The absolutely gorgeous "raspberry" color got my attention!
When it arrived, I was so surprised that it is SO HEAVY -- each volume is heavy and the 2 of them together require both hands. An Orthodox gentleman I know, who has the older edition, said his is in four volumes. I'm very glad I did decide to buy these books from you -- the words are so spiritual. But, if and when, you or someone reprints it or expands it in the future, I do suggest go back to the 4-volume set, so it is not so heavy. Beautiful color, very spiritual, but way too heavy. [I have studied the history of Christianity from both the Eastern and Western perspectives and have books from both sides. I'm very grateful that this beautiful color caught my eye.]

Stubborn Love is a well written and illustrated chapter book that will interest any young person (or adult) who is interested in learning more about the life and work of Saint Maria of Paris and what it means to truly love others.

I am a fifty three year old husband and father of two who recently converted to Orthodoxy after being diagnosed with a terminal illness and Father Stavros's "Painless, Blameless and Peaceful" is a wonderful book that answered all of my questions, including some I hadn't realized I had, about Orthodox views and traditions on dying, death, and funerals. It is insightful, informative, and touching. Fr Stavros shares many of his personal experiences ministering to people as they approached the end of their lives as well as those who passed in his presence. I found myself inspired and comforted, while at the same time realizing that my own race is not yet finished, and I have work yet left to do, while I still can, to glorify God and satisfy He who enlisted me.

It is also a great read for those who have lost a love one, or are caring for someone who is nearing the end of their life. Having just finished the book I plan on sharing it with my wife, who is not orthodox and is struggling both with my sudden illness and the orthodox funeral tradition.

The book is divided into short and easily consumed reflections that make for an easy read whether you only have a few minutes a day to read or you like to binge read. He narrative is friendly and personable, and it feels as if you are sitting with him during coffee hour and not reading a book.

In short, this is a fast, sensitive, and wonderful read discussing death and the orthodox tradition that is both thought provoking and comforting that will cause you to reflect on where you are on your journey in life, while inspiring hope that whether you have spent a lifetime as a pious Christian or have yet to repent and turn to God, He is there extending His hand to us all offering everlasting life.

The book is very nice, well-put together with lots of illustrations that my kids love. I bought one copy last year for my eldest when she turned 5 and learned to read, and all my kids wound up sharing it because they loved it so much. This year, when it was back in stock, I bought several more copies and put them away so that each of my kids can have one on their fifth birthday. The second eldest also loves hers. I have even found the prayers in here useful for myself when I need something simple that I can remember on various occasions. Highly recommend!

Great book, it has beautiful illustrations for young readers and goes through praying for different occasions.

I buy Icon Calendars for my relatives. One of them is a school teacher and finds the calendar a calming influence in her office.

If you had asked me a few weeks ago about the history of Orthodoxy Christianity in Lithuania, I wouldn't have known anything about it, or particularly cared. My knowledge of Lithuania was mostly "it's a Baltic nation".

But THE WOLF AND THE CROSS by Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick and Dn. Seraphim Richard Rohlin changed that. I'm certainly interested in anything they work on together, after years of listening to them talk about Tolkien, among other things.

So, what's special about Lithuania? Well, it's Fr. Andrews ancestral homeland, from which his great grandparents emigrated to the States. More broadly, it was the last pagan nation in Europe, and was Christianized in a push and pull between Roman Christianity from Western Europe and Orthodox Christianity in Russia and the East. It went from a small nation that had only had one king in hundreds of years, so half of the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth, which was for a time the most powerful nation in Europe. In time, it was broken up by surrounding nations before briefly gaining it's independence after WWI, and then was consumed by the Soviet Union.

Amidst these momentous changes, Christian faith has a fascinating history. Orthodox faith made earlier in-roads into the pagan nation, even as Catholic Teutonic knights tried to subjugate the fledgling nation. Subsequent Catholic dominance was heightened by the "Uniate" churches that broke from the Eastern church to align with Rome, and contrasted by the subsequent dominance of Orthodox Russia.

Over the centuries, Fr. Andrew and Dn. Seraphim trace the stories of various saints, from the Three Martyrs of Vilnius, killed by pagan rulers for their unrepentant faith, to many others, including a deposed princess who became a nun.

It's a great book, balancing the broad history of the nation and people with more personal and aspirational tales of faith.

Great crucifix for a wall. My only critique is that I wish there was an easier way to put it up. I had to put a screw 75% in and leave the crucifix hanging on the other 25% remaining.

When I saw the title and sub-title of this book, I knew I needed to read it. My husband of 47 years, best friend for 52 years has, since February 2022, been experiencing severe health challenges. He has been diagnosed twice with separate cancers with bleak prognoses. While thankful for the time God has granted us, the prospect of his earthly life coming to an end has for us become a daily walk and exceedingly real. I anticipated reading this book might be emotionally difficult. I could not have been more wrong. Fr. Stavros’ reflections are comforting, filled with wisdom and warmth. I loved reading his words, underlining and making notes as I read. Fr. Stavros’ honesty, practicality and warmth make topics like grief, loss and tragedy approachable. His deep knowledge and spirituality brings comfort to the prospect of transitioning from this life to eternal life. I found practical advice that I will use, and gained understanding and a perspective shift that brings me peace. I will be reading many of the reflections again, both for the knowledge they impart and the comfort they bring. Read this book. You will be glad you did.

I love this and the size is perfect to travel with.
Having these prayers has deepen my relationship with the Holy Theotokos.
Perfect for spiritual growth since I am a growing in my Orthodox
Faith in the body of Christ.

When I saw the title and sub-title of this book, I knew I needed to read it. My husband of 47 years, best friend for 52 years has, since February 2022, been experiencing severe health challenges. He has been diagnosed twice with separate cancers with bleak prognoses. While very thankful for the time God has granted us, the prospect of my husband's earthly life coming to an end has for us become a daily walk and exceedingly real. I anticipated reading this book might be emotionally difficult. I could not have been more wrong. Fr. Stavros’ reflections are comforting, filled with wisdom and warmth. I loved reading his words, underlining and making notes as I read. Fr. Stavros’ honesty, practicality and warmth make topics like grief, loss and tragedy approachable. His deep knowledge and spirituality brings comfort to the prospect of transitioning from this life to eternal life. I found practical advice that I will use, and gained understanding and a perspective shift that brings me peace. I will be reading many of the reflections again, both for the knowledge they impart and the comfort they bring. Read this book. You will be glad you did.

I love how Fr. Stavros writes in a way that is not far over the common reader's head but still makes incredible points. After reading this I have recommended it to my church's death and burial committee. He describes the Orthodox Christian practices so well, and goes into details about why we do them. I found myself looking up and telling a friend a line I read that was powerful or moving. As someone who has lost many people, this book also had a comforting aspect, as Fr. Stavros brings up the question of what comes next and the unknown. This book is perfect for anyone whether you are thinking about death or not. I would recommend this book to everyone. My prayer for all that read it, and the most important petition Fr. Stavros says is "for a Christian end to our lives, painless, blameless, and peaceful, and for a good defense before the awesome judgement seat of Christ" and may we all say "Grant this O Lord". I also love the commentary from others, and the story telling Fr. Stavros sprinkles throughout the book to give it a personal touch. It is truly one of the greatest books I have read from the Orthodox perspective discussing death. Thank you Fr. Stavros for such beautiful words. I recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone who desires to read it.

Fr. Stavros has given us a gentle, yet powerful treasure in Painless, Blameless & Peaceful: Orthodox Christian Reflections on Death, Dying, and Eternal Life. The experiences Fr. Stavros shares will encourage you, challenge you, and give you a lot to think about as you contemplate your own journey toward a Christian End.

It's natural to fear death, seems like most people do. This book helps to demystify death, and encourages us to think about our own process of preparing ourselves for the Kingdom to come.

Be prepared to shed tears, feel grief, peace, and yes, joy, as you read. My favorite chapter- The Best Death Ever-Eva. the best death indeed, and this would be the aim for all of us I think (buy the book! This chapter alone is worth it!)

As a recent convert and an avid reader, I found this book very easy to read (although sometimes I was in tears) and even though death is a tough topic, Fr. Stavros writes with a gentle eloquence that made this one of the easier Orthodox books I've read.

I would encourage everyone to read this and take note of the lessons. None of us know how long we have here on earth, and we need proper preparation.

'For a Christian end to our lives, peaceful without shame and suffering, and for a good defense before the awesome judgment seat of Christ, let us ask the Lord'

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my review. All thoughts expressed are my own.

It's interesting learning about the path of being a fool for Christ. It's also a really quick read.

Spectacular read! Each section felt like I was on the pilgrimage with the authors. I often would read a section and then stop to savor it. History both secular and Orthodox entwines with folk stories and personal narratives to form a beautiful journey into the heart and soul of a people. I learned so much about how Orthodoxy both influenced and was influenced by Lithuania. I met familiar characters, such as St. John of Kronstadt, and found new heroes like Chiune Sugihara. I cannot recommend this book enough. It's a must read!

First, I'll be honest in saying I wasn't sure what to expect when I decided to read and review this particular book. Let's face it, death is something many of us want to avoid talking about out of fear or dread. But in the end, I'm glad I was given the chance to read this book. I can say I learned some things, and it definitely gave me a lot to think about. My review will not do it justice, but I encourage you to order a copy and read it for yourself!

Fr. Stavros's book is a good read for new converts and cradle Orthodox, in my opinion. I love how Father brings a logical but beautiful approach to understanding the scary but inevitable topic of death. He walks us all through how to deal with those unexpected tragedies, our own end of life, and so much more.

In the book, Fr. Stavros offers up many personal stories and experiences to help us see death and how some deal with it. It really was a great look into a Priest's role in someone's end of life. The story of Eva was so touching and was something I thought about for several days after reading that chapter.

Although it wasn't something mentioned, it reminded me of reading his words on the pages to continue to pray for our Priests as they guide Parishioners and their families through sickness, dying, and tragic situations. I'm so thankful men like my priest and Fr. Stavoros answer the call to guide us along our walk with Christ.

Often in our younger years, we are too busy living life to prepare as we should. like thinking it is not something to consider at the moment.

I'm guilty of not thinking about end-of-life arrangements (I'm definitely not getting younger), or how to prepare myself or my family for how I want things to be when my time comes.

This book is a great reminder to start being smart and planning, as we do not know how soon our time will be.

Since I'm a newer convert of only 5 years, the whole Orthodox funeral service is much different than others I went to growing up, so it makes sense that I should begin to think about these things and prepare ahead, just as we are living our days out here on Earth, preparing ourselves to enter into the Kingdom one day.

Painless, Blameless, and Peaceful is a deeply comforting and compassionate reflection on death, dying, and eternal life. Fr. Stavros Akrotirianakis writes not as a theologian, but as a pastor, sharing the fruit of decades of gentle, fatherly care. His warmth and sincerity make every page feel like a pastoral conversation.
The book opens with a moving commemoration of children he has buried, inspiring prayer and remembrance. Throughout, he invites readers to live the liturgy daily and prepare their hearts for the Kingdom to come.
One reflection that especially stayed with me is his reframing of salvation—from “Are you saved?” to “Are you prepared? Are you preparing?” This simple shift offers peace and clarity to hearts burdened by anxiety or fear.
I would recommend this book to Orthodox Christians, converts, inquirers, and anyone curious about the Orthodox view of death and eternal life.

This short book packs a lot of information on the history of Baal. Fr Stephen weaves a tale of Baal’s story through the centuries, passing through the ancient near east pagans, the Old Testament prophets, and landing the New Testament. In doing so he sheds light on why the story of Baal should matter to us and how we are to understand him considering our view of the devil as revealed in scripture. Due to the length of the book certain topics get a very brief overview even though personally I would have preferred a much deeper dive. However, in so doing, this is a very accessible book for anyone interested in the history of the devil and is a great addition to anyone’s library.

I have purchased many of these over the years for my choir members and friends.

In this beautifully written book, Fr. Stavros offers a gentle and deeply comforting exploration of death through the lens of Orthodox Christianity. Painless, Blameless & Peaceful provides timeless spiritual wisdom that helps demystify the process of dying, emphasizing the hope and peace found in eternal life with Christ.
Fr. Stavros' reflections are both pastoral and practical, rooted in Scripture, liturgical tradition and personal encounters. Each chapter invites the reader to face the reality of mortality not with fear, but with faith, humility, and love. Whether you're grieving, preparing for death, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of Orthodox teachings on the afterlife, this book is a compassionate companion.