Lovely book that I would recommend to all Christian artists, Orthodox or not. Although the author is an actor, his insights are relevant to every branches of the arts.

Fantastic. Abbot Tryphon gives one a lot to think about in just a few lines each have day.

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Arrived on time. Very interesting reading.

A terrific synthesis of the entire message of the "good news" regarding the historical, cosmological, and ontological Jesus. Fr. Reardon's erudition is unparalleled. Can't wait to read Volume II.

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Reardon is always great.

Beautifully well written nuggets of meditations for Holy Week! Really great meditations of the entire Holy Week scriptures and themes. Beautifully written and well done! Love the small pocket size so I can carry it with me and read it in between services.

Reardon is always great.

Wonderful recipes in this book!

This is a wonderful book which has been written with sensitivity, honesty, clarity and insight into the human body and soul and its inter-relationship. The books provides a holistic, practical and reasonable approach for how to care for one's physical and emotional health; in a balanced and sustainable way. It connects us to many of the ancient teachings regarding the health of the body and soul which are now being scientifically tested and validated. I love how Rita links the ancient teachings to the contemporary world. I really enjoyed her balanced approach to food and exercise and her chapter on stress management was particularly helpful. An excellent read and resource.

This book is written in a series of short and highly entertaining vignettes but the best one is the camp letter. I read it over and over again. That is not to say that the entire book isn't equally enjoyable because it is a riot. Father's book is well worn and will continue to be. Even my teenagers like this book. The broad appeal makes it a delightful book to give as a gift and you might as well buy one for yourself, you won't be disappointed.

Tried the Lentil Taco Filling recipe as a test and my pickiest eaters liked it AND HAD SECONDS! Now that's saying something! This book is more than a simple cookbook. Melissa helps take the guess work out of planning and "running" a successful Lenten food program in my home. I wasn't raised Orthodox so I didn't have a well known collection of recipes to use during the fasting periods throughout the year. These recipes are family tested and child approved :)

This book has completely changed the way I fast, and the way I lead my family in a fast, and I could not be happier.

You see, I converted to Orthodoxy while I was pregnant with my first child (so I couldn't really fast) and then I found myself either pregnant or nursing non-stop through 6 children. By the time I could properly fast, I had been Orthodox for a dozen years and had to find a way to lead an entire family (with all the pickiness and food allergies and special dietary restrictions of a modern family). To say the least, I have struggled with fasting and have spent months eating peanut butter on bread and hoping for the best.

This book teaches a whole mindset about planning and preparing and thinking ahead -- these are all ideas that I've heard before, but I've never been able to adopt them. Melissa Naasko has such a gift for teaching that she has managed to help me to put those abstract concepts into action in my house!

The first half of the book teaches, and the second half provides actual recipes for families, with really helpful sections like how to stock a Lenten lunchbox (thank you!) Suddenly, I am cooking things I never had the audacity to try before, and my kids are eating them. These recipes are really good!

I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is looking to bring balance and sanity to their family's fast. It has really helped us!

This is an excellent resource! SO much more than just recipes...but the recipes are amazing. When you have kids, it can be very easy during the fasting periods of the Orthodox church (or the eastern Catholic rites) to fall into a food rut, relying on foods that technically fulfill the requirements of the fast, but which may not supply the necessary nutrients. It's not great to spend 6 weeks alternating between ramen noodles and PBJ! This book not only provides you with nourishing, fast-friendly recipes, but is also a treasure trove of information about Lenten meal planning, stocking the Lenten pantry, and dealing with various food allergies during the fasting period. My kids love the food, and I don't have to worry so much about, "What the heck are we going to eat??", allowing us to focus upon the spiritual aspects of the season.... which is the whole point, after all. --Susan Blazek

Anyone who needs to follow a strict diet will want this book! This book, Fasting as a Family, was surprisingly SO interesting, and I say that only because we don't fast in the same way as Melissa's family does for Lent, and we don't have any health issues that necessitate special diets. It was just neat to read how in the world she pulls off their strict fast (basically eating vegan for a chunk of the year) in her family of 13. If she can do it, anyone can! If you have any reason that a strict diet is necessary in your family, and especially if you have kids, this book will be a godsend for you.

This is a fabulous book. Great advice on food combinations & the recipes are delicious. My picky vegan mom even likes the yummy food.

I so needed this book! It is packed with great tips for organizing myself and my kitchen. Not just through Lent but throughout the whole year. Gone are the days of being unprepared for meals. I know what to stock my pantry with. What to make in bulk. What items to freeze. What to use as substitutions in recipes. I now have a menu planning binder and everything. Dinner? Yeah, I've got this.

I was so taken by the few pages I saw in the preview that I immediately ordered two copies--one for my sister's family and one for my sister-in-law's family. Neither one is Orthodox, but this book speaks to children of all ages and any faith tradition. The illustrations are breathtakingly beautiful and transport you to another world. The writing is equally imaginative with a lyrical flow that draws you in right away. I gave the books to my nieces and nephew as an Easter gift this past weekend, and even my active 2-year-old nephew was mesmerized by the contents. I plan to order three more copies when I visit my cousins in NYC later this year. It will be the perfect gift for their children, too!

A wonderful book about balance in our relationship with food and God. I recommend this especially for those who, like me, are struggling with their relationship to food, whether Orthodox Christian or non- Orthodox.