Product Description
In the past two decades, formal denominational relationships organizationally in Jewish life have declined and yet the interaction between Orthodox Jews and non-Orthodox Jews on personal and family levels and in the work place has never been greater.

While there is no dramatic statistical increase in Orthodox affiliation, there is documented evidence that Orthodoxy today is a growing movement with a young, knowledgeable and observant constituency. A critical question for Orthodoxy today is whether it will see itself as a sectarian movement or one that eagerly embraces concerns facing the Jewish people as a whole.

Despite an increase in the rate of intermarriage among American Jews, there is a current trend towards increased Jewish identification as expressed in the religious, cultural and political arenas within the framework of the Jewish community. It is for this reason that The Orthodox Forum has chosen to analyze these notable changes taking place in both the Orthodox and non-Orthodox community.

As the phenomenon of engagement Jewishly by the non-Orthodox has been welcomed in most circles, it has created a special challenge for the Orthodox community. How is the Orthodox community to maintain its strict commitment to the ritual and theological foundations of Judaism while at the same time recognizing the actions of these groups and individuals who, while rejecting many religious norms, have chosen to join the Jewish community in serious and substantive ways?

This volume offers a wide range of historical, theological, Halakhic, educational and communal perspectives on the challenges and considerations faced by those who endeavor to build bridges with believing and non-believing Jews in our community, while steadfastly maintaining their sacred commitments. ... Read more

Product Description
This distinctive book contains spiritual orations and edifying discourses rooted in the Orthodox tradition. In Churchly Joy Sergius Bulgakov takes readers through the joyous mysteries of the church year as reflected in the Orthodox Church's major feasts, including celebrations of the Annunciation, the Birth of Christ, the Epiphany, the Transfiguration, the Triumphal Entry, Easter, and more.

One of the very few works of Orthodox spirituality and devotional theology that are available in English, Churchly Joy reflects Bulgakov's transcendent vision for the church and will provide spiritual growth and edification for all Christians. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Inspiring devotional meditations
Sergius Bulgakov is best known for producing a series of controversial volumes on Trinitarian theology. These are characterised by both an elaborate deployment of speculative theological formulations and intense spiritual passion. In this volume of orations he writes in a more straightforward manner, but still with his trademark 'mystical lyricism', as one commenter has described his style.

Churchly Joy is a collection of sermons delivered by Bulgakov on key Orthodox feast days, during his time as Dean of the St Sergius Theological Institute in Paris. He dwells largely on the existential themes of each festival, evoking the inner response of the believer. This is complemented by reflections on the depth of theological meaning found in the works of Christ and the Holy Spirit. At times he deploys simple symbolic explanations, at others technical Trinitarian expositions. The orations are tied together by Bulgakov's profound vision of the transfiguration of creation by the Triune God, as proclaimed and lived by the Church.

This would be a helpful book for preachers looking for inspiration for their sermons on special days of the church calendar, or for anyone who desires a deeper devotional understanding of the inner meaning of the New Testament narrative. ... Read more

Product Description
An icon (from the Greek word "eikon," "image") is a wooden panel painting of a holy person or scene from Orthodox Christianity, the religion of the Byzantine Empire that is practiced today mainly in Greece and Russia. It was believed that these works acted as intermediaries between worshipers and the holy personages they depicted. Their pictorial language is stylized and primarily symbolic, rather than literal and narrative. Indeed, every attitude, pose, and color depicted in an icon has a precise meaning, and their painters--usually monks--followed prescribed models from iconographic manuals.
The goal of this book is to catalogue the vast heritage of images according to iconographic type and subject, from the most ancient at the Monastery of Saint Catherine in the Sinai to those from Greece, Constantinople, and Russia. Chapters focus on the role of icons in the Orthodox liturgy and on common iconic subjects, including the fathers and saints of the Eastern Church and the life of Jesus and his followers. As with other volumes in the Guide to Imagery series, this book includes a wealth of color illustrations in which details are called out for discussion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Icons in a book which has so many wonder colored plates
This is an excellent book of icons which includes both Festival and individual icons.The photography of the icons is excellent and there are very informative comments about color, history, parts of festival icons, and so much more.As an iconographer it is a fine addition to my collection and very reasonably priced.

Orthodox Icons
I came across this book 5 years ago and now regret not having picked it when I first saw it! The information contained in each chapter is invaluable for the personal research & study I have embarked upon in 'writing' icons.A must have.

Educational Guide Book
I Purchased this for my husband. He is studying iconography and wanted to understand the symbolism in iconography better. This book has been extremely educational. It would be nice if it were larger though since there is a lot of detail.

An Orthodox Treasure
This is a very comprehensive and beautiful work on the icons of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and includes Byzantine, Russian, and icons of other traditions. Each icon's significance in the life of Our Lord or church history is detailed.The description and symbolism of each icon is informative without being scholarly or overly long, and each has the Biblical quotation and reference as well as the particular feast day observed.The size is perfect for use in browsing a gallery, the quality of the paper and the color reproductions are excellent.The various types of icons are well represented, and arranged in a convenient fashion. Many of the icons shown have not found their way into any of the books I have previously read, making this a real treasure.

A must book for a library on icons
This book on icons is probably the most useful book to have in a collection of books on icons.It has a good index, something that is frequently missing from books on icons.The information is concise, helpful and useful for expanding a person's knowledge of iconography.The color illustrations of historical icons helps with recognition of icons and is also useful for those who write (the preferred term) icons.Many books on icons are physically very large; this book is relatively small and easy to handle.I recommend this book highly. ... Read more

Product Description

• This important work offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date account of the Orthodox Church available, providing a detailed account of its historical development, as well as exploring Orthodox theology and culture
• Written by one of the leading Orthodox historians and theologians in the English-speaking world
• Offers an in-depth engagement with the issues surrounding Orthodoxy's relationship to the modern world, including political, cultural and ethical debates
• Considers the belief tradition, spirituality, liturgical diversity, and Biblical heritage of the Eastern Churches; their endurance of oppressions and totalitarianisms; and their contemporary need to rediscover their voice and confidence in a new world-order
• Recipient of a CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title for 2009 award

Customer Reviews (1)

A strong contender for the title of best introduction to the fullness of the Orthodox faith
THE ORTHODOX CHURCH is an introduction to the history, doctrine, and culture of this ancient Christian tradition by Father John Anthony McGuckin, a priest and professor, and a convert to Orthodoxy himself. There is what you would expect in such a book, such as a presentation of the Orthodox bodies worldwide, the use of icons, and the notion of Holy Tradition against the papal rule known in Roman Catholicism or the Sola Scriptura tendencies of Protestants.

But Father McGuckin goes beyond these most basic topics to give a rigorous presentation of Orthodox theology, including the difficult Christological controversies of the early Church, the relationship between Emperor and Patriarch in Byzantium (still informative for us today), and some of the underappreciated masterpieces of liturgical writing. Father McGuckin's sermons must be really something to listen to, for his prose here is rich and passionate, deftly wielding classical rhetorical skills.

My only major complaint about the book is that it is written wholly from the perspective of a Western writer who has obviously spent a long time in the rounds of liberal academic discourse, and this is often incongruent with the general spirit of Orthodoxy worldwide. In speaking of the need to give women a more prominent role in the modern church, McGuckin calls for the restoration of the order of diaconess. However, he doesn't mention the very understandable fear among a number of churches that this may only be the camel's nose on the way to feminists calling for female priestly ordination. Father McGuckin also praises with no questions asked the current Ecumenical Patriarch's interest in green causes, but this is controversial and there have been complaints that the Ecumenical Patriarch is neglecting actual Christian missionary work as his flock dwindles.

Though it will appeal mostly to intellectuals and people already involved to some extent in Orthodoxy because of its tone and level of detail, this is a fine introduction and provides good competition for the old standard, Kallistos Ware's The Orthodox Church. Unfortunately, Blackwell has priced this out of reach of all except university libraries (and from this publisher even a paperback will not be affordable) and it doesn't seem like it will get the attention it deserves. ... Read more

Product Description
Orthodox Christian theology is often presented as the direct inheritor of the doctrine and tradition of the early Church. But continuity with the past is only part of the truth; it would be false to conclude that the eastern section of the Christian Church is in any way static. Orthodoxy, building on its patristic foundations, has blossomed in the modern period. This volume focuses on the way Orthodox theological tradition is understood and lived today. It explores the Orthodox understanding of what theology is: an expression of the Church's life of prayer, both corporate and personal, from which it can never be separated. Besides discussing aspects of doctrine, the book portrays the main figures, themes and developments that have shaped Orthodox thought. There is particular focus on the Russian and Greek traditions, as well as the dynamic but less well-known Antiochian tradition and the Orthodox presence in the West. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great prayers but format makes it hard to follow
I appreciate the efforts to have an Orthodox prayer book available on Kindle.However, it is next to impossible to effectively use these prayers.As noted in the title, there are 45 prayers included in the book.Unfortunately, there is no table of contents; there also is a significant lack of formatting.I ended up creating my own document to use since I had to flip through many pages each time to try to find the appropriate prayer.If you do continue to use this, I would recommend bookmarking the various prayers so that you can access them more easily.I am thankful that someone put forth the effort to create this prayer book, but to be effective, it needs to be formatted in a way that works well with the Kindle.

Not worth two bucks
This is poorly edited. The prayers run together and several prayers are listed simply with question marks. Not even a good cut and paste job. ... Read more

Product Description
The author writes: 'It is impossible to understand either the New Testament doctrine on marriage, or the very consistent practice of the Orthodox Church without seeing Christian marriage in the context of the Eucharist... The very notion of marriage as a sacrament presupposed that a man is not only a being with physiological, psychological, and social functions, but that he is a citizen of God's Kingdom, i.e., that his entire life'and especially its most decisive moments'involve eternal values and God Himself.' This excellent study on Christian marriage is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the Orthodox perspective on marriage. In it John Meyendorff examines marriage in the Church from the contexts of Judaism and the New Testament, the early Church and Roman law, sacramental life, and contemporary society. Specific issues discussed include: second marriages, 'mixed' marriages, divorce, abortion, family planning and responsible parenthood, married clergy, celibacy, and the monastic life. Essential reading for all pastors, it is also useful for parents, newlyweds and those preparing or the sacrament of marriage. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Thorough
Fr. John Meyendorff's Marriage: An Orthodox Perspective offers overviews of the major themes that Orthodox couples are likely to come across in marriage as well as explanations of the meaning of the Orthodox wedding ceremony and its history and development. Following are some of the highlights of the book:

1. Wedding as a Separate Rite
Section VI, "The Contemporary Rite of Betrothal," offers one example of how the form of marriage developed over the centuries in the Orthodox Church. "The new responsibility given to the Church by the laws of Emperors Leo VI and Alexis I--that of giving formal legitimacy to all marriages--required the adoption of new liturgical forms. These new forms, on the one hand, were to be separate from the Eucharist and, on the other hand, had to reflect the eternal and unchangeable teachings of the Church about the meaning of marriage" (p. 29). Although the Orthodox Church views herself as having preserving certain truths since the days of the Apostles, it cannot be said that the form of the marriage ceremony has been remained unchanged since those days. "Orthodox Byzantium, with its remarkable ability to interpret Scripture, to relate it to the central mystery of Christ, to use signs and symbols in expressing the meaning of the Christian faith, produced in the tenth and eleventh centuries the two present-day Orthodox services of betrothal and crowing" (p. 29). The betrothal service takes the place of the marriage contract. In it, the bride and the groom each promise to one another faithfulness. "It was originally a civil ceremony. By assuming responsibility for it, the Church did not suppress the legal and moral obligations imposed by the Old Testament law, by roman law and still maintained by our own contemporary society. She rather provided them with a new Biblical and spiritual meaning" (p. 30).

2. "Mixed" Marriages
Fr. John recognizes the reality of "mixed" marriages between Orthodox Christians and non-Orthodox Christians in a pluralistic society such as ours. "It is certainly possible," he writes, "without being members of the same Church, to enjoy friendship, to share interests, to experience a true character compatibility, and, of course, to `be in love' with each other." Yet Fr. John cautions against these relationships:"the question is whether all these human affinities can be transformed and transfigured in the reality of the Kingdom of God if one does not share the same experience of what this Kingdom is, if one is not committed to the same and unique Faith" (p. 51). For Fr. John, one's faith is not merely "Christian," but rather, "Orthodox Christian," or "Protestant Christian," etc. I would contend, however, that one's faith is not in a denomination; rather, it is in Christ. Two Christians who have encountered the living Christ and who have been transformed by His love do share the same faith, and the potential for a love relationship between them knows no limits, even if they belong to separate denominations. Fr. John later concedes this point, writing that we all know of some mixed marriages that "lead to the creation of happy families, and it would be unwise and utopian to discourage them all. Actually, it may well be that some of such marriages end up being more durable and happier than those contracted by nominal Orthodox who never heard about the meaning of Christian marriage and who never accepted personally and responsibly any true Christian commitment" (p. 52). Despite this fact, Fr. John considers the act of blessing the marriage outside of the Orthodox Church to be an obvious "betrayal of the sacramental grace received from [the Orthodox Church] at baptism and is, in fact, inconsistent with Church membership" (p. 53).

3. Family and Family Planning

a) Overview
Fr. John begins by offering an overview of the Christian meaning of marriage and sex. "[O]ne of the essential differences between the Old Testament Judaic conception of marriage and the Christian one was that, for the ancient Jews, marriage was a means for procreation only, while, for Christians, it is an end in itself--a union of two beings, in love, reflecting the union between Christ and the Church" (p. 59). For the Orthodox, sex and marriage, in addition to the function of procreation, offers the husband and wife a union that reflects God's love and is thus unto their spiritual edification.

b) The Question of Birth Control Presented
I expected Fr. John to come across harshly against the use of artificial birth control, since it frustrates one of the ends of the marital relationship--procreation. Rather, he poses a series of difficult questions and then states that the Church has no one official rule that is to be applied across all couples. He begins by discussing the issues that have led couples to consider family planning: "if the `life' given by parents to their children is to be a fully human life, it cannot involve only physical existence, but also parental care, education and decent living. When they beget children, parents must be ready to fulfill all these responsibilities. There obviously are economic, social or psychological situations where no guarantees can be given in this respect. And there is something even a near certainty that the newly born children will live in hunger and psychological misery. In those situations, various forms of family panning, as old as humanity itself, have been always known to men and women" (p. 61-2).
Fr. John goes on to discuss the various options available to couples, including total continence, which "the New Testament and Church tradition consider [to be] an acceptable form of family planning" (p. 62), periodic continence, as taught in the Roman Catholic Church, and "artificial" contraception, such as the "pill." He then presents a series of questions as to the ethics of selecting one form of birth control over another:"is there a real difference between the means called `artificial' and those considered `natural'? Is continence really `natural'? Is not any medical control of human functions `artificial'? Should it, therefore, be condemned as sinful? And finally, a serious theological question: is anything `natural' necessarily `good'?" (p. 62). "Straight condemnation of birth-control," he concludes, "fails to give satisfactory answers to all these questions" (p. 62). Fr. John instead suggests that each couple may experience the right answers in a different way.

c) The Case Against Birth Control
I understand that, as Fr. John states, the Church as a whole has not pronounced a universal teaching on contraception. Yet its seems clear to me that artificial birth control is a wrong that should be avoided. One of the chief purposes of marriage is procreation; to thwart this end or to limit the size of family seems to me to undermine the very institution of marriage. Certainly, there are times when limiting the size of one's family is prudent, such as when a couple lacks the means to care for a child. Yet even in these situations, to do so using artificial contraception counters nature and is detrimental to the spiritual and physical health of the partners. The "barrier" methods of birth control prevent the act from becoming what it was intended to be: a complete fusion of man and woman. Many of the drugs, such as the pill, have serious adverse health effects on the woman's body. Other methods, such as spermicides, give the message that one accepts the spouse fully, but rejects his fertility. The complete giving and receiving in the sexual act is undermined by such methods and the natural end of the sexual act is undermined.
Natural family planning, in contrast, is able to obtain the same ends as artificial birth control, but in a way that is in keeping with nature. When the couple is able to practice periodic continence when the woman is fertile, nature is not thwarted, for sexual intercourse during the female's infertile period does not have the natural end of conception. Furthermore, the couple learns the virtue of self-control by limiting sexual intercourse to such times and the spiritual and physical health of the partners is not threatened.
The comparison of artificial birth control to the use of medicine seems to me to be apt. Whereas medicines seek to restore God's intent of blessing man with good health, birth control thwarts His intent for partners to be fruitful and multiply. Whereas medicines curing people of illness are in accord with the natural end of man to live a long life and prosper, artificial birth control counters one of the natural ends of sexual intercourse: procreation. Medicine seeks to correct an evil that is not within God's divine intent; artificial birth control seeks to throw off course a good that God intended.

4. Appendices
The book concludes with five appendices that deal with: (I) the New Testament's references to marriage; (II) the tradition of the Church, as recorded in the writings of the Fathers; (III) the Church's Canon Law based on the Ecumenical Councils, local councils, and writings of the Fathers endorsed by the Councils; (IV) an explanation of the liturgical tradition of the marriage ceremony; and (V) a reproduction of the marriage ceremony, including both the service of betrothal and the crowning.
Among the most moving accounts of marriage are those of Fr. Alexander Elchaninov (1881-1934), which are reproduced in Appendix II. Fr. Alexander writes: "Marriage is a revelation and a mystery. We see in it the complete transformation of a human being, the expansion of his personality, fresh vision, and new perception of life, and through it a rebirth into the world in a new plenitude (p. 96).
"Marriage, fleshly love, is a very great sacrament and mystery. Through it is accomplished the most real and at the same time the most mysterious of all possible forms of human relationship. And, qualitatively, marriage enables us to pass beyond all the normal rules of human relationship and to enter a region of the miraculous, the superhuman" (p. 97).
"In fleshly love, besides its intrinsic value as such, God has granted the world a share in His omnipotence: man creates man, a new soul is brought into being" (p. 97).
"In marriage the festive joy of the first day should last for the whole of life; every day should be a feast day; every day husband and wife should appear to each other as new, extraordinary beings. The only way of achieving this: let both deepen their spiritual life, and strive hard in the task of self-development" (p. 100).
Also of note is the explanation of the liturgical tradition in Appendix IV. Communion was a part of the original wedding ceremony, unless one or both of the spouses were not in good standing with the Church, in which case Communion was substituted by the common cup. "[T]o those who are not worthy of Communion--for example those who are being married a second time, and others--the Divine Gifts are not given, but only the common cup, as a partial sanctification, as a sign of good fellowship and unity with God's blessing" (p. 112). Today, however, the common cup has virtually replaced Communion in the Orthodox wedding ceremony.

Good, especially on Liturgical stuff
This book provides a good overview of marriage. While not as "deep" as some Orthodox books on the subject, it is definately more practical than most, and also goes into the liturgical aspects of getting married more than most. Fr. John's explanation of how the Orthodox view of sex differs from the view of certain other Christians is probably helpful to those unfamiliar with all the theological disputes. And certainly, his inclusion of Canons and quotes from Church Fathers add some meat to Fr. John's overview.

Provided excellent background information
When my cousin was married, my gift to her and her non-Orthodox husband was a wedding program that I wrote.I felt it would make the ceremony more interesting for the groom's family.It proved educational for my family as well. This book was an excellent reference.It provided an explanation of each part of an Orthodox marriage ceremony, why it occurs, and the historical origin.It provided a wealth of information in an easy-to-read format for non-Orthodox and Orthodox alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Disappointing
I was hoping that this book would provide a detailed look at the conversion to Orthodox Judaism, so that one could compare it with the Conservative and Reform movements.This book is a disppointment, because it doesn't really address in any substantive way the conversion process to Orthodox Judaism, especially for someone contemplating conversion, not even what is required of that individual in any great detail.

In fact, for the most part, Rabbi Angel seems to be trying to suggest to other Orthodox rabbis why they should welcome converts to Judaism, while sympathizing with their reasons for not being welcoming.It's more philosophical with respect to why the Orthodox community, and more particularly its rabbis, should welcome and assist non-Jews in their journey to conversion, but even in this respect it's not very persuasive.

It's a very thin book, and, based on the very thin content, I think the rabbi was just trying to add to his publishing credentials.

Had I known what it was, I would not have wasted my money.

A great book but too short
This book is very encouraging.Its a good start, but you will need to research far more before making any decisions. If it was more complete in its knowledge, I'd give it 5 stars.

Choosing to be Jewish
Rabbi Marc Angel delivers a comprehensible, succint overview of the conversion process. He compassionately addresses all of the issues and concerns that a potential convert might have. Reading the book made me believe that conversion was an acheiveable goal.

Revamping
Conversion to judaism is never an easy thing. Unfortunatelly, orthodox rabbis tend to dismotivate it and often create barriers to one who is trying to join our people. This book shows people that conversion isn't an impossible thing, although difficult and shows what people have been through when dealing with this factor.

To be absolutelly perfect, this book could contain a certain Orthodox Rabbis Directory who acepts dealing with such a delicate matter or, at least, tell how to aproach an orthodox rabbi to discuss this. Anyways, I really recommend the book to whomever is considering conversion.

I would like to thank Rabbi Marc D. Angel for writing this book. It gave us help and hope.

An excellent Assessment that should be a primer for Rabbis
When I lived in New York, I learned from Rabbi Angel during his Rambam classes at the Spanish Portuguese synagogue in New York and I will say that I truly respect his perspective in both class and in this book.Choosing to Be Jewish by Rabbi Marc Angel takes one through the historical and legal issues that revolve around the conversion process in Judaism.This book also covers the Orthodox format of such and the issues concerning conversions through other methods.

Yet, most important this is a personal book that not only laments the problems that exist in some areas of how it is carried out today but it also covers the reliability of the process in the Orthodox community.Rabbi Angel provides stories of conversations that were successful due to a balanced approach to the process as well as the stories of the people who either returned to a lively and vibrant Judaism because of the process or who became observant Jews due to the process.He also does not bow to any pressure to assume that their is a problem in the tenants of Orthodox conversions, but Rabbi Angel deals with the reasons that a fresh look at how potential Geirim (Converts) should be handled.

As has been mentioned before this book is not meant to be a strict 1, 2, 3 this is how you convert, it is meant to help both those who convert and those who would convert them understand the Orthodox perspective, and some of the problems that exist with some of situations.So even though it is not a 1, 2, 3 how to it can help a potential convert understand the issues thus helping avoid shame or major problems.The book also gives pieces written by people who have completed the conversion process to Judaism, and their personal stories. These stories include people who found out that they had Jewish ancestry as well as people who converted for the sake of living as a Jew dedicated to God and the Torah.

I think anyone who studying to become a Rabbi should have this book as required reading.I also believe it should be required reading for anyone wanting to convert to Judaism. ... Read more

Product Description
An acclaimed expert in Christian mysticism travels to a monastery high in the Trodos Mountains of Cyprus and offers a fascinating look at the Greek Orthodox approach to spirituality that will appeal to readers of Carlos Castaneda.

In an engaging combination of dialogues, reflections, conversations, history, and travel information, Kyriacos C. Markides continues the exploration of a spiritual tradition and practice little known in the West he began in Riding with the Lion. His earlier book took readers to the isolated peninsula of Mount Athos in northern Greece and into the group of ancient monasteries. There, in what might be called a “Christian Tibet,” two thousand monks and hermits practice the spiritual arts to attain a oneness with God. In his new book, Markides follows Father Maximos, one of Mount Athos’s monks, to the troubled island of Cyprus. As Father Maximos establishes churches, convents, and monasteries in this deeply divided land, Markides is awakened anew to the magnificent spirituality of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Images of the land and the people of Cyprus and details of its tragic history enrich the Mountain of Silence. Like the writings of Castaneda, the book brilliantly evokes the confluence of an inner and outer journey. The depth and richness of its spiritual message echo the thoughts and writings of Saint Francis of Assisi and other great saints of the Church as well. The result is a remarkable work–a moving, profoundly human examination of the role and the power of spirituality in a complex and confusing world.Amazon.com Review
The spiritual traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church are all but unknown to most Christians in the West, who often think of Christianity as split into two camps: Bible-based Protestantism and sacramental Catholicism. Yet in The Mountain of Silence, sociologist Kyriacos Markides suggests that Orthodox spirituality offers rich resources for Western Christians to integrate the head and the heart, and to regain a more expansive view of Christian life. The book combines elements of memoir, travelogue, and history in a single story. Markides journeys to a cluster of monasteries on Mount Athos, an isolated peninsula in northern Greece and one of the holiest sites in the Orthodox tradition. He also visits the troubled island of Cyprus, largely occupied by Turkey since 1974, and makes the acquaintance of a monk named Father Maximos, who has established churches, convents, and monasteries. Markides, a native Cypriot, tells the tale of this journey in a tone that's loose and light, with many excursions on Church history and Greek and Turkish politics. But despite the easygoing tone, the importance of this book is potentiallyimmense. The Mountain of Silence introduces a world that is entirely new to many Western readers, and unveils a Christian tradition that reveres the mystical approach to God as much as the rational, a tradition that Markides says "may have the potential to inject Christianity with the new vitality that it so desperately needs." --Michael Joseph Gross ... Read more

Customer Reviews (49)

A few maps would help
The Mountain of Silence is Mt. Athos "in Northern Greece," home for 2000 Greek Orthodox monks and hermits; yet much of the narrative centers in Cyprus. A map would help to orient the reader. The author introduces us to architects, physicians and idealists who have abandoned the modern world for a life of prayer and austerity on remote Mt. Athos, "the Christian Tibet." Indeed, I feel like I am following a tenured hippie through a Christian ashram. Is this the way to "attain oneness with God?" Do the prayers of Mt. Athos ameliorate tragedies of this world? Maybe this is one way.

An inspiring spiritual awakening
This is a very well written book explaining the Christian Orthodox faith.The author has a mesmerizing style that enlightens the reader with insightful, exciting ideas and then temporarily diverts his story to allow the reader to ponder what has been written. Take your time, read this and rejoice.It is a flash of brilliance.

Ancient Faith Wisdom that will ground your Christianity
Kyriacos has written the life on the Holy Mountain that transpires over the course of weeks into what feels like a short day.You become immersed in the monastic setting and realize that everyone has the opportunity to become close with God, yet we are all on different rungs of the ladder.An awesome constrution of the path of deification.How the thought process can have a great impact on how we can estrange from God or grow close to God.Salvation is for all but the heart has to become open.I recommend this to all!!!CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST!HE IS AND EVER SHALL BE!

I really like this book
I was reading this at someones house I was staying at and never got to finish it. For a couple years I tried hard to remember the name of the book and would do all kinds of searches about anything I could remember about the book and one day it came up. I love the Jesus prayer and find it very helpful in my life. It helps remove obstacles and the root of things you long to remove from your heart and struggle with. It is a wonderful book, well written and I think there are messages for anyone in need that can be found.

Explains so much
Superb.This is not literature nor textbook, but a real dialog between real people during real events dealing with the depth and breadth of ... reality. I've read it twice and given away copies.Enjoy. ... Read more

Product Description
In this work, the relationship between psychology and religion is analyzed. It presents an analysis of the teachings of the Eastern Church Fathers on the world, man, and the psychological aspects of the union of man with God. Archbishop Chrysostomos works into his presentation the extent of his own research as well as the writings of Metropolitan Hierotheos, which include attempts to evaluate the place, significance, and the effectiveness of Orthodox psychotherapy in secular psychotherapy and its application in the clinical setting. ... Read more

Product Description
A charming, delightfully illustrated classic Christmas folktale from old Russia retold by Alvin Alexi Currier about a poor family who entertains an angel unaware. Although the story has a Christmas theme, it can be read at any time of the year, as an illustration of the text of Hebrews 13:2: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." Picturebook for preschool and up. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Colorful and stylistically appropriate illustrations
In The Miraculous Child, Alvin Aleksi Currier ably retells a Christmas folktale from old Russia. With colorful and stylistically appropriate illustrations by Nadezda Glazunova, The Miraculous Child is a timeless tale of a poor Russian family in a humble log home where a woodcutter, his mother, wife and children have almost nothing to eat, very little to trade or sell, and nothing for the Christmas Feast. The woodcutter encounters a little boy out in a field, shivering and cold. When he brings the lad into his home to share what little poor fare the family has, they discover that it's an angel they have invited in from the cold and a Christmas Feast is held that will never be forgotten. Very highly recommended for the Christmas and folktale collections at grade schools and in community library collections. ... Read more

Product Description
Bartos studies a fundamental yet neglected aspect ofOrthodox theology: deification.By examining the doctrines ofanthropology, christology, soteriology and ecclesiology as they relateto deification, he provides an important contribution to contemporarydialogue between Eastern and Western theologians. ... Read more

Product Description
The Hidden Man of the Heart consists of a series of presentations on the place of the heart in the spiritual life of the Christian, with special reference to the writings of St. Silouan the Athonite (1866-1938) Elder Sophrony of Essex (1896-1993). Delivered in Wichita, Kansas at the 2007 Clergy Brotherhood Retreat of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church, each lecture is published here in full together with its corresponding Questions & Answers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Profound Spirituality
"The Hidden Man of the Heart" goes even deeper into the heart than "The Enlargement of the Heart" (Father Zacharias's previous book).Father Zacharias, a disciple of Elder Sophrony (see other review), has read every book on spirituality, understood them profoundly and through the grace of the Holy Spirit has written a distilled, succinct and miraculously complete explanation of the path to salvation.Through the Holy Spirit he has been able to use words which will not require a dictionary and to assemble sentences that can be followed.While the spirituality is deep and needs time -a lifetime- to understand, it is accessible.The immediacy is so powerful, that you will feel as if you have been speaking with him.

He speaks of repentance that purifies our a soul and allows the Holy Spirit to begin filling it.This process brings joy and salvation.

If you want exegetical writing, then you should probably stay with others such as St. John Chrysostom.But if you have been studying The Philokalia, St. Isaac the Syrian or similar books on spirituality, then this book is a gift to you from God.

Please forgive me.

"Go in and you will find rest"
Archimandrite Zacharias is a member of the monastery of Saint John the Baptist in Essex, founded by Elder Sophrony. In 2007, he led a retreat in Wichita, KS, and this volume offers the presentations delivered at this occasion. Every other chapter is followed by a series of Questions and Answers, as Father Zacharias dialogued with the priests attending the retreat. The whole series focuses on the place of the heart in the spiritual life of the Christian believer. It consists in a very rich inner nourishment, based on the teaching of the Scriptures, and on the spiritual and liturgical experience of the author. He also incorporates the Tradition he received, especially through his mentors Sophrony and Silouan. The book presents the journey of the deep heart (see Ps 64:6), from its awakening to its deification, through purification and transfiguration. In other words, this is a genuine phenomenology of the spiritual life. Coming from a disciple of Sophrony, it is not surprising to see that for Fr. Zacharias, the awakening of the heart comes through mindfulness of death, a true source of inner freedom. This in turns leads to awakening, through a healthy balance between fear of God and love of God. Vigilance, prayer, and repentance help then to build up the heart, or to "enlarge" it, to use a favorite expression of the author (see 2 Cor 6:13). This process has to go through crucifixion, by struggling against the passions. By the grace of God, the Christian will find hesychia, and the divine Word will be conceived in his heart, for his salvation and the salvation of the world. The author offers also many elements of wisdom founded on concrete ecclesial practices, such as the sacrament of confession, meditation on the Gospel, calling upon the name of Jesus and partaking of the sacrament of Holy Communion. This book is an excellent companion for whoever wants to reach a deeper spiritual life.

Plumbing the Depths of the Heart
"The Hidden Man of the Heart" is not a light read, but for serious seekers of spiritual maturity, the time spent digesting this work is well worth the effort.Personally, I would recommend beginning by reading another book by the same author, "The Enlargement of the Heart," which lays groundwork that really is needed to properly understand "The Hidden Man of the Heart."This is a work to be read and re-read, studied and returned to for a lifetime. ... Read more

Product Description
A way of thinking about education in the Church from the perspective of the art, theology, and liturgical and devotional use of icons. Through "iconic catechesis" each person is nurtured to grow into the likeness of God. With color plates. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Keeping the Faith
This is a well reasearched and thougt out volume on church education. The book begins with a survey of what has been done in this country upto this point in Orthodox education illustrating the major theories given so far and pointing out the lack of real thought (for the most part) on the matter to this point. He then procedes to expound a new theory based on the use of icons to explicate the major points of the faith. His work is very good and keeps in mind the "spirit" of Orthodoxy while teaching the "facts" of the faith. The book presents a balanced view of catachisis, with an emphasis on the spiritual as well as mental development in parish life. I recomend this book to anyone who teaches in the church, or is considering doing so, ordained and layity alike. ... Read more

Product Description
At the time of his death in 1958, Vladimir Lossky was already known as one of the most brilliant Orthodox theologians of our century. His study, The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church, was widely recognized not only as an authoritative presentation of Orthodox theology but also as a challenge to the prevailing Western understanding of God-man relations. Yet only in the posthumous publication of Lossky's many other works has the full extent of his contribution to modern Christian thought been revealed. Orthodox Theology: An Introduction was originally intended as a course in dogmatic theology. It investigates the fundamental questions every theologian must ask: Can we know God? What is the relation of the creation to the Creator? How did man fall, and how is he saved? Lossky shows that such doctrinal issues are not merely abstract propositions for theological debate but affect the whole Christian life. Thus, as Lossky demonstrates, the Orthodox tradition of the Trinity is directly related to the Orthodox understanding of the human person. For, like the divine Persons of the Trinity, the human person in its absolute uniqueness yet equally absolute "relatedness" to other persons can only be understood theologically. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The personal God Who reveals Himself

"For freedom from death and the introduction of human nature into God's Kingdom realize the only true Exodus. This sacrifice, ... represents a sacrament, sacrament par excellence, the free gift to God, by Christ in His humanity, of the first fruits of creation, the fulfillment of that immense sacramental action, devolving first upon Adam, which the new humanity must complete, the offering of the cosmos as receptacle of grace." Vladimir Lossky, (Orthodox Theology: An Introduction)



Theognosis, Clement to Evagrius:
The mystical theology of the Church was started by Clement as Theognosis or knowing God, John 17:3, Christ own definition of eternal life. Christian Theology, in the Cataphatic sense, was founded by Origen, being expressed in Neoplatonic terms, but completed by his student Dionysius the pseudo-Areopagite, an associate of Severus, patriarch of Antioch.
"Authentic gnosis is inseparable from a charisma, an illumination by grace which transforms our intelligence. And since the object of contemplation is a personal existence and presence, true gnosis implies encounter, reciprocity, faith as a personal adherence to the personal presence of God Who reveals Himself. In the strict sense, among the ascetics of the Christian East gnosis constitutes the peak of the life of prayer--a peak where gnosis is given by God to man `who knows himself fallible,' says Evagrius, and transforms his indigence in an unfolding of faith. We know Evagrius's formula, which has become an adage: `The one who has purity in prayer is true theologian, and the one who is true theologian has purity in prayer."Prologue:Faith and Theology,

Russian Orthodoxy:
"Hellenism has placed its eternal character upon the Church. It has become an inseparable part of her very being and as such every Christian is, to some extent, a Hellene. Hellenism is not simply a phrase in the history of Christianity but a cornerstone in its life... " G.Florovsky
This quotation outlines a basic conceptual interpretation representative of a majority of Russian theologians thought of their inherited Byzantine Church dogma and its composite theology. For a course in Orthodox doctrinal theology, written half a century ago, to survey the basic doctrines of the Church; Knowledge of God, Nature of creation and meaning of the Fall, Human nature of and Cosmic salvation. Vladimir Lossky, far from being a typical dogmatic theologian in the Western sense; treats dogma as an applicable Church teaching (doctrine), vividly relating to the richness of Eastern Church, whose Orthodoxy was defended by Alexandria, which Lossky repeatedly quotes her own heroes Athanasius and Cyril.

Orthodox Theology:
As it is frequently repeated by Orthodox theologians, a one-volume introduction to Eastern Orthodox theology, and teachings of its Fathers is an ambitious task. The best that one can usually expect from such projects is the condensed reviews found in the many well known introductory books on Orthodoxy, yet, offers a valuable summary of the teachings of the Greek speaking Church fathers, From Origen to Dionysius the p-Areopagite, a good synopsis of a number of profound theological issues. His book gives a clear summary of the Patristic footing of Eastern Orthodox doctrine.This Introduction, was originally intended as a course in dogmatic theology of Eastern Orthodoxy.It investigates the fundamental questions Church theologian should ask in Cosmology, Christology, Sotereology, and Ecclesiology: can we know God? What is the relation of the creation to the Creator? How did man fall, and how is he saved? Lossky shows that such doctrinal issues are not merely abstract propositions for theological debate but are at the base of Christian living. Lossky expounds, the Orthodox doctrine of the Trinity as intimately related to the understanding of how the human person and his spiritual life, and salvation through Kenosis to Theosis could be defended theologically.


CONTENTS
Foreword
Prologue FAITH AND THEOLOGY
1.THE TWO MONOTHEISMS
i. Introduction
ii. The Negative and the Positive Way
iii. The Trinity
iv. Trinitarian Terminology
v. The Procession of Persons and the Divine Attributes
2.THE CREATION
i. Introduction
ii. The Creative Trinity and Divine Ideas
iii. Creation: Time and Eternity
iv. Creation: Cosmic Order
v. Image and Likeness
vi. Christian Anthropology
3.ORIGINAL SIN
i. Introduction
ii. The Meaning of the Old Testament
iii. The Incarnation
4.CHRISTOLOGICAL DOGMA
i. Introduction
ii. "Form of God" and "Form of Servant"
iii. Two Energies, Two Wills
iv. Duality and unity in Christ
v. Redemption
vi. Resurrection


Vladimir Lossky:
Professor Vladimir Lossky, son of Nikolai Lossky, professor of philosophy in Saint Petersburg, was an influential theologian and Russian exile. Vladimir lived in Petrograd until he was exiled from Russia in 1922. He moved to Paris and remained there until his death. He served as the first dean of the St. Dionysus Institute in Paris, where he taught dogmatic theology. At the time of his death in 1958, Lossky was already considered as one of the most influential Orthodox theologians. His writings represent the extent of his contribution to the revival of the petrified Eastern Orthodoxy challenging Western Christian thought then dominant.

Brilliant Summary of Eastern Orthodox Dogmatic Theology
Vladimir Lossky was a reputed Orthodox theologian. Most of his books were published postumously and they reveal the depth and extent of his knowledge of Christian thought. And this book is no exception. The present volume was originally written in French and then translated to English.Almost all the fundmental principles of Christian doctrine are dealt with in this book.The book contains a Prologue, a Postscript and four chapters dealing with different dogmas of the Church. His theological arguments are solidly based on Scriptures and the Fathers of the Church. Since the emphasis is on correctness, the language has become cumbersome and understanding sometimes difficult.He has some familiarity with the Indian understanding of God which he occasionally brings in.

This will remain a valuable book of all time. For a student of Eastern Orthodox Theology this is a must read. ... Read more

Product Description
Asked about the Orthodox doctrine of salvation, many people will say it has to do with theosis or deification, yet few can explain what theosis actually means. Normal Russell builds on his magisterial study, The Doctrine of Deification in the Greek Patristic Tradition, to present this complex teaching of the Fathers with uncompromising scholarship and welcome clarity. The book will interest specialists and non-specialists alike. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

In-depth, readable and practical guide to this key Orthodox doctrine
A fascinating look from the Bible to the Desert Fathers to the Theologians and Saints on the Church, from the Fathers to modern Theologians on the doctrine of "theosis": our calling in life to be "partakers of the Divine Nature" as St Peter wrote in his Epistle.

As the blurb on the back says, 'Asked about the Orthodox Christian doctrine of salvation, many people will hastily tell you that it has to do with "theosis" or "deification." But few can explain what "theosis" actually means, and fewer still can do so with a broad and deep knowledge of the Church Fathers.' It was true for me, and while I would hesitate to claim knowledge, I am thankful I have gained more understanding of the role of this doctrine for my life.

Exceptionally readable, informative, as well as challenging and applicable to daily life, his will be a book I will want to read again and again. Another fine title in the "Foundations" series from SVS Press. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Publisher Description
An easy-to-read, easy-to-understand presentation of the Orthodox Christian way of salvation based on Scripture, the early tradition of the ancient, undivided Church, and the Church Fathers. In a day when there are so many concepts of salvation floating about, it is refreshing to read a balanced view of the many-splendored jewel of salvation as taught by the early Church.

Fantastic Overview of the Subject
This book is a really helpful overview if you want (or someone you know wants) a quick, concise explanation of how the Orthodox Church understandssalvation. Synergy, perfection, atonement, sin, original sin, etc. are not easy subjects to explain if you have volumes to work with, let alone a very short booklike this one, but Bishop Kallistos manages to do it very well.He even manages to not only explain what the Orthodox believe, but also explains how Orthodoxy differs from Catholicism and Protestantism in her understanding of crucial points. This is also a good book to give to someone if you would like to get someone interested in Orthodoxy. The only bad part about the book is that it could have easily fit into a book 1/3 the size that it currently is. It seems to have been drawn out purposely so that more could be charged for the book. A dozen pages have a single sentence on them!Yet, the content of the book makes up for the publishing mistake.

The Theological Buffet (Not Denny's!)
When questioned about theological perspectives and "which one is better?", Bishop Kallistos often responds with a story about a buffet line on the Queen Elizabeth ocean liner. On the voyage, at every meal, you could eat not just french toast for breakfast, but steak or fish. And for dinner you could also enjoy your favorite breakfast meals. His point is that theologians need not limit their perspectives to only one `meal', but rather they ought to eat from the buffet that is laid before them. (I could have used my own experiences at Denny's for such a story but that isn't as neat and it is also a bit gross!)

Approaching the theology of salvation begs for a similar perspective. Anslemian or Thomastic perspectives have their place, but they can tend to push out the eastern and other western perspectives.

Bishop Kallistos Ware of Oxford presents 44 views of salvation according to the Scriptures and the Church Fathers. The format consists of short chapters that focus on specific elements of salvation. Topics include: Salvation as theosis (deification), exchange, process, synergism, the absolute necessity of grace, original sin, St. Augustine, the Fall, sacraments, salvation as personal but not individualistic, and many, many more topics. Ware's use of primary sources is helpful for those who wish to do further study.

If you are interested in Eastern Orthodoxy, this is a great book to begin with. If you are already familiar with the tradition, then "How are we Saved?" will refresh your memory and I'm sure teach you something new. Other books of interest include: "The Orthodox Church" and "The Orthodox Way," both by Bishop Kallistos Ware. "Common Ground," by Jordan Bajis, contains a detailed analysis of the Eastern approach to theology, Church, salvation, etc and is very detailed and informative. As well, all Vladimir Lossky books are insightful in this regard. Lossky is, however, difficult at times for those unfamiliar with technical terminology. John Meyendorff's, "Byzantine Theology," is excellent for further, detailed study of Eastern Orthodoxy.

For Western perspectives check out the following: Christus Victor by Aulen, Union With Christ ed. by Braaten.

Theology prayerfully conveyed
This little book is almost like reading poetry.Aside from longer quotations, sentences are not crammed together into paragraphs.Rather, sentences are broken into clauses, each clause on a separate line separated by a few spaces.The result is that, as you read, each clause sinks in, the individual words and phrases matter.Your conceptual mind slows down a bit and the theology becomes poetry and prayer. The formatting is itself part of the Orthodox message: religion is a mystery (=something more) that no words convey; the spaces between the words, the silences between what we say, the pauses between our actions -- there is God.The content is itself a splendid synopsis of the main points of Orthodox faith by a well-known representative of that tradition (see his "The Orthodox Way").

Excellent Overview of Salvation
Bp. Kallistos Ware understands Scripture and our salvation. He presentsthe Eastern Orthodox approach to salvation from both the theological andpersonal perspectives. Does an excellent job of illustrating the nuances ofclassical Protestant and Roman Catholic views and how the Eastern Orthodoxstance expands and deepens these approaches. He does not work to disagreewith these other churches, but to balance and clarify theirtheology.

This book is very useful as a starting point for personalmeditation, and group discussions. The structure is topic -- bullet points.There are no lengthy paragraphs. Every sentence is crystal-clear.

Abackground in theology is helpful to understand the depth of the issues heis addressing, but this is not a dry theological theoretical tome. The bookleads you to worship, the essential work of all good theologicalthought.

I've bought copies for all my children to read, all the leadersin my church, and will now be using it for a high schoolinterdenominational Bible study group. I have found it to be a very usableand helpful book because of the simple structure and clarity of thewriting.

Can't recommend any book on this subject more highly than thisone! ... Read more

Product Description
Raised in Queens, New York by formerly Orthodox Jewish parents whose faith had been undermined by the Holocaust, Arnold Bernstein went on his own personal quest for spiritual meaning. He was ready to accept God in whatever form He chose to reveal Himself and that form turned out to be Christ. But Bernstein soon perceived discrepancies in the various forms of Protestant belief that surrounded him, and so his quest continued -- this time for the true Church. Surprised by Christ combines an engrossing memoir of one man s life in historic times and situations from the Six-Day War to the Civil Rights Movement to the Jesus Movement in Berkeley with an examination of the distinctives of Orthodox theology that make the Orthodox Church the true home not only for Christian Jews, but for all who seek to know God as fully as He may be known. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

great introduction to Orthodoxy
Surprised by Christ is more than an autobiography. It is a great introduction into the Orthodox Church. In fact I would wager that more of the book is doctrinal than biographical. However the doctrine is described anecdotally which I found to be an excellent aid in understanding. What I mean by anecdotal is that Fr. Bernstein introduces concepts as they related to his journey from Judaism to Christianity. So the book does not suffer from the dryness that a proper Orthodox introduction might. Also, the book does a good job in comparing Salvation doctrines of different Christian churches. Also, the fullfilment Old Testament prophecy is described succintly.

Another plus, is that Fr. Bernstein is not overly critical and hostile of Protestants and Catholics. In fact he admits that some non-Orthodox friends of his are spiritually and morally ahead of him. He does however compare doctrines and makes a Biblical and historical case for the Orthodox viewpoint. In this sense, I think this is a good first book for non-Orthodox Christians to read.

Overall, a good read. Also, the writing style is very simple, clear, and succint. The reading is easy and therefore fast.

This wonderful Testimonial Biography is Enlightening and Inspiring.

"The story of Fr James' journey is fascinating. It reminds us again of the sovereignty of God, and his desire to reach every one of his beloved children, no matter where they are." Frederica Mathewes-Green



Mashiach & Messianic Hope:
Where does the Jewish concept of Messiah come from? Messiah is an English rendering of the Hebrew word "Mashiach", which means the anointed one. The title refers to a person initiated into God's service by being anointed with oil. Since every King and High Priest was anointed with oil, each may be referred to as a Mashiach or Messiah, a descendant of King David who will rule Israel during a utopic age. A central themes in Biblical prophecy is a promise of a future age of universal peace and devotion to God. The concept of the Messiah became rooted in Jewish inspiration, between the testaments. The first Christians were mostly Jewish, especially in the great Patriarchate of Antioch and Alexandria. They slowly moved from post Templar Rabbinic Judaism, without sacrifice, nor priesthood, to Messianic Judaism, which developed into Judeo-Christianity after worship separation which started in Antioch.
"Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of the hand? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is the person's name? And what is the name of His son? Surely you know!"Proverbs 30:3-5

Book Themes:
Surprised by Christ comprises memoirs of one man's life in times and historic events, that ransince the Six-Day War from the Civil Rights Movement, to the Berkeley Jesus Movement. Such rich events, deeply felt, promoted the examination of the autonomy of Orthodox faith and tradition with Biblical that reveiled the Orthodox Church as the authentic home for Christian Jews within all who sincerely seek to experience the all loving Lord as fully as He may be humanly known. Surprised by Christ is a genuine story of searching for truth, refusing to rest until it appears. Raised in Queens, New York by Orthodox Jewish parents whose faith had been tested by the Holocaust, Arnold Bernstein went on his own personal quest for the Lord he earnestly sought, instinctively feeling He was really there. Ready to accept the Holy Lord without precondition, He chose to reveal Himself in His icon that turned out to be the Christ.
Encountering discrepancies in the various theological doctrines of Protestant belief that he encountered, his quest was to continue for the true Church. sticking with his Jewish heritage as a rock foundation, he searched the Bible, and eventually came to the conclusion that the faith of his forefathers was fully honored and brought to completion only in the belief of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church.

Book Reviews:
"In sharing his 'surprise' with us, Fr. James Bernstein shows that he is a Hebrew prophet in the definition of prophecy provided by that other 'Hebrew born of Hebrews' who knew the same 'surprise.'..., Fr James 'speaks to people for their edification and encouragement and comfort.' (1 Cor 14.3)" Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus, St. Vladimir OTS

Fr. James Bernstein:
The Rev. James Bernstein who helped founding the Jews for Jesus ministry in San Francisco, was a staff member of the Christian World Liberation Front in Berkeley. A chapter president of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship at Queens College. Father James is the author of the booklets Orthodoxy: Jewish and Christian, 1990; Which Came First: The Church or the New Testament, 1994; and Communion: A Family Affair, 1999. He was a contributor to the Orthodox Study Bible: New Testament and Psalms, 1993.

Couldn't put it down...
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.

wonderful introduction to Orthodoxy
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 Memorable Theological Autobiography from the Heart
"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. ... Read more

Product Description
Outlines the fundamental differences between Orthodoxy and Protestantism.Written with a broad vision of the historic church; includes instruction to help believers to embrace the fullness of the Christian faith. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (22)

Pretty good book so far
I am only thru chapter 4 of this book. Interestingly, I am already a Catechumen and this book actually had nothing to do with me making that decision. Some background, I have been studying in a fairly dedicated manner, Reformed Theology and Calvinism for a couple years. I had gone through the Theology courses at www.bible.org and listened to R.C. Sproul almost everyday. Add to that the fact I am a musician, and was in a Christian Metal band in HS, and have ALWAYS played guitar in the worship band of whatever Church was serving MY needs at the time. I thought I had it figured out, that the Bible was almost like this Holy Item that just fell out of the sky and it was the ONLY thing you needed to live your life as true Christian. Don't get me wrong, it is a great start, but a lot of people forget that the Bible was created by the CHURCH, and ecumenical councils, not the other way around. I was born into a protestant family, raised protestant, went to protestant Church ranging from a home church size, Charismatic, Traditional, Mega Churches that rival Disneyland, and even went to protestant private school. Last summer, I met a new friend who is Greek and we started talking, she did not preach or anything, but I was already feeling something very wrong about the Churches I had been attending. It wasn't so much that one did something way worse than another, or one had too much music, and one had too little, that was surface stuff I used to bounced from Church to Church. It was more the attitude it seemed to encourage in myself, and most of the others attendees I observed. The problem was when I noticed that the over all goals all of the protestant churches were trying to achieve, was to be "relevant" to the modern world. This manifested itself in everything; multiple venues of music like at churches like Saddleback. Starbucks coffee in the lobbies, etc.... I am sure you know what I mean. Don't get me wrong, its a great place to bring agnostics, and they will think its "cool". Unfortunately, what initially I thought were the coolest things about the Protestant churches, the music, the resources, the endless classes, the home groups, the video games for the kids, jamming in the worship band, didn't seem to amount to a hill of beans when I started thinking in terms of a Holy All Knowing creator of the Universe. Of all the Protestant Theologians, I think RC Sproul comes darn close in his Holiness of God series. I had an epiphany one day when I realized that ALL of this was designed to satisfy the individual need. "Honey, lets try that other Church, I liked the music better there. I liked that pastors sermons better. I like the fact they don't make us stand so much. I I I I I ..... unfortunately, this is the inevitable result of the course many (not all) but many, of these Churches have taken. So not being a Baptist, I cant relate so much specifically to that, but boy, I felt at times I was reading my own experience. So, this book was given to me by a Deacon at my Parish as part of the Catechumen class. I like it so far, it is very simple, and short enough to give to family members who can't fathom why you would not want to be protestant anymore. I am hoping to get into more Orthodox Theology books in the future. A couple of quotes to end this review turned diatribe; from a Priest and Deacon at our Parish. "Luther just traded one Pope for many", and "It is not what Protestants HAVE that is the problem, it is what they are lacking". Now when I go to Church, I go not to hear a great Worship band and check out how good the guitar player is, or cute singer girls. I don't go to GET SOMETHING from the sermon. Lord knows there is plenty of Christian radio if I want to listen to that.... I don't go for the coffee. I go to give Worship in the same manner as the Christians in the 1st Century Church did. And guess what! I was SEEKING, but a seeker friendly Church is not where God guided me. Imagine that.... So, this is a great book to start with, but don't end it there. There is also a good workbook style book called Dance of Isaiah, that is more a direct line by line comparison of Protestant, Orthodox and Roman Catholic beliefs and practices. Keep in mind Orthodox are Catholic, because they believe in one Holy and Apostolic Church. However, Orthodox are NOT Roman Catholic. Catholic means, Universal. The Church of Rome split away from Holy Orthodoxy during the great Schism. The Eastern Orthodox Church (old calendar), has remained, for the most part, unchanged. Anyway, Cheers!

Insightful, rings true to this ex-evangelical protestant.
As someone who left evangelical/fundamentalist protestantism over ten years ago, and then explored the christian tradition as far as Catholicism while still remaining unsatisfied, I found this book inspiring me to take yet another look into the christian tradition for truth and community.I regret now that at that time I didn't know enough to look at the Orthodox Church (or the Coptic Church, for that matter) before giving up on the christian tradition.

And having grown up attending both baptist churches and other protestant churches with strong similarities to the baptist denominations, it seems clear to me that Carlton writes with profound and clear insider insight.The readily predictable reactions of a number of baptist reviewers here certainly don't surprise me, but they strike me as being rooted in the process of psychological denial more than in a truly candid and truth-seeking evaluation of Carlton's prophetic message to their churches.To put it simply; Carlton seems to understand protestant doctrine and practice more clearly than your average baptist.

Outstanding!
I think this is a very valuable book - well written and easy to read - for anyone interested in digging deep into the strong roots of the Christian faith, especially thosewho claim to be Protestants or Biblical Christians.

Not for the faint of heart
About a year and a half ago, I was happily Protestant, and then someone had the nerve to introduce me to the Orthodox Church. This strange church intrigued me. It definitely seemed to have been around a long time--much longer than my Protestant church. I felt the need to judge between the Orthodox Church and the Protestant churches to find out which was legitimate. This book gives an excellent comparison of the two and does so using many witnesses (i.e., Church Fathers) down through the Church's 2,000 year history.

If you are Protestant, this book is a great one to read. I suggest following it with The Faith and then The Life. These help you to better understand Orthodox theology.

A Wonderful Book for Those Who Searches "The WaY".
Clark Carlton's book is very needed these days when there is so much confusion in the world, in the USA, regarding what actually Christianity is.Protestantism in the USA, that politically allied itself with Republicans, has turned many to-be Christians away from Christianity. The book will help manypeople to come to the realization of the fallacy of Protestantism as Christianity, especially offundamentalists, who have"adopted an 'ends justifies the means' mentality with regard to political tactics".
Clark Carlton's book presents a deep insight intothe history of different Protestant doctrines that claim to be Christian. He successfully manages to prove the reality of the New Testament Church in the Orthodox Church which was miraculously preserved as original Apostolic Church through two thousand years of its life.Clark Carlton writes "In the early Church, the doctrine, worship, and structure of the Church were so interwoven that one one could not be separated from the other. Our Lord Jesus Christ founded one church, not a multitude of denominations. That CHURCH is nothing less than His Body, His continuing presencein the world. That Church is Orthodox Church"
The book clearly proves that neither of the Apostles or Jesus Christ himself bequeathed Reformation which was done by human inspiration through human reasoning.Numerous times Bible tells us about Church which is the Body of Christ, and about how Church should be understood, which is the Living Body of Christ where Christians live in Communion with God,which is the essence of Christianity. Clark Carlton explains the fallacy of Protestantsin a very precise way: for Protestants"The Bible became an idol - an idol that" they themselves "controlled. An infallible book is only useful if you have an infallible interpreter, the sole arbiterof what the Bible did and did mot mean. The Reformation did not do away with medieval Papacy and all of its pretensions, it merely democratized it and made everyone Pope."That explains why Protestants empirically tryto reason God or Bible,which is opposite to Orthodox Christians whojust have strong Faith, and entrust themselves to God. This isFaith without empirical reasoning.
Clark Carlton brilliantly explains the essence of the Church created by Jesus Christ, which is the Body of Christ. And the Church is the Body of Christ for Orthodox Christians. The scriptures provide the guidance, but not His body, of His flesh, and his bones (Eph.5:30) Likewise Christ Himself said, "He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him (John 6:56).
Being exposed to Protestantism, but being now an Orthodox Christian, I found the book very convincing for those who want to find "the Way". ... Read more

Product Description
Orthodox by Design, a groundbreaking exploration of religion and media, examines ArtScroll, the world's largest Orthodox Jewish publishing house, purveyor of handsomely designed editions of sacred texts and a major cultural force in contemporary Jewish public life. In the first in-depth study of the ArtScroll revolution, Jeremy Stolow traces the ubiquity of ArtScroll books in local retail markets, synagogues, libraries, and the lives of ordinary users. Synthesizing field research conducted in three local Jewish scenes where ArtScroll books have had an impact--Toronto, London, and New York--along with close readings of key ArtScroll texts, promotional materials, and the Jewish blogosphere, he shows how the use of these books reflects a broader cultural shift in the authority and public influence of Orthodox Judaism. Playing with the concept of design, Stolow's study also outlines a fresh theoretical approach to print culture and illuminates how evolving technologies, material forms, and styles of mediated communication contribute to new patterns of religious identification, practice, and power. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Major contribution
Jeremy Stolow's book is a major contribution. He explores innovative uses of print media in the service of modern Orthodoxy. Whether the book is "Kosher by Design," a highly successful kosher cookbook (the first in the Art Scroll cookbook series) or the prayerbook, Art Scroll has managed to package traditional texts and values in ways that appeal to the knowledgable and the novice alike. Just how Art Scroll has done this--not only how it has created such clear texts and attractive books, but also how it has positioned itself as an authority to be trusted--is the subject of his analysis, which extends to the much broader range of Art Scroll's product line.

This book is a model for how to study modern print culture, attending as it does to publisher and reader; text, graphic design, and binding; marketing and distribution; and much more. Stolow writes in a clear and engaging way, with wit and insight, about this fascinating and important subject. Read it for insight into modern Jewish life. Read it for insight more generally into the role of media in religious life.

Highly recommended.

an insightful book
This book is not just about Artscroll.Jeremy Stolow cleverly uses Artscroll as an example of Charediism and the movement to the right in English speaking Orthodox Judaism.He helps further the discussion as to why and how Orhodox Judaism changed and how Artscroll has provided amodel of "proper" Orthodox practice, reducing the role of and need forfamily and local congregations to model this behavior.As a curious layman, I found the book fascinating and helpful in further understanding the "slide to the right".
I would be interested in a more detailed explanation of Artscroll and its parent Mesorah Foundation from a financial point of view.
Thisis an important book for people trying to understand Orthodox Judaism's evolution since the Holocaust.

Important new insights into Jewish book culture
Jeremy Stolow's "Orthodox by Design" offers the first scholarly study of one of the most remarkable phenomena of contemporary religious publishing:ArtScroll, which has emerged at the turn of the millennium as the largest and most influential press catering to Orthodox Jewry in the United States and, increasingly, around the world.Stolow brings the thoughtful eye and ear of a sociologist of religion and of media to the task, offering readers a carefully nuanced and multifaceted analysis of the press, its various publications, and especially its readers.If you have ever used an ArtScroll prayer book, Bible, Talmud, or cookbook--or if you have ever argued over the impact of ArtScroll on Orthodox life and learning--this book is a must."Orthodox by Design" is also an important book for those who are interested in contemporary religious life, the translation and study of sacred texts, the role of English as a world language, books as material objects, or the changing profile of reading practices in the era of digital media.

Jeffrey Shandler
Author of "Jews, God, and Videotape:Religion and Media in America"

design and designated messages
Jeremy Stolow's book Orthodoxy By Design is not necessarily about Orthodoxy or haredism. Rather it is quite an amazing examination of the marketing expertise and design enterprise of ArtScroll. His scholarship in the field of communication studies adds a level of understanding to the meanings, messages and designs hidden to most of us when we explore such phenomenon. The book exposes the vast field of print medium and its evolutions/revolutions in human communications. That the case study points to Orthodoxy and haredism specifically adds a fascinating quality but does not delimit the usefulness or scope of the book. From prayer books, to bibles, to cookbooks, the publisher's design is revealed and we are enlightened.
Norma Baumel Joseph, PhD.

Falls far short of expectations
The rise of ArtScroll/Mesorah is a major phenomenon in contemporary American Judaism, engendering much conversation. Though the title was very intriguing, Jeremy Stolow's early effort disappointed me. The book just was not what I hoped it would be.

If you are willing to plunk down the change for a book with "Artscroll" in the title, I assume that you would already be familiar with these books and have an established opinion on the matter. But I could be wrong; this book presumes complete naivete. We are told that their liturgical and cook books are best-sellers but their fiction doesn't sell as well. Is that news to anyone considering this book? The prayer books give step by step instructions and the bible commentaries trend fundamentalist. Again, would you have needed to read this book to learn that?

There is a lot that could be said about Artscroll but this book concentrates on the obvious. Maybe the fault is my own: I just don't think a book can be a good read for telling me that people buy what they like; in this case ergonomically designed works with instructions and claims on authenticity. Wouldn't everyone agree that a much more interesting book by this title would examine WHY these features are popular?! A comparison to recent trends among Evangelical and Catholic publishers would have been welcome. Instead, this book just restated the obvious and provided minimal discussion of cause or effect.

Rustin ... Read more