This has to be the best introductory book that a convert can read. Compulsively readable and it will be a book that you will want to reread. Highly recommended.

They worked EGGcellently!

The Icon of Christ the Teacher is just magnificent! The corners remind me of the Holy Spirit's unity with the Lord Jesus! And the silver/gold foiling is so appropriate together with the very vivid colors of red and blue of Christ's garments!
The most beautiful part of this particular Icon is the face of our Lord as He looks out at you! It is so life-like! While many people don't understand Orthodoxy's use of icons, this particular icon indeed "teaches" the use-- that they are windows into heaven, by which we do not worship the material matter, but look through it to see and understand what is being portrayed. This icon is also a match to one of His blessed mother holding Him in her arms, with his face pressed gently to her cheek. Now I have them both! So happy to have found this!

This book could not have come at a better time for me personally. As a “cradle” orthodox, I have always heard the prayers in our services to the Theotokos (Mother of God). But I had never considered a relationship with her, as well as with our Lord and Savior. I had never prayed directly to her for help in my times of trouble. I had, as the author had, wondered about a closer relationship with Mary.
The author takes us through a difficult year in her life with quite a few personal challenges, and at the same time she is wanting so see out the Mother of God and see what role she plays in her life, as well as the life of the church.
It’s filled with sadness and sorrow, but also so much hope and miracles. She helps us, the readers, to see Mary as someone who can more intimately relate to our personal struggles. She was, after all, human. And gave birth to a child who she raised and watched give his life for the world.
I would highly recommend this book.

Fr. Joshua Makoul has written a beautiful invitation and guide to healing the wounded soul (which is, in fact, all of us). His insights from psychology and the healing wisdom of the Orthodox Church are intertwined in such a way that there is no tension between them at all (as well there shouldn't be). His words radiate compassion, nonjudgment, and kindness as he lays out simple-to-apply ways to begin discerning one's woundedness along with concrete ways to begin moving toward healing.

The book is laid out very helpfully and moves from helping the reader understand the link between past unresolved wounds and difficulties in spiritual growth. While there are many reasons to consider therapeutic work, I hadn't ever considered that avoiding dealing with one's own brokenness might also make the spiritual life and progress more difficult or even cause it to stall out.

I appreciated his use of the first person plural, i.e., "we" and "our," throughout the text. This made the book more inviting, avoiding the accusation of "you" or the sterility of third person. Instead, it created the feel of walking with a kind guide through unknown territory, such as a Virgil or Beatrice was to Dante in The Divine Comedy.

One insight I especially appreciated was his frequent warm invitations to bring discoveries of brokenness along this process to confession. As one who grew up Roman Catholic, this was a helpful reinforcement of the Orthodox approach to this beautiful mystery. It's not meant to be a guilt-ridden experience, but a place where we can bring the truth of ourselves in honesty and humility, so as to welcome in the healing light of Christ.

I also appreciated the narrator chosen for this work. His voice is simultaneously clear and soothing, and makes even the experience of listening a healing and nourishing one.

The audiobook is very much a worthy experience, but I find myself thinking I'll pick up the print edition in addition. This is a book well worth coming back to in both forms.

“Dmitri’s Cross” is a beautiful and touching work about the life of an Orthodox priest who perished in a Nazi concentration camp. I would recommend this work to anyone who wishes to learn more about the life of this wonderful Saint, or someone who simply has an interest in the history of this period. Written by Father Klepinin’s daughter, this work reads as a child’s personal and insightful tribute to a beloved parent. Although the work is somewhat slow in the beginning, it is a rewarding and moving read. Furthermore, I also learned a great deal about the church diaspora in the years following the Russian revolution, which I did not expect. The reader will be moved and convicted to read about how Father Klepinin bore the yoke of Nazi occupation, as well as eventual imprisonment and execution with great humility, acceptance, and spiritual perseverance. Orthodox Christians know very well the importance of reading the lives of the Saints to enhance and inform our faith, but this book and the life of St. Dmitri serves as a reminder that everyday individuals can stand up to injustice and hatred with great love. Would definitely recommend and will read again in years to come.

Next Pascha will mark my 10 year anniversary of entering the Orthodox Church. As each year passes as I realize more and more how little I know. Not only are there limitless depths of the Orthodox faith in which to plunge, but the majority of my time has been spent unlearning so many theological assumptions I once held. In Thinking Orthodox: Understanding and Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind Dr. Jeannie (Eugenia) Constantinou addresses this very issue: acquiring the mind of the Orthodox Church. Each person’s thinking is formed within their milieu which, for modern readers of the Scriptures, has caused many troubles. We approach the Scriptures and theology in a way that was foreign to Christ, the Apostles, and the early Church. The good news is that the Orthodox Church serves as a bridge to this worldview through maintaining the tradition that was passed down from the Apostles. This tradition is found within the life and teaching of the Orthodox Church; from the liturgy and hymnography to the canons and iconography. The mind or phronema of the Orthodox Church can be acquired through active participation in a life of prayer, ascesis, humility, and obedience to the teachings passed down generation to generation. Only by immersing ourselves, humbly, into this context can we acquire an Orthodox phronema.

Dr. Constantinou speaks often of a Western mind that is in opposition to the mind of the Church, however I think it can be specified even further to an American mind. Many of the views which are given as examples contrary to the Orthodox phronema are found primarily within the American worldview. Although her arguments do relate to the Western mind in general they especially interact with an American religious context. I think this speaks volumes to the current status of the Orthodox Church in the Americas. While the Church has been in the Americas for a couple hundred years comparatively it is still rather nascent. Most of the mother churches of Europe and the Middle East have had thousands of years to develop a culture and mindset fully integrated with the Orthodox phronema. If Orthodox Christians desire to spread the Orthodox faith to the American people, they must be willing to do the hard work of acquiring and developing an American Orthodox phronema as a legacy for the generations to come.

Seen in this light, Dr. Constantinou’s work serves less as a critique and more of a siren call to the “high calling of God in Jesus Christ”(Philippians 3:14). Therefore, “if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by…[Having] this mind (phroneite) among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:1,2,5).

A complimentary copy of the audio version of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Next Pascha will mark my 10 year anniversary of entering the Orthodox Church. As each year passes as I realize more and more how little I know. Not only are there limitless depths of the Orthodox faith in which to plunge, but the majority of my time has been spent unlearning so many theological assumptions I once held. In Thinking Orthodox: Understanding and Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind Dr. Jeannie (Eugenia) Constantinou addresses this very issue: acquiring the mind of the Orthodox Church. Each persons thinking is formed within their milieu which, for modern readers of the Scriptures, has caused many troubles. We approach the Scriptures and theology in a way that was foreign to Christ, the Apostles, and the early Church. The good news is that the Orthodox Church serves as a bridge to this worldview through maintaining the tradition that was passed down from the Apostles. This tradition is found within the life and teaching of the Orthodox Church; from the liturgy and hymnography to the canons and iconography. The mind or phronema of the Orthodox Church can be acquired through active participation in a life of prayer, ascesis, humility, and obedience to the teachings passed down generation to generation. Only by immersing ourselves, humbly, into this context can we acquire an Orthodox phronema.

Dr. Constantinou speaks often of a Western mind that is in opposition to the mind of the Church, however I think it can be specified even further to an American mind. Many of the views which are given as examples contrary to the Orthodox phronema are found primarily within the American worldview. Although her arguments do relate to the Western mind in general they especially interact with an American religious context. I think this speaks volumes to the current status of the Orthodox Church in the Americas. While the Church has been in the Americas for a couple hundred years comparatively it is still rather nascent. Most of the mother churches of Europe and the Middle East have had thousands of years to develop a culture and mindset fully integrated with the Orthodox phronema. If Orthodox Christians desire to spread the Orthodox faith to the American people, they must be willing to do the hard work of acquiring and developing an American Orthodox phronema as a legacy for the generations to come.

Seen in this light, Dr. Constantinous work serves less as a critique and more of a siren call to the high calling of God in Jesus Christ(Philippians 3:14). Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by[Having] this mind (phroneite) among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:1,2,5).

A complimentary copy of the audio version of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Great everyday prayer book. Has Orthodox morning, evening prayers plus the Akathists and Canons as well as the full pre communion prayers . This is essential for an Orthodox Christian. Has some Russian prayers in English but can be used for any American Orthodox.

Great everyday prayer book. Has Orthodox morning, evening prayers plus the Akathists and Canons as well as the full pre communion prayers . This is essential for an Orthodox Christian. Has some Russian prayers in English but can be used for any American Orthodox.

I purchased this book when I was newly baptized and I found it disappointing, especially since it had such great reviews.

I was really hoping for more fresh fruits and vegetables--something even more simple than what was offered in this book. It seemed like most of the recipes were about substitutions and how to recreate your favorite non-fasting dishes with things like "cashew cheese," or how to make your lentils taste like meat, or how to make your chickpeas taste like eggs. It doesn't seem to be in the spirit of the fast for me. I eventually gave the book away. :(

Dimitri’s Cross is an amazing book. The narrator was fantastic; very clear and easy to understand, as there were a lot of footnotes this was more helpful than normal. There are two parts to this book, one section told by his daughter, the author, and then many of his letters written to his wife.

The subject matter is hard, but the story is needed. Father Dimitri had such love for his family and it is obvious in both parts of this book. He often referred to his famly as puppies and birds and it was so sweet and so endearing. In many cases it might be almost thick with sugar but from Fr. Dimitri it was so normal and showed the love he had with his family.

I have read many books from this sad time in our history most with detail on the Auschwitz camp or even the priest block at Dachau, but this was completely different. Not only does this give great detail on Father Dimitri but also on Mother Maria Skobtsova. There are other books on Mother Maria but it was so wonderful to hear talk of them both in one writing.

I cannot recommend this book enough, and I do believe it should be required reading for all priests and religious. It is not a horribly long book but one i recommend slowly reading to take in all the details of this great saint

This book is a great introduction to developing a daily prayer routine. It is light and simple, perfect for anyone who wants to connect with their faith in a refreshing and meaningful way. Reading scripture each day without reflection can sometimes feel a bit outdated, but Fr. Barnabas' reflections truly connect the parables written two thousand years ago to our busy, complicated lives today. This connection is essential for developing and maintaining the faith, and I think the loss of this connection is why many young people are leaving the church.
That's why I, as a young adult, would highly recommend this book. It discusses not only the importance of holding on to our faith in the tumultuous world we live in, but also the need to attend church and physically be in holy spaces, which young Christians sometimes lack. A Faith Encouraged truly has kept me on the right path and has established itself as part of my daily devotional.
It's Orthodoxy in simple yet elegant terms. It's digestible, practical, and humorous. Many of the church fathers' teachings are so mystical that we grapple to comprehend their relevance, and thus we turn away from understanding our faith. This book will start you in the right direction and serve as a foundational step for you to delve more deeply into the beauty and power that is the Orthodox faith.

Let's start with her credentials:
Ph.D., Universit Laval, Quebec City, Quebec
ThM Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, MA
ThM Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Brookline, MA
MA University of San Diego, San Diego, CA
JD Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
BA University of San Diego, San Diego, CA

Then throw in her amazing podcasts on Ancient Faith radio!

What is this book about? It's about the Orthodox Phronema - the mindset/worldview/imagination of an Orthodox Christian. When I was Roman Catholic but convinced of the truth of Orthodoxy, I still took my time converting because the two churches seemed so close to one another, why make the switch? And from a Roman point of view, the two are similar- but now, now that I'm on the other side of the divide? The differences are huge. And the differences really rest in our differences of mindset- our phronema.

She starts off by talking about the Protestant and then the Roman Catholic phronemas- and then comparing them to Orthodoxy. The section on protestants wasn't as convincing as the one on Roman Catholics - but with the huge diversity of protestantisms, it's hard to fault her. She's studied and taught in Catholic universities for years, so her understanding there was very convincing.

Several times she comes around to the sorts of people that like to argue about Orthodoxy on the web, and she has no patience for these people, at all. They turn faith into a parlor game, and one they aren't particularly good at. If you know a young convert, or even a cradle that has gotten all ramped up, this book might serve as a tonic to calm them down. Hopefully. In the mean time, take away their internet access.

How do you learn to think Orthodox? Go to church. Go to confession. Read the lives of the saints. Don't worry too much about "deep theological questions." Respect the piety of little old lady at church that probably didn't have much schooling, but says her prayers.

This was delightful and I'll be reading it again.

This is not a review of the whole book. I'm literally on day 2. But just the experience of day 2, being something I never would have thought of myself, and being such a great experience, was worth far more than the price of the book. And I still have 26 days to go! Just buy it.

This was a groundbreaking book for me as the parent of two little boys. I love my kids, but I was beginning to feel desperate for solid, respectful, and CHRISTIAN advice on how to be a better parent, especially with my highly explosive 3 year old. This book checks all the boxes and could not be more practical or down to earth or accessible. I loved it so much and wish I could learn more from the author!!

It was an inspirational guide on how to participate from Palm Sunday to Pascha, daily. It helped shift my focus onto Christ and the fulfillment of his promise to eternal life from the Old Testament to the New. It brought clarity on why certain hymnography is sung and why. It made the celebration of Pascha more meaningful and celebratory spiritually and emotionally. Christ Is Risen!

An amazing read! I highly recommend it!

This was a rather unique devotional book. It wasn't what I was expecting, which isn't a bad thing, and I enjoyed getting a look into the author's life.

The book follows a year in the life of the author as she pursues understanding Mary, the mother of Christ, in a deeper and more personal way. Each chapter gives a glimpse into the author's life and struggles during that part of the year, as well as how she met Mary in each of them. It's very personal and poetic, an interesting blend of spiritual devotional and autobiography.

Honestly, I enjoyed the journey. I liked reading about the author's life and how genuine she was about the things she was facing (difficulties with family relationships, pregnancy struggles, fear and anxiety etc). It doesn't feel forced or too "happily ever after". She's relatable and vulnerable in ways that make her tangible to the reader. She's not offering any big theological treatises or sermons; she's just being herself and inviting the reader to step into what she's learned and where she's struggled, while offering a space for the reader to contemplate their own spiritual journey. Each chapter is small enough to use as a daily devotional, and the reflection questions in the back of the book were a nice touch.

My one complaint, which I know is just a matter of opinion, is that I felt like there was too much background description. She spends a lot of time in every chapter describing the various flora and fauna and local weather, and, personally, I dislike that kind of writing. A bit is fine, but I don't like when those sorts of descriptions persistently feature. Now, again, I recognize that this is a style preference and not a writing issue, because she writes very well and the descriptions are lovely, but as a reader I just don't enjoy reading about those types of things. It's why I can't get into Tolkien much either: I just get too lost in the background details and don't appreciate it. BUT many people love Tolkien, many people find that type of writing beautiful and an enjoyment to read, and that's perfectly fine. I'm just not one of those people, so that's where it lost a star for me.

But, all of that to say, I did appreciate the tone and the way she comes alongside the reader in a gentle and understanding way. If you're looking for a nice devotional to help you reflect on your journey and how Christ and His mother feature in it, I would definitely recommend this book. It's an easy read, soothing, honest, and full of grace. Much like Mary. :)

JUST WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR!