I read this in one weekend and it's 300 and something pages. Hearing stories of people's spiritual journeys has always fascinated me.

I loved the way he approaches drawing near to God. He puts that first and let's God take him where He may. Unlike most religion where people blindly follow what they're told and basque in the glow of their pride.

I like the part where he goes to a Pentecostal church and gets told that unless he speaks in tongues he's not a full on Christian.

Also when he goes to Israel for his Christian deprogramming and ends up visiting right when the 6 day war starts.

He made the Orthodox church sound so good that I must confess I went to visit one on Sunday. I had no idea that the Orthodox Christian church didn't teach burning in hell forever. That was news to me and I wanted to hear more.

God's love really pours out through this book.

There's something different about Jewish Christians and the way they approach God.

Very inspiring and thought provoking book.

I won't write a long review, as others have already done so. I just wanted to emphasize what a wonderful introduction to Orthodoxy this book is, especially for those of us coming from Protestant backgrounds. Many of our particularly Protestant questions about liturgy and Church history and tradition are answered very thoroughly and with great sensitivity and understanding.
I have read many good and some not-so-good books about Orthodoxy in the last couple of years, but this one is outstanding.

A fascinating portrayal of an Orthodox "royal" whose life was one of love and self-sacrifice during the turbulent years of the Second World War and communist take over of eastern Europe. Her privileged childhood was no impediment to the deep Christian faith which sustained her and eventually led her to the monastic life, and the desire to share this life with those in her adopted country of America. Bev Cooke has done a masterful job of bringing to life Mother Alexandra, nee Princess Ileana of Roumania.

Bev. Cooke does a very satisfying job in providing a narrative chronicle of the life of one of the twentieth centuries most unheralded, yet fascinating, persons. Mother Alexandra, formerly Princess Ileana of Romania, lived through two world wars, the communist takeover of her country, and finally saw it's liberation. She lived a life of royalty and privilege, yet knew poverty, encountered opulent materialism, yet lived as an Orthodox nun founding a monastery in Pennsylvania in the later years of her life. Mother Alexandra's experiences were varied and deep to the extent few others can claim. She was, by birth, related to some of the most powerful and historically significant people in modern history, yet never sought celebrity status. I was blessed to know her for a few years before her repose in 1991 and have seen her unique gifts and work continue to bring peace and joy to so many in the years since. If you seek an inspirational biography, read this one. Royal Monastic: Princess Ileana of Romania

I believe that next to the scriptures themselves, the next best thing to read as a Christian is the lives of the saints. From the beginning Jews and Jews who became "Christians" have looked to their forefathers and mothers in the faith as examples, heroes and guides. A skim of Hebrews 10 and 11 confirms this, along with many other examples. But they did not gloss over the foibles and follies of the saints, but saw them examples of the grace of God working itself out in their lives. Fr Patrick's book on the saints is something of a primer for all Christians to help introduce us, or just to remind us, that we are part of a great cloud of witnesses that are not only fine examples of repentance, faithfulness and perseverance, but also of one Body with us in Christ our Lord. As the early Christians would say, "One Christian, no Christian." We are saved together as a body, while the only thing we can do alone is go to hell.

There are 14 main sections that focus upon various types of personalities from the bible, both Old and New Testaments. Each section contains about 10 or 11 devotionals that are each about 3 pages long. Topics include repentant saints, loyal saints, saints in need of improvement, saints in worship, suffering saints, clever saints, interceding saints, saints under pressure, gentle saints, zealous saints, visionaries, questioners, and persevering saints.

For Protestant readers who may feel uncomfortable with the idea of talking about "saints" in a way that sounds too "Catholic", they may ease into the idea by knowing that it is more like a hall of fame that is held up as an ideal, just as St. Paul says, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ." There is no competition between the honor we give to the saints and the worship we give to the Holy Trinity. Besides, "God is glorified in his saints," the Apostle declares in 2nd Thessalonians 1:10. Moreover, this book is only concerned with saints from the bible, so that is safe enough if you are hesitant. Who knows, maybe you will find yourself wanting to know what the disciples of the Apostles thought about the faith and how they lived and died for it.

While I highly recommend Butler's Lives of the Saints (4 Volume Matched Set) , they can be rather bulky and intimidating, and expensive. On the other hand, this slim volume is sure to become a standard as it is both educational and devotional, aimed at nourishing the soul without breaking the bank.

Readers may find the following books useful as well: Any Friend of God's Is a Friend of Mine , St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Francis of Assisi: With Introductions by Ralph McInerny and Joseph Pearce , Father Arseny, 1893-1973: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father : Being the Narratives Compiled by the Servant of God Alexander Concerning His Spiritual Father .

"Surprised By Christ," by Fr. James Bernstein, is best described as a theological autobiography. It is the long-awaited companion volume to the best-selling "Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith," by Peter E. Gillquist, which tells the story of approximately 2,000 Evangelicals who, in the 1970s and 80s, went on a search for the New Testament Church and found themselves being received into the Orthodox Christian Church 1987.

While most of that group was led by former staff members of Campus Crusade for Christ, Fr. James, then known as Arnold, joined forces with them after being raised as a devout Jew in Queens, and becoming a Christian while secretly reading a Jehovah's Witness translation of the New Testament under his bedcovers at night. He became active in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in New York before being selected by Moishe Rosen to help start Jews for Jesus in San Francisco.

While in the Bay area, Arnold (now Fr. James) became involved with the Christian World Liberation Front in Berkeley, which was led by Jack Sparks, a former Crusade staffer, and he became part of their quest for the New Testament Church while participating in evangelistic street theater.

I like to say that "Surprised by Christ" was written in three speeds, or rhythms. The autobiographical portions of this book, his childhood in Queens, his days in college, his year in Israel during the time of the "Six Day War," and in street ministry, are all a fascinating quick read, and are memorable reflections of those turbulent times.

Then Fr. James slows this journey down to reflect on his theological struggles, and the insights he gains as he compares his Jewish upbringing with his exposure to Evangelical Christianity, and his eventual discovery of more ancient Orthodox Christian teachings.

These alternating sections are written in Fr. James' own voice, and he is meticulous in spelling out the theological issues that brought him along the journey.

The third "speed" is even slower, because Fr. James supports his theological understandings with numerous, and sometimes lengthy, quotes from the Ancient Church Fathers, as well as the Scriptures. Some of these are in a very different language from Fr. James' own voice, but they are essential in supporting points he wishes to make.

I read this book over the course of about six weeks, because I needed to put it down and think about it many times. But I'm quite certain I'll pick it up and read it again very soon, because there is something refreshing in the way Fr. James approaches the Orthodox faith.

Most convert books are written by former Protestants and are very heady. This one, even though it is theological, comes from the heart. I know this to be true, because Fr. James is the one who brought me into the Orthodox Christian faith, after a two-and-a-half year inquiry, and he's been my priest for most of the past decade (I spent a few years in another parish).

This book is true to the man I've come to know and love. I recommend this book to Orthodox Christians who want to broaden their understanding of their faith, to individuals who are exploring the Orthodox faith, regardless of background, and to Evangelicals and Roman Catholics who would like to compare the differences between their understanding of the Christian faith with someone from a solidly Jewish background who now feels most at home in the Orthodox Christian Church.

From a Protestant viewpoint...Whoa! This book is about to undergo its fourth read for me. It will ROCK your world. The Truth is sometimes hard to take because acceptance of it necessitates action. Can you handle the Truth, or do you want to stay in your own little box? It may knock you out, but if you love truth, it well set you free! Get out the oven mitts, this one may be too hot to handle. :)

The Holy Orthodox Church is rich in history and tradition. We understand well, and cherish our own family traditions. We hope that our children will pass them on to future generations. This book is a passing on, not just of the Divine Liturgy itself, but of the history and reasons behind each phrase, each movement therein.

Lynette offers an incredible witness of authentic Christian faith while facing the ultimate challenge of death in the prime of her life. Full of spiritual gems that teach, enlighten and inspire!

Surprised By Christ: My Journey from Judaism to Orthodox Christianity succeeds on several levels. The first is as an engaging and fascinating conversion story of a first-generation religious Jewish boy (Conservative Jew) in Queens, New York, raised as he puts it, "in the shadow of the Holocaust", whose "road to Damascus" encounter of Christ after reading the New Testament under his covers with his flashlight, compels him to become a founding member of "Jews For Jesus", a participant in the sixties "Jesus Movement" in California, a pastor in what became the Evangelical Orthodox Church, a convert to Orthodox Christianity, seminarian and eventually an ordained Orthodox priest. Interspersed throughout is a well-written narrative of the many phases of his spiritual experience, study and discovery as he journies from independent Protestantism (he is thankful and generous about his Protestant experience) to re-discovery of his Jewish roots in the Eastern Orthodox Church. If you want to understand how the first Jewish converts to the Christian faith saw Christ as the prophesied Messiah of Israel through the Hebrew Scriptures and rabbinic sources, this is the book! You will also get an excellent overview of Orthodox Christian theology and praxis in the book. There is a fascinating chapter that shows a historical connection between the "Nazarene" Jewish Christians of Jerusalem, who fled the destruction of the Temple (A.D. 70) to Aleppo in modern-day Syria, with the Antiochian Orthodox Church. This is an excellent and entertaining primer on Orthodoxy - and its differences from western Christianity - for the Jew, Gentile or spiritual seeker alike.

If you are interested in hearing an interview with the author about the book, the link follows:

[...]

This is one of the few books on the market written by a Protestant convert to Orthodox Christianity which simply retells the author's own story without actively trying to convert the reader.
Perhaps it is due to this book more than any other that I eventually ended up converting myself.
Gallatin was a Seventh-day Adventist who went through a series of denominations as many of us who seek the true Church tend to do. Ironically, my journey led the other way and yet we ended up at the same final destination. I went through a series of denominations before becoming a Seventh Day Baptist and eventually converted to Orthodox Christianity.
I thought it odd that Gallatin does not say which verse it was that convinced him that he need not keep the Sabbath but rather just said that for the first time he read it as was written. Whilst I was an SDB this did nothing to assist me in understanding what he was talking about at that point. Admittedly though this issue plays a very minor role in the whole story of the book.

This is probably the best book I have ever read on spirituality and recovery. It is right on the mark in every aspect. I have been in recovery for 17 years and found the information to be helpful and right in line with the teachings and philosophy of the AA program. There are some who hold the belief that recovery can happen through faith alone, that a 12 step recovery program somehow dilutes a persons faith. This book dispells that kind of belief and speaks to (at least) my experience and the experience of many others. It is stressed in the book that AA/12 step programs are not intended to replace religion or church. AA/12 step programs can and should be a bridge to a genuine faith and provide a greater understanding of the importance and benefits of a living faith.

The descriptions provided in Part I are striking in their accuracy and would be good reading for non-addicted people such as family members to get a better understanding of the alcoholic/addicts mindset and the nature of the disease.

AA/12 step programs may not be the answer for everyone, but it was the only thing that worked for me and millions of others. I highly recommend this book for those looking to broaden their spiritual understanding in the framework of recovery. Or put another way, those looking to do more work on the 11th Step.

I highly recommend "Bread & Water, Wine & Oil." Father Meletios states it best: "We (Orthodox Christians) identify ourselves most clearly by being quite sure who we are not." True to his "who we are not" theme, Father Meletios explores every dimension of Orthodoxy and its Mysteries, and richly interprets the almost unexplainable. Anyone seeking Orthodoxy will find his engaging style, and clarity of thought about Orthodox teachings most illuminating and spiritually eloquent. Those already engaged in the Orthodox spiritual life will be refreshed with deeper understanding. His genuine and practical anecdotes connect an ancient Faith with modern life, ever so adeptly. Father Meletios' writings are an immeasurable gift to his readers, and I am grateful for his monumental effort. This book is to be read carefully and savored. It is a treasure; certainly it will be an enduring one. Thank you, Father Mel, from one of the lucky ones who has grown under your spiritual guidance.

I highly recommend "Bread & Water, Wine & Oil." Father Meletios states it best: "We (Orthodox Christians) identify ourselves most clearly by being quite sure who we are not." True to his "who we are not" theme, Father Meletios explores every dimension of Orthodoxy and its Mysteries, and richly interprets the almost unexplainable. Anyone seeking Orthodoxy will find his engaging style, and clarity of thought about Orthodox teachings most illuminating and spiritually eloquent. Those already engaged in the Orthodox spiritual life will be refreshed with deeper understanding. His genuine and practical anecdotes connect an ancient Faith with modern life, ever so adeptly. Father Meletios' writings are an immeasurable gift to his readers, and I am grateful for his monumental effort. This book is to be read carefully and savored. It is a treasure; certainly it will be an enduring one. Thank you, Father Mel, from one of the lucky ones who has grown under your spiritual guidance.

This book is great for any Protestant who wonders why s/he feels something is missing in their spiritual walk. Matthew Galatin shows the shortcoming of the Protestant rationalistic thinking and an alternative scarcly known in the West. This alternative is Orthodox Christianity. The power and beauty of the Church is foreign to most of the West and Matthew wants to show you how you are selling yourself short and to get you to start thinking in a different mindset. This book has been a great blessing to me I hope others will consider buying it as well. God Bless you all!

Fr. Farley's commentary on the New TEstament books are a tremendous help to me in understanding not only the Scripture itself, but also the history and perspective of the Apostle Paul. Fr. Farley really adds depth to my Bible Study. It has been a real blessing to me to have "discovered" these commentaries, and the best addition to my library, next to my Bible!

Christ in the Psalms is a first-class compendium of commentaries on the Bible's prayer book. Moreover, linking commentary with New Testament cites creates a rich repertoire of meditation -- personal or for small groups. The instructions on how to use the book, particularly not to pass quickly one to another, are accurate and meaningful. Written in user-friendly language, this book brings to life in unique ways material worthy of contemplation. Great resource.

A key passage at the beginning of "Bread and Water, Wine and Oil" focuses on the on the Orthodox use of the word "mystery":

"One of the most noticeable features of Eastern Christianity is that it is this word, `mystery,' rather than the word `sacrament,' which describes those actions of God which have a specific, decisive and eternal significance in the lives of those who take part in them. Everyday substances -- oil, water, bread, wine -- together with simple actions -- offering, blessing, washing, anointing -- become the means by which God intervenes in our lives. These interventions -- in which God does all the work, and our only contribution is to be prepared and present -- color and shape our lives beyond the extent that would be possible through any human encounter. However, unlike most human interactions, they do not take us from a place of ignorance to a place of knowledge. Rather, the Mysteries lead us deeper and deeper into the Mystery -- the Mystery which is the presence of God Himself."

Mystery, in the Orthodox sense, has nothing to do with mystery novels and films. The divine mystery has no solution. As the author writes:

"In the East, on the other hand, a mystery is an area where the human mind cannot go, and where the heart alone makes sense, not by `knowing,' but by ;being.' The Greek word mysterion leads you into a sense of `not-knowing' or `not-understanding' and leaves you there. All a person can do is gaze and wonder; there is nothing to solve."

Father Meletios's book is a profoundly challenging book about the journey from the mind (always struggling to explain, solve and de-mystify, yet always seething with emotions and passions) to the depths of the heart, the center of being rather than of knowing.

"Bread and Water, Wine and Oil" seems likely to become a Christian classic, the sort of book the reader returns to again and again and keeps recommending to friends.

A key passage at the beginning of "Bread and Water, Wine and Oil" focuses on the on the Orthodox use of the word "mystery":

"One of the most noticeable features of Eastern Christianity is that it is this word, `mystery,' rather than the word `sacrament,' which describes those actions of God which have a specific, decisive and eternal significance in the lives of those who take part in them. Everyday substances -- oil, water, bread, wine -- together with simple actions -- offering, blessing, washing, anointing -- become the means by which God intervenes in our lives. These interventions -- in which God does all the work, and our only contribution is to be prepared and present -- color and shape our lives beyond the extent that would be possible through any human encounter. However, unlike most human interactions, they do not take us from a place of ignorance to a place of knowledge. Rather, the Mysteries lead us deeper and deeper into the Mystery -- the Mystery which is the presence of God Himself."

Mystery, in the Orthodox sense, has nothing to do with mystery novels and films. The divine mystery has no solution. As the author writes:

"In the East, on the other hand, a mystery is an area where the human mind cannot go, and where the heart alone makes sense, not by `knowing,' but by ;being.' The Greek word mysterion leads you into a sense of `not-knowing' or `not-understanding' and leaves you there. All a person can do is gaze and wonder; there is nothing to solve."

Father Meletios's book is a profoundly challenging book about the journey from the mind (always struggling to explain, solve and de-mystify, yet always seething with emotions and passions) to the depths of the heart, the center of being rather than of knowing.

"Bread and Water, Wine and Oil" seems likely to become a Christian classic, the sort of book the reader returns to again and again and keeps recommending to friends.

Thomas Hopko's sensitive and inclusive look at relationships is an excellent opportunity for anyone to fine tune and explore the meaning of relationship in their lives. Highly recommended reading for anyone.