and, in this case, the raising of children. Must reading for Orthodox Christian pastores, teachers, and parents."—Fr. Stanley Harakas.

"Far more than the usual practical advice. This is true spiritual direction." —Elisabeth Elliot

"Not merely advice for parents about raising children. This is perhaps the best text of Saint Theophan's in English for gaining a complete understanding of the Orthodox teaching about salvation, the soul, and Christian life." — Fr. Philip Tolbert

From School Library Journal
The word virtue in the title, as well as the reference in the introduction to William J. Bennett and Russell Kirk, bear witness to the author's position as a conservative and a member of the religious right. His aim in this intelligent and persuasive book is to encourage parents in their efforts to 'form moral character in the young' through stories that are rich in moral messages and Christian mystic vision. He finds these qualities in works by Hans Christian Andersen, C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald, and classic 19th-century and early 20th-century literary fairy tales with themes of good and evil, sin and redemption, faith and mystic love. As a teacher of children's literature, he is well aware of educational programs propounding values clarification, and literary critics who approach stories from secular, social scientific, and psychological viewpoints, but what he seeks are works that embody 'universally binding moral norms' with values that are rooted in God. Not surprisingly, Guroian finds these qualities in stories of the last century, when education was a matter of building character rather than acquiring information and practicing critical thinking. This scholarly yet readable book will provide assurance and inspiration to adults who look for titles that are strong in what he calls 'moral imagination.' His discussions of the religious and ethical assumptions on which the works of these classic authors are founded will, for teachers and literary critics, provide a useful corrective to postmodern reliance on secular and psychological analysis of all texts. His is a responsible voice for the value of tradition and of religion.
Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The legend of Saint Euphrosynos is sure to delight both children and adults. Very meaningful for young readers who struggle for a sense of self-worth.

A monk prays deep in the forest. It looks like he is doing just simple, ordinary tasks, such as chopping wood and and tending to his garden. But as he works he is really growing prayer. The monk prays continually throughout the day and night, and, as the seasons pass, he becomes a holy man.

This delightful, beautifully illustrated book teaches children that no matter what they are doing, or what hour of the day it is, they too, can pray.

A charming, delightfully illustrated classic Christmas folktale from old Russia retold by Alvin Alexi Currier about a poor family who entertains an angel unaware. Picturebook for preschool and up.

An illustrated version of the Christmas story with liturgical texts from the Orthodox Church.

This is a book for those of us who are struggling to establish an effective prayer life. Written neither for monastics or scholars, A Beginner's Guide to Prayer speaks to the average man or woman on the street who desires a deeper relationship with God but is unsure how or where to begin. Drawing from nearly 2000 years of Orthodox spiritual wisdom, the author offers warm, practical, pastoral advice whose genius is to be found in its homespun simplicity and straightforward style.

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 St. Theopan the Recluse, along with many other writers.

"One of the most important spiritual treatises ever to be translated into English." —Catholic Herald

Recent years have seen a marked increase in the popular and ecumenical appeal of icons (for centuries an integral feature of Orthodox Christianity). Jim Forest's Praying With Icons offers a simple introduction to the tradition of icons with special emphasis on their practical function in the spiritual life. Beautifully illustrated both with color plans and b/w photography, Praying With Icons begins with a history of iconography. Icons are not simply illustrations or "art" in the usual sense, but aids to prayer and contemplation, windows on the divine. Forest also provides a personal and practical guide to how one prays with icons. Forest then concludes with a series of meditative reflections on some of the most typical icons, including the Annunciation, the Nativity, Christ's Baptism, the Transfiguration, the Descent of the Holy Spirit, representations of Mary, the trinity, and the Saints. Praying With Icons is a superlative introduction to icons and is highly recommended for readers seeking to expand their spiritual experience to encompass the entire Christian spiritual legacy.

For most Christians in the West, icons are intriguing but opaque, enigmatic and perhaps a little frightening. In an accessible and loving introduction to the ancient devotional art form, the late Martin, who studied art history at Oxford University, manages to make icons intelligible without denuding their mystery. Part reference work and part inspirational meditation, the book opens by sharing little-known characteristics of icons. Next she offers a helpful chronology, usefully chronicling the various periods of Byzantine art, and limning the history of Russian icons. One very concrete chapter catalogues the materials and techniques of icon-making, explaining the role of egg tempera and gesso in producing the often dark, matte pictures. The most eloquent and capacious chapter is that on prayer. Icons, Martin tells us, are not merely inspiring works of art, but are "made for the distinct purpose of prayer." Indeed, this chapter goes beyond instructions about icons to a moving meditation on prayer itself. The small but densely packed volume is rounded out by an appendix of international icon collections, and a helpful bibliography. Only occasionally does the book turn didactic and over-encyclopedic; chapters five and six, which define basics like "iconostasis" and "diptych," feel plodding. Martin's work, which nicely complements Henri Nouwen's classic reflection on icons, ought to become an indispensable part of any Christian library. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.