I’ve only just started this book, but have learned a great deal already! It’s slow going, I find I do not want to rush through it.

As I was reading "The Religion of the Apostles," I kept thinking how this could have been a much longer, larger book, but Fr De Young wrote a reasonably concise overview of Orthodox Christianity in the first and, I hope, in the 21st centuries. He covers a broad swath of history and theology, ranging from Second Temple Jewish non-unitarian monotheism (Jews of Jesus' time were prepared for the idea of an incarnate God?!), to the divine council and the enchanted world in which we're often ignorantly enmeshed (why am I a materialist atheist from Monday through Saturday and an Orthodox Christian on Sunday?!). Highly recommended!

Everything I expected from Father Steven and more! A masterpiece!!!

A fantastic book worthy of a place on your theological bookshelf. This book draws together so many fascinating points about early beliefs in Judaism and draws the direct line from these beliefs to the apostles and their worldview during their time with Christ and after His ascension. This explains so much about the how’s and why’s of the Orthodox Church. This is not to say that this book is only for Orthodox- not at all. It will provide valuable insight to the early Church for all Christians. As a recent convert to Orthodoxy, this book is priceless to me and I believe others who are looking for more information about Orthodoxy, and cradle Orthodox alike, will love this book and the Lord of Spirits podcast on Ancient Faith Radio.

This book has been echoing back my undergraduate university history class, but even went further, and all of that in a very comprehensible and adequate tone. It is both interesting and strengthening as a Christian Orthodox. Thank you!

I only wish it was longer, so much great insight. Looking forward to the next one!

This is a great book. It helped me understand better the roots of Orthodoxy and what the Apostles understood.

Eye opening, mind blowing, information that seems hidden from view to the western world. So thankful for how this is changing and informing my thinking. Such wonderful teaching!

Beautiful book, uplifting

Great book. Everyone should read this. Amazing work.

Nothing quite like it.

Eye-opening, even to a cradle orthodox. Intelligently written, but still easily accessible to all who are interested.

I liked it very much. As a non-Orthodox Christian with friends and a relative (son) who is, I like the fact that I can use different cards in different years to the same person.
I also like the sentiment expressed in each.

Listening to Thinking Orthodox was an eye-opening or rather mind-opening experience. Even though I have been an Orthodox Christian for almost forty years, Dr. Constantinous book helped me realize that my twenty or so years of being a Protestant Christian affected my thinking in ways I hadnt realized mostly good but sometimes limiting my ability to fully embrace some of the joy and freedom found in Orthodoxy.
I especially enjoyed that Dr. Constantinou read the audio version of her book. Her voice was familiar from listening to her podcast, Search the Scriptures, and her personal experience of Orthodoxy along with her years of academic study and teaching comes through in her voice.
Part I describes the Orthodox mindset or phronema and how it colors and affects our understanding of both Scripture and Tradition in important ways. The chapters in Part I were the most profound and easily understood of the three parts. Among other things, Dr. Constantinou discusses how the Orthodox phronema helps one avoid the temptation of a pharisaical approach to the Orthodox lifestyle.
Parts II and III were very interesting but I think would be better understood in printed form easier to review and use the material in the footnotes. Because of the depth of this material, I would recommend acquiring the printed or e-book along with the audio version of this book.
Dr. Contantinous frequent references to quotes from the Church Fathers throughout the book are pearls of wisdom that many of us may not have had a chance to hear before. This is a long book, but well worth the time to listen to and to read.

Have you ever struggled with prayer or felt like your prayer life lacked direction? Most of us know our life in Christ can't grow without prayer and that attending church every week isn't enough. Praying only when we see a need doesn't seem right either - that would be like talking with a loved one only when we wanted to ask for something! What can we do to develop a life of prayer without feeling like we are just winging it, without burning out, and without guiltily relegating prayer to the "should do" list?

Joseph Letendre has a concise and well ordered book of suggestions for us. The church draws on a tradition of prayer several thousand years old, reaching back to the worship practices of the Old Testament. He includes patristic advice on finding balance (even for when we are sure we are too busy or exhausted to pray!), fighting overwhelm, and facing apathy. There are many ways to pray, a variety that has nourished generations of God's people on their spiritual pilgrimages. Let this hour-long audio recording guide you into a deeper and calmer life of prayer.

Tremendous further elucidation of many of the points he delivers on Lord of the Spirits!

The first book I have found dealing with this subject, and in a readable manner. I cannot put it down! I have recommended it to at least 3 friends so far, both priests and laypersons. I am still working my way through it so I can’t give an in-depth review but suffice it to say at this point I am going on my second highlighter.

Beautiful and functional, can't beat that combination. Short enough for "normal" sized books, but long enough for much larger volumes. Certainly worth the price!

Along Fr. Stephen Freeman’s “ Everywhere Present: Christianity in a One-Storey Universe”, Fr. DeYoung’s “The Religion of the Apostles” is shaping up to be among the most formative books I have read on my journey into and within Orthodoxy. Fr. DeYoing’s book illustrates that the faith of the Apostles did not develop in a vacuum but from within and as the literal fulfillment of the faith of Old Covenant Patriarchs down to Temple Judaism. This is one that I will read, reread, and ponder for many, many years to come and is already having a profound influence on how I look at the Christian faith and the world around me. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Every Orthodox Christian should read this book, be they "convert" or "cradle", especially if their catechism was less than stellar.