“Can a hug convey grace? What about sharing the peace or making the sign of the cross? Can putting the bones of a saint under the Communion table create spiritual potency? Can things convey God's grace to us? For many modern Christians, the answer is no. Yet the early Christians believed that activities and things do indeed convey divine grace to us. When God works through the things of cre-ation, theologians refer to this as God working through "means." Just as sunshine, rain, and soil number among the God-ordained means for plants to grow, so He has established a variety of means through which His grace reaches our hearts and bodies.

Many of us converts come from Protestant backgrounds who were given a Gnostic foundation without us knowing it. One of the questions the author addresses in this book is to answer what my daily work has to do with “my call” or “my ministry.” Separating the two, the material and the spiritual, is due to the influence of a Gnostic worldview. So how are these two connected?

When a king or deity marks a territory as his, his image is constructed in some way usually in the form of a statue, likened to how we see a flag. God, in His Creation, created mankind in His image. His image is made known in all of creation, marking it as His dominion. Through Christ, Second Adam Who restores all of Creation back into its intended beauty, we are now to reunite creation - man, beast, tree - with its Creator. We participate in this now through the Eucharist, through our marriages and celibacy, and through literally every act we make in our lives.

There’s a lot more to digest in this book. In the beginning, the author gives his own history navigating the theological landscape in search of Truth. Most of us can identify with pieces of his experience, and I think that helps us more readily grasp the information he shares on our Gnostic-tendency backgrounds.

I read this during Lent and into Pascha which I think was a perfect time to contemplate his writing. With Pentecost coming up, I’d say it’s an even better time to read about Christ’s restoration of humanity and creation because of His Ascension!

Five stars!! Thank you!’

Beautiful!!

We’ve had a lot of family or friends convert to Orthodoxy because of giving them this prayer book.

After years of egg coloring with my family of 6 sons , I love the no mess, beautiful results, and the icon theme. I’ve used these several years now. The white background is stunning. I am an art school graduate. Nothing I could paint would make me as happy as this product.

Thank you !

Bought copies for the Sunday School class. The children and teacher really enjoyed this beautiful coloring book. I also gave a copy to a church member for her godchild and I bought one for my grandson. This is a wonderful teaching aide.

Beautiful pictures to color that also told the story of Pascha ! Children enjoyed very much

Very beautiful done

Beautiful book! All of my children and Sunday church school students loved using it during Holy Week!
Nice thick quality paper for markers, too!
Thank you!

What makes this book is that it goes to the point of faith: it cannot be explained by reason or philosophy of truth.

Loved them and got many kind words from my parishioners. They were delivered very promptly with enough time that I got 100 cards written and mailed before Pascha.

Wonderful telling of the saints’ story vividly presented in beautiful art.

Beautiful assortment. Met with rave reviews by recipients. Christ is Risen. Indeed He is Risen!

great value for the price, this is a large book that will keep the little ones busy during the lengthy Lenten services! :)

I was happy to have Orthodox cards but I did not think they were as beautiful as ones in the past.

It is a gift for an adult at baptism. I especially like the introduction

Just lovely.

Wonderful depiction. My daughter loved it!

Great