Lamentations can be difficult to read, but this book with the accompanied meditations really provided a wholesome level of historical context as well as thoughtful meditations on each book to help promote understanding and ultimately productive reflection on this book of the bible. I enjoyed the writers ability to be objective but prompt you to really dig deep and think about how each story can speak to our own experiences and perspective.

This book goes a long way to present looking at the world without objectifying it. It presents the problem from the perspective of the reality distortions of Lust then presents as much as the author can a vision of the world and our bodily existence more free and more spiritually healthy.

Lamentations always seems like such a slog, I was surprised to come to the end of this book without having gotten bogged down by the repetitive laments.

I listened to the audio version of Prayers in the Dark and it flew by!

Good narration overall. The reader had some distinctive ways of pausing and emphasizing certain phrases which indicated quotes to differentiate from commentary.

I appreciated the historical background. I really LOVED the paraphrase of the scripture itself and the insight into meaning that might be less apparent to us modern westerners reading an english translation.

The meditations after each poem were really excellent. I think the first meditation, on betrayal, was most impactful to me. We need to be examining ourselves for our betrayal of God, but also consider the ways we betray others in our lives, even as Christians. That was deeply convicting for me.

The meditation on bereavement had me considering my approach to those in my life who have very recently lost someone, and of course what my near-future losses will look like.

Not quite a beach read for summer, but quick and hopeful. I definitely recommend the book.

Excellent quality. Also excellent customer service

We used A Walk Through Acts during our 2024–2025 Church School year with several age groups ranging from ages 4–13.

Our students especially loved the plays that accompanied the lessons. They provided excellent reinforcement and helped the children remember key events and concepts from each lesson.

It was also helpful to have a complete lesson script available in advance, allowing our teachers to review the material, anticipate questions, and prepare explanations for unfamiliar vocabulary before teaching.

After spending the previous year studying the Old Testament, this curriculum was a natural next step. It helped our students understand how the Church was established by the Apostles following Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, beginning with Pentecost and continuing through the growth of the early Church, the persecutions faced by believers, and the many miracles recorded in Acts.

I also appreciated the map work, review lessons, and assessments, which reinforced learning and helped gauge student understanding.

Overall, this is a well-designed curriculum that can easily be adapted for younger children (ages 3–4) or supplemented with additional discussion and activities for older middle school and high school students. We found it to be an engaging and effective resource for teaching the Book of Acts and the foundations of the early Church.

One suggestion: The metal used for the binding may need to be a little stronger; my book would not stay together.

I have always loved children’s books and this is one I found on my faith journey into orthodoxy as an adult. So when I was putting together a gift package for a dear friend is on her own faith journey, I had to include it.

I didn’t call the book out to her specifically from the other items in the package, but it was the first item she mentioned when she opened it.

There is something special and holy about this story, for both children and adults. I highly recommend this precious book to young and old.

Orthodox Christian social thought has largely been overlooked in recent decades, and plenty of work remains to be done in this field. I believe this book is a great step in that direction, bringing awareness to the Church’s teachings regarding the common good. Pahman begins with a detailed analysis of the social doctrines of other traditions, which was very interesting to learn about as an Orthodox Christian with little exposure to Protestant and Catholic theology. He also provides a brief history of social thought throughout Christendom as well as an overview of modern economic theory. He finishes the book by tying everything back to the main question: how do we, as Orthodox Christians, engage with the world in a manner that reflects the teachings and ministry of Christ? I believe Pahman did an excellent job of opening the discussion and offering his expertise in this area.

It is absolutely beautiful. My family and I love it.

this is a very nice prayer book although I still use my old pocket size prayer book because it's more convenient. I fo like the prayers in the back of the book for home prayer.

Most of us are aware of how anger simmers very close to the surface in today's world. We find this simmering put into print in ways that we can comprehend and provided ways to control anger in our lives. An early reference in the book to Col. 3:8 puts the book in perspective to me. Paul is instructing us to "put off" certain things as though putting off old clothes and to be clothed in a new righteousness...clothed in Christ. Book is well written and makes us realize the effect that anger has on our lives and how we need to shed anger and be at peace with our inner self.

The St. Olga cross is absolutely beautiful and very well made. I really appreciate that a chain is included. I have purchased this style several times for my god daughters for their baptisms and they all love it. The shipping is always prompt so I almost never need to expedite my order. Thank you, Ancient Faith!

In Prayers in the Dark: Meditations on Suffering from the Book of Lamentations, Father Lawrence Farley begins with the reality that suffering is an unavoidable part of the human experience in our broken world. He challenges readers to recognize that “suffering serves to crack us open, to make us ask questions we otherwise never would, to deepen our experience, to start us on the path to God.”
This book combines an in-depth scholarly examination of suffering with meditations and insights rooted in the traditions and beliefs of Orthodox Christianity. Father Farley begins by providing the historical context of the Book of Lamentations, explaining that these poems were written in the aftermath of the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., when the city was destroyed and its people were left to grapple with profound loss and devastation.
From there, each of the five lamentations is carefully examined in both its historical context and its enduring, universal significance. Following each chapter, Father Farley offers a meditation that explores a particular aspect of human suffering. These meditations address the pain of betrayal, poverty, bereavement, sickness, and persecution.
Throughout the book, Father Farley approaches suffering with both compassion and honesty. He acknowledges the hardships that all people endure while also drawing attention to the role our human condition plays in our suffering. Most importantly, he points readers toward the compassionate presence of Jesus Christ, who enters into our suffering and offers hope and healing. The result is a thoughtful and spiritually enriching work that provides both insight and comfort to those seeking to understand suffering through the lens of Orthodox Christian faith.

As usual, Fr. Pat is humble and instructive, learned yet not too technical in his approach.

I am so glad I purchased this book. It's a quick read, meaning, it feels effortless while also informative. I am a West-based Christian, trying to understand the history of my faith. This is a perfect first purchase, because I gather from this book that the fathers' writing styles can be nonintuitive to someone steeped in Western culture. The author includes helpful appendices, too. Had I jumped straight into trying to read the fathers without this guide, I'm fairly sure I would have given up.

I love this Icon of Saint Olga.

Beautiful ! Excellent quility

I am finding this book to be the refresher I have needed in my spiritual journey. I love the way it allows me to take a few minutes each day to build and renew my practice of closer contact with Christ. Both practical and insightful!

Excellent

When I saw this book was coming out I was immediately excited. I run an addiction group at our Parish and, having been an addict and currently in recovery - I know how anger affects so many of us. Anger and fear permeate us all and influence our decisions more than we care to admit. This book is going to serve as our next read through as a group in our addiction recovery program. For anyone who has been an addict or knows anyone in addiction - we know how anger seems to be an underlying issue we deal with. Fr Pulcini writes in an accessible way that gets to the heart of the matter. Anyone struggling with the passion of anger (all of us) should read this book and begin to deal with the pervasive disease robbing us of the likeness of God.

This is beautiful and the perfect size to hang in my car.