The Order of Small Compline and Evening Prayers (2022 Edition)
$9.50
The service of Compline is the last liturgical hour of the day and seeks God's forgiveness for our sins during the past day and blessing for the coming night. For most of the year, this service takes the form of Small Compline, an abbreviated and re-arranged form of the Great Compline served during Great Lent. Following the usage of Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, NY), the order incorporates prayers before sleep from the Jordanville Prayer Book and a litany of saints chanted while venerating icons at the completion of the service.
Suitable for use at home or in church.
Form: Paperback
Pages: 64
A Child's Guide to Confession
$20.00
An engaging, illustrated guide to confession for children. This 100-page, easy-to-use aid will help a child understand and prepare for confession. Designed for both younger and older children, this book assists the child with brief, inspirational thoughts followed by prayers and an age-appropriate self-examination based on 1 Corinthians 13 (the "love chapter"). A Child's Guide to Confession also includes a glossary of basic vocabulary that children typically encounter when learning about or going to confession. Fully illustrated in a simple, colorful, yet reverent style.
This work for our children was compiled by the editors, as well as various staff members and content contributors, of Ancient Faith Ministries under the supervision of several Orthodox clergy as cited on the copyright page: namely, Fr Noah Bushelli, Fr Nicholas Speier, and Fr Andrew Stephen Damick.
Prayer Book, Молитвослов (Parallel English-Slavonic Text)
$20.00
Paperback, 360 pages.
Revised expanded edition of the bilingual pocket-size PrayerBook with Order for Communion in soft cover. We have added an Akafist to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, as well as Troparia and Kontakia for each Sunday, as well as for Paskha and the twelve Great Feasts celebrated by the Russian Orthodox Church.
Our new Church-Slavonic PrayerBook is written using Russian orthography with parallel English translation, which helps us better understand each and every word with which we address God in our prayers.
It can serve as an excellent gift to your parishioners or school children.
From I-ville to You-ville
$28.00
by Mersine Vigopoulou
This is the second editon, illustrated by Angeliki Delecha
I-ville is a kingdom where pride and selfishness dwell, and where people live by the motto "Me first!" You-ville is a kingdom where humility and kindness have their home, and where people put the good of others before their own. This is the story of a young boy named Stubborn, as he strives to become the first person in I-ville to make the difficult journey to You-ville. Drawn from the teaching of Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, the story provides lessons that can be of tremendous spiritual benefit for young and old alike.
Author: Mersine Vigopoulou
Format: Hardcover
Dimensions: 7 X 10
Page Length: 128 pages
Islands of the Ocean: Stories from the Lives of the Celtic Saints
$22.00
In the centuries before Christ, Celtic peoples migrated from mainland Europe into the British Isles, eventually settling in Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.
As Christians, they quickly set themselves apart from the local pagans and their priests, the druids. Many important holy ascetics preached the Gospel to both the unconverted Celts and the native Britons.
The remarkable thing about early Celtic culture is the transformation of its people., who distanced themselves from barbarism and arose as a Christian society led by its saints. In this spirit, we are delighted to present this book. Based on a mix of fact and folktale, the stories collected here introduce readers to a number of men and women who helped create the early history of our Orthodox Christian heritage. Their stories, though forgotten by many, are just as relevant today as they were in the distance past. And so, as we study these saints, may we be inspired to follow their example of love, humility, obedience, and most of all, their complete devotion to Christ!
Format: hardcover
Pages: 62
The Mystery of the Holy Light
$22.00
Since ancient times, a glorious miracle has taken place each year at the Church of the All-Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. The miracle is called the Holy Light, and it occurs on Great Saturday of Holy Week, when it is received solely by the Patriarch of Jerusalem—and then shared with a multitude of Orthodox pilgrims!
This book tells the true story of how, in 1926, a young monk named Father Microphones came to witness the mystery of the Holy Light with his own eyes! Learn the dramatic story behind this event, what the monk saw, and other incredible details about the site of our Lord's burial.
Format: hardcover
Pages: 52
Noah, the Ark, and Me (hidden puzzle board book)
$23.00
I have often though how wonderful it would have been to live in the days of Noah. I would travel the seas and oceans in the great Ark and have all the animals of the earth as my fellow passengers! And how my dream might come true!
At the back of the book is an integrated jigsaw puzzle of Noah and his family!
Puzzle not suitable for children under the age of 3.
Format: board book
Pages: 48
Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain: The Heavenly Signalman
$22.00
Inside this book you will discover the wondrous life of a pure childlike heart—Saint Paisios of the Holy Mountain—a dearly beloved contemporary saint of the holy Orthodox Church.
The life of Saint Paisios was marked by ascetic struggles, fervent love for God, and ceaseless prayers. As a receptacle of the Holy Spirit, he became a river of holiness nourishing countless people on the love of Christ
Today, an endless stream of pilgrims make the trip to his resting place in Northern Greece in order to venerate his grave and ask for his holy prayers. May he intercede fora ll of us before the Savior!
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 52
From Ashes and Ruin: Selections from the Writings of St. Gennadios Scholarios
$28.00
Gennadios Scholarios, sometimes called the “last of the Byzantines,” was the first Patriarch of Constantinople after the violent overthrow of the Byzantine state on 29 May 1453. He was a survivor of a once great civilization, the tattered remnants of which were swept away by the conquering armies of Islam. The drastically changed circumstances raised inescapable questions about the nature of one’s identity in such a strange new world. All, or nearly all, the institutions that had defined and supported his sense of self had vanished seemingly overnight. He had become, as it were, a displaced person, a stranger in the city of his birth.
While known to scholars and historians primarily as a theological writer, Gennadios was also a pastor who authored many works designed to edify and inspire the faithful. These works touch on virtually all aspects of the life in Christ: from sin and repentance, to questions of free will, faith, prayer, fasting, Almsgiving, participation in church services, the sacraments, and the life of holiness and virtue. His teachings are clear and forthright, filled with spiritual counsel, practical advice, and deeply shaped by Scripture and inspired by the spirit of the Fathers, and thus fulfill the injunction of the Apostle Paul: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction” (2 Tim 4:2).
Father John Palmer is to be congratulated for making these texts available in a clear and readable translation, providing us with what is now the largest collection of works by Gennadios Scholarios in English.
CONTENTS
Summary Texts ON the Life According to Christ
-Concerning the Foremost Worship of God
-Concerning Virtuous Works
-An Admonition on Spiritual Nourishment
Selections on Christian Virtues
-During the First Week of the Fast
Concerning Almsgiving
The Mind and the Passions
On Flight From the World
On Sin and Repentance
On the Difference Between Venial and Mortal Sins
On Whether Those Who Commit Evils
Do So Involuntarily or Voluntarily
Homily on the Parable of the Prodigal Son and on Repentance
On Prayer
-An Explanation of the Seven-fold Prayer Taught by Our Lord Jesus Christ
-On the Holy Entrances
Selections on Holiness
-That the All-holy Theotokos is Beyond Compare More Glorious Than the Seraphim
-A Demonstration that St. Paul is Greater than all the Saints
Happiness and Virtue in the Life According to the Philosophers
On Human Happiness
Format: Paperback
Pages: 264
Purity of the Heart
$7.50
The Purity of the Heart - Spiritual Life Series vol. 8 by Hieromonk Gregorios, Elder of the Cell of St. John the Theologian, Koutloumousiou Monastery, Mount Athos.
FROM THE PROLOGUE:
Frequently the agony that distinguishes worldly people in their daily struggle for survival is also experienced in the spiritual struggle undertaken the faithful Christians We often ask what God wishes of us and what it is that we lack, that we have lost our peace of mind. Is it more fasting and ascetic discipline, is it almsgiving, is it prayer?
Of course all these virtues are needed, and we should strive to the best of our ability to attain them, but they are not the aim of the spiritual life. They should not be the ultimate goal of our struggle. For God asks nothing of us but a pure heart, that he may come and dwell in us. This is what Jesus Christ himself revealed to us when he blessed those who hearts are pure: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matt. 5:8) That I, those who have a pure heart are blessed and happy, because they will behold God!
Format: Paperback
Pages: 74
300 Saying of Ascetics of the Orthodox Church
$6.00
Paperback: 96 pages
In this book over three hundred sayings of Orthodox saints from twelve different countries are collected. Their words express spiritual experience tested by the ages. Their words contain many answers about what happens with us and those near to us. The saints show that divine righteousness is joined to our everyday life. This righteousness of God has transfigured millions of people around the world, and has brought many of them to holiness and perfection.
Letters: Priest Daniel Sysoev
$10.00
by Priest Daniel Sysoev
Paperback: 176 pages
This book is complied of selections from the email correspon-dence of Priest Daniel Sysoev with persons from all walks of life. The author answers unusual and even conniving questions from atheists, Muslisms, Buddhists, doubters, and many others. Thanks to Fr. Daniel’s gift for theology and his broad erudition, these an-swers form a veritable textbook on how to talk with people about the Orthodox faith. In these pages readers will learn things not written in ordinary books, thereby enriching their knowledge and fortifying their faith.
Preparing for Confession
$8.00
by L. Joseph Letendre
Preparing for Confession has been an extremely popular book ever since it was first published in 1987. We’re pleased to give it new life by bringing it back into print with this revised edition. From practical advice for preparation, to answering questions such as "what is sin?" and "what is the priest's role?" Preparing for Confession is the guide every Orthodox Christian needs for a more powerful experience of the Sacrament of Confession.
About the Author: L. Joseph Letendre is the author of When You Pray and When You Fast from Ancient Faith Publishing. His writing has also appeared in Touchstone, The Reformation and Revival Journal, and St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly. He recorded the audiobook of St. Nicholai Velimirovic’s Prayers by the Lake for Ancient Faith. He holds degrees in psychology, philosophy, and education, as well as an MDiv from St. Vladimir’s Seminary. He is a parishioner at All Saints Antiochian Orthodox Church in Chicago, IL.
Author: L. Joseph Letendre
Paperback: 40 pages
The Fullness of Joy: A Story of Loss and Renewal
$20.00
by Georgia Briggs
Joy is only a bear. She doesn’t understand Batiushka’s prayers or late-night vigils, or why the dark winds rage against him. She doesn’t care for the humans who constantly ask his advice, or the other bear, Misha, who takes up his time and attention. Joy only knows that Batiushka needs her as much as she needs him, and she will never let anyone take him away.
In this beautifully illustrated novel, readers will be immersed in the day-to-day world of Joy and her journey alongside the beloved monk who later became known as Saint Seraphim of Sarov. Young teen readers will be drawn to Seraphim’s life with his animal companions. More mature readers, especially parents, will resonate with the strong undercurrents of love, fear, and faith made real in this lyrical tale by author Georgia Briggs, who also wrote the award-winning novel, Icon.
About the Author: Georgia Briggs is an Alabama native who has loved drawing and writing since childhood. As an adult, she converted to Eastern Orthodoxy, where she found the fulfillment of the beauty and mystery she had always longed for. Georgia is now a mother, iconographer, and the author of the award-winning novel Icon.
Age Range: 13+
Author: Georgia Briggs
Paperback: 160 pages
Memory Eternal: Living with Grief as Orthodox Christians
$18.00
by Sarah Byrne-Martelli
Losing someone we love is never easy, but the Orthodox Church provides a wealth of resources that help us to bear it. Chaplain and bereavement counselor Sarah Byrne-Martelli draws on these theological, scriptural, and liturgical resources, as well as the collected experience of a variety of people undergoing grief and loss, to provide a kind of roadmap to the grieving process. Included in the book is a guide to an eight-week bereavement curriculum that can be used in a group or on one’s own. As Orthodox Christians, we do not seek to "get over" grief but to carry the memory of our loved ones eternally in our hearts.
About the Author: Sarah Byrne-Martelli is an Orthodox board-certified chaplain and bereavement counselor who has served in acute care, palliative care, and hospice since 2002. In her role as a chaplain, she cares for patients and families who are facing serious illness, grief, and loss. Sarah holds a DMin from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary and an MDiv from Harvard Divinity School. She is on the Board of the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology, and Religion (OCAMPR). Sarah attends St. Mary Orthodox Church in Cambridge, MA, with her husband, Dr. Peter Martelli, and their son, Rafael.
Praise for Memory Eternal
"Grief and bereavement invoke some of the most intense feelings in human beings. Loss is an unavoidable reality that faces everyone. The Orthodox Christian tradition offers many healthy expressions of addressing grief through her liturgical, sacramental, and communal life. What Dr. Sarah Byrne-Martelli has produced is an excellent resource that will benefit individual readers as well as groups in a parish setting. Dr. Byrne-Martelli initially grounds her work theologically, then transitions to a pastoral care model that is needed for the faithful to help them integrate 'theory' and 'practice.' I encourage pastoral and ministry leaders to utilize this text, bringing peace, comfort, and hope to those who are experiencing sorrow." -Rev. Dr. Alexander Goussetis, Director, GOA Center for Family Care & host of the Ancient Faith Radio podcast Family Matters
"This book gently, compassionately, and with disarming eloquence shines the light of Christ into the dark corners of grief: the universal experience that many of us tend to hide in the shadows. By combining a thoughtful meditation on the spiritual, psychological, and physical experience of grieving, with real-life stories from those who have experienced grief and loss, Sarah Byrne-Martelli invites the reader to see that 'the Church teaches us how to grieve.' This volume is a wonderful resource for the grieving and for those who walk with them in faith." -V. Rev. Dr. J. Sergius Halvorsen, PhD. Assistant Professor, Homiletics and Rhetoric, Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary
"With the arrival of Memory Eternal, Orthodox Christians finally have a book on how to cope with grief written from a distinctly Orthodox world view. The tone of the book is empathic, wise, and compassionate throughout, offering a warm and reassuring hug to those suffering the dark and lonely days of grief. Dr. Byrne-Martelli beautifully articulates the meaningful Orthodox theology underlying the services and prayers for remembering loved ones. She expertly weaves real stories of loss with the comforting teachings of the Orthodox Church. The accompanying curriculum details all aspects of offering a grief group, enabling pastors, lay leaders, and clinicians to facilitate meetings with care and confidence." -Randa K. Anderson, Ph.D., Licensed Clinical Psychologist
"In her beautifully written account, Dr. Byrne-Martelli has highlighted the sacral nature of grief as expressed and lived within the liturgical life of the Orthodox Church. Thankfully, she has laid to rest secular notions of grief as something to get over. Rather she reminds the Orthodox Christian who grieves of the profound consolation that is expressed as "Memory eternal"! We are invited through the sacramental life of the Church to remember - not forget - our loved ones who have died. For our hope resides in the living God who remembers us." -Daniel B. Hinshaw, M.D. Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Geriatrics Center & Professor Emeritus of Surgery, University of Michigan
Author: Sarah Byrne-Martelli
Paperback: 192 pages
She Who Loved Much
$35.00
She Who Loved Much: The Sinful Woman in St Ephrem the Syrian and the Orthodox Tradition
About the Book
This sharply honed and well-constructed work brings to the fore and explores the New Testament story regarding the woman who entered a house where Jesus was dining and anointed him with precious oil shortly before His Passion and Crucifixion. The author unveils the intricate nature of the tradition of the Church that gives the woman a voice and elucidates her backstory through its liturgical poetry, oratory, and other writings. Scholarly consideration is given to all these sources in addressing questions such as: Who was this woman? Where did she come from? How did she acquire the precious oil? How did she enter into the house of Simon uninvited? How did she perceive her own bold actions?
The reader will learn that in the liturgical tradition of the Orthodox Church, as found in the hymnology of Holy Week, this sinful woman is shown to be an example of repentance and unconstrained love. The intricate nature of the hymns and homilies of the Orthodox Church give greater scope and application to the biblical record primarily in Greek and Syriac manuscripts, with particular attention given to the former texts, too often overshadowed by the latter. The author shares previously inaccessible texts of late antiquity such as homilies by Amphilochius of Iconium and Ephrem Graecus found here in English for the first time.
This in-depth and readable study will engage those who encounter the story of the sinful woman in the living tradition of worship within the Orthodox Church, together with those who have encountered this story in Scripture, or in the course of their academic studies.
Author Biography
Kevin James Kalish holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Princeton University and is Professor of English at Bridgewater State University. He is also a priest of the New England Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America.
Contents
Preface
Abbreviations
Short Titles and a Note on Texts
PART I - Earliest Developments of the Sinful Woman’s Story
1 - Introduction
Luke 7:36–50
The Story of the Sinful Woman
The Gospel Accounts
How Many Women? Mary Magdalene?
Filling in the Gaps
Genres of Early Christian Writing: Homily, Apocrypha, Hagiography, Greek Novel, Hymn
Ways of Story-telling
Scope
Plan of the Book
Central Argument
2 - Ephrem the Syrian and the Syriac Tradition
Introduction
Christianity and the World of Late Antiquity
Ephrem and the Beginning of Christian Poetry
Ephrem the Syrian’s Verse Homily On the Sinful Woman
Ephrem the Syrian’s Invention of the Myrrh-Seller
3 - Amphilochius of Iconium, the Neglected Cappadocian
Introduction
Amphilochius of Iconium, On the Sinful Woman Who Anointed the Lord with Myrrh; and on the Pharisee (Homily 4)
The Sinful Woman and Judas: Amphilochius’s use of Biblical Models
Interior Monologue
Shamelessness Transformed into Boldness
PART II - Greek Ephrem’s Homily on the Repentant Harlot
4 - Phenomenon of the Greek Ephrem
Introduction
Meeting of Basil and Ephrem
Overview of the Homily
5 - Translation of Greek Ephrem’s Homily The Repentant Harlot
Prologue
Her Thoughts and Plans
Encounter with the Myrrh-seller
The Woman Prepares Herself to Enter
Arrival at House of Simon
Reflection by the Homilist
Simon’s Doubts and the Parable of the Debtors
6 - Significance of Greek Ephrem’s Homily The Repentant Harlot
Voice of the Homilist
Imagining her Voice: Silent Speech, Interiority, the Self, and the Power of Fiction
Dialogue with the Myrrh-seller
Wounded by the Beauty of Christ
Encounter with Christ
The Parable of the Two Debtors: Will or Ought to Love?
PART III - The Sinful Woman as a Model of Repentance
7 - Romanos’s On the Harlot
Romanos Introduction
Translation of the kontakion
Romanos “On the Harlot” Commentary
8 - The Sinful Woman in the Lenten Triodion
Introduction
Development of the Lenten Tridoion
The Sinful Woman in the Triodion Hymns
The Sinful Woman in the Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete
Holy Week and Greek Ephrem’s The Repentant Harlot
Hymn of Kassia the Nun
9 - Conclusion
Why the Sinful Woman? Boldness, Continual Repentance, and Perfect Love
Holy Harlots
Continual Repentance
Sinful Woman and Perfect Love
APPENDIX I: Literary Context
Late Antique Rhetorical Practices
APPENDIX II:
Longer Version of Greek Ephrem’s Homily The Repentant Harlot (Recension B)
Acknowledgments
Notes
Glossary of Names
Bibliography
Index
Format: Paperback
Page Length: 224 pages
The Spiritual Roots of the Ecological Crisis
$22.00
Man is to accomplish in knowledge and love that to which all creatures strive unconsciously, instinctively and without unity.
It is sometimes the case that Christians will dismiss concerns over the environment and the catastrophic effects of climate change, as so many of the prominent voices who most vociferously warn about this tend to also advocate a wider worldview frequently antithetical to Christian teachings. Noted Orthodox philosopher and scholar Jean-Claude Larchet addresses this tendency by rooting concern for the environment within a historic Christian understanding of the role of and relationship between man and the natural world. He sets ecology in a spiritual context based on an Orthodox Christian cosmology and ascetical theology: the crisis at its source stems from a loss of the spiritual values and behaviors that have traditionally underpinned the relationship between man and nature. By elaborating on how we have come to the present crisis point, he is able to propose principles and actions deeply rooted in an Orthodox Christian ethos to remedy it.
About the Author
Dr Jean-Claude Larchet is one of the most notable living theologians and authors on Orthodox Christian Patristics. He holds a Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Nancy and a Ph.D. in theology from the University of Strasbourg. A teacher of philosophy for nearly thirty-five years, he is an author of over thirty books and countless articles whose work has been translated into eighteen languages. His magnum opus, Therapy of Spiritual Illness, and several other works have been translated into English to wide acclaim.
Prof. Andrew Torrance graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1968 and obtained a Ph.D. in 1971 from Imperial College, London. After work in France and England he joined the teaching staff at Trinity College, Dublin in 1980, where he became an Associate Professor, Head of Mechanical Engineering and Fellow of the College. In 2002 he was Visiting Professor at INSA de Lyon. Since his retirement in 2008 he has lived in France with his wife Marie-Christiane where he regularly translates from French to English for Orthodox Monasteries and engineering research.
Contents
Introduction
How It Was in the Beginning: Man’s Original Relationship with Nature
The Sin of Mankind and Its Ecological Consequences
How Did We Reach the Present Situation?
Restoring the Relationship of Man With Nature
Notes
Index
Format: Paperback
Page Length: 136 pages
Songs of Praise: A Psalter Devotional for Orthodox Women
$30.00
"A psalm is a city of refuge from the demons, a means of inducing help from the angels, a weapon in fears by night, a rest from toils by day, a safeguard for infants, an adornment for those at the height of their vigor, a consolation for the elders, a most fitting ornament for women." -St. Basil the Great
If you want to make the Psalter a more integral part of your life - either on your own or as part of a Psalter group - Songs of Praise is the perfect aid. It includes the full text of the Ancient Faith Psalter (with wide margins for note-taking). Each kathisma is followed by a reflection from popular Orthodox Mom blogger Sylvia Leontaritis plus several blank pages for journaling. Read, reflect, and journal your way through the Psalter and let its holy words sink into your soul.
About the Author: Sylvia Leontaritis is an Orthodox wife, mother, and author. She's loved words since she was old enough to string them together, and when her second-grade teacher taped her story to the blackboard, she knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. When she's not writing, Sylvia can usually be found knitting, baking with her boys, or hiding in their treehouse. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, three sons, and their pet hedgehog. She is currently working on her next project, a middle-grade adventure series for Orthodox kids. You can find her blogging at Adventures of an Orthodox Mom (www.orthodoxmom.com).
Praise for Songs of Praise:
Songs of Praise: A Psalter Devotional for Orthodox Women and the Psalter Groups it promotes forge spiritual bonds of kinship – something so necessary as we navigate the most “connected” but spiritually disconnected time in history. [The book] not only contains the entire Psalter, space for recording one’s own reflections, but also Sylvia Leontaritis' own musings about her struggles, hopes, and spiritual insights. Her words not only mirror the intimate, prayer-filled psalms of King David, but meaningfully connect the contemporary reader to the essence of the Psalter. Songs of Praise includes all my favourite things: prayers, sayings of the Holy Fathers, space for me to write down my thoughts, and friendship. It is a great resource and boon for every Orthodox Christian woman.
-Matushka Constantina Palmer, author of The Scent of Holiness
With all the charm and exuberance of a best friend who has stumbled onto something that she must share, Sylvia Leontaritis shares her love of the Psalms in this beautiful psalter journal. In between each of the twenty kathismas (a grouping of several short chapters of the Psalms) are some of the author's personal thoughts, followed by blank pages for one's own journaling. The whole book is simple, beautiful, and best of all, ready for you and me to dive into the good work of reading or chanting, meditating on, and absorbing the Psalms. It is the perfect spiritual effort to do alone or in a group any time of year, but especially during one of the longer fasts. Songs of Praise has everything you need, best friend included, except a pen! (And I have plenty to share if you happen to need one...)
-Jane G. Meyer, author of several books for children, including The Man and the Vine, A Book of Questions, and When God Made You.
Author: Sylvia Leontaritis
Format: Paperback
Dimensions: 6 X 9 inches
Page Length: 384 pages
God Is a Man of War: The Problem of Violence in the Old Testament
$15.00
Infanticide. Holy war. Divine wrath. Violence in the Old Testament has long been a stumbling block for Christians and skeptics alike. Yet conventional efforts to understand this violence—whether by downplaying it as allegory or a relic of primitive cultures, or by dismissing the authority of Scripture altogether—tend to raise more questions than they answer. God Is a Man of War offers a fresh interpretation of Old Testament accounts of violence by exploring them through the twofold lens of Orthodox tradition and historical context. Father Stephen De Young examines what these difficult passages reveal about the nature of Christ and His creation, bearing witness to a world filled not only with pain and suffering—often of human making—but also with the love of God.
About the Author: Fr. Stephen De Young is the author of Religion of the Apostles from Ancient Faith Publishing and is also the pastor of Archangel Gabriel Orthodox Church (Antiochian) in Lafayette, Louisiana. He holds a PhD in Biblical Studies from Amridge University and is the host of The Whole Counsel of God podcast and co-host of the Lord of Spirits podcast on Ancient Faith Radio. He is also the author of The Whole Counsel Blog on the Ancient Faith Ministries website. Fr. Stephen wrote this book in response to requests for an Orthodox perspective on violence in the Old Testament.
Paperback: 160 pages
The First Hierarch – Metropolitan Hilarion Commemorative Book (New)
$40.00
Due to the nature of the cover paper, minor marks and scratches may be visible.
In honor of Metropolitan Hilarion’s 30th anniversary of episcopal consecration, a special commemorative book has been produced jointly by the Eastern American & Australian Dioceses. This 263-page full-color album features the story of the Metropolitan’s life and over 600 photographs illustrating His Eminence’s life and path of servitude to the Holy Church. All text is in both Russian and English.
Akathist to St. John Archbishop of Shangai and San Francisco
$5.50
We are pleased to offer this new edition of the Akathist to St. John the Wonderworker. He is a saint of our times, beloved by those around the world, who continues to work countless miracles. As His Grace Bishop James relates in his Foreword to the Akathist, the miracles and extraordinary accounts concerning St. John “assure us that we are not alone in facing the difficult challenges of earthly life. Indeed, the Lord Himself promised: Behold, I shall not leave you orphans (John 14:18). St. John fulfilled this promise, having cared for so many orphans during his lifetime; and as his constant miracles attest, he continues to care for us. Therefore, let us not allow ourselves to become spiritual orphans through worrying and being anxious: may we instead turn to him in prayer and ask for his bold intercessions before our Lord.” Full-color cover and inner pages, richly illustrated with several icons of St. John.
Full-color cover and inner pages.
Format: Softcover
Pages: 28
A Taste of Paradise: Stories of Saints and Animals
$24.00
by Katherine Bolger Hyde
Long ago in Paradise, animals and people walked side by side. When we return to Paradise, the wolf will lie down with the lamb, and a little child shall lead them. In the time in between, many holy men and women have befriended even the fiercest beasts through the power of God's love. Come and meet a few of these saints and their animal friends in this beautifully illustrated collection of inspiring stories!
About the Author: Katherine Bolger Hyde has devoted her life to books as a reader, editor, and writer. Her works include the picture books Lucia, Saint of Light and Everything Tells Us about God; the young adult fantasy The Dome-Singer of Falenda; and the adult mystery series Crime with the Classics. Katherine lives in the redwood country of the California central coast, where she shares a home with two domesticated humans and two wild and crazy cats.
About the Illustrator: Anastasia Sokolova is an artist, designer, illustrator, and teacher who lives and works in Moscow with her husband, four children, and a good-natured cat. Trained as an architect, Anastasia built a cozy wooden house with her own hands in the Russian outback, the interior of which she also designed and decorated with her own paintings. She began illustrating books in 2012. A Taste of Paradise is her first book in English.
Age Range: For children of all ages
Author: Katherine Bolger Hyde
Illustrator: Anastasiya Sokolova
Hardcover: 32 pages
Dimensions: 8.5 x 11 inches
The Crucifixion of the King of Glory: The Amazing History and Sublime Mystery of the Passion
$23.00
by Dr. Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou
The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ are central events in our salvation. Yet few Christians have a good grasp of the first-century historical and religious context in which the Crucifixion took place, nor of its true significance for the people of that time—and hence for our time as well. Biblical scholar Dr. Jeannie Constantinou puts modern readers in the center of the events of Christ's Passion, bringing the best of modern scholarship to bear while keeping her interpretation faithful in every particular to the Orthodox Tradition.
About the Author: Dr. Eugenia Constantinou is the author of the best-selling book Thinking Orthodox and host of the popular podcast Search the Scriptures Live! on Ancient Faith Radio. She has been a professor and visiting lecturer on the Bible, patristic interpretation of Scripture, and early Christianity at Orthodox and non-Orthodox universities and schools of theology. She holds master’s degrees in theology from the University of San Diego, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and Harvard Divinity School; a juris doctorate from Pepperdine University School of Law; and a Ph.D. from Université Laval in Quebec City in the history of biblical interpretation. She is married to Fr. Costas, a Greek Orthodox priest.
Format: Paperback
Page Length: 368 pages
The Heliand, A Beautiful Happiness: Presenting Christ to the Early Medieval North
$13.00
In a richly rewarding interview, Fr. G. Ronald Murphy, S.J. explores the little-known early Christian epic, the Heliand. Composed for ninth-century Saxon tribes living along the North Sea coast of Germany, this poetic version of the life of Christ taken from the Gospels was recited in monasteries and mead-halls throughout Saxony. Uniquely in mission literature, Fr. Murphy reveals the fascinating cultural bridges that allowed northern Europeans to move from their cherished and deep-rooted mythology to a living Christian faith. An unparalleled look at how medieval societies made that change while remaining true to themselves.
115 pages, softcover, black and white photos.
“My Joy” The Legacy of St. Seraphim of Sarov
$13.00
Saint Seraphim of Sarov, the greatest of the 19th-century Russian Orthodox elders, is venerated today by Christians throughout the world. Follow the astonishing post-Soviet discovery of St. Seraphim’s relics in the basement of an anti-religious museum and the fulfillment of his prophecy regarding the restoration of Diveyevo’s Holy Trinity-St. Seraphim Monastery. Eyewitness reports describe St. Seraphim’s 1903 canonization initiated by Tsar Nicholas II and the elder’s remarkable conversation with disciple Nikolai Motovilov on acquiring the grace of the Holy Spirit – one of the most spiritually-charged narratives ever published. Finally, meet descendants of Nikolai Motovilov in Russia and America who describe their deep ties to the saint who greeted each of his visitors with the words, “My Joy!”
100 pages, softcover.
Salvation and the Free Life of the Spirit in the Orthodox Canonical Tradition
$12.00
An Interview with Dr. Lewis J. Patsavos
With a unique blend of clarity, incisiveness, and compassion, Professor Lewis J. Patsavos, canonist for the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, explores the canonical heritage of the Orthodox Church. Dr. Patsavos’ warm pastoral approach answers questions and dispels misconceptions as he affirms the Orthodox canonical tradition as a living gift of the Holy Spirit to be approached with reverence and embraced with gratitude.
38 pages, softcover, black and white photo.
Grains of Wisdom & Piety from the Reposed Archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
$50.00
Grains of Wisdom & Piety from the Reposed Archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, on the 100th Anniversary of Its Founding
On the pages of this book, the reader will find a treasury of pastoral wisdom: one hundred “grains” from the reposed archpastors of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad on the occasion of the centenary of its establishment.
Having passed through the crucible of great trials with profound faith in God and His Benevolent Providence, by way of spiritual labors and a steadfast pursuit of Christ, many archpastors – as is evident in the materials provided here – achieved a great deal of insight and the ability to expound upon the essence of the Christian life to their flock. The goal of this collection is to capture this wisdom and pass it along for the edification of all, so it might become a shared inheritance for the contemporary Orthodox person, including the younger generations.
Christians will find in this book a cause for reflection and self-examination, a source of comfort and inspiration, and a guide to spiritual life, coming from the lips of those who lived not too long ago, encountered the challenges and horrors of modernity without taking their eyes off Christ, and planted the seeds of the word of God throughout their journeys across the world.
This high-quality, coffee-table sized book features rare photographs of the wise hierarchs quoted on its pages. Hard cover, sewn-binding, cover jacket, 226 pages.
St. Seraphim's Beatitudes
$20.00
Illustrations by Dcn. Paul Drozdowski
Written by priest Daniel Marshall
About This Book:
This hardbound, 32-page, full-color life of St. Seraphim of Sarov delights with lavish, historically-accurate illustrations and inspiring stories that every young Christian will enjoy reading again and again. Short sayings patterned after the Lord’s Beatitudes present St. Seraphim’s wisdom in clear, memorable phrases.
Published with the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Peter of Cleveland.
You and your children (and Godchildren!) will learn:
- St. Seraphim's advice to those who visited him
- The most interesting events in his life
- Virtues toward which all Christians can struggle
- A window to an era of great piety in Russia
Product Reviews:
“This is the best children’s Orthodox book I’ve seen!”
— Heiromonk Alexander, Hermitage of the Holy Cross
"Today, perhaps more then ever before, our young people need lessons to live by, and this book masterfully provides them from the life of one of our favorite Saints."
— Very Rev. Martin Swanson, Rector St. Basil the Great Orthodox Church
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Expanding the Limits of the Heart
$18.00
By Metropolitan Ambrose (Ermakov) of Tver and Kashin
The spiritual life of every Orthodox Christian begins and ends in the heart. Whether we rejoice or suffer, love or hate, it is in our heart that we must find Christ. Metropolitan Ambrose has drawn on his decades of experience in theological education, his love for the Divine Services and his years as a monastic, to offer precious nuggets of wisdom on how to nurture the life of the heart.
Each short chapter addresses one element of the spiritual life, presenting a precious spiritual nugget in easily-accessible language. These reflections are divided into three sections: Meditations on Education, The Journey of Lent, and the Life of a Monk.
Vladyka Ambrose is the former abbot of Sretensky Monastery and has been rector of both the Moscow Theological Academy and the St. Petersburg Theological Academy. This soft-cover, perfect-bound book is richly embellished with dozens of full-color photographs. 192 pages.
The Sleepy Bear and the Golden Whispers
$22.00
This hardbound, full-color children's book brings to life the remarkable true story of a bear — inspired by God — saving the life of the Russian New Martyr, Metropolitan Peter of Krutitsy.
Infused with prayer and evocative watercolor illustrations, this warm tale will engage the eyes and hearts of young children while revealing the fruits of the Jesus Prayer.
The author-illustrator is the wife of a Russian Orthodox priest, an accomplished artist, and an iconographer. 48 pages.
We Pray (paperback)
$12.95
By Daniel G. Opperwall with illustrations by Jelena and Marko Grbic
Written in expressive verse, We Pray invites children and their parents to explore some of the unique aspects of Orthodox Christian prayer life. Through reflections on topics like icons, the Jesus Prayer, and the liturgy, children are invited to see the beauty in our way of praying and understand better the purpose of Orthodox prayer.
Distinctives
- Charming, detailed illustrations invite seek-and-find activities
- Helpful lesson-starter on prayer for church and homeschool classrooms
- Ages 2 to 12
About the author
Daniel G. Opperwall is a husband and father of three young children. He teaches Church history and patristics at the Orthodox School of Theology at Trinity College, University of Toronto. He and his family live, read, and pray together in Hamilton, Ontario.
About the illustrators
Jelena and Marko Grbic, along with their two children, currently live in Belgrade, Serbia, and have recently discovered their passion for illustration. As Orthodox Christians they have enjoyed working on this beautiful book that brings an ancient Orthodox experience of prayer to children in a simple and inspiring way. The storybook reminds parents and adults alike of Christ’s words, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Format: Paperback
Dimensions: 8 X 8 inches
Page Length: 32
Beautiful Pascha: An Orthodox Coloring Book for Children (coloring book)
$12.00
Christ is Risen!
Travel through the Lenten season, from Zacchaeus Sunday through Great Lent all the way to Pascha and Bright Week while coloring! Beautiful Pascha, illustrated for children aged 5-12, boldly announces Christ's triumph over death. From the Resurrection Icon to decorated pysanky eggs, young children will develop a visual sensibility to meaningful symbols found in the Church. Printed on thick perforated paper for easy removal, may this book bless those who create within its pages.
Age Range: 5-12 years
Format: Paperback
Page Length: 64 pages
Love Comes Down (board book)
$14.95
by Natasha Frasch, illustrated by Avery Mefford
Love Comes Down is a song about the humble nature of God's love. Within these lushly illustrated pages, children all over the world will connect their everyday experiences to the Incarnation of Christ whether planting seeds, kissing cats, or choosing to be kind to a sibling. Conveying deep truths with joy and simplicity, this is a book children and their caregivers will want to read and sing and dance to again and again.
Written as an original song, the sheet music is found at the end of the book, and a downloadable audio recording is available at the link below. Teaching resources are also available as a complimentary download below.
Age Range: 1 – 5 years
Format: Board book (heavy card stock, with rounded corners)
Dimensions: 6 X 8.5 inches
Page Length: 24 pages
Into All the World: An Orthodox Theology of Mission
$28.00
Fr Edward Rommen makes the case that it is now time to reexamine the theological underpinnings of the Eastern Orthodox Church’s mission to the world. Globalization has clearly altered the various fields on which missions are carried out. Christians in the West, to their credit, have been actively developing a missional response to these changes. As a result, missiology and missions theology are well established in the academic institutions of the West. However, the Orthodox Church has, in spite of its rich history of missionary activity, been notably absent from these discussions. But now this is changing.
As the constraints of political and religious oppression have eased, the Church is awakening to its own history, but more importantly to its own missionary responsibility. There has been a great deal of fresh activity among Orthodox scholars that can enrich our reexamination of the Church’s mission. So it is now indeed an opportune time to tap into the biblical, historical, and traditional resources of the Orthodox Church and attempt to reformulate a systematic, theological statement of the rationale and goal of mission, to reaffirm the centrality of the Church in missionary outreach, to describe for a new generation the nature of the gospel and the basic content of church education, and to rearticulate the guidelines that should govern our mission work.
"This is a contribution to the field of mission that I have been looking forward to for a long time. Since the 1950s, missionaries and scholars—like Abp Anastasios (Yannoulatos)—have helped the contemporary Orthodox Church rediscover its rich two thousand year tradition of mission. Their work has detailed the historical periods of missionary work, articulated elements of an Orthodox theology of mission, and offered examples of how this practice of mission is lived out today. Fr Edward Rommen has produced a fine volume where he brings all these elements together in a holistic manner."
-Rev. Luke A. Veronis, Director of the Missions Institute at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology
Format: Paperback
Page Length: 288 pages
The Good Samaritan: A Children's Catechism
$35.00
The Good Samaritan is a first-of-its-kind catechism written specifically for young people (ages 6-12) to communicate the unchanging truths of the Orthodox Faith in the most accessible and engaging way. This beautifully illustrated, hard cover book (100+ pages) catechism follows the patristic model of sin as illness, Christ as the Medicine and the Church as the Hospital for the healing of the soul.
The introduction and thirteen interrelated chapters form a perfect kid-friendly catechism for use with priests, Sunday school teachers, and parents. Chapters can be taken in one-at-a-time, as brief lessons or as bedtime story reading. It may also be used as part of a homeschooling curriculum.
In the catechism we are taken from life in Paradise (Lesson 1), through the Fall of Adam (Lesson 2) and the reality of sin (Lesson 3), and into life and redemption through Jesus Christ (Lesson 4). In The Church (Lesson 5) we then encounter Holy Tradition (Lesson 6), the dynamic "river" that runs through the midst of the Church and provides the living water for thirsty souls. The treasure of Holy Tradition then presents the Holy Mysteries of the Priesthood (Lesson 7), the Eucharist (Lesson 8), and Baptism (Lesson 9), along with Repentance and Confession (Lesson 10), all of which are essential for the health and salvation of our souls. Finally, Prayer (Lesson 11), Fasting (Lesson 12) and Almsgiving (Lesson 13) are shown to be the indispensable means of union with God and as life-giving manifestations of faith, hope, and love.
The text brings together Father Michael Shanbour's many years of work and interaction with young people (particularly pre-teen children) as a youth director and priest, for the purpose of sharing the fundamental truths of the Faith as taught and lived out in the Orthodox Christian Church. Nicholas Malara's illustrations and artistic formatting help to bring the teachings to life.
Author: Fr Michael Shanbour
Illustrator: Nicholas Malara
Pages: 111
Paisios Paraklesis: Venerable Paisios the Athonite (Parallel Greek-English Text)
$9.00
Pocket size bi-lingual (Greek - English) edition of the Paraklesis Service to St. Paisios the Athonite. Translated by Rev. Fr. Seraphim Dedes.
Printed in full-color.
Paperback, 65 pages.
Where is God? (board book)
$13.50
Author: Dimitri Kepreotes
Illustrator: Vladimir Ilievski
Pages: 21
Binding: Glued board book
This sweetly illustrated book teaches little ones that God is not far away, but very near to the heart!
Life after Death According to the Orthodox Tradition
$30.00
An accessible and well organized synthesis of the ancient Christian understanding of death and the afterlife. Drawing primary from the Greek language writings of the Fathers it does not neglect the Latin sources. It will benefit all who desire to understand the classical Christian teaching of what lies beyond our temporal life.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 344
— About the Book —
This book offers an accessible and well organized synthesis of the ancient Christian understanding of death and the afterlife. French philosopher and patrologist Jean-Claude Larchet draws both from Scriptures and a multiplicity of early Christian writings, both Greek and Latin, in demolishing false conceptions such as reincarnation, whilst setting forth with clarity an authentically Christian understanding.
The reader will gain understanding of both the time and modalities of the bodily resurrection, the nature of the Particular and the Universal judgments, and of the Church's intercessory prayer for the departed. He notes that some divergences between eastern and western traditions have existed since the fifth century and argues that these became of much greater importance after the twelfth century, when the Roman Catholic Church developed the notion of Purgatory.
This work will be of benefit both to the Orthodox Christian reader in enhancing their own understanding of the Church's teaching, and to Roman Catholics, Protestants, and others who desire to become acquainted with the fullness of the Christian tradition on death and the afterlife. All will encounter the abundant heritage of “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
— Author Biography —
Dr Jean-Claude Larchet is one of the most notable living philosophers and authors on Orthodox Christian Patristics. He holds a Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Nancy and a Ph.D. in theology from the University of Strasbourg. A teacher of philosophy for nearly thirty-five years, he is an author of over thirty books and countless articles whose work has been translated into seventeen languages. His magnum opus, Therapy of Spiritual Illness, and several other works have been translated into English to wide acclaim.
G. John Champoux is a retired independent scholar. He is the translator and editor of several French spiritual writings and the author of The Way to Our Heavenly Father: A Contemplative Telling of the Lord's Prayer.
— Contents —
Preface
- Death: Origin and Spiritual Meaning
- The Moment of Death
- From the First to the Third Day Following Death: The Separation of the Soul from the Body
- From the Third to the Ninth Day: The Passage through the Aerial Toll-houses
- From the Ninth to the Fortieth Day: The Introduction into the Other World
- The Fortieth Day: The Particular Judgment
- From the Fortieth Day to the Last Judgment: The Intermediate State
- Purgatory
- The Relations between the Living and the Dead
- The Resurrection and the Last Judgment
- Eternal Life: The Kingdom of Heaven and Hell
- Preparing Oneself for Death and the Life Beyond
Notes
Bibliography
The History of the Russian Church in Australia: From Siberia to Sydney
$38.95
The history of the Russian Orthodox Church in Australia is diligently chronicled within the context of a modern culturally diverse society, drawing on extensive archival sources and the author's own life experience. First published in 2006 this new edition includes a substantive new chapter recounting the ongoing story from 2000 through to the end of 2020.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 536
— About the Book —
In this comprehensive work, the history of the Russian Orthodox Church in Australia is diligently chronicled within the wider context of the place of Russians in the dominantly anglophone society of what was at first a British colony and then an independent state. The study begins with the first contact of Russian naval ships with the Australian continent in the early nineteenth century and progresses through to the establishment of the first parish of Orthodox believers in Melbourne in the 1890s and ultimately the creation of a diocese. The catalyst for this was the arrival of thousands of Russians fleeing their homeland via Siberia after the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. For these dispossessed refugees Australia was a haven of safety and the Russian Orthodox Church a symbol of the Motherland they had lost. They were later joined by successive waves of fellow Russians after World War II and the fall of communism. Together they created a unified organism, retaining a sense of heritage and purpose and taking their rightful place in Australia’s multi-cultural society.
In writing this work the author has drawn on extensive archival sources spread over several continents together with his own life experience, having arrived as a small boy in Australia over six decades ago. First published in 2006 this new edition includes an added chapter recounting the ongoing story from the beginning of the twenty-first century through to the end of 2020, covering the effects on the Church in Australia of major world events as diverse as the reunification of the Russian Church Abroad with the Patriarchate of Moscow in 2007 and the global coronavirus pandemic in 2020.
— Author Biography —
Mitred Archpriest Michael Protopopov is chancellor of the Diocese of Australia & New Zealand of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. He holds a Ph.D. in History from Australian Catholic University. In addition to his pastoral duties, he currently lectures in History and Theology at the Sts Cyril and Methodius Orthodox Theological Institute. He is the author of a number of books, including biographies of past bishops of the Australian Diocese. For his years of service to the Russian community, he was awarded the Order of Australia (OAM) in 1991.
— Contents —
Introduction
A Russian Presence
Revolution: Agitators, Imposters, and Refugees
Settlement Brisbane
Settlement Sydney
Settlement Melbourne
Ecclesiological Perspectives on the Church in the Russian Migrant Experience
A Diocese is Born: Archbishop Theodore Rafalsky
A Time of Growth: Archbishop Sava Raevsky Turmoil and Revolt: Archbishop Athanasy Martos
The Need for Healing: Archbishop Theodosy Putilin
Some Thoughts on the State of Russian Monasticism in Australia
Consolidation and Stability: Archbishop Paul Pavlov
Coarse and Wicked Times: Bishop Daniel Alexandrov
Into the Twenty-First Century: Archbishop Hilarion Kapral
A Positive Direction: Metropolitan Laurus and Metropolitan Hilarion
Appendix: Explanation of Ecclesiastical Awards Notes
Bibliography
Index
Syria Crucified: Stories of Modern Martyrdom in an Ancient Christian Land
$17.95
by Zachary Wingerd and Brad Hoff
The tragic war in Syria along with the plight of the Christians there remains among the most misunderstood situations in the world today. Syria Crucified seeks to contribute to better understanding in the West by giving a voice to individual Syrian Christians living in exile from their homeland. These men and women have undergone horrific trauma and loss without losing their faith in God or the ability to forgive their persecutors. Their first-person accounts, framed by the authors' narration for historical, cultural, and geopolitical context, are both edifying and inspiring.
About the Authors:
Zachary Wingerd, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer in history at Baylor University, where he teaches, among other courses, the history of the United States in Global Perspective. His first publication, Conversations of Modern World History: 50 Voices from 1400 to the Present, emphasizes the role and perspective of the individual within a broad historical context. He lives with his wife, Lindsey, and five children, Joshua, Jonathan, Juliana, Genevieve, and Joseph, in Waco, Texas, where they attend St. Andrew Orthodox Church.
Brad Hoff served as an active-duty Marine through the early 2000s, watching with alarm the consequences of U.S. action abroad. After leaving the military, he began wandering around the Middle East, eventually adopting Damascus as his second home. After a decade-long teaching career, he turned to independent journalism, last embarking on a reporting trip to Syria at the height of the war. His work has been cited in multiple international publications. He resides in Waco with his wife, Reem, and children Sophia, Emilia, and Justinian. They attend St. Andrew Orthodox Church.
Praise for Syria Crucified
"Syria Crucified is a deeply moving book, which is at the same time an extraordinarily valuable document for understanding an area that was long so vitally important to Christian history. Even if we read all the many works of analytical scholarship about religion and conflict in the contemporary Middle East, they are still no substitute for the firsthand accounts that we find in this really enlightening and often harrowing piece of oral history. Syria Crucified gives us the voices of the ordinary people themselves, in all their courage and hope and sadness. I cannot recommend this book too highly." -Philip Jenkins, Distinguished Professor of History, Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University
"This important work on the tragedy of the unjust war in Syria is vital for bringing the forgotten war in Syria to light. The accounts the authors have documented will provide historians of the future vital details of the real-life experiences of the Orthodox Christian families and others who suffered at the hands of radical terrorists supported by countries and groups from outside Syria. These examples are representative of the suffering of all the Syrian people in general and the Christians in particular." +JOSEPH, Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of all North America, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
"The overwhelming love and hospitality of the Syrian people, both Christian and Muslim, are not foreign to me. This book includes so many places and faces that I have known and experienced. Yet their dark and tragic days happened so far away. Until now. Syria Crucified brings us face to face with the suffering, the sacrifice, the martyrdom - yes, even the love and hospitality - of the Cross. By their faithful witness, may God grant us all good strength and Syria’s Resurrection." -Archpriest Joseph Huneycutt, Antiochian Archdiocese Department of Missions and Evangelism
"Syria Crucified introduces mostly unknown and oft-forgotten voices. I could not put it down once I started. The strength and endurance of Syria’s Christian minority is shared through first-hand accounts of the tragic events of the past decade. Hoff and Wingerd have written an invaluable text that ensures their voices will not be silenced." -Fr. Christopher Salamy, Pastor of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and author of The Way of the Warrior Saint
"Pre-war Syria offered the Christian community its version of religious freedom and tolerance. The war broke the secure bubble. Yet, how these individual Christians responded to their tragedy should touch the reader’s mind, heart, and conscience. Syria Crucified contributes both to the academic and popular literature, as well as to those who claim a religious faith." -George W. Gawrych, Professor Emeritus of Middle East History, Baylor University
"This is an excellent and unique book on Syrian Christians during the past ten years of war - unique because each chapter provides the testimony of a Syrian while including lots of church history spiced throughout." -Joshua Landis, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies, Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma
"I hope this book will reach many readers and open many eyes as to the suffering that Christians in Syria endure. This untold tragic story is untold no more." -Frederica Mathewes-Green
Authors: Zachary Wingerd and Brad Hoff
Paperback: 256 pages
The Age of Utopia: Christendom from the Renaissance to the Russian Revolution
$22.95
by John Strickland
The Age of Utopia: Christendom from the Renaissance to the Russian Revolution - Paradise and Utopia: The Rise and Fall of What the West Once Was, VOLUME 3 (of a projected four-volume history of Christendom)
Continuing the epic of Christendom told in earlier volumes, The Age of Paradise and The Age of Division, the author explains how, between the Italian Renaissance of the fourteenth century and the Russian Revolution of the twentieth, secular humanism displaced Christianity to become the source of modern culture. The result was some of the most illustrious music, science, philosophy, and literature ever produced. But the cultural reorientation from paradise to utopia—from an experience of the kingdom of heaven to one bound exclusively by this world—all but eradicated the traditional culture of the West, leaving it at the beginning of the twentieth century without roots in anything transcendent.
About the Author: John Strickland is an Orthodox priest and former college professor. His first book, The Making of Holy Russia, is a study of the resilience of Christianity in the modern world. An active blogger and podcaster, he brings to the present work a lifetime of reflection on the religious background of the West. He lives in western Puget Sound with his wife and five children.
Softcover: 414 pages
The Cellarer's Celery
$19.95
by Fr. Jeremy Davis, illustrated by Luke Garrow
In a remote canyon, Saint Martin’s monks seek the Lord with all their hearts. Among them is the Cellarer, whose not-so-secret love of celery helps him remember what it means to be a monk. When misfortune strikes, his friendship with the Sower lifts these spiritual brothers above momentary hardship to find joy in God.
Written in exuberant verse, this endearing and whimsical tale hides a wealth of meaning. Smile at its rhymes, bounce to its rhythm, and rejoice in the blessings of Christian brotherhood.
Download complimentary, printable coloring pages!
About the Author: Father Jeremy Davis is both a priest and a monk. He enjoys gardening, baking, and the music of language. He graduated as co-valedictorian from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary in Yonkers, New York, and currently serves as Hierarchical Assistant to Metropolitan JOSEPH at the Antiochian Archdiocese headquarters in Englewood, NJ. He’s visited monasteries in countries around the world - including the United States, England, Greece, and Bulgaria. Before Father Jeremy was a priest-monk, he lived in Australia for a year, and he often goes back to visit friends there. That’s how he met Luke, our illustrator!
About the Illustrator: Luke Garrow is an animator and artist born in Melbourne, Australia. He moved around while growing up, living in Singapore, England, Texas, and Virginia before moving back to Melbourne at the age of fifteen. He studied animation at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and has been working as an animator ever since. In his professional life, he still goes by his birth name, Toby, but in 2018 he was received into the Orthodox Church and took St. Luke the Evangelist as his patron. Luke married his wife Emilia in 2020, and she gave birth to their first child, Elizabeth, while he was illustrating The Cellarer's Celery.
Age Range: 5 - 10 years
Author: Fr. Jeremy Davis
Hardcover: 32 pages
Akathist to the Holy Archangel Michael, Protector and Defender of the Faithful
$5.50
As a prayerful aid in these troubled times, we offer the Akathist to the Holy Archangel Michael, whose mighty intercession for Christians assuages fears! Included in this edition is the account of the Miracle wrought by the Holy Archangel Michael at Chonae, and Hymns of Praise composed by St. Nikolai (Velimirovich).
Full-color cover and inner pages, abundantly illustrated.
Format: Softcover
Pages: 32
Akathist to the Myrrh-streaming Icon of the Mother of God, "Softener of Evil Hearts"
$5.50
The wonderworking, myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God, “Softener of Evil Hearts,” is one of the sacred treasures of the Russian Orthodox Church today. The icon depicts the boundless sorrow and pain of heart that the Theotokos experienced during her earthly life, as prophesied by Simeon the Godreceiver, a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also... (Luke 2:35). The icon first began to stream myrrh in 1998 and continues to stream, often in response to occurrences in the world, including the 9-11 terrorist attack and the Beslan school massacre. On Pascha night, 2020, bright red drops resembling blood appeared on the icon. I n an interview with the guardian of the icon, Sergei Fomin, he speaks of the many healings that occur. Everywhere, the icon is received with joy and hope. Multitudes of people come to venerate the holy icon and to ask for healing from bodily illnesses (including cancer), for consolation in sorrows and afflictions of life, for the softening of their own hearts and those of their neighbors, for help and support for their spirits and souls. All those who turn to the Mother of God in prayer before the icon sense an easing of spiritual and physical suffering. They begin to recognize that when they pray for their enemies before the icon, their feelings of enmity are softened, and that strife and hatred abate, giving way to kindness.
Full-color cover and inner pages, abundantly illustrated.
Format: Softcover
Pages: 32
Akathist to Child-Martyr Gabriel Protector of Vulnerable Children
$5.50
This new addition to the Series of Akathists is to the Child-Martyr Gabriel of Poland. Though the saint lived in the late-seventeenth century and on the other side of the world from us, he is nonetheless a ready intercessor for our times. This innocent child, at the age of six, was abducted and subjected to cruel torture, yet heroically proved himself to be a true passion-bearer for Christ, attested by his wondrous incorrupt relics. Miracles of the saint’s intercession abound. For us the faithful, sorrowing over the serious sins against the youth of our own times (such as the victims of the multi-billion-dollar child-trafficking industry), we offer this publication as a means for prayer for the protection of any child who is in a vulnerable situation: those who have fallen prey to abductors, who are being abused, or those being neglected even in their own homes. The publication includes a Foreword by Fr. Nectarios, the Guardian of the Wonderworking “Hawaiian” Iveron Icon of the Holy Theotokos, as well as a Brief Life of the saint, which portrays the fascinating account of the history surrounding the saint’s holy relics. Also included in the publication is a beautiful Prayer for Children, composed by St. Nikolai Velimirovich.
Full-color cover and inner pages, abundantly illustrated.
Format: Softcover
Pages: 36
Canon to New Martyr Ephraim Wonderworker of Nea Makri
$5.50
Complimenting the Akathist to Child-Martyr Gabriel is this additional new publication in the Akathist Series. It is a Canon to New Martyr Ephraim of Nea Makri, whose holy relics were discovered in Greece, in the year 1950. Although there is a rich array of various healings by the saint, his “signature,” as it were, is for helping wayward youth, those addicted to drugs, the despairing and suicidal. The publication includes an insightful introduction, depicting the explosion of social media resulting in a youth culture racked by isolation and despair. Several accounts of the saint’s dramatic miracles are included, revealing the closeness of the saint and his powerful intercession.
Full-color cover and inner pages, abundantly illustrated.
Format: Softcover
Pages: 36
Beyond the White Fence
$14.95
by Edith M. Humphrey
Katie discovers that the valley behind her grandmother’s garden is more mysterious than it seems. After tumbling into tenth-century England and encountering Saint Edith of Wilton along with her wild animal menagerie, she is helped home, wondering whether her adventure was truly real. But after Katie, her cousins, and a neighborhood friend are drawn back in time once again, she realizes her grandmother’s garden gate is a portal into faraway worlds, where patron saints are real people making real-life decisions.
Join Katie and her cousins as they mingle with Rachel and Jacob, meet Saint Mary Magdalene up close, trek across the sand with the matriarchs Naomi and Ruth, and have a nail-biting adventure with the heroic Saint Katherine of Alexandria. In seeing the richness of the family of God, they glimpse how very much they are a part of it all.
About the Author: Edith M. Humphrey is an Orthodox mother of three grown daughters and a grandmother of twenty. She teaches Scripture and theology, and she loves to play with her red cavadoodle, Angus. Edith taught for eighteen years at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and before then in various institutions across Canada and the US, while lecturing around the globe in various lay and academic contexts. Besides writing and speaking, she enjoys participating in church activities with her husband, Chris, performing piano duos with a friend, playing oboe in a community band, caring for her koi pond, and writing on topics as diverse as Scripture and C. S. Lewis. This is her first children’s book; writing it has brought her great joy!
Praise for Beyond the White Fence
"This book is a delight! Readers will be enchanted by the plot and characters both ancient and modern, who come alive on the page. Fans of the Chronicles of Narnia will love Beyond the White Fence." -Leslie Baynes, Associate Professor, New Testament and Second Temple Judaism, Department of Religious Studies, Missouri State University
"Beyond the White Fence is a great adventure story told by a seasoned New Testament scholar and theologian who knows a thing or two about great adventure stories. As readers follow these characters into the past, they move beyond the confines of their own imaginations to experience history and Scripture afresh. Perhaps it takes a magical world to remind us of the important truth that the "great cloud of witnesses" is very near to us indeed, and that God's story might actually include, and bring together, the family dog and the characters of Genesis. I look forward to reading this book to my children." -Dr. Tucker S. Ferda, Associate Professor of New Testament, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary & father of two
"This engaging troupe of kids and cousins take the reader on a series of visits to holy women in the 'great cloud of witnesses.' By turns lively, funny, and suspenseful, these fascinating stories, enhanced by lovely illustrations, enable the reader to know these holy women as real people of their era and community - and as examples to follow in our own time." -Frederica Mathewes-Green, author and speaker
"Simple and deep - like all great children's books - this book is also rich in history and faith. I can't wait to place it in the hands of my grandchildren." -Scott W. Hahn, Founder & President of the St. Paul Center; Author of The Lamb’s Supper; Scanlan Professor of Biblical Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville
Age Range: 9 - 15 years
Author: Edith M. Humphrey
Paperback: 216 pages
101 Orthodox Saints
$25.00
Did you know there was a saint who used a dogsled for transportation? Or a saint who turned down a marriage proposal from the Roman Emperor? How about the saint who jumped from building to building during a siege to bring the Eucharist to his parishioners?
Discover all of these stories and more in 101 Orthodox Saints. Written for children and those with a childlike curiosity, this visual encyclopedia will enhance your family’s understanding and celebration of the saints of the Church. Each page is filled with illustrations, icons, graphics, and fascinating facts about the martyrs, monks, and mothers who boldly lived out their Faith to the glory of God.
About the Authors:
Presbytera Sarah Wright is an Orthodox Christian, wife, mother of three, and teacher. As a teacher, the highlight of her job is helping kids get hooked on reading. She hopes to write books that will encourage that love of reading and, more importantly, a love for Christ and His Church. She and her family live in Waco, Texas, where her husband is the priest of a lovely and loving parish. Sarah also writes the popular blog Orthodox Motherhood, and she can usually be found at her Texas home watching an old movie, hiking, or eating Mexican food with her family.
Alexandra Schmalzbach is a lifelong Virginian and Orthodox Christian. Alexandra was born in Arlington to second-generation Greek Americans. Alexandra majored in American history and religious studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, graduated in 2007, and three weeks later married her husband, Brian. They now reside in Richmond with their five children: Stella Virginia, Peter, Josiah, Sebastian, and Raphael.
About the Illustrator:
Nicholas Malara grew up in Denver, Colorado, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in illustration. Over the course of his twenty-year-long career, he has illustrated books, designed games, and created products of all kinds for children. Using his talents to serve the Kingdom of heaven is his greatest passion. He currently resides in Spokane, Washington, with his wife and two children.
Format: Hardcover
Page Length: 120 pages
Ages: 7-14