As a new seminarian student I found The Age of Paradise some what challenging. It is not for the occasional reader of Christian history. The first half of the book was a surprise in the learning the building of the Christian culture in the West. It was truly a paradise with influences coming from the Eastern church and Monastics. Under their care and nurturing the West grew and flourished becoming their own culture. At first reject and persecuted but growing none the less.

Then second part of the book became a bit muddled for me as most texts books do. I recommend a couple of highlighters and some note taking. Harder to get through but the rewards are great.

For Sunday school classes or extra reading for students and lay people this is a good read. It is not a casual read.

This was an amazing book. I did a read aloud with my almost 7 year old son and we finished it in two read aloud sessions. We could not put it down. At one point my son and I both had tears in our eyes. The setting was beautiful and the way it was written was just superb. I highly recommend this book to every Orthodox Christian young and old.

Look very nice.

Nice cover

I’ve got every calendar since 2006, it’s an annual necessity as they are beautifully done.

Great! Exactly as I hoped......

Nearly 12 years ago, I started learning about the Eastern Orthodox Church, and one of the first books I read was Becoming Orthodox, Fr Peter’s account of his own journey into the Church. It was to my surprise and delight to find that I lived just minutes away from the parish that Fr Peter and his family attended, and I knew I needed to visit and meet these people he had written about. I was baptised there a year later, and during that time and the year to come I heard many a homily and seminar given by Fr Peter in his warm, deep voice, and listened to his bass harmonies ring out during Liturgy. He was always so welcoming and encouraging to me and my family, and he seemed to have a peace and strength about him that has stayed in my memory of him.

In this book, Memories of His Mercy, I hear Fr Peter’s voice again. I hear the same down-to-earth manner of speaking of God’s mercy and love as if they are the most ordinary and miraculous events. God’s mercy is for all, and Fr Peter had a heart to tell others just that. While it is specifically a book about Fr Peter’s life, from birth to death, trials and joys, struggles and successes, it is at heart an account of God’s mercy. It is a reminder that His presence, love, and mercy are scattered throughout our lives, whether we see them at the moment or only notice them at the end of our lives when looking back at our entire life story. I am so grateful for this memoir and the encouragement it bestows while providing such an intimate glimpse into the life of this beloved man.

The best church calendar ever! I bought the first one, showed the church school teachers and they loved it. I ordered a second so I have one at work and one at home. Yes! It’s for me! Lol!

Every year I look forward to ordering new Christmas Cards from the Ancient Faith Store that are original Eastern Orthodox Icons and expressions. I have one friend to whom I send these that has started a collection for displaying each year. Top quality and reasonably priced. This year the Magi Follow the Star is the must buy card of the season.

I received an advance copy of this book. Dr. Roccas' work addresses a personal and often overwhelming struggle that is difficult to truly understand unless one is going through it. This work has given me a lot of insight which will help me speak with empathy with people dealing with such a personal issue. After Dr. Roccas' previous book, I had high expectations for this book and I was not disappointed. I am sure that Dr. Roccas' work will touch many hearts because it comes from a place of faith, authenticity, and understanding.

What a beautiful and comforting book. From someone who has suffered 2 miscarriages, this book I think finally gave me the closure I didn’t know I needed. In a few short weeks I will be commemorating the 6th anniversary of my first miscarriage. It has been a long journey of healing spiritually, mentally and physically. Nicole does a beautiful job of highlighting the effects of infertility from both the female and the male perspective. I read several books about miscarriages and Nicole’s is the only one to give the male side. Not only that, but it does a remarkable job of showing family and friends who may not know what it’s like to be supportive. This book is truly a gift and a must read.

Through Joachim, Anna, Nicole’s own story and commentary from others dealing with infertility, Nicole has laid out this book in an easy to follow and to understand all the medical jargon associated with infertility and childlessness. It is full of raw emotions and compassion that I thought I had completely dealt with but while reading it, it came up and out again. I feel different this time. I feel truly healed spiritually and emotionally.
I highly recommend this to anyone dealing with infertility and childlessness.

I received an advance copy of this book for my honest review.

I am very excited to see that the story of Numbers within the 40 year journey came alive to me in a completely new perspective. Step by step through the chapters, this book described what the tribes did after receiving the gift of "A Promise to the Promised Land", Surprised to see only the offspring of the original people entered the land. Behavior of these people was a lesson in the nature of man. NOt as loyal or grateful as I would have suspected. I will re-read this and study it along with the reading of the scriptures of Numbers in the Old Testament.

Lovely cross, and a good value.

We use this book as a tool to teach our faith to converts or anyone who is eager to learn more about Orthodoxy.

Your censer is absolutely exquisite. My lower rating is because my old one just like this was at least twice as big. I did have it a long time but is that size no longer available?

I love that my grandson now his his own Orthodox Bible!

I think it is a great prayer book for teens and young adults. Great ideas on many different issues and situations they will find themselves in.

This is popular in our bookstore.

Will be using it in a modified form for a church school play at my UOC church in New Mexico.

As a 68-year-old mother of three grown adopted children and four wonderful grandchildren, I still grieve my infertility. Nicole makes an important point that adoption doesn't cure infertility grief. But she also offers help in the healing process. As an Orthodox Christian, I appreciated her use of Saints Joachim and Anna's infertility journey as a parallel for the five stages of grief, which I think apply to anyone, Orthodox or not, Christian or not. There is much sound wisdom here. And as a published author, I also appreciate the quality of the writing itself. Five stars for the helpful wisdom, the important subject matter, the spiritual insights, and the prose itself.