This isn't really a full book review since I'm only halfway through the novel. After reaching this point, it strikes me as just how close we are coming to this future in secular America (in other countries, of course, people are already giving their lives for their faith). I can't wait to read more but I would love to see a discussion guide for a teen study group or book club. There are some serious topics in this novel that may be disturbing to preteens, so I would recommend that parents read this book before just handing over to their kids. This could be quite a discussion with young people about the importance of holding on to faith even when those around you are trying to convince you otherwise. Just a look at today's news will tell you that it's a very real issue in this day and age.

Since reaching my 40s, I've really started to experience a love-hate relationship with my body. Carlson's writing ishonest, humorous, and seasoned with middle-aged grace draws us toward loving our bodies, literally "warts and all"! Rather than share an extreme agenda for health, diet, or exercise, Carlson, through the metaphor of gardening, exhorts us to seek balance in caring for the temple of the Spirit. By incorporating the words of scripture, saints, and faithful poets, she reminds us that we are, indeed, beautifully and wonderfully made.

Excellent, well-written, thoughtful, and timely. an approach to "gentle parenting" with a spiritual center

Father Pat is the best. He and the concepts in this book are part of the reason we have converted from evangelical Protestantism to the Orthodox Church.

This is easily my favorite cookbook! She does a great job providing affordable and delicious Orthodox Lenten meals! I highly recommend this to all Orthodox families, especially those new to the faith (and in need of Lenten recipes).

I especially appreciated the examples of responding to our children instead of reacting to them and seeing them firstly as icons of Christ. Parenting is a challenge and shows me every day how much I fall short! Thank you for the tools!

Christ is Risen! I new this novel would be good, but I did not think it would be so good that I'd finish it in a single day! I was surprised with how real the story seemed. Obviously, Christianity is not violently persecuted in America (yet), but the author does such a good job of showing where the tolerance culture of today could lead if left unchecked. The story of young Euphrosyne is a story that could be lived by us and our children in the near future. In addition to the excellent story line, the author's solid knowledge of Orthodox theology does not overstep its bounds by surmising or creating things or ideas outside the realm of Orthodox knowledge. Rather, the author stays within the confines of the Orthodox theology of miracles, death, and persecution. The author also provides an example of steadfast Orthodox faith through the character Euphrosyne, which, although fictional, can nevertheless be an example to our children and ourselves that no matter what, we can not give up the Orthodox Faith. I would recommend this book to any and every person I know.

Great little prayer book. Easily laid-out format and perfect for any occasion. Best prayer book I have found that is meat and potatoes without a bunch of page filler fancy stuff, and some of the most ancient of prayers in the Holy Church. Great purchase!

Great little prayer book. Easily laid-out format and perfect for any occasion. Best prayer book I have found that is meat and potatoes without a bunch of page filler fancy stuff, and some of the most ancient of prayers in the Holy Church. Great purchase!

I'm always on the lookout for the most helpful for the many inquirers into Orthodox Christianity that come through my church's door - st-philip.net

Fr. Michael's new book is an excellent resource in that it is creative, Biblical, Orthodox, well-argued, and a joy to read.

If you take the Bible seriously, are interested in Orthodoxy and how it compares to other Christian groups, you need this book.

Fr. Michael, I hope you will write a sequel about the practice of the faith of the Early Church.

+ Fr. Noah Bushelli, pastor
St. Philip Orthodox Church
Souderton, PA

A great read!

More than the sum of its parts,' was a phrase that came to mind when I finished The Sweetness of Grace: stories of Christian trial and victory by Matushka Constantina Palmer. However, that phrase doesn't quite convey what I want it to. You see, it isn't the sum of the parts that makes this book what it is, because each story carries within it the whole: the grace of Orthodoxy as lived by faithful Orthodox Christians.

Mat. Constantina admits in the introduction that it is her skills as a storyteller, not her masters degree in theology, which bring these stories to life, but I must disagree slightly. Matushka is an exceptional storyteller, but she also has the intimate knowledge of the Holy Fathers and their writings which provides the lens through which the light of the stories shine. Much like my spiritual father who has a (to me) phenomenal and encyclopedic ability to pull out exactly the right anecdote from an elder's life, a quotation from a saint, verse from holy scripture, or story from the Prologue, Matushka roots every story solidly in the Church's Tradition. This in turn brings a deeper understanding of the scripture or precept.

All of this might make the book sound too exalted to read! Do not be deceived on this front; just like Matushka Constantina's first book, The Scent of Holiness, this one is extremely approachable, easy to read, and enjoyable. I read the first third in one sitting because I couldn't put it down. After all, it is a collection of stories. The Lord himself taught us in parables, or stories, as the best way to capture our attention and instruct us. There is nothing insignificant about the humble story.

I recommend this book very highly. You will likely read it as I did, in huge gulps, but then you will return again and again to savor individual stories. Both The Sweetness of Grace and The Scent of Holiness [review here] should be in every Orthodox Christian's library. Thank you, Matushka, for your labors in collecting and sharing these stories with us.

I was very excited to receive my copy of Blueprints for the Little Church by Elissa Bjeletich and Caleb Shoemaker in the mail. There was once a time I could indulge in picking up a book and reading it straight through. Those days are pretty much gone, at least for now. One day..! But having to read this book in short snatches over many days was really better because I was able to ponder each section before moving on.

First of all, there are a few general things I would like to note. Number one: stationed right at the beginning is an admonition to ask your priest if you have questions about specific traditions in your jurisdiction, about your personal prayer rule, fasting rule, etc., and any other questions. Yes! This is a fantastic book, but a book isn't a spiritual father. Never confuse the two. Number two: throughout the book, in every section you will find quotes from the Church Fathers and saints of the Church. Orthodoxy isn't something that is reinvented for every generation. God, in His mercy, has provided us with luminaries to light our way. We don't have to blunder about in the dark!

Blueprints for the Little Church is family-based. Our homes really are little churches, and the parents are the heads of those churches. Topics covered include praying as a family, setting up an icon corner/prayer space, getting children to (and through!) church services, fasting, almsgiving, and the reminder to pay attention to one's own private prayer life. The assumption is that you are starting from the beginning. Even if you are not a new convert to Orthodoxy, with dramatic changes in your life (addition of children, career change, moving away from family, etc.) you may find yourself floundering around as the practices that used to work so well, just don't anymore. At each stage of the game you have the opportunity to reassess and get back on track. Truthfully, there are probably many of us who, while we excel in one area, such as attending services, could do with a nudge when it comes to other things like fasting or almsgiving. Wherever you are, Blueprints can help you round everyone together and head back in the right direction.

Each section also includes anecdotes from each of the authors, and from other Orthodox Christians. They share their own experiences and what measures they have taken to organize their little churches. You can see by example that no family is exactly alike and that different situations call for different solutions.

I really can't say enough good things about Blueprints for the Little Church. It is accessible without being condescending, gentle without being lenient. While it's a wonderful beginning place for those new to the Faith, it is no less useful to those who have more lengthy backgrounds. Consider giving this as a gift to newlyweds, to couples having their first child, or to families just joining the Church. In addition, give this to your children and your godchildren, but above all, don't forget to get a copy for yourself!

This is an engaging and informative read, written in a down-to-earth, enjoyable style with many anecdotes from people "in the trenches" of trying to raise their children as Orthodox Christians. It's helpful, not preachy in the least (which is a real danger with books of this sort), and after reading it I bought copies for my niece and my nephew who are raising young children.

Fasting as a Family is a great book. It's not only a cookbook but a set of chapters on the whole mechanics of making life go smoothly during fast periods. If you have no children or only one or two, this book will be very helpful, but if you have more (we have 7) it's invaluable. It's one thing to have the recipes; it's another to try to figure out how to make them - all of them from scratch - in the meager amount of time you have at your disposal. The time requirement for cooking during a fast is probably one of the most daunting challenges people face. You can't just grab pizza on a hectic night! Even so, Melissa includes suggestions for meals for "crisis nights", which even the most prepared people will experience.

Many friends of mine have food allergies or who have children who do, and sometimes multiple allergies. Cooking for them in non-fasting times is challenging, but during a fast it can be nearly impossible. This book contains many recipes for those on special diets (gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free, nightshade-free, diabetic, or shellfish allergies). Each recipe has the appropriate allergy-safe designation right under the title. Some recipes have amendments in parentheses to modify the existing recipe into one safe for a different diet.

More extremely helpful information included in the book is a short lesson on the wonders of the humble dried bean. I admit I have always shied away from them out of ignorance or the certainty that something would go wrong (I'm not the best cook). This is part of the wider lesson on preparations you should make before a fast even begins to stock your pantry and freezer, and make-ahead some bulk meals. I have tended to begin a fast, mostly just crossing my fingers and hoping it's not a complete disaster. Fasting as a Family takes a lot of the panic and guesswork out of a fast.

Regarding the recipes, they are divided into sections for various meals and snacks (although of course there is crossover). I only saw one or two items I was not familiar with, and I am by no means a good or experienced cook. I read in someone's one star review a disparaging mention of obscure ingredients including "canned seafood." I paged back through the book in some confusion, wondering what I had missed. Know what it was? One mention of canned smoked oysters. Even when we lived in the boonies we could get canned smoked oysters. We had most of the other ingredients already (none of which are hard to find). One should keep in mind (as I mentioned above) that this book very deliberately includes many recipes safe for those on special diets. People who are on those diets or who cook for those who do will already have most or all of the necessary substitutions in their pantry.

I can't end this review without mentioning one recipe: Double Chocolate Muffins. My kids without exception adored this (even the baby). We made a double batch to take to church for coffee hour and they got rave reviews.

So in closing, get this book! Buy it at least a few weeks before the next big fast and read it so you can feel more comfortable and confident cooking for your family. Try out some of the recipes on regular fasting days. This should be part of your set of fasting cookbooks.

It's exactly as advertised and I'm so pleased!
Melissa Naasko has blended a lot of information on fasting in the Orthodox Church with a pleasant mix of recipes.

Great book. Doing a Women's Book study on it my church. A must read!!

This study Bible is an integral part of my daily life in Christ. The Old Testament is translated from the Septuagint. I'm not aware of any other study Bible that features this. The New Testament is the NKJV, very readable and based on the majority text family.

The study notes are wonderful. You will have the assistance of Orthodox scholars (and Fathers of the church) as you study difficult passages. There are many beautiful icons portrayed in the Bible as well. You also get an exhaustive subject index, lectionary to guide your reading, morning and evening prayers and many articles on essentials dogmas.

If you don't have this Study Bible, please purchase it soon. It will become a treasure for you.

The Law of God is a work that makes an excellent study tool for home and school. This is a great book designed for new followers of the Eastern Orthodox faith. It is written by a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), which is part of the Russian Orthodox Church who is one head of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Saying that, this book can be used by any Orthodox faithful, whether OCA, Greek, Antiochian, or others. Catholics can also find similar aspects of their faith and enjoyment in this work although it is not about their faith.

The book is split into five sections: Basic Concepts, Prayers, Sacred History of the Old and New Testament, Christian Faith and Life, and the Divine Services of the Orthodox Church. Each section is a brief overview of a section of the Orthodox faith, whether it be standard prayers that one can use in the prayer rule or the history found in the Holy Bible.

Section One deals with basic concepts, such as God, Prayer, the Sign of the Cross, and the architecture of the Orthodox Church. Section Two includes a large group of prayers and the meanings behind them; the Lord's Prayer, Nicene Creed, prayers before and after meals, and others are given. Section Three is the paraphrased history of Christianity as told in the Holy Bible, starting with Genesis and ending with the Acts. It also discusses the conversion of Russia to Christianity. Section four is a small section of theological discussions, included are the seven Ecumenical Councils and their reasons for happening and a discussion of the Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments. The final section discusses actual Orthodox practices and services. Practices included are the clergy and meanings of their vestments, the Holy Feasts, and breakdowns of the Divine Liturgy and major services.

The book, which is hardback, is made very sturdy. The binding holds up quite well and the pages are of good quality. The typeset is great for reading. There are a few misspellings but nothing that would detract from the work itself or as a study aid.

Having read both The Orthodox Church by Metropolitan Kallistos Ware and this one, I definitely would recommend the Book of Law as a better book for those new to the Orthodox faith or wanting to learn about the Orthodox faith. Metropolitan Ware is extremely gifted but his book is more of a history of the Church, while this is more helpful with understanding Orthodoxy as a faith. I definitely learned more about the practices of Orthodoxy from this book.

Divine Energy: The Orthodox Path to Christian Victory is one of the best books I've ever read. This is a book every Christian should read, and especially new Christian. The theology is precise and the illustrations are easy to grasp.