I like the size of the print and am getting used to changes in language from my other prayer books. I like the flow of the morning and evening prayers with multiple Psalms to choose from. The only thing I think would make it better would be offering an edition that is spiral bound so it will lie flat and be easier to hold.

This is a very nice resource. The only suggestion I have is when you do reprints please include new and old calendar dates. That would be so helpful especially for those of us who are converts.

Very nice edition. A daily inspiration with which every Orthodox Christian should be blessed.

Many women like this very much as it gives insight on the Philokalia and monastic writings which is difficult to obtain otherwise. Written by a woman is very beneficial.

Excellent source of daily contact with saints of the day.

Great way to start my day.

This book was a delight. This story is lovely and in reading it you feel transported to another time and place; and the journey will feel smooth and easy, like going on a beautiful leisurely walk. The story is well-paced for the young reader 7+.

This books helps to fill a gap in chapter books for younger Orthodox readers. I’ve seen many newly published baby books, toddlers books, even picture books, but not much for my young reader yearning for chapter books. My son is very interested in our faith, and books like this are surely a way to feed that interest. The author presents a story of prayer and faith in a way that is easy and fun, we’re charmed.

As an Orthodox mom tying to insert the faith wherever I can, I appreciate that there is a chapter book that will keep his interest and provide a window to our faith. I hope there will be many more!
[This book was provided by the published free of charge for an unbiased review.]

This book offers a whole lot more to the young reader than simply a good story. In these pages children are introduced to some very difficult but important concepts of our Orthodox faith: prayer, intercessory prayer, the timelessness of the Church, relics, the reality of suffering, and the Joy of a life in Christ! I am thankful to have read it and am excited to share it with others as well!

I thought this was going to be a cookbook, but it's more! This book offers guidelines on stocking your pantry and planning for meals during Lent and other fasts, to make that aspect of the fasts less stressful so that you can put your focus where it belongs--on God. The author has a wonderful sense of humor which is much appreciated.

Really enjoy the Philo kali pieced into daily bite sized wisdom, and I really like Angel Carlson, do has a nice, down to earth and honest, real perspective. All these things make this a great book. +

This is a wise and profound book, taking the reader deep into the Chistian life and into ministry. It should be read by anyone involved in ministry.

Of Water & the Spirit: A Liturgical study of Baptism by Alexander Schmemann is a Christian book which seeks to bring back the traditional meaning of Baptism by explaining it and its liturgical elements. He traces its origins as a Christian ceremony of re-creation which would be primarily performed and celebrated on Pascha (Easter). The Lent fasting would get the congregation read for Pascha, and the major celebration of Baptism.

Baptism should not be viewed as a private matter, or something to be performed in a dark corner. It should be the centre-piece of Church life and Pascha. Baptism marks the integration into the Laos (the people of God), the passage from old life to the new, and also a suggestion of the final salvation. In this sense Baptism is not merely a ceremony for a private gathering, or a private entering into the church, but a personal Pentecost and a personal Pascha: the Easter of the congregation and those being welcomed into it. Baptism is so pivotal to the Church because much like the Eucharist, it is the moment that we as Church goers get to take part in something which Christ had done to him (Baptism by John the Baptist, for example), but also because we are reborn in a way which correlates to Christ's Resurrection. These are the things which Schmemann wants to restore and reinvigorate within the Church, bringing it back to life. In a sense, Schmemann is attempting to Baptise the Church back into its new-life-giving tradition, so then Church itself can respectfully perform Baptism once again in line with its original meaning, and the profoundness which has been lost in the modern world and its interpretation.

It is explained why exorcism and the renunciation of Satan is a part of the Baptismal ritual. Satan does not rival God, but because Satan has been so completely defeated, but still hasn't surrendered he is at a dangerous stage just before the end when even he bends his knee to God and returns to his former glory. So when a new Christian is being Baptised they must renounce Satan in order to reaffirm God's victory through the Son, and to make it clear to Satan that he cannot keep denying the reality of his utter defeat. He must surrender to truth and bend the knee, as we all do.

Baptism is not merely a ritual, but a blueprint for the Christian life, where we must prepare and complete, be preparatory and fulfil. So, while Baptism is the acceptance of a new member to the Church, it is also the foundation of and towards a Christian life. As members of the Church we will spend all of our time preparing, and then fulfilling, and then repeat and again. In this sense we are emulating Christ's life and resurrection, we are reliving the cycle and making such a cycle the pillar of our living as Christians. By making this usual to us, we are able to live properly, where we must prepare and fulfil over and over again on a daily basis for our life and death to come.

Bishop Kallistos Wares goes into detail of the different core ways of viewing God and the manifestation of existence in the Eastern Orthodox faith, these are: God as Mystery, God as Trinity, God as Creator, God as Man, God as Spirit, God as Prayer and God as Eternity. Going through all of these sections will give you a basic understanding of these core views within the faith, and also give you a pile of sources ancient and recent to move on to, which makes this book a great beginner's book or a study guide. Unfortunately, for some reason this is the one book of Ware's which doesn't have his usual flair which makes him so easy and pleasurable to read. I can't quite put my finger on why this book is this way, but it makes it a bit of a dry read compared to his other works like 'The Jesus Prayer' and 'The Orthodox Church'. This is the only reason I didn't give this book a five star rating.

My 3 year old goddaughter wants this book read to her over and over. Very engaging, with cute illustrations. Such a sweet way to introduce The Jesus Prayer into a toddler’s world!

Loved it. Even better, my wife loved it - her birthday present.

Very nice

A wonderful book. I learned much and was inspired by it. It has a potential to become more volumes in the future printings, for there are four editions of Philokalia thus far. I am looking foreward to such reality and certainly will purchase them in the future. Thank you and God bless you, go with God.
Sincerely in Christ Jesus,
Victor B. Olshansky

Beautiful bracelet

I am Anglican but for a few months now I have felt an incredibly strong pull towards Orthodoxy and asceticsm in my spirit. I watched the Y2AM video about praying simply over and over again, and was filled with an overwhelming urge to purchase the book after it was mentioned on the channel. It is incredibly convicting, in the best possible way. In reading this I realized that I think too highly of myself. I have not been “working out my salvation with fear and trembling”. Although I have a hard time putting it down, I have to take breaks at times because I end up being consumed by feelings of penitence and crying in despair over my sins that I commit every day with very little thought. It always leads me to praying the Jesus Prayers on my prayer beads.

Please pray for me, brothers and sisters in Christ. Please pray that I will struggle more. I need Grace. My flesh rules me.

Good easy to read for kids!