Which spiritual books are people reading? [Archive] - Monachos.net Discussion Community

Nina

17-06-2007, 07:17 PM

Dear friends,

Which Orthodox patristic/spiritual book are you reading/re-reading at the moment, (or have just finished reading/re-reading)? I would like very much to hear from you all and receive new recommendations.

These days I am reading a simple book, but so incredible, powerful and moving. Its title: The Hermitess Photini. I have not finished it yet, but until now I know that the Hermitess Photini abandoned the world and was a cave-dweller in the wilderness near the Jordan River. On her first day in the wilderness she saw in her sleep St. Mary of Egypt, who encouraged her and told her that "Christ the Bridegroom will strengthen you in your struggle and will help you receive the crown of ascesis."

The Hermitess was such a well educated person and was raised with much love from her parents (although her mother passed away while Photini was still a child). She traveled a lot because of her father's trade and she could have had all the joys and comforts of the world because she did not lack the means, but her soul longed for Christ. As an adult she spent much time in the cemetery contemplating about the vanity of life and the rest of the day she would spend it at the library studying.

There are many insightful moments about life in this book, but one of the most insightful and moving moments I have encountered up to the point I have read, is when the Hermitess receives an Easter egg from the Archimandrite Joachim, who providentially met her at Jordan's side, during the Bright Week of 1890 (and who wrote her life's story). While holding the Easter egg in her hands and saying "Christ is Risen!" she had tears in her eyes because:

"I haven't eaten an Easter egg for six years."

"Aren't there any eggs of partridges or of other birds here in the wilderness?" [Archimandrite Joachim asked her]

"Yes, there are many, and I have come across many partridge nests, some with eggs, others with chicks. Across the Jordan, there are also eggs of wild ducks and geese, but I didn't take any of them because I didn't want to grieve the mothers, who entertain me with their singing in the monotony of this wilderness." (p.51) What a love!!!!

The Hermitess Photini struggled with "the hater of good" and because of her love and honor for the Theotokos (she read the Salutations to the Theotokos daily in addition to her prayers for God), she begged Theotokos for help. Instantly the Theotokos appears to her and says: "Fear not; only have your hope in me."

Paul Fowler

17-06-2007, 09:09 PM

"Spiritual Classics from the Early Church", an anthology edited by Robert Atwell.

published by The National Society/Church Publishing House 1995
ISBN 0 7151 4827 3

contains writings by St Cyprian, The Desert Fathers/Mothers, St Basil the Great, St Gregory of Nyssa, St John Chrysostom, The Blessed Augustine of Hippo, St Benedict, St Gregory the Great

In XC

Paul F

Mourad Mankarios

18-06-2007, 05:52 AM

The Inner Kingdom by Bishop Kallistos Ware
New Seeds of Contemplation by Fr Thomas Merton

Nicolaj

18-06-2007, 09:47 AM

I read currently the Russian Pilgrim as I usually do were it is fasting time. I think I know it well but as with the Holy Scripture and the Philokalie I always see new points and am every time gratefull for the way it helps me keeping on the road.

Peter Farrington

18-06-2007, 10:01 AM

I'm reading through The Commentary of the Gospel of St John by St Cyril of Alexandria.

Peter

Father David Moser

18-06-2007, 04:35 PM

At present I am juggling a host of books

Wounded By Love by the Elder Porphyrios
The Orthodox Church by Sergius Bulgakov
The Faith of the Chosen People by St Nikolai (Velimirovic)
Entering the Orthodox Church by Metr Hierotheos (Vlachos)
Living Without Hypocrisy; Spiritual Counsels of the Optina Elders trans and edited by Archim. George (Shaefer)

Fr David Moser

Alexandra

18-06-2007, 04:53 PM

I am reading "We Shall See Him As He Is" by Archimandrite Sophrony. It is awesome.

Kris

18-06-2007, 05:06 PM

I've started reading My Life in Christ by St. John Kronstadski after seeing it recommended by St. Theophan the Recluse. Every line is filled with the Holy Spirit.

Paul Cowan

19-06-2007, 04:48 AM

I am starting over again today with Matthew 1:1

Effie Ganatsios

19-06-2007, 05:50 AM

Nina, at the moment I am reading volume 4 (Family Life) of Elder Paisios of Mount Athos words. These books have been published by the Holy Monastery of the Evangelist John the Theologian, Souroti, Thessaloniki. If I remember correctly, you mentioned that you had visited this monastery.

These 4 volumes are in Greek (one of the nuns told me that these particular books are in the process of being translated) but the wording is not too complicated so I'm having no trouble reading them.

I highly recommend them.

Effie

John Charmley

19-06-2007, 08:45 AM

Dear Nina,

Nicholas Cabasilas, A commentary on the Divine Liturgy
Eusebius, The History of the Church
and St. Cyril of Alexandria's Scholia on the Incarnation

I am most grateful to Matthew Steenberg for putting me onto the first of these books, which is most edifying; and to Peter Farrington, for making the third of them available in an edition along with other writings of St. Cyril. The second of them is the text we are reading with our bishop who is giving a series of lectures on the early Church.

In Christ,

John

Mary

19-06-2007, 04:40 PM

I always read several books simultaniously, because I have the attention span of a 2yr old and need to keep changing activities... But mostly, I've been working my way through 'Wounded By Love' by Elder Porphyrios.

What a totally wonderfully amazing man! How anyone can tell the story of his own journey in such humility that you can actually sense his humility, is totally beyond me! I got stuck today on pg 109:
Christ stands outside the door of our soul and knocks for us to open to Him, but He doesn't enter. He doesn't want to violate the freedom which He Himself gave us... Christ is courteous. He stands outside the door of our soul and knocks gently. If we open to Him, He will enter us and give us everythign - Himself - secretly and silently.

I couldn't read any further than that. How could I? How many times I've left my Lord and King standing at the door and waiting for me to open it for Him? How could I be so full of myself that I can't hear Him knocking?

Such a powerful picture for me, because I've been preparing our house to make room for a special guest, who will spend a week with us. I imagined him standing at the door and waiting, while I... so lost in whatever I'm doing, that I leave him at the door... If it shocks me so to think of leaving my friend outside, how much more appalling to leave Christ Himself outside?!

I hope He will come in, and stay, even though my soul and my heart will never be perfect enough to welcome Him as He deserves. But I'd rather open the door and let Him into a messy heart, than leave Him standing outside.

Lord have mercy!

Fr Raphael Vereshack

19-06-2007, 04:44 PM

Living Without Hypocrisy- Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina
wonderful, wonderful; and good to read a few pages at a time.

Human Image: World Image by Philip Sherrard

The first 90% of the book is very good with some extremely good insights. The last chapter as a friend of mine would say, is 'a total die-saster'. Now I understand the criticism of Sherrard for being a Platonist. There's a lot of very flawed theology in this last chapter. A shame as the book really heads in a good direction. The problem I think is just that Sherrard read too much other literature without a sufficient grounding in Orthodox theology. The alarm bells went off when I came across a negative comment in this chapter about St Gregory Palamas' 'natural science' as expressed in the 150 Chapters. This is understandable I think when you understand Sherrard's very heavy intellectual investment in what is really an emanationist cosmology.

Justin Martyr His Life & Thought by LW Barnard

Yes, decent books 40 years old can be stumbled on in city libraries. I wouldn't want to totally rely on this book but it did remind me that non-Orthodox commentary can also give helpful insights. But the author of this book is unusually sober and modest in his aims which probably helped.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

Andrew

19-06-2007, 05:02 PM

Words of Life - by Elder Sophrony. Much to chew on! I try to read this on breaks during work, or in the morning.

The Priest's Service Book - translated by Archbishop Dmitri. Not that I'm a priest, but it has been good to read over certain parts, for various reasons. I especially look at the proskomedie and the anaphora of the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great.

Monastic Wisdom of Elder Joseph - one of my favorites. The fathers of the various monasteries of Elder Ephraim read a chapter a day from this. I think I'm going to pick up that practice. It is a very encouraging book, especially for men I think.

Counsels from the Holy Mountain, by Elder Ephraim - the Elder approaches the ups and downs of the spiritual life and all spaces between in this collection of his homilies and letters to spiritual children. He carries the life, teaching, and energy of Elder Joseph within him! This is another encouraging book.

Orthodox Spirituality, by Met. Hierotheos Vlachos - this was the main "textbook" of a retreat I went on last week.

Reflections of a Humble Heart - this small book contains so much. I cannot recommend it enough. "I am thine, save me!" This is especially a good book to read before Pentecost.

On Prayer, by Elder Sophrony

Not too long ago I finished Salt of the Earth by the New Martyr Pavel Florensky, which was a wonderful book.

I read little bits of various books at the same time in a somewhat haphazard manner. It keeps things interesting!

Katherine Clark

19-06-2007, 10:13 PM

It's good to see that some of you are like me. Reading more than one thing at a time. I've been known to carry around several at a time during the day...You just never know when there will be a moment and what you will feel like at the time.
My friend and I are reading aloud Victory in the Unseen Warfare- this is the first of a trilogy-a sort of modern adaptation of the famous Unseen Warfare. It's short and rather easy to read and discuss.

Blessed John the Wonderworker- Finding myself quite interested in St. John and having the book in my library, I started reading and got hooked again on his work and the miracles people have reported. Seeing God as the real source and true foundation of life....not seeing the "seen" as all there is-it and such things help.

The Roots of Christian Mysticism-Clement- Frankly, I'm not happy with the snitches and snatches. However, given my very limited patience and understanding, I suspect I need some explanations around the quotations as he gives. I'll be better prepared for the real thing.

The Life in Christ Nicholas Cabasilas- It is wonderful to read a work written for those of us "in the world". There is much written "for the monks and nuns". It's good to hear the words of one writing for those of us who live in the world. Perhaps the sermons of St. John Chrysostom would also be helpful here. Being encouraged to live "into" the services of the Church seems a very reasonable path for one such as I am.

By the way I love reading Living without Hypocrisy. It's one like a devotional book that can be picked up and sections read at random. Always a treasure.

In my pre-Orthodox days I read and re-read Julian of Norwich. Do any of you still read her work? What do you all think?

Thanks for the opportunity to share

Effie Ganatsios

20-06-2007, 04:00 PM

The latest batch of Orthodox books I bought :

1. Walking with Christ every day – this is in Greek and is wonderful. The author who is an archmandrite doesn’t make any comments. He devotes each day of the year to one of the Orthodox fathers and simply quotes him. A lovely book.

2. Elder Joseph the Hesychast – Struggles, Experiences, Teachings - this is in English
I read it through very quickly. Haven’t studied it yet.

3. Wounded by Love – the Life and Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios – haven’t even opened it yet.

4. Meditations in a deserted place – this is in Greek and it’s an interesting book. It is written by Konstantinos Papanicolaou, an archmandrite and a journalist. He follows Christ’s footsteps in Palestine and discusses present day Greece and its people, society in general and what role the Orthodox religion plays in our lives today.

5. Vol. 4 Elder Paisios – Family Life – this is the one I’m reading now.

Effie

Vera L.

21-06-2007, 11:42 AM

I am reading the BEST book at the moment,
"The Orthodox Church on Virginity and Chastity" (Pravoslavnaya Tserkov o Devstve i Tselomudrii)
It's in Russian, but it is one of the best books I have read! It has excerpts from the works or different Saints and also from contemporary priests (and even Orthodox psychologists) on marriage, monasticism and generally about living a chaste life. Each section also includes Lives of Saints.
I bought it in Sergiev Posad. If anyone ever goes there, have a look in the bookshop... So MANY awesome books!

In Christ,
Vera

Nina

21-06-2007, 02:21 PM

Fr Raphael Vereshack

21-06-2007, 03:02 PM

Vera Laptev wrote:

I bought it in Sergiev Posad. If anyone ever goes there, have a look in the bookshop... So MANY awesome books!

I know, I know. Isn't it an amazing place?

One thing I experienced in this book store, indicative of the changes occurring throughout Russia, is the number of Russian people and priests who spoke to me in English and helped me find suitable books. My Russian is limited so it was very kind to have have others suggest books with simpler Russian.

One interesting difference from the west in their religious book selection was a number of shelves devoted entirely to the effort in what in Russia is called the Great Patriotic War (WWII). There is a book about General Zhukov by his daughter which I saw in many of the Orthodox bookstores which almost seems to be a best seller right now.

There are few suitable words to describe the scale of the struggle & sacrifice endured by the Russian people during the War. From what is being published it appears that the Church played a much larger role in this effort than most of us in the west knew. But the present portrayal of this effort by the Church is also part of its attempt to describe its place within the new Russia. If one takes the number of religious books on this subject as a sign (and it really is quite different from what one sees in the west as a being part of an Orthodox focus) then the Church in Russia has a place within society quite different from what we are used to.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

Herman Blaydoe

22-06-2007, 12:15 AM

FWIW, I have started to re-read Vladimir Lossky's The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church. I think I might be able to appreciate many of his finer points at a deeper level this time. I have to smile at some of the rather silly and naieve margin notes I scribbled the first time through.

What a powerful book!

Anthony

22-06-2007, 11:14 AM

Vera, thank you for your recommendation also. Please can you tell me where Sergiev Posad is?

Dear Nina,

It is the location of St Sergius of Radonezh's Monastery of the Holy Trinity (http://www.stsl.ru/), a little way from Moscow. On some maps it still has its Soviet name, Zagorsk.

Anthony

Maria Mahoney

22-06-2007, 01:03 PM

Dear Nina,

In 1998-2000 these were the books I read... after that, I stopped keeping track. They are all very excellent! (The numbers that are missing were non-Orthodox books).

1. The Great Collection of Lives of the Saints November Volume 3 from the original compiled by Saint Demetrius of Rostov
2. The Philokalia v1
3. John Climacus: The Ladder of Divine Ascent
4. Pseudo-Dionysius The Complete Works
5. From Glory to Glory by Gregory of Nyssa
7. Introduction to Liturgical Theology by Alexander Schmemann
8. Holy Women of Russian By Brenda Meehan
9. Eternal Mysteries Beyond the Grave Compiled by Archimandrite Panteleimon
10. Marriage As A Path To Holiness: Lives of Married Saints by David and
Mary Ford
11. Symeon The New Theologian: The Discourses
12. Holy Mothers of Orthodoxy by Eva Catafygiotu Topping
17. The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church by Vladimir Lossky
18. The Communion of Love by Matthew the Poor
19. Penthos: The Doctrine of Compunction in the Christian East by Irenee Hausherr, SJ
21. Gregory Palamas: The Triads
22. The Desert Fathers by Waddell
23. The Luminous Eye The Spiritual World Vision of Saint Ephram the Syrian
24. The Spiritual Life And How to be Attuned to it By St. Thophan the Recluse
26. St. Seraphim of Sarov: A Spiritual Biography by Archmandrite Lazarus
Moore (twice)
27. The Eucharist by Alexander Schmemann
29. Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Michael Pomanzansky
30. St. Gregory Palamas as a Hagiorite by Metropolitan of Nafpaktos
Hierotheos
32. The Life of Father John of Kronstadt by Bishop Alexander
33. Blessed Paisius Velichkovsky by Schemamonk Metrophanes
34. The Primacy of Peter by John Meyendorff Editor
35. Not of This World: The Life and Teaching of Fr. Seraphim Rose
37. Pilgrimage of the Heart: A Treasury of Eastern Christian Spirituality
Edited, With Introduction and Epilogue, by George A. Maloney, S.J.
38. St. John Chrysostom: On Marriage and the Family Life
40. Letters to a Beginner: On Giving One's Life To God by Abbess Thaisia A
Spiritual Mother of Holy Russia
41. The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way Annonymous
42. The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of The Holy Gospel According to
St. Matthew
43. The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of The Holy Gospel According to
St. Mark
44. The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of The Holy Gospel According to
St. Luke
45. The Soul After Death by Fr. Seraphim Rose
46. Saint Sergius and Russian Spirituality by Pierre Kovalevsky
47. Counsels For Life From the Life and Teachings of Fr. Epiphanios
Theodoropoulos
49. Blessed Sufferer: The Life and Mystical Revelations of a Russian Eldress: SCHEMANUN MACARIA by Gennady Durasov
50. The Diary of a Russian Priest by Alexander Elchaninov
51. The Spiritual Counsels of Father John of Kronstadt: Selected Passages
from MY LIFE IN CHRIST
52. Elder Leonid of Optina by Fr. Clement Sederholm
59. The Art of Prayer: an Orthodox anthology
60. The Bible And The Holy Fathers For Orthodox by Johanna Manley
68. Orthodox Spirituality An Outline of the Orthodox Ascetical and Mystical Tradition by A Monk of the Eastern Church
70. Being As Communion by John Zizoulas
72. A Commentary on the Divine Liturgy by Nicholas Cabasilas
73. On the Upbringing of Children by Bishop Irenaius
75. At the End of Time The Eschatological Expectations of the Church by Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos
77. The Orthodox Word Nos. 193-4 1997 Martyred Serbia
78. Partakers of Divine Nature by Stavropoulos
79. Youth of the Apocalypse And The Last True Rebellion by Monks John Marler
and Andrew Wermuth
80. Hymns on Paradise by St. Ephrem the Syrian
81. Orthodox Psychotherapy: The science of the Fathers by Bishop of
Nafpaktos Hierotheos
82. Preserve Them, O Lord by Father John Mack
83. A night in the desert of the Holy Mountain: Discussion with a hermit on
Jesus prayer by Bishop of Nafpaktos Hierotheos
84. Animals and Man by Joanne Stefanatos
85. Maximus Confessor Selected Writings
86. One of the Ancients The Life and Struggles of a Russian Man of Prayer:
ELDER GABRIEL of Pskov and Kazan by St. Simeon Kholmogorov
88. Spiritual Direction in the Early Christian East by Irenee Hausherr, SJ
93. Abbess Thaisia: An Autobiography
97. My Life in Christ by St. John of Kronstadt
98. The Philokalia v2 - v5
99. Orthodox Spirituality by Bishop of Nafpaktos Hierotheos
100. Life After Death by Metropolitan of Nafpaktos Hierotheos
101. The illness and cure of the soul in the Orthodox tradition by Archim.
Hierotheos Vlachos
102. The Deification of Man by Georgios I. Mantzaridis
103. Living The Faith The Praxis of Eastern Orthodox Ethics by Stanley Harakas
104. Contemporary Ascetics of Mount Athos Volumes One and Two by Archimandrite Cherubim
105. Selected Essays by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky
106. The Meaning of Suffering and Strife and Reconciliation by Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev
107. The First-Created Man by St. Symeon the New Theologian
109. In the Image and Likeness of God by Vladimir Lossky
110. On the Holy Spirit by St. Basil the Great
111. The Church Fathers on the Bible by Sadowski
112. The Life of Moses by Gregory of Nyssa
114. St. Gregory Palamas and Orthodox Spirituality by John Meyendorff
115. On The Soul And The Resurrection by St. Gregory of Nyssa
116. Treatise on the Spiritual Life by Saint Gregory Palamas
117. Salt of the Earth St. Paul Florensky
118. Fr. Arseny 1893-1973

In Christ,
Maria

Kornelius

23-06-2007, 03:54 AM

Dear Nina,

Thank you for starting a thread that focuses upon orthodox texts. Your contribution becomes even more significant considering how intellectual and well read you are in many other secular areas, yet your heart dwells and rejoices in orthodoxy. The pressure of the world with its "progressive ideas" does not affect your Orthodox poise. You are familiar with both kinds of wisdoms and while you possess the discretion and open-mindedness to receive benefits from the secular one, you are not intellectually intimidated or embarrassed of your Christ and His fullness of wisdom.

Despite what this world labels us, namely unconformable to the "progressive ideas" of this New Age, we say that we are proud of such label. Many people and their "progressive ideas" have plagued mankind from Nimrod's Ziggurat of Babel up until this Age of Reason where man in his folly exalts his reason above everything else. What does Nimrod, the architect of the Tower of Babel and the New Age man have in common? They both want to place their throne higher than God's. I wonder where they get the idea from. While these are nothing but futile and fleeting ideas carrying grave consequences for one's soul salvation, our Orthodox Church emanates eternal salvific ideas. Please Nina, continue to humble us with our saint's wisdom and remind us that we are nothing without the grace of Christ.

I also admire the spirit of your rhetoric, your genuine straight-forwardness transcending fake formalities and emotional or intellectual fluffiness, yet never lacking at any moment lofty Christian love. Thank you, again for being a champion at Monachos in echoing our saint's wisdom into our discussions, and for re-addressing our quest for the right answers back at them. I look forward to read and learn from your future posts! Let us follow your example and never forget that this forum is indeed about Orthodoxy, and our free and creative thinking/debate - as valuable as it is - ends where Orthodoxy is diminished.

Finally, I would like to say that recently I have been reading some yet to be published dogmatic manuscripts from our dear Fr. Romanides, a champion of God-illumined theology. I hope that soon they will see the light of publication!

M.C. Steenberg

23-06-2007, 10:41 AM

Dear all,

As a side-effect of my work, I am always reading a tremendous number of books. But that which clings to the mind most strongly at the moment is the Life of Saint Anthony, which I am reading for perhaps the twentieth time -- and which I often think is the only book Christians need.

INXC, Matthew

Rick Henry

23-06-2007, 11:58 AM

Dear Matthew,

I just did a quick search for this book and found more than one with this title. Could you please give more info for those who would like to order a copy?

Thanks.

In Christ,
Rick

Vera L.

24-06-2007, 05:11 AM

Dear friends,

Thank you very much for all the recommendations. Some of the books you recommend I have read and some not, so I am compiling a list. I hope you can continue to recommend more as you read. I did not finish my book about the Hermitess Photini yet.

Vera, thank you for your recommendation also. Please can you tell me where Sergiev Posad is?

Sorry about the delayed reply! Though Anthony has already answered your question, just thought I would let you know that if you are ever planning to go to Russia and would like to visit Sergiev Posad there are regular pilgrimmages to the monastery there organised by different Orthodox organisations, such as "Radonezh"
http://www.radonez.ru/angl/pro/pro.HTM
There are also pilgrimmages organised to Russia by Russian Orthodox people in America (I think!). I know some Australians went on pilgrimmages organised from the U.S. And often these trips will include Sergiev Posad.
Hope that helps a bit!
In Christ,
Vera
=)

Nina

29-06-2007, 07:02 PM

Sorry about the delayed reply! Though Anthony has already answered your question, just thought I would let you know that if you are ever planning to go to Russia and would like to visit Sergiev Posad there are regular pilgrimmages to the monastery there organised by different Orthodox organisations, such as "Radonezh"
http://www.radonez.ru/angl/pro/pro.HTM
There are also pilgrimmages organised to Russia by Russian Orthodox people in America (I think!). I know some Australians went on pilgrimmages organised from the U.S. And often these trips will include Sergiev Posad.
Hope that helps a bit!
In Christ,
Vera
=)

Thank you dear Vera! Of course it does help! A lot! :)

Thank you to all who wrote with other book suggestions! I am very happy to hear that many have read what I have also! It makes the bond of Orthodoxy feel so alive, when I see other brothers and sisters reading the same books. I never knew who was the cause for my wish-list spiritual books to be sold out! :) When I see a sold out in the future, for a planned-to-read-book, I know that you all are the responsible ones. :) But thankfully there are libraries also. :)

Also, I agree with Matthew that the Life of Saint Anthony is all a Christian needs to read and follow. I was a teen when I first read that the Saint after hearing the Gospel immediately distributed his property to the poor and went to the desert. I stopped and asked myself: "What am I doing still here?!!! This is what I should also do, follow Saint Anthony's example!" Alas, I can never reach that purity of the soul and degree of repentance and bravery! So I keep reading... Saint Anthony is the closest to the Throne of God, an angel said to someone. So, yes Matthew you are right, that is the Saint we need to read about and emulate always.

I finished the book about Hermitess Photini some days ago. I stand by my first impressions that the book is a treasure and I highly recommend it. I learned so much from it! In addition to the spiritually didactic value, the book fills one's soul with gratitude for God's gifts to us and His love and mercy and gratefulness for His creation.

Also the Hermitess, who stresses very much the importance of manual labor, was a very resourceful person and while giving a detailed description and explanation of her survival in the wilderness she concretizes the daily routine and life of those saintly people who were like her. It is very pleasing and stimulating spiritually because one can easily imagine and visualize what those wonderful human beings do during their days besides praying, worshiping and glorifying God and making the world still revolve through their prayers.

At the moment I am reading... nothing.
Well, if it counts, I am reading 'Monachos' - :) 30,000 messages! More than one large book. Thank you and congratulations to the mastermind and all those who contribute!

But really at the moment I am not reading a spiritual book. Although that can change during the next seconds. :)

However I would like to thank you all because you gave me inspiration and ideas, so I am considering the book "We shall see Him as He Is" recommended by Sandra, and "Living without hypocrisy" recommended by many here. Also there have been some weeks that I feel inclined to reread an awsome book which is recomended by Maria: "Blessed Sufferer: The Life and Mystical Revelations of a Russian Eldress: SCHEMANUN MACARIA" by Gennady Durasov.
Yes Maria, in addition to all the wonderful books you and others have recommended, this is an amazing story of endurance and humility. I should probably start with this for now. :)

Thank you to all and please continue to share information and recommend spiritual gems!

Katrina Delsante

29-06-2007, 11:17 PM

St. Silouan the Athonite - I get through 75% of this book and then find myself in despair that I shall never reach his heights of humility. A simply fantastic book however!

Matericon: Instructions of Abba Isaiah to the Honorable Nun Theodora-
Great bits of advice for everyone.

Meditations on a Theme by Metropolitan Anthony - He's so easy to read and understand and really just cuts to the case. After reading his very "human" biography about a month ago, I was very anxious to read his writings.

Echoes of a Native Land by Serge Schmemann- A pleasurable read thus far.

In Christ,
Katrina

Anthony

01-07-2007, 02:48 PM

Are there any good Orthodox bookstores where you can order books on-line? Otherwise I can see amazon.com having to start paying Matthew Steenberg commission...

(PS - in my case sites in Europe or Britain would be better.)

Herman Blaydoe

01-07-2007, 07:49 PM

You might want to start here:
Logos (Netherlands) (http://www.orthodoxlogos.com)
Orthodox Christian Books (UK) (http://www.orthodoxbooks.co.uk/)

Nina

01-07-2007, 10:14 PM

Dear Anthony,

Whenever I can, I try also to order books from monasteries and churches which have an online bookstore. Not only it supports them, but also it makes me feel almost like I visited the place myself.

For instance, on the feast of Saint Anthony the Great I could not go to Arizona for a pilgrimage to the monastery that is dedicated to the Saint. Therefore I ordered something online, since I would have bought things if I went there anyway. What is even more special: when I called to give the card number/confirm purchase, the monk I spoke with, and whom I do not know, asked me if I wished to give them names for prayer :) I thought that was so wonderful and caring. :)

Vera L.

02-07-2007, 12:19 PM

Thankyou Nina and Herman for these ideas and websites, and of course Anthony for asking the question. Living in Australia, where there are limited Orthodox bookshops and monasteries, it is great to know where I can find such a huge range of Orthodox books!
In Christ,
Vera

Anthony

05-07-2007, 06:18 PM

Thank you, Herman, Nina and Vera. Buying from monasteries would be ideal, those that have the facilities for online purchasing. (They don't really have to be this side of the Atlantic, that was just my laziness and impatience coming through.)

Nina

06-07-2007, 02:04 AM

Buying from monasteries would be ideal, those that have the facilities for online purchasing. (They don't really have to be this side of the Atlantic, that was just my laziness and impatience coming through.)

I gave that example since I live here. But there are many wonderful monasteries in your continent also with online bookstores and wonderful spiritual publications in various languages. :)

And I did not see anyone being lazy, or impatient. :) You were not asking for monasteries, but for sites like A.

John E.

09-07-2007, 12:39 AM

M.C. Steenberg

09-07-2007, 11:18 AM

Dear Brian, you wrote:

I was glad to have found this thread addressing a great question. I am a convert to Orthodoxy(4 years now) and am looking to go into a deeper understanding of the faith. I want to learn everything about the Church, but don't know where to start. My spiritual father has agreed to discuss with me a book of my choosing to help me understand it and to guide me through it. I just don't know where to start. Does anyone have any suggestions? Looking forward to any responses.

I would recommend the two as 'starter books' for the kind of study you seem to be talking about - one ancient and one modern:

Nicholas Cabasilas' Commentary on the Divine Liturgy
Tito Coliander's Way of the AsceticsThe former is the most remarkable document on the mystical nature of the Church's Liturgy and its place in the spiritual life of the parish-going Christian. The second is an extraordinary redaction of authenticascetical thought for the modern world.

INXC, Matthew

Andrew

10-07-2007, 03:29 AM

I was glad to have found this thread addressing a great question. I am a convert to Orthodoxy(4 years now) and am looking to go into a deeper understanding of the faith. I want to learn everything about the Church, but don't know where to start. My spiritual father has agreed to discuss with me a book of my choosing to help me understand it and to guide me through it. I just don't know where to start. Does anyone have any suggestions? Looking forward to any responses.

B.T.E.

Saint Silouan the Athonite, or if you don't have the means or time to track it down, you can get the more readily available books printed by Saint Vladimir's Press of The Monk from Mount Athos and Wisdom from Mount Athos, both by Elder Sophrony.

Read all the books printed in English by Elder Sophrony! The books on St. Silouan are life changing. The books more focused on the Elder personally are important works too... On Prayer is a good one to start with. Then maybe go to His Life is Mine, and finally his magnum opus, We Shall See Him As He Is.

The works of Hierotheos Vlachos are very good too. Orthodox Spirituality is a good starter, very basic but very deep. My favorite work of his is A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain, which is an extended talk between the Metropolitan and a hesychast hermit on the Holy Mountain (who was really his spiritual father, Elder Sophrony). His books on "Orthodox Psychotherapy" are enlightening... my own spiritual father once characterized him as the pedagogical equivalent to Father Alexander Schmemann, only instead of conveying the depths of the liturgy to modern man, Metropolitan Hierotheos conveys the traditional ascetical life of the Church and it's relation to all aspects of human existence... of life within God. This sounds like very heavy stuff; it is, but his works are written in a very clear style, and with the guidance of your spiritual father I'm sure you will find his works quite enlightening.

The Life of St. Sava is very good too... it is by St. Nikolai the Serbian. Very inspiring, and full of action and adventure.

The works of Saint Theophan the Recluse are extremely helpful.

Speaking of books, please keep me and a group I am going to be a part of in prayer. I have been invited to be a boardmember of a group that will be compiling the life of Father Lazarus Moore of blessed memory, along with his unpublished diaries, and maybe some critical revisions of some of his texts. My priest's matushka is friends with the woman who was the caretaker for Father Lazarus in Alaska, who now lives in Colorado. As things develop I will hopefully be able to give you more information. I hope I can be more than deadweight in this endeavor!

John Charmley

10-07-2007, 07:37 AM

Dear Matthew,

Dear Brian, you wrote:

I would recommend the two as 'starter books' for the kind of study you seem to be talking about - one ancient and one modern:

Nicholas Cabasilas' Commentary on the Divine Liturgy
Tito Coliander's Way of the AsceticsThe former is the most remarkable document on the mystical nature of the Church's Liturgy and its place in the spiritual life of the parish-going Christian. The second is an extraordinary redaction of authenticascetical thought for the modern world.

INXC, Matthew

I am much in your debt for recommending the Cabasilas book, which is, indeed, a remarkable volume.

I am finding the Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril of Jerusalem a renewed blessing; I read them many years ago, but had quite forgotten how extraordinarily good they are are; if one wanted an example of living Tradition, they would certainly serve that purpose.

To those of us familiar with the use of the St. James Liturgy it was interesting to note what he has to say about receiving the Body at the Eucharistic feast: Lecture 23:21:

21. In approaching therefore, come not with thy wrists extended, or thy fingers spread; but make thy left hand a throne for the fight, as for that
which is to receive a King. And having hollowed thy palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. So then after having carefully hollowed thine eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest thou lose any portion thereof; for whatever thou losest, is evidently a loss to thee as it were from one of thine own members.

I don't know when this practice ceased to be common, but if you, or if one of our members can enlighten me, I would be interested to know more.

In Christ,

John

Nina

10-07-2007, 02:15 PM

Dear Brian,

In addition to the wonderful book recommendations from Matthew and Andrew, please consider also the book "Wounded by Love" of Elder Porphyrios.

Dear Andrew,

I am so delighted to hear about the endeavor you are embarking on! May God direct you in this significant mission!

Dear John,

I am interested also to hear the response you asked about; however I have seen the practice, the Saint urges us to follow, very often in the parishes I have attended, or visited. Although, as you say, it is not prevalent.

Fr Raphael Vereshack

10-07-2007, 02:23 PM

Dear Matthew,

I am much in your debt for recommending the Cabasilas book, which is, indeed, a remarkable volume.

I am finding the Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril of Jerusalem a renewed blessing; I read them many years ago, but had quite forgotten how extraordinarily good they are are; if one wanted an example of living Tradition, they would certainly serve that purpose.

To those of us familiar with the use of the St. James Liturgy it was interesting to note what he has to say about receiving the Body at the Eucharistic feast: Lecture 23:21:

I don't know when this practice ceased to be common, but if you, or if one of our members can enlighten me, I would be interested to know more.

In Christ,

John

Dear John,

Among us the clergy still do receive in this fashion.

This practice ceased for the faithful however due to concern over dropping particles of the Eucharist onto the ground.

If one were to question the difference the practical explanation is that the clergy receive holding their cupped hands over the Altar. So if any particles fall they do so safely onto the Altar & into the antimins which should then be cleaned afterwards.

In Christ- Fr Raphael

John Charmley

10-07-2007, 07:03 PM

Dear Fr. Raphael,

Thank you for the response; most interesting.

In the British Orthodox Church, where we use the Liturgy of St. James every week, it is our habitual way of receiving the Body; it gets some interesting comments from our Coptic visitors - especially when we tell them that in receiving in this fashion we are following the instructions of St. Cyril of Jerusalem!

In Christ,

John

Anthony

30-08-2007, 06:18 PM

I have recently seen the following two books recommended, and was wondering if anybody here has any comments about them:

- The Dormition of Mary: Early patristic homilies (Brian E. Daley ed.) (http://www.svspress.com/product_info.php?products_id=185)
- An Introduction to Reading the Apocalypse (Fr Columba Graham Flegg) (http://www.svspress.com/product_reviews.php?products_id=119)

Fr Raphael Vereshack

30-08-2007, 10:40 PM

Andrew

31-08-2007, 04:10 AM

Last week I finished Elder Cleopa: In the Tradition of Saint Paisius Velitchovsky. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Nina

31-08-2007, 04:27 AM

Last week I finished Elder Cleopa: In the Tradition of Saint Paisius Velitchovsky. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Thank you for this recommendation dear Andrew! I was thinking which book should I look for next (and your recommendations always have helped me so much). Thank you to Anthony for reviving the thread also.

Have you seen Elder Cleopa's talks (some with English subtitles) on YouTube, dear Andrew? He is heavenly!

Andrew

31-08-2007, 04:43 AM

Thank you for this recommendation dear Andrew! I was thinking which book should I look for next (and your recommendations always have helped me so much). Thank you to Anthony for reviving the thread also.

Have you seen Elder Cleopa's talks (some with English subtitles) on YouTube, dear Andrew? He is heavenly!

Yes! I love seeing him talk. Fr. Seraphim's second spiritual father Staretz Iustin is on Youtube too, along with other holy Romanian fathers.

Michael Stickles

31-08-2007, 01:22 PM

I'm currently reading Unseen Warfare by Lorenzo Scupoli/Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain/Theophan the Recluse. I can tell this will need to go on my "read over and over again" list; there's too much in there to fully absorb in one reading, and I suspect there are some things I won't really understand until I've got more experience in practicing the basics.

In Christ,
Mike

Andrew

31-08-2007, 04:41 PM

Effie Ganatsios

31-08-2007, 05:50 PM

I am reading "Wounded by Love" The Life and the Wisdom of elder Porphyrios.

I read it very quickly, scanned really, this book when I first bought it, but now I am reading it slowly.

This elder planted 400 trees! "walnut trees, plum trees, pear trees, apple trees, peach trees, almond trees, hazelnut trees, medlar trees and pomegranate trees. I loved the work. I always said and still say : Work as if you were immortal, and live as if you were on the point of death. That is, plant walnut trees, fig trees and olive trees, even if you're ninety years old. Is it possible for your heart not to leap as you plant them? Even if passers-by see you tiring yourself out and say, "poor wretched soul".

I wish he were here to give me some advice about my stubborn pomegranate tree. It refuses to grow but I suppose I shouldn't complain. The last 4 years it has refused to give us any fruit but this year it has 2 tiny pomegranates on it. Wonders will never cease, it must have heard me say that this year I was going to chop it down......................................

Effie

Moses Anthony

27-10-2007, 12:48 AM

I am re-reading two at the moment: The Communion of Love, and Bishop Ware's The Orthodox Way. Throw into that mix the two versions (the one here on Monachos, and the 1993 New Sarov Press edition) of St. Innocent's missionary pamphlet, Indication of The Way Into the Kingdom of God. I've also as someone else has indicated, begun another reading of the New Testament.

the sinful and unworthy servant,
moses

Mourad Mankarios

27-10-2007, 01:41 AM

The Ascetical Homilies of St Isaac the Syrian
The Praktikos and Chapters on Prayer by Evagrius Ponticus

Must reads for anyone really serious about the spiritual ascetical life

Andrew

27-10-2007, 02:24 AM

Obedience is Life: Elder Ephraim of Kantounakia, by Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi
Saint Silouan the Athonite, by Elder Sophrony
Conversations with Children, by Sister Magdalen (I am reading this way too slow, out of negligence!)
Art of Prayer, by Igumen Chariton

Andreas Moran

27-10-2007, 11:30 AM

I have become negligent in reading but I have just bought, 'Living without hypocrisy - Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina', pub. Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville.

Anthony

29-10-2007, 02:01 PM

Fr Raphael Vereshack

29-10-2007, 02:44 PM

Andrew

29-10-2007, 04:42 PM

Well, there's The Ascetical Homilies of St Isaac the Syrian published by Holy Transfuration Monastery (Brookline). This was the first corrected & thorough edition in English. I have heard though that this edition has not been in print for a few years now. You'd have to check.

I heard from a monk at Holy Archangels Monastery that you can still get this book (sometimes, if you're lucky!) by calling up Holy Transfiguration and asking them to sell you a spiral bound edition. Or you can fork over $500 on ebay.

Mourad Mankarios

30-10-2007, 01:13 AM

I would like to ask two unrelated questions.

First, can anybody recommend an edition of St Isaac the Syrian? Primarily the text, though good commentary is always welcome. (By the way I came across a reference to his works being in the Philokalia - if so, which volume would that be?)

Second I was wondering if anybody has read and has any comments on Bishop Kallistos' The Inner Kingdom.

Thank you in advance for any help.

I'd probably start off with "The Spiritual World of Isaac the Syrian" by Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev. This one will really wet your appetite and keep you thirsty and wanting for more.

There's also On Ascetical Life by St Isaac of Nineveh printed by SVS press. This is only a translation of a small section of St Isaac's larger work the Ascetical Homilies.

Unfortunately, The Ascetical Homilies of St Isaac the Syrian are out of print. I recently contacted Holy Transfiguration Monastery and one of the fathers informed me that they should hopefully have the text back in print again soon. So if in the mean time you'd still like to get your hands on the entire text you might have to check out a theological library and go nuts photocopying.

In addition there's ISAAC OF NINEVEH (ISAAC THE SYRIAN): THE SECOND PART, Chapters IV-XLI) which is available from St Nectarios Press:
http://www.orthodoxpress.org/catalog/s_life.htm

With regards to the second part of your query, I would highly recommend Bishop Kallistos Ware's, "The Inner Kingdom". It is a collection of essays on the spiritual life and the last chapter actually focuses heavily on St Isaac the Syrian. Here also Bishop Kallistos Ware describes his own journey to Orthodoxy. The text is extremely interesting and profound.

Hope this helps and happy reading...

Kris

30-10-2007, 02:03 AM

I just began reading St. Augustine's Confessions today. A few chapters in: so far so good!

Anthony

30-10-2007, 05:59 PM

Many thanks, Fr Raphael, Andrew and Mourad; this is very helpful. I will go ahead and get On the Ascetical Life and The Inner Kingdom. That should keep me quiet for a while :)

Anna K.

23-11-2007, 11:15 AM

Part of my present reading-boom:

Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos: "Orthodox spirituality - brief introduction" Not big outwardly but very rich inside, in my opinion. Especially his teaching on the soul, it's essence, it's need of profound healing, which is the incarnation of Christ and the Church as His Body. I'm reading it again on the bus in the mornings before the library wants it back...

I just finished a book about the life and teaching of Elder Amvrosi of Optina. It's a very old book, originally written I think by the igumen of a nearby monastery, Agapit, who was serving in Elder Amvrosi's panihidas after he reposed. It's composed of many people's, spiritual children's, fellow monks' etc memories of him and his teaching. Wonderful. It's been translated into Finnish lately by the Valaam monastery, but I don't know if it's in English, so anyone who would know Russian, here's a pearl. Or maybe it is part of the Optina series that has been discussed here...

Do any of you have comments on these?

Next in my pile is coming up "On marriage and family life" by John Chrysostom and after that another book by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, "Life after death". Any information about him would be interesting.

In Christ
Anna

Nina

23-11-2007, 12:44 PM

Do any of you have comments on these?

Next in my pile is coming up "On marriage and family life" by John Chrysostom and after that another book by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos, "Life after death". Any information about him would be interesting.

In Christ
Anna

Dear Anna,

Thank you for sharing about the books you just read.

The two next ones are beautiful too. You will learn a lot. I treasure the teachings of these two authors.

St. Chrysostom is simply as he was called, Golden-Mouth. There are so many valuable teachings in that book.

Metropolitan Hierotheos as always incorporates teachings from the Fathers. When I read what happens to some souls after death (when they are attached to some earthly things) it took me three days to recover. Pray before you read about the mystery of death.

Olympiada

24-11-2007, 08:00 AM

Dear friends,

Which Orthodox patristic/spiritual book are you reading/re-reading at the moment, (or have just finished reading/re-reading)? I would like very much to hear from you all and receive new recommendations.

These days I am reading a simple book, but so incredible, powerful and moving. Its title: The Hermitess Photini. I have not finished it yet, but until now I know that the Hermitess Photini abandoned the world and was a cave-dweller in the wilderness near the Jordan River. On her first day in the wilderness she saw in her sleep St. Mary of Egypt, who encouraged her and told her that "Christ the Bridegroom will strengthen you in your struggle and will help you receive the crown of ascesis."

The Hermitess was such a well educated person and was raised with much love from her parents (although her mother passed away while Photini was still a child). She traveled a lot because of her father's trade and she could have had all the joys and comforts of the world because she did not lack the means, but her soul longed for Christ. As an adult she spent much time in the cemetery contemplating about the vanity of life and the rest of the day she would spend it at the library studying.

There are many insightful moments about life in this book, but one of the most insightful and moving moments I have encountered up to the point I have read, is when the Hermitess receives an Easter egg from the Archimandrite Joachim, who providentially met her at Jordan's side, during the Bright Week of 1890 (and who wrote her life's story). While holding the Easter egg in her hands and saying "Christ is Risen!" she had tears in her eyes because:

(p.51) What a love!!!!

The Hermitess Photini struggled with "the hater of good" and because of her love and honor for the Theotokos (she read the Salutations to the Theotokos daily in addition to her prayers for God), she begged Theotokos for help. Instantly the Theotokos appears to her and says: "Fear not; only have your hope in me."
I was given that book by a friend but I don't like it. I might give it another whirl. I am reading Beginning to Pray by Metropolitan Anthony (Bloom), The Winter Pascha by Father Thomas (Hopko), and Father Arseny translated by Vera Boutenoff, or however you spell it.