My book club read this, and every one of us loved it. Fr. Stephen has a special way ot expressing ideas to make them really sink in. Although when I read this I had been Orthodox 23 years and was familiar with a large number of Orthodox writings, this gave me much food for thought.

This book has a lot of insight into the study of the book of Job

Art is above all else, expression. All things can be expressed through some art form and the intangible becomes concrete and can now be seen or heard or touched. The history of art goes back to the beginning of humans and their need to give form to that which they could not say. Art is creation by the lowly human form reaching for the divine. Art is people simply observing their surroundings and having a need to recreate what they see. Thus, the artist takes whatever medium he can find and mimics that which he determines to be desirable. Almost everything can be considered art in today's world. There seems to be no limitations placed on acceptable works of art. The ultimate judging is done by the receiver or the audience. Even animals are now accepted as artists and their work is shown in galleries fetching high prices. Thus, art has expanded beyond the cave walls and anyone can join in, try his luck and enter the confusing world of art. Will the hopeful human meet with success or rejection? Or will he be sufficient unto himself with his own reward-that of just creating.Art is infinite in expression for both the artist and the audience perceiving the art form. Feeling art is more important than analyzing the finished work and allows a connection between the eye and the emotions within.Art is the sharing of a soul through the senses of both the audience and the artist. It's the releasing of the innermost self and the exposing of small cracks in your heart. The artist reveals the core of his soul when he allows his work to be shown, thereby, extending a very personal invitation to join his soul with the souls of others. The artist's thoughts and feelings now live in the paint, the marble, the words or the music he has created and has become pure communication and needs no words. For me, a great artist knows his own heart and but guesses at the heart of his audience.

Great story and very well written. I loved reading it because her writing style was very poetic and lovely. The only part I take issue with is that she went on this very difficult spiritual journey ALONE. She had so many opportunities and available options to meet people in the church but no, she came to Liturgy late, sat in the back, and was the first one out the door. She never stayed for the coffee afterwards, never took that extra effort to meet anyone except a few priests. When she experienced a roadblock, she would stress out until it escalated to talking to someone about it but never anyone local, always someone she barely knows several states away by email. I have social anxiety issues myself so I understand where she comes from, however, it only took me 3 Liturgies before I took a deep breath and forced myself to stay after and meet people. I'm so glad I did because without these other people also on the same journey I would have taken just as long as Angela did, or perhaps never. Angela also experienced a lot of moral issues with the church and the traditions such as no women priests and women should wear skirts, but if she actually met people and got to know the church by it's members, then she would understand why it is this way. I personally don't care about those things myself but I met people in my church that do and there are a lot of them! A priest isn't necessarily always going to have the answers she need to justify becoming Orthodox, she needed to find out how these other women dealt with it. But anyhow, that's my 2 cents! It's a great read regardless!

This is a very powerful book for non-monastics, i.e. lay people, the rest of us. It simplifies without diluting the spiritual guidance of St. John to explain & encourage us in our daily spiritual struggles. It is great not only as Lenten nourishment, but any time.

For people, Christians especially, and Orthodox Christians more specifically, who have desired to visit the Holy Land but for some reason or another have been unable to, Following Egeria is an excellent spiritual travelogue. I say spiritual because Father Lawrence presents each location visited in a way that blesses the reader with some of the blessings Fr. Lawrence experienced first hand. With his casual, comfortable writing style, the reader enjoys not just the historical significance of each place, but better yet the spiritual significance. Several times Fr. Lawrence applied his imagination (leading the reader to do the same) as to what the particular place was like centuries ago. He makes it seem real and thrilling again.In Father Lawrence's wonderful, casual style of writing, he also in this book takes the reader along several "rabbit trails" of various topics that do not detract from the purpose of the book whatsoever, but serve as informative and entertaining digressions as if in conversation with the author himself.Following Evegria is a truly enjoyable way to vicariously experience the revered places where our faith began, where the Savior walked.

A versatile devotional book... answers so many needs for Christians who long to grow closer to the Lord.

This book lays out the spiritual battle plan and weapons for the Christian fight against sin. It is precise in its message and will hopefully be a spring board for deeper studies. Now we must not give in to sin, resist the evil one and put up a real fight.

Clear writing, holds attention, and provides excellent overview of Orthodoxy. Love all Ms Green's writing.

This is a book I wish every Christian would read. Fr. Patrick makes all the Books of the Bible live. He is a history buff as well. I believe I have read all of his books and shared them with others.

This is a book I wish every Christian would read. Fr. Patrick makes all the Books of the Bible live. He is a history buff as well. I believe I have read all of his books and shared them with others.

A great book! Easy yet attentive reading.

These words of Fr. Matthew the Poor (Matta El_meskeen) are life giving!!!

Excellent, Christian exposition of how to put scripture into practice as a pastor.

I have just read through my kindle version of "Reclaiming the Atonement" wherein Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon has given us a tour de force of interpreting and explaining the Doctrine of the Atonement from an Orthodox Christian point of view. Fr. Reardon starts by first going into the Western concept of the Atonement via Anselm of Canterbury and his "Substitution" Theory of Atonement. This theory basically means that God's son took our Punishment in our place as we were sinners that dishonored God and God's honor needed to be satisfied (i.e. Propitiated) so we could be saved. In other words our debt to God (or Satan?) needed to be paid, so Jesus Christ paid it for us. Fr. Reardon dissects and lays bare this concept of the Atonement, and proceeds to articulate the "Orthodox" concept of the Atonement that is summed up (no pun intended) with St. Irenaeus's Recapitulation concept of the atonement. Basically this (i.e. Orthodox) concept of the Atonement states: Christ is the new Adam, who systematically undoes what Adam did. Thus, where Adam was disobedient concerning God's commandment concerning the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, Christ was obedient even to death on the wood of a tree (i.e. Cross). Thus, in reversing the wrongs done by Adam, Christ is "recapitulating" or "summing up" all of humanity.

Thus for the Orthodox Atonement is connected with the Incarnation and Life of Jesus Christ that brings about and leads to our salvation. How. Well Fr. Reardon does an excellent job in pointing out in clear biblical and patristic exegesis that humanity's salvation is brought about through the Incarnation of God as a man (i.e. Jesus Christ). He characterizes the penalty for sin as death and corruption. God, however, is immortal and incorruptible, and simply by becoming united to human nature in Christ he conveys those qualities to us: they spread, as it were,all over us. Thus salvation occurs through Christ's Incarnation, which bestows incorruptibility on humanity, rather than emphasizing His Redemptive death in the crucifixion, although the latter event is an integral part of the former. Part of the process of recapitulation is for Christ to go through every stage of human life, from infancy to old age, and simply by living it, redeems it with his divinity. Finally, the end game for humanity is to re-connection (i.e. commune) again with God, and to seek that re-connection to the point of deification (i.e. Theosis) which is the ultimate goal and destination of humanity culminating in its salvation. Theosis equals salvation.

Fr. Reardon does not make a case for the Orthodox concept of the Atonement, he simply presents and explains the Orthodox Church's Biblical and Traditional belief that was handed on from Jesus Christ to His Apostles right down to us Orthodox Christians in an unending and unbroken chain of faith and belief. This is the faith of the Orthodox, this is the faith of Christ's Church, and Fr. Reardon's book explains it perfectly. Axios Fr. Reardon! You are a good and faithful servant and have all been blessed by your literary works, but so much more by knowing you and knowing you are a faithful priest in the Orthodox Church. Again, get Fr. Reardon's book on Reclaiming the Atonement. You will love it. Again, Axios!

Peter A. Papoutsis

Good book, one worth reading over and over.

Great bible material.

Great bible material.

This book is awesome. It has helped me in my bible study.

Great morning inspirational read.