Love it ❤️ The perfect birthday gift for my daughter .

Lovely and interesting, as always. A fine addition to my over 10 years collection.

One of my regrets is that my life is too busy to sit still long enough to read. This is why I was glad to find the audio version of Words for Our Lives: The Spiritual Words of Matthew the Poor. The heartfelt message of the Egyptian Elder Abba Matta, also known as Matthew the Poor, is encouraging and challenging. It is the second volume recently translated from Arabic. The first volume is Words For Our Time: The Spiritual Words of Matthew the Poor.

I was able to enjoy the deep yet practical spiritual teachings of Abba Matta while I was working at home, folding laundry and preparing dinner. It was as if I had company during the isolating housework. I even looked forward to a recent road trip because it meant that I had four uninterrupted hours to finish the six and a half hour audiobook.

Unfortunately, because I was multi-tasking, it was hard to follow the narrative changes when the female reader switched from the voice of the story-teller to the voice of Abba Matta. I didn't like hearing a woman's voice talking about the firsthand experience of an Egyptian monk.

That being said, I look forward to purchasing the paperbacks of these two volumes and finding time to read the books myself. I want to learn more from Abba Matta. I miss his company.

The Age of Paradise: Christendom from Pentecost to the First Millennium is a fascinating and ambitious offering by Fr. John Strickland. The book, the first of four projected volumes on Christendom’s history, is published by Ancient Faith Publishing, which provided me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The book is at once heady and accessible. Strickland writes of Christian history in a way I’ve never seen before – the material is lofty and dense, and, yet, still interesting to a non-academic reader. He presents so many ideas on each page; let’s be clear, it’s not a light, fluffy read. If one wants to get the most out of the book, one should carve out a few hours at a time to read big chunks of the book. The author presented new-to-me concepts and words – caesaropapism, romanitas, etc… Still, I learned so much from The Age of Paradise.

What is probably the most interesting to me as a lay, non-academic reader of Strickland’s material is how he brings together what was happening in the world (political / non-Christian) at the same time as events in the life of the Church. He showed the debauchery of the pagan Roman Empire in contrast to Pentecost. Moreover, he reminds the reader time and again that the Western church and the Eastern church were one – Franks, Visigoths, Charlemagne, et al. all have roles in the book and in Christianity. One tends to think of these as figures in the West (i.e. not Orthodox), but the Church was one. It’s a good reminder to see our faith through the lens of the first millennium of Christianity.

Another interesting detail was how Strickland showed that charitable works were something that set apart the new Christian religion from pagans. (Something surprising in all of the histories of emperors, popes, patriarchs, and the like is how much violence there was, even after Christianity was legalized.) Additionally, I like that the author included several well-known stories. This was a good way to draw the reader (back) into the narrative. One was about St. Patrick and his beautiful prayer known as Saint Patrick’s Breastplate (p. 173-4). The other piece of history I appreciated seeing in the book was the account of Vladimir’s emissaries to the Greeks, “we knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth” (p. 248).

Part of what makes this book so fascinating is how Strickland delves into so many topics – history and chronology, of course, but also art, architecture, music, prayer, monasticism, rulers, alliances, the filioque, and more, and how these different aspects tie into each other. (e.g. I learned in this book that the filioque originated with Visigoths and then was adopted by the Franks. Rome actually was hewing to the proceedings of the Fourth Ecumenical Council for a long time before adopting the filioque.)

And while the book is certainly written from the Orthodox Christian perspective of the author, I think this book would appeal to anyone (not just Orthodox readers) interested in learning more about the history of first millennium of Christianity/Christendom. Fr. John Strickland’s The Age of Paradise: Christendom from Pentecost to the First Millennium is an impressive volume, which will certainly enrich any reader who makes and takes the time to read it.

Beautiful book and beautiful words!

I was one of the lucky few to get a sneak peak at the Beauty First Films 2020 Calendar when Dr. Tim and Thomaida gave a presentation on their new film-making projects to the attendees of the 2019 St. John's Family Camp in Fall Creek, Oregon during the summer. Upon seeing the calendar, I knew that this was going to be a major game-changer for my homeschooling, church, family, and social planning needs. Where else can one find a calendar that displays a liturgical season layout at a glance? It's absolutely brilliant! I recently picked up my very own copy of the Julian calendar version during a retreat where Thomaida was selling them and when I showed it to my priest the following week, he was so pleased and impressed by the images and layout, that I couldn't resist gifting it to him as a belated birthday present! I recently picked myself up a new copy along with more to sell at my church and I have never been more eager for the start of a new year simply so I can begin using this beautiful and innovative wall calendar! I love everything about it. I love how much room there is to jot down things like appointments, notes, and meal plans. I love the stunning photographs and quality materials used to make this calendar and I love the tag line "overthrow the tyranny of months!" Bravo!

I love this prayer book. Perfect for gifts. Thank you. nm

By groupig the readings of each day by themes, plus many other improvements, I believe this book is worthy of being purchased by all Orthodox Christians who seek to get to know the Saint better, as well as to live a life according to the model presented to us by our Redeemer, that is beautifully exposed by Saint John.

I am so grateful to have come across this resource for my second time through pregnancy. I felt a desire for a spiritual reading companion of some kind in my first pregnancy, but wasn't able to find it. This book is everything I hoped for and more. I appreciate the layout, corresponding to each week of pregnancy and the reflection questions that pair with each chapter. The thoughtfulness and wisdom behind the specific ordering (and indeed pilgrimage) of content is clear. This book is igniting my faith in new and exciting ways. I highly recommend it!

I have followed Summer Kinard’s work around making the Divine Liturgy and Church life accessible for children and individuals of all abilities for several years now, and have eagerly anticipated the completion of this book. Of Such Is The Kingdom: A Practical Theology of Disability certainly does not disappoint! It is rich in both spiritual truth, gently pouring out God’s immeasurable love for both families with and without disabilities alike, as well as practical models and suggestions for ordering our daily spiritual life together down to the nitty gritty details.
As a member of a family with multiple disabilities, including my own neurodivergence, I have found so many moments of nourishment and relief as I let myself sink into this book. So often, dealing with life outside our family and certain safe spaces involves layering on a sort of armor, being ready to explain or state boundaries to people who have no frame of reference for our lives and conditions, and being constantly hypervigilant in protecting and guiding our children. While the rewards are many, it is an exhausting way to live, and doubly so if church is not one of those safe spaces. Yet through the pages of this book, I find absolute understanding about both the joys and struggles of this life. Each practical suggestion is applicable, rather than having to modify what I find elsewhere. This brings not only a feeling of relief and safety, but also a renewed sense of excitement for all of the possibilities!
Summer is particularly gifted at weaving in the many voices from families with disabilities that have contributed their thoughts and experiences to this project. This book reflects not only Summer’s heart and extensive expertise, but also the collective experiences and deep yearning of the whole Christian community of families with disabilities to be fully included in our faith communities and experience spiritual growth and closeness with God as integral parts of those communities. Importantly, every part of her work here is supported by Scripture, teachings of the Holy Fathers and Mothers, input from respected Orthodox priests, as well as research on human development, multi-sensory learning, and disabilities and accessibility.
Each part of this book- from stories from a multitude of voices, to information on development and learning, to theology and spiritual formation, to a large framework of practical action points- is skillfully woven into a very readable format. The discussion in each relatively short chapter is followed by bullet point summaries and discussion/reflection questions. This makes it exceptionally well-suited for use in book studies and as a practical resource for churches wanting to better serve their communities.
Part meaty (yet fully accessible to the lay person) theology, part warm chat over coffee, and part action plan for growing as whole communities of faith in the context of disability, this book is an essential resource for every Christian and faith community, whether you yourself or someone in your wider community lives with disability. Also of note, although this is written through the lens of Orthodoxy and primarily for an Orthodox audience, the concepts laid out extend far past that and are truly applicable to life in every spiritual community. Whether you are a family with a disability, an individual with a heart to reach out to families with disabilities, or a faith community looking for practical guidance on how to fully include families with disabilities for the mutual growth and salvation of all, Of Such Is The Kingdom is an essential companion to help you make a good beginning!

I think the calendar is beautiful! I use the previous year's artwork to frame and decorate our Sunday Room classes at Church! Please continue printing these calendars. Thank you! Mary Lynn Gudovic

As a catechist with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, I am delighted with this book! It's beautifully done in an age-appropriate size. I have helped lead several CGS children's retreats on confession and find many similarities between CGS and this book, such as starting with the relationship we have with Christ, explaining that sin disrupts that relationship of love and saying that the Church gives us confession as a weapon/tool to restore it. The book uses 1 Cor 13 for self-examination which is similar to the pithy sayings of Jesus' such as Love Your Neighbor as Yourself that CGS uses. There are a couple of minor things I think could have been improved: referring to the Found Sheep instead of the Lost Sheep and defining confession as a sacrament where we confess to God in the presence of a priest instead of as telling God or a priest. Overall, a great little book! I'm going to recommend it to our whole parish.

Fantastic and compelling artwork! An accessible format for all ages to experience the Life of this incredible Saint.

Father Yanney's life story is an inspiring one. His travels to minister to the Orthodox faithful scattered in small settlements across a large swath of America was grueling. I was exhausted reading about them. We Orthodox living and worshipping in the mid section of this country are in many ways his legacy. Thank you for pulling the information together and sharing his story. May his memory be eternal.

Very good read. enjoying the book

Set on the Greek Island of Corfu, the audiobook Spyridon’s Shoes by Christine Rogers, is written for the seven year old to the pre-teen, but can be appreciated by any age. The historic fictional child Spiro and his environs are described in colorful language and details as we learn how he catches fish and octopuses to support his family. The choice expressions the author uses are dramatic and paints pictures of the playful and realistic antics of your everyday beach-loving boy. She also reads the story aloud with expression that matches the lively action.

The author brings to life the historical character of St Spyridon who young Spiro encounters multiple times while fishing at the shore. He helps the boy when he injures his foot and nobody else is nearby to help him home. The boy looks for his kindly friend and repairs the ripped sandal tall Spyridon loaned him to walk home in. In later encounters, they become friends as he tells the white-bearded man about his worries and dreams and is consoled and encouraged. I loved the drama of the relationship that unfolded as the fatherly man shared his thoughts and aspirations about how to know God and confide in Him about everyday matters.

The traits of St Spyridon such as his habit of helping people in need are based on actual stories passed down for centuries in Corfu. I enjoyed the author’s creativity in adding drama that aids the imagination to picture the skeleton story-line we are often left with in historical accounts. This allows the reader to appreciate the historical figure and for a child to encounter him or her more fully.

I came away with a vivid picture of the generosity and kindness of our historic saints who labor for us in invisible ways. And also the profound reminder of what saints’ lives constantly remind us of: that our connection to God is vital for the everyday things we need and prayers are what create and continue this connection.

The format is ideal for young people, but it is a wonderful prayer guide for people of all ages. Our church has sold many copies. People purchase them to be used as ideal gifts for children, god children or relatives.

My daughters and I loved this book!

Great stuff!

Brilliantly and beautifully helps an Orthodox household to reconcile its deep interest in keeping time by the Liturgical seasons with its inevitable need also to keep a practical calendar that matches up with the rest of everybody else. The idea is to "destroy the tyranny of months" ... but still keep track of them!