(Part 3) Reddit mentions: The best christian orthodoxy books

Speaking as someone who read Fr. Seraphim as an inquirer, I don't think that Fr. Seraphim is the best introduction to Orthodoxy, though I thought at the time that God's Revelation to the Human Heart was good. It's a lecture he specifically made as an introduction to Orthodoxy. I think the best introduction to Orthodoxy is simply going to church and listening to the chanting, which is hopefully in English.

If he's really interested into doing some heavy reading, have him read The Experience of God by Fr Dumitru Staniloae. There are five volumes, and I've only read the first one (the rest don't exist in the Cleveland Public Library system, sadly). Great stuff.

Edit: This gem by Fr Vladimir Lossky is great too.

I entirely agree. One of my favorite Catholic bloggers, Gabriel Sanchez, is a Ukrainian Catholic. That is where I've heard His Beatitude Sviatoslav before online. Do you happen to own The Catechism of the Ukrainian Catholic Church: Christ Our Pascha? If so, does it say anything in particular about the General Anointing on Holy Wednesday or any justification of the sacrament being given to the healthy or anything to resolve my question? I'm tempted to buy this book since it has a chapter on it.

https://www.amazon.com/Grand-Duchess-Elizabeth-Russia-Millar/dp/1879066076 it looks like its out of print (hardcore copies are 600 dollars!) but paperbacks are still not at insane level, although only 3 are available. https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?kn=millar&sortby=17&tn=grand+duchess+elizabeth+of+russia it is cheaper here, I may pick up a copy in case it gets even more inaccessible, I had a borrowed copy when I read it and I'd like to have it around for good.

> Now, what I would find fascinating is a book examining, in depth, the sort of daily practice changes that Orthodox underwent during the Ottoman era

This may fit the bill? I haven't read it yet. It is on the syllabus for the Antiochian House of Studies program (distance course that results in certification or MA in applied Orthodox theology). It looks excellent and probably answers the questions you pose. I have 2-3 books to read before I pick this up, but I'm excited for it.

Edit: Fixed URL (long form Amazon link)

Happy to help. Here are some links I'd recommend.

https://www.amazon.com/Experience-God-Orthodox-Dogmatic-Deification/dp/1885652410/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=dumitru+staniloae&qid=1564128511&s=gateway&sprefix=dumtru&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Mystery-Jesus-Christ/dp/088141249X/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=st+maximus&qid=1564128542&s=gateway&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.com/Origen-Alexandria-St-Maximus-Confessor/dp/1581122616/ref=mp_s_a_1_34?keywords=st+maximus&qid=1564128599&s=gateway&sr=8-34

Also I can't reccomend this poetry enough

https://www.amazon.com/Divine-Eros-Theologian-Popular-Patristics/dp/0881413496/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?keywords=symeon+the+new+theologian&qid=1564128667&s=gateway&sprefix=syme&sr=8-2

No single book could possibly capture my religious outlook (until I get around to writing my own systematic theology, at least), but the best for giving the general contours of my views is Sergei Bulgakov's trilogy on Divine-Humanity: The Lamb of God, The Comforter, and The Bride of the Lamb.

Have you read any books about people discussing why they believe? I found that helpful when I was in a similar situation.

Orthodoxy by Chesterton is really great.

Mere Christianity by CS Lewis is one usually recommended as a go-to.

Out of curiosity, how old are you?

Thanks, I wasn't familiar, but he looks like a good source.

In a review, some one reccomend this if you haven't read it. Bishop Kallistos Ware writes a glowing review of it.

https://www.amazon.com/Hymn-of-Entry-Liturgy-and-Life-in-the-Orthodox-Church-Contemporary-Greek-Theologians-Series-No-1/dp/0881410268/ref=cm_cr_dp_mb_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8

I’ve never heard of that icon before, but it’s kind of interesting.

Repentance and Confession

If you pick it up, make sure to read the footnotes! Words mean different things between the traditions :)

You may be interested in the book In Peace Let Us Pray to the Lord: An Orthodox Interpretation of the Gifts of the Spirit, which addresses this very topic in-depth.

https://www.amazon.com/Life-World-Sacraments-Orthodoxy/dp/0913836087

A work that details the nature of the eucharist/the sacraments in a broader Orthodox context.

https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Divine-Liturgy-Nikolai-Gogol/dp/0884653439

A work penned by the finest Russian author in modern history--an amazing, poetic, simple introduction to the subtext and symbolism of the Divine Liturgy.

And, as mentioned, Nicholas Kabasilas' work on the Liturgy.

Eastern Orthodox Theology: A Contemporary Reader is a great introduction to Orthodox theology for non-Orthodox laity. It's written in such a way that one doesn't need to be intimately familiar with theological terminology, and it's divided into essays that are fairly brief and digestible. It covers everything from the role of saints and icons, to the function of tradition and authority in the Church, and a lot in between. I highly recommend it, especially for the price.

https://www.amazon.com/Eastern-Orthodox-Theology-Contemporary-Reader/dp/0801025893

In the past, Reformed/evangelical - Orthodox interaction was really rare. But there are lots of good books on the subject now - where both "sides" do not engage in polemic attacks and misrepresent each other. The books I'm listing are Protestant evaluations of the Orthodox or Protestant introductions to Orthodoxy that come from this attitude of dialogue and charity.

• Through Western Eyes: Eastern Orthodoxy: A Reformed Perspective by Robert Letham - this book is the most Reformed of the bunch and has been endorsed by Carl Trueman and Gerald Bray among others
  
  
• Eastern Orthodox Christianity: A Western Perspective by Daniel Clendenin - Clendenin has also edited an anthology of contemporary Orthodox theology
  
  
• Eastern Orthodoxy through Western Eyes by Donald Fairbairn
  
  
• Light from the Christian East: An Introduction to the Orthodox Tradition by James R. Payton
  
  
• Three Views on Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism (Counterpoints) - part of Zondervan's helpful series, conveniently structured
  

Don't know whether this is the best translation, but I have this one and enjoyed reading it.

https://www.amazon.com/Acquisition-Spirit-Saint-Seraphim-Sarov-ebook/dp/B003TZLPJ8

Hi,
The first video is only part of the introduction. It is the audio version ( which consists of 12 videos) of a whole book which is 292 pages (https://www.amazon.com/Orthodoxy-Religion-Future-Seraphim-Rose/dp/188790400X), so it's normal that it's lengthy. The aim of the author is to make a thorough analysis of some spiritual phenomenon that started last century, and have shaped the modern religious thinking. To understand the point, one must go through the book , because the author is very careful not to impose views, but to give facts and analysis that help the reader draw his own conclusions.

As to your statement that it mixes old and new, I'm sorry, I don't understand exactly what you mean - old and new ideologies, concepts, religions, statements, or something else?

I think you'd find this interesting:

http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/alien_abduct.aspx

As well as a book by Father Seraphim Rose:

http://www.amazon.ca/Orthodoxy-Religion-Future-Seraphim-Rose/dp/188790400X

666 is in reference to a Roman Emperor. As for the rest, I don't think there are any official positions. Fr. Seraphim Rose wrote a book on this subect: Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future

This book will, I believe, answer a large part of that question: https://www.amazon.com/Great-Church-Captivity-Patriarchate-Constantinople/dp/0521313104

Then patristics texts would be largely meaningless to such a person.

I would recommend Part I of Bishop Irenei's Beginning of a Life of Prayer ("Taking Stock of Our Struggle"), Seraphim Rose's God's Revelation to the Human Heart and Parts 1 and 2 of Thomas Hopko's podcast, Teaching Doctrine in the World We Live in Today