I had high hopes for reading (or rather listening to) this book. The sisterhood at my parish read it last year and discussed it via Zoom. I heard really good things, and expected to get a lot out of it as someone with a long-term disability that keeps me from working--and often attending church services!

I thought the author was spot on in calling our attention to disabilities in the church. I would guess my parish has more people with diabilities than average, and I've heard from many fellow parishoners about how hard it is to feel welcome at some churches. The author offers insight into the struggle these people face and gives practical suggestions for how to make worship more accessible. I also like how the author talks about people with disabilities as adding to the worship, not detracting.

I also really liked how the audiobook included all the endnotes! This made the listening experience much richer, and is something I haven't seen many publishers do with audiobooks. It worked really well for this book.

That said, I kept getting irked whenever the author said that disabilities are a gift from God for our salvation. The author talked briefly about privation theory to explain the existence of evil, but she didn't delve deeply into it or tie it back to the topic in a clear way. Instead, she repeated her view that disabilities are a gift, which I found an impossible view to reconcile with my own disability. To me, it's almost as bad as Calvinists saying that God created some people for eternal damnation for his glory.

I think maybe some of the trouble comes down to the nature of disabilities. The author shares that she personally has autism. Even though society might put us both in the "disabled" category, there's a big difference between physical, emotional, and developmental disabilities, and I could see how a book trying to speak to all of them would invariably end up offending someone!

Anyway, like I said, it was a mixed experience reading this book. If you are interested in this topic, either personally or because you want to be a better friend to those with disabilities, it's definitely a worthwhile read. I would just question some of the statements about where disabilities come from and what their purpose is.

This book tells of the life of St. Dimitri Klebinin who was martyred by the Nazis in a concentration camp at 39. Serving as an Orthodox priest for the Russian community in Paris, and all others who came to him, he was arrested for providing false baptismal certificate to Jews during the German Occupation, being full aware of the risk and possible consequences. St. Dimitri and his parish helped all who came to them, and he would go out of his way to reach those who needed his help. He also worked with Mother Maria (Skobtsov), who was also arrested, along with her son Yuri Skobtsov and Ilya Fundaminsky. All four were glorified by the Orthodox Church in 2004 as martyrs.

This book, as powerful as it is, is even more saw because St. Dimitri's daughter is the author. She draws in accounts from many sources, and ends the book with a series of letters to her mother after his arrest and before his transport to the Dora concentration camp; she is even able to find several witnesses from the camp. For some this book may be an introduction to the Orthodox Church, and it also presents modern examples of those who are willing to give everything for Christ and for their neighbor. The narrator of the Audible version brings the text to life beautifully, just as she did in her narration of the life of another Orthodox saint of the 20th century

What poetry can evoke beauty but the life seeking the Theotokos? Brandi Schreiber has written the most beautiful memoir of her search for the Mother of God. Often, I appreciated her welcoming the me into her experience for me to feel her joy and pain, several times crying along with the sentiment of her journey. As a convert and mother, reading of her journey to the heart of God through His Mother carries so much meaning for me. To think of our Lord and His human temperament brings light to who Mary was, her humility, her humanity, what hope there is for me as a human mother. I dearly enjoyed this personal insight to Schreiber’s walk through life and into motherhood through the lens of the Theotokos. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior, save us!

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.

My dad, the late V. Rev. Fr John Winfrey, helped write this book when I was a teenager. I remember seeing the edits and he would show me the print samples for years. I'm happy to have the new edition now and know that people still enjoy something he helped create. Glory to God!

This beautifully written and illustrated book is a true treasure! The sweet simplicity and repetition of the text is appealing to the young child and a reminder to all of us that their guardian angels always see the Face of God in heaven. I am purchasing two more copies to be given as gifts.

We use this as our family prayer book because the wording and translation are so good and so natural, and also because the book has such useful content. Our older, original edition of "Hear Me" is falling apart, so this purchase today will be a replacement. I'd love to see this in a softbound, durable edition designed for everyday family use. (Incidentally, it wasn't until we started using this book that we were able, finally, to implement family prayers. All the other prayer books we tried had language that was too ungainly and distracted us from prayer, making both adults and children restless. This "Hear Me" prayer book changed our prayer life.)

Prior to reading this book, I can't say I'd ever heard of St. Dimitri. However, his life story and courageous witness have left their mark on me.

Written by the saint's daughter, Dmitri's Cross offers a unique insider's perspective on the life of a martyred priest. Unlike accounts written by an outside party, Helen Arjakovsky-Klepinine's narrative combines both personal anecdotes and historical documentation to share her father's life with the world. Of particular note are the touching letters between the imprisoned Fr. Dimitri and his wife, full of spiritual encouragement and touching notes to his children.

Frequent footnotes explaining various Orthodox liturgical terms make this work accessible to a broad, not necessarily Orthodox, audience. Profound and inspiring, yet accessible, this biography will definitely be on my list of "books to recommend" to those interested in the lives of the saints.

I received a review copy of the audiobook for "Of Such Is the Kingdom: A Practical Theology of Disability" by Summer Kinard.

What I enjoyed most in this book was the early sections discussing how the Orthodox Church understands disability and the fact that God allows disabilities for the purpose of cultivating virtue. I found this part really encouraging to listen to. I felt like it even applied to my experience of infertility, which of course is the inability to do something that others can do and that a healthy body can do.

I had some concerns about the author's suggestions for accessible Church School curricula. I talked with my husband about it, because he has a type of muscular dystrophy that affects all his motor neurons and causes all his voluntary muscles to be weaker. Kinard's suggestions heavily emphasize hands-on activities for all students in order to accommodate students with brain-based disabilities. This is something that would actually exclude my husband. He said that, if he were a kid, he would try to avoid going to class because he would think, "Ugh, I get really tired from doing the physical activities they do in class!" and it would feel like another place where he doesn't really belong and can't do what other people are doing.

The book seems primarily geared toward families dealing with autism or other similar conditions. Kinard makes an effort to mention suggestions related to other disabilities, and she has some "spotlight" sections on particular issues, such as blindness. However, much of the book feels specifically applicable to those who have autism themselves or in their family or among their church community members. From the way the book was advertised, I expected it to be more generally applicable to people with all kinds of disabilities.

Overall, I enjoyed this book the most in the earlier sections, and as it went on, I felt less and less engaged. In the beginning I expected to be giving it a 5-star review, but by the end it had fallen to a 3-star review for me.

Of Such is the Kingdom: A Practical Theology of Disability by Summer Kinard is an excellent resource on how to not only be more understanding toward those with disabilities but also, on how to create an environment where those vital members can participate fully in the church life.
It is a difficult subject that is neglected in many spheres of life. How do we accommodate those whose experiences are different and we don’t understand? It is often not convenient and takes practice, but it is essential to create a full community. This book makes it clear that no person should be left out of a community when there are actions others can take to incorporate them in. It benefits everyone when members with disabilities are in the community.
Also, this book has good information on how humans (particularly children) best learn and interact. There are little things we can do to better engage ourselves and others in the faith. One section I know I will find particularly useful was on prayer practices.
Personally, now that I have listened to the audiobook I will buy a physical copy that I can refer to when needed. Audiobooks are great ways to make books more accessible, but there is enough useful information in this book that I know having a physical copy will make it easier to find again. The recording quality is good overall, but there is an occasional faint high-pitched sound that I could hear when listening in my car.
Overall, this book effectively tackles the difficult and important subject of disability in church life. It is truly humbling to see the shortfalls that are often present and we could all work toward moving past. There are many other discussions that need to be had on how to invite people in who may have difficulties incorporating into a church community, and this is an excellent start.

Know The Faith: A handbook for Orthodox Christians and Inquirers by Michael Shanbour is such a informative and interesting book. I listened to the Audible version and plan to by an actual book for underlining and note taking. If I had it now there are many excellent quotes I would include in this review. But I am so thankful for the Audible version being a busy mom. I can listen much faster than I can read.
I was raised Byzantine Catholic and converted to Orthodoxy 3 years ago. My husband is Anglican. This book helps me to answer many of the questions I get from curious friends and family. Especially helpful to me has been chapter 8: Confession and Repentance and chapter 11: Veneration of the Virgin Mary. I now feel I have the knowledge and biblical references to share with those who ask how and why we honor her as we do. You will finish this book with a better understanding of how to kindly defend my aspects of your faith.

The is the most well-researched, beautiful distillation of any subject I've ever read. To so marvelously encapsulate all of church history and the varieties of various doctrines in such succinct, easy to read prose is astounding. As a Protestant interested in Orthodoxy, this was like a breath of fresh air, but it should be required reading for all as most of us are woefully uninformed on church history and heresies. I give it my highest possible recommendation. Truly excellent. Kudos to Father Damick for this incredible work.

Practical, powerful, and poignant.

I could talk at length about this book, but I will try to keep it concise. Written thoughtfully, the chapters are easy to break down, and offer discussion questions. The author not only draws on her own experiences of living neurodivergent, she includes quotes and experiences from individuals who have a wide variety of differences or disabilities.

The narrator, Kristina Wenger, has read several audio Orthodox books I have listened to. She is easy to understand, warm, and handles even the numerous endnotes smoothly, a feat often made clunky by other narrators.

As a mother to a son who has recently been diagnosed with ADHD and Generalized Sensory Disorder, we have been on quite the hunt for resources and support that are neither militant nor totally submissive to the whims of my child. This book time and again reminds us to see everyone who whole people, made in the image of God, and gives innumerable practical tips and ideas for how to welcome and include everyone in our churches. I cannot recommend it enough!

No other book I have ever read does a better job in explaining how Orthodoxy is different than all other Christian faiths and why this is so. It also in forms the the reader how he or she can work to acquire the Orthodox phronema if it is desired. The research reflected within this book is absolutely amazing.

I loved this book so much that I would buy a copy for anyone that expressed interest in finding the truth of Jesus Christ.

I had so many unanswered questions in my protestant life, and so many questions in regards to theology behind it.

My main issue was how the body of Christ could be divided. How can everyone believe something different about Christ or his teachings and still claim they serve the same God?

Why did we search for pastors WE liked, or teachings WE agreed with, with music and festivities that WE enjoyed? Why was everything revolving around US?

Why did we wander church to church as if Christ were only partially present ? Did we go to church to find Christ or did we go church to church accepting teachings here and there until we created an image of Christ that set well with us.

Long story short, I began to see flaws and questioned what I believed was truth & if it was just what I was taught. How did I know i received the actual truth of Jesus Christ and not a deception? Not a wolf in sheeps clothing ? Who determines that? If its the Holy Spirit, why are we still divided?

Then i found the ancient faith of Christianity through the Grace of God ... it only brought a million new questions....

Which really led me to seek God with all my heart...

However being so deceived before, I found myself questioning wether I had only been deceived again, and during this time, I picked this book up off the shelf at our Church, and I knew I was home, without any doubt left.

I read this book quickly; without spoilers, I needed to know if there was going to be a happy resolution of an unexpected crisis in the author’s own story. But I will re-read it slowly. It is beautifully written, an interweaving of reflection arising from prayer, reading and day to day lived experience that uses the Orthodox liturgical year and the changing seasons as a background for a quest. That quest is to discover, or perhaps more properly, to reveal the relationship between the author and the Mother of God. There is heartfelt honesty in the author’s reflections on the mother child relationship, our need as adults with imperfect mothers to be mothered ourselves. Prayer is at the heart of this book, and prayer makes sense of the sometimes bruising, sometimes joyful encounters with others on our journey. Prayer also illuminates nature; the author has a wonderfully observing eye for the natural world and its blessings.
Cradle Orthodox and converts alike will identify with a sense of knowing nothing and having access to everything possible for salvation. The author has read widely, and skilfully includes many useful sources into her narrative, but her own voice is the one I salute in particular. This is a brave, honest and moving memoir, and I felt my own relationship with the Mother of God deepened and illuminated by reading it.

A thorough and efficient introduction to the critical topics of the Orthodox Christian faith. Theology can sometimes feel overwhelming, as it requires a close reading of scriptural context, historical research, and philosophical study to truly feel a sense of capture over such a large and significant field. Additionally, understanding the nuances and distinctions between theologies of a similar faith tradition or that even share a vocabulary (with wildly different meanings) can add to this general apprehension, as the very act of locating a belief as arising from an Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Protestant worldview requires humility, knowledge, and a will to truth that is sometimes beyond the resources we naturally possess. As such, Rev. Shanbour's 'Know the Faith' could not make this a more welcoming, accessible, and interesting of an experience.
By leveraging a clever set of pop-culture examples, historical knowledge, and references to both scripture and ancient Church fathers to ground Orthodox Christian belief around 11 theological concepts, the author invites the reader with open arms into the history and mystery of the church's doctrine. Shanbour often opens a theological belief with where it has come from, but also takes the careful time to explain alternative interpretations by setting Orthodoxy in conversation with the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. Understanding that not all depictions of the faith are the same, Shanbour does an exceptional job at fairly explaining why Orthodox conceptions exist and how evolutions of the faith (or answers to Orthodoxy) stack up to the faith of the earliest disciples of the Christian Church.
Shanbour begins an ambitious work by covering 11 topics that cover Orthodox theology, but the structure of his approach suggests that the book is ideal for clear and efficient descriptions of Orthodoxy, introductions to Orthodoxy, and/or necessary engagement for Roman Catholics or Protestants looking to discern how elements of their traditions engage the Orthodox church. The 11 topics that Shanbour works through are on Orthodox teachings regarding the Church, Grace, Salvation, Justification by Faith, Tradition & Scripture, the Eucharist & Liturgical Worship, Ordination & the Priesthood, Confession & Repentance, Icon Veneration, the Intercession of the Saints, and the Veneration of the Virgin Mary. These are what could loosely be described as the theology of the Orthodox Church, and each chapter includes an introduction, history of the concept, the Orthodox philosophical perspective on the concept, responses to popular criticisms, responses to Roman Catholic and/or Protestant positions (as well as detailing both subtle and overt differences between the approaches), a full list of scriptural references that support the Orthodox position, and a list of quotes from ancient Church fathers to demonstrate extra-biblical consistency and scriptural application.
The audiobook is narrated by Darrell Smith and runs for approximately 9 hours and 50 minutes (appropriate, given its print counterpart's 300+ page count). Given the word efficiency, it is relatively easy to become enraptured to a point where it feels as if virtually no time has passed: Smith speaks at a slow and steady pace, but Shanbour's text empowers each sentence to be its own complete thought. Said differently, Shanbour does with one sentence what many authors struggle to do with four; so while the pace and the total time of the audiobook could be detriments for a different text, they ultimately compliment and enrich the engaging composition given here.
Anyone interested in the Christian faith, whether they find themselves completely external to the faith, a newcomer, or a longtime participant should read this book since it gives such a thorough account on what Christianity is and how it has developed throughout time. I would encourage any Christian in the Roman Catholic or Protestant traditions to work through these pages, as Rev. Shanbour provides iron-sharpening provocations about a variety of Christian practices. The illumination of wisdom lost to denominational ideology is a risk that affects all with time, but powerful, convicting, and scripturally honed words such as these shine a light on productive ways to (re)encounter the faith.
Whether you are new to Orthodox Christianity, familiarizing yourself with its theology and history, or an older Orthodox Christian looking for clear and concise ways to communicate its concepts to loved ones, this book is a must-have (and its audiobook, a must-listen).

This book is an absolute treasure! It is a day-to-day devotional that is guided and organized by the readings of the Orthodox church during the Lenten season. Often, Lent can be a struggle for any individual, but Archpriest Belonick guides us on a journey of deep meditation in easy-to-understand bites that help focus our reflections during Pascha. I absolutely loved that he not only included his own beautiful examinations of the Bible readings, but also selected valuable selections from church fathers and other saints to help expand our understanding. Getting to read this book each morning is like escaping into an oasis, where I could both find a starting place for my prayers that day and simply enjoy my walk with the Lord. If you want to add something special to your Lenten canon this year, I highly recommend adding this to your home library!

A simultaneously thorough and efficient introduction to a number of critical topics of the Orthodox Christian faith.
Theology can sometimes feel overwhelming, as it requires a close reading of scriptural context, historical research, and philosophical study to truly feel a sense of capture over such a large and significant field. Additionally, understanding the nuances and distinctions between theologies of a similar faith tradition or that even share a vocabulary (with wildly different meanings) can add to this general apprehension, as the very act of locating a belief as arising from an Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Protestant worldview requires humility, knowledge, and a will to truth that is sometimes beyond the resources we naturally possess. As such, Rev. Shanbour’s “Know the Faith” could not make this a more welcoming, accessible, and interesting of an experience.
By leveraging a clever set of pop-culture examples, historical knowledge, and references to both scripture and ancient Church fathers to ground Orthodox Christian belief around 11 theological concepts, the author invites the reader with open arms into the history and mystery of the church’s doctrine. Shanbour often opens a theological belief with where it has come from, but also takes the careful time to explain alternative interpretations by setting Orthodoxy in conversation with the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. Understanding that not all depictions of the faith are the same, Shanbour does an exceptional job at fairly explaining why Orthodox conceptions exist and how evolutions of the faith (or answers to Orthodoxy) stack up to the faith of the earliest disciples of the Christian Church.
Shanbour begins an ambitious work by covering 11 topics that cover Orthodox theology, but the structure of his approach suggests that the book is ideal for clear and efficient descriptions of Orthodoxy, introductions to Orthodoxy, and/or necessary engagement for Roman Catholics or Protestants looking to discern how elements of their traditions engage the Orthodox church. The 11 topics that Shanbour works through are on Orthodox teachings regarding the Church, Grace, Salvation, Justification by Faith, Tradition & Scripture, the Eucharist & Liturgical Worship, Ordination & the Priesthood, Confession & Repentance, Icon Veneration, the Intercession of the Saints, and the Veneration of the Virgin Mary. These are what could loosely be described as the theology of the Orthodox Church, and each chapter includes an introduction, history of the concept, the Orthodox philosophical perspective on the concept, responses to popular criticisms, responses to Roman Catholic and/or Protestant positions (as well as detailing both subtle and overt differences between the approaches), a full list of scriptural references that support the Orthodox position, and a list of quotes from ancient Church fathers to demonstrate extra-biblical consistency and scriptural application.
The audiobook is narrated by Darrell Smith and runs for approximately 9 hours and 50 minutes (appropriate, given its print counterpart’s 300+ page count). Given the word efficiency, it is relatively easy to become enraptured to a point where it feels as if virtually no time has passed: Smith speaks at a slow and steady pace, but Shanbour’s text empowers each sentence to be its own complete thought. Said differently, Shanbour does with one sentence what many authors struggle to do with four; so while the pace and the total time of the audiobook could be detriments for a different text, they ultimately compliment and enrich the engaging composition given here.
Anyone interested in the Christian faith, whether they find themselves completely external to the faith, a newcomer, or a longtime participant should read this book since it gives such a thorough account on what Christianity is and how it has developed throughout time. I would encourage any Christian in the Roman Catholic or Protestant traditions to work through these pages, as Rev. Shanbour provides iron-sharpening provocations about a variety of Christian practices. The illumination of wisdom lost to denominational ideology is a risk that affects all with time, but powerful, convicting, and scripturally honed words such as these shine a light on productive ways to (re)encounter the faith.
Whether you are new to Orthodox Christianity, familiarizing yourself with its theology and history, or an older Orthodox Christian looking for clear and concise ways to communicate its concepts to loved ones, this book is a must-have (and its audiobook, a must-listen).

An informative, satisfying listen on Orthodox theology and practice. In this timeless book, Fr. Shanbour clearly lays out the teachings of the Orthodox Church. I especially enjoyed how the author organized the book to open with those topics that will be of most interest and help to inquirers, converts, and others. The first four chapters (covering the church, grace, salvation, and justification by faith respectively) clearly lay out the fundamental doctrines of the Orthodox church. As I am a convert from Protestantism, I found the author's inclusion of Roman Catholic and Protestant doctrines to be incredibly helpful. It is amazing how much greater the differences are between Eastern and Western Christianity than between the two main branches of the Western Church.

I did find the audiobook version of this book to be a bit of a challenge, given the content's depth. If one is just starting their exploration of Orthodoxy I recommend they get a physical or electronic copy of this book. However, if one is already fairly familiar with Orthodox teachings and practice, this is a solid listen that I highly recommend. The narrator is engaging without being overly dramatic.

I highly recommend this book in any edition to those who want to learn more about the Orthodox faith, especially if they are coming from a Roman Catholic or Protestant background.