This Bible is even more than I hoped for. I love the expositions that are on each page. I am already learning new things!

So beautifully crafted, and easy for the kids to understand! It really helps them to make connections with what we see in the world to what we believe in church!

It’s beautiful, I love it, & I wear it daily! I shared my purchases on my Facebook pages & have been asked for your information.

I thought it was a thorough and informative treatment of the issue. It did not leave any questions unanswered.

Wonderful little book. Great illustrations paired with a sacramental understanding of the world in the text. Perfect for 4-10 ages, I think.

Absolutely lovely!

Father Michael Oleksa is a retired Orthodox priest in Alaska, but he’s not actually from there - he’s from Allentown, Pennsylvania. How he came to Alaska, what he found there, and why he stayed are just a few of the many subjects he covers in his delightful collection of stories that he has compiled here in this one volume. Through these tales of Alaska, and other tales of his travels around Alaska, Europe, and Africa, Father Oleska weaves a remarkable chain of providence and miracles both great and small that have surrounded his life and ministry.

“Ever since I learned that there were Orthodox Christians who were also Alaskan Natives, I was determined to go there. Here my two greatest lifelong interests, Native Americans and Orthodoxy, were united in one place, and I didn’t even need a passport to get there! This was a phenomenon I sincerely wanted to experience and explore.” (Page 7)

Father Oleksa had longed to go to Alaska since he was quite young, and while in seminary at St. Vladimir’s, in New York, he finally was granted the opportunity when a small Aleut fishing village, in need of a priest (most Aleut are Orthodox) as it rebuilt after the disastrous Good Friday earthquake of 1964, and its diocese having no priests to spare, agreed to sponsor the young seminarian if he would come to Alaska during the summer months and teach. Thus began Michael’s first forays. In those summers up north, Michael tells the tales of how he immersed himself in their culture, learned their languages and traditions, and even met and married a young woman of the Yup’ik tribe (pronounced “YOO-pick”). Into those tales he weaves the history of the Russian traders and monks who brought Orthodoxy to the people as they too intermarried, fusing Christian Orthodoxy with the native traditions to create a new creole culture that has endured through to this day, and has contributed greatly to worldwide Orthodoxy.
As Father Oleksa establishes his roots in Alaska, he is also looking to reconnect with the far flung branches of his family still who still live in Europe, and how they endured two world wars and decades of communism. In time his travels to meet them also take him to their ancestral villages in Poland and Ukraine, and even to finding new friends in Romania, Bulgaria, and Finland. There are no coincidences in these meetings for him, as his life and work live out his faith and ministry. He sees the hand of God in all things, even in the actions of a Bulgarian pickpocket or a freelancing Romanian tour guide looking to brush up his English.
The volume is a short one that can be read in just a couple of hours, but it serves as an excellent and gentle introduction to the peoples of Alaska, introducing the reader to several Alaskan Orthodox saints and the miracles associated with them, and even why you might spot a helicopter in an icon of Saint Herman. There is also an audio version of the book, narrated by Father Oleksa who is a jovial and entertaining reader (and pronounces the various Aleut words correctly, I might add).
Full Dislosure - I was given a copy of the audio book in consideration for posting this review. But I should add that I liked the book so much I also bought the print version.

This is the first non fiction book that I've read in quite a while that I haven't been able to put down! As a convert to Orthodoxy, this is super helpful to read about how my previous theology (even though I would have never called it that) was shaped and how different it is now. It's also particularly helpful to use as a basis to try to answer all of the questions my Protestant friends have. Highly recommend it to all.

This is one of the best books ever! It is simply and beautifully written. I loved the descriptions. I felt like I was there on Corfu. This story is a lovely reminder to pray always. And even if praying seems weird or awkward at first, keep it up; prayer is a relationship. I can't wait to give this book to my stepson for Pascha. And I plan to get a copy for my bookshelf.

I am currently reading this book and find it so enjoyable and enlightening to get a glimpse of the daily life of a priest. The author’s writing style reminds me of Bill Bryson’s Walk In the Woods. I have had some laugh out loud moments as the author candidly expresses his days. I definitely recommend this book.

Loved the book myself and so I sent one to my granddaughter.

This book is beneficial for all persons desiring to seriously grow in Christ. Worth reading every Great Lent.

An incredible book; a must read for all Orthodox believers.

I sat down on couch the other day and was transported to the Greece of yesteryear. To earn enough money to join his best friend in the local school, Spyro catches octopuses and sells them. After hurting his foot in the surf, he is aided by a kind monk. Their interactions are told in a well written and engaging way, and Spyro grows in faith and wisdom in a satisfying way that does not feel didactic. A delightful read.

In exchange for an honest review, I received a copy from Ancient Faith Publishing.

I'm new to Orthodoxy, and so I bought this bible. I love it! I especially love the cross reference and footnotes. Everything points to Christ. I also like having the morning and evening prayers in the back section. I have owned over 30 versions of the bible, and I think this will be my last. Thank you for making this.

Such a great resource and encouraging book! It really gives you the “how to” fast, not just recipes!

Wonderful and amazing!

Excellent book. Am glad I bought it, & thank you for selling it.

Awesome recipes, we love it!!

It is even more cute in person. I'm amazed by the size of book. Before we opened the book, we knew we made a great choice for our baby.