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.
A Journal of Thanksgiving: Record Three Years of Gratitude in a Sentence a Day
$24.95
Throughout Scripture and patristic writings, Christians are consistently enjoined to give thanks to God in all things. But it can be easy to forget to give thanks on a daily basis, especially in times of trial. This journal contains an inspiring quotation for each day of the year, plus space to record brief thanksgivings for three years in a row. With a consistent practice of giving specific thanks to God each day of the year, you will see your life transformed.
Author: Nicole M. Roccas
Paperback: 376 pages
Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches
A Long Walk with Mary: A Personal Search for the Mother of God
$18.00
by Brandi Willis Schreiber
The Orthodox Church's reverence for Mary the Mother of God can be a stumbling block for converts, and a fulfilling relationship with her can prove elusive for converts and lifelong Orthodox Christians alike. In this deeply personal but beautifully universal memoir, Brandi Willis Schreiber relates her own quest to know and love the Virgin Mary and to incorporate her as a vital participant in her spiritual life. Brandi's sparkling, vulnerable account invites the reader to join her in this quest.
About the Author: Brandi Willis Schreiber is a published author of poetry, nonfiction, and award-winning fiction. A longtime native of West Texas, she writes between two horizons, where the visible expanse of the Texas plains and the invisible expanse of the human heart and faith meet. A convert to Orthodoxy, she holds an M.A. in English with an emphasis in creative writing and poetry and a B.A. in English Language and Literature, both from Texas Tech University. This is her first full-length book of creative nonfiction.
Praise for A Long Walk with Mary
"For some of us, love of the Theotokos comes easily; but for some of us (like Brandi Schreiber and myself) it's a slow, uncertain process. This beautifully-written book describes what it's like to begin to trust her, and bring her our most heartfelt needs. We then find that, just as Jesus said, she is now the Mother of us all." -Frederica Mathewes-Green
"Brandi Willis Schreiber's delicate prose invites the reader into the beautiful, everyday interactions and experiences in which, when one listens prayerfully, God and His Saints whisper to us." -Elissa Bjeletich, author of Tending the Garden of Our Hearts
"In this earthy and evocative spiritual memoir, Brandi Willis Schreiber traces the deepening of her relationship with St. Mary, the Theotokos. Through the stories of her relationships - with the nurturing earth, the parents who gave her birth, maternal strangers, and the growing child who is to make the writer herself a mother - Brandi follows a path into the heart of the Mother of God. As she hikes, drives, reads, reflects and prays her way closer in, she brings us along with her, inviting us to make Mary more our Mother, too. This book - enchanting and tender, readable and relatable - will be balm to those beginning their own search for the Theotokos." -Laura S. Jansson, author of Fertile Ground: A Pilgrimage Through Pregnancy
Author: Brandi Willis Schreiber
Paperback: 208 pages
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 inches
A Practical Handbook for Priestly Ministry
$23.00
The Apostle Paul commands his disciple Timothy to “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. This exhortation encapsulates the Orthodox Church’s expectations from her clergy and forms the basis of her Pastoral Theology. The aim of the present work is to guide the contemporary Orthodox priest in his application of the Apostle’s words to his everyday life as a conduit of Divine Grace and shepherd of Christ’s flock. At the same time, its focus on the proper formation of the soul will benefit every Christian, whether ordained or not. Compiled from recent and historical sources reflecting the rich heritage of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 240
After Secularization: Religious Faith in Modern Europe, Russia, and Asia
$22.00
After Secularization deals with the current place of religion in four regions: Russia, Indonesia (Java), India, and Western Europe. What factors allow religions a renewed expression of faiths in these cultures once the exported versions of the humanism of the Enlightenment and the humanism of post-modernity have failed to provide a strong hierarchy of values, a transcendence needed to hold society together? A humanism that seeks to isolate the individual from the imagined threats of collective religious belief convinces fewer and fewer people since the promised progress that was supposed to protect our planet is in fact putting it in peril. In Christian revelation, we respond with a faith that accepts our vulnerability as inner honesty and it provides us with the courage to overcome all the deaths that Christ faced down on the cross. The sacrifice of the Son of God makes a new sense of life on earth for those who have been discouraged by the failures of secularization. The icon on the cover of this volume entitled “Weep not my Mother” is one expression of the meaningfulness of the sacrifice that redeems the despair of fallen lives.
Paperback, 256 pages.
Akathist to the Mother of God, "Nurturer of Children"
$6.00
This Akathist to the Mother of God—the first in the Series of Akathists which began over twenty years ago—is now being presented as a new edition. Both the cover and inner pages have been colorfully redesigned, but the time-honored text remains the same. Thousands of people faithfully take this little book in hand to pray daily for their children by name.
Both the cover and inner pages are printed in full color; 28 pages, on glossy, durable paper for daily use.
Copyright St. Paisius Monastery Gift Shop
Cancer, My Love
$15.00
This memoir of personal transformation has changed countless lives in Romania since it was first published there in 2014. Author Mioara Grigore describes how, as a self-absorbed religion teacher with thoughts of becoming a nun, she began an unlikely courtship with an atheistic math teacher. The math teacher found faith, the two were happily married, and within six and a half years five children were born to them, one with Down syndrome. Mioara’s life was full, her home brimming with love. Then came the devastating cancer diagnosis.
With unflinching honesty, a keen eye for detail, and endearing humor, Mioara recounts her intense struggle with cancer. With the help of her husband and children, of her spiritual father, and then of new friends who sacrificed themselves for her and her family, she turned that struggle into a journey of spiritual self-discovery. In the agony of her cross-bearing, she found what it means, at the deepest level, to love and be loved by others and by God. Ultimately, hers is a story not only of growth but of indomitable joy and triumph.
280 pages, paperback, illustrated.
Children's Prayer Book
$5.50
A beautiful pocket-size, full-color English Language prayer book; it contains prayers commonly used by Orthodox Christians, list of Scriptural Commandments, brief articles on the precepts of Faith, proper conduct in church, and the meaning and practice of prayer. It is adorned with striking icons and illustrations by Fr. Stamatis Skliris, a parish priest in Athens who is a renowned iconographer and a writer and lecturer on Byzantine iconography.
Paperback, 36 pages.
Clergy Service Book: The Divine Liturgy of Our Father Among the Saints Basil the Great (Parallel English-Slavonic Text)
$30.00
This convenient pocket-sized book contains the necessary texts for the celebration of the liturgy of St Basil the Great by the priest and deacon, interpolated with comprehensive rubrical directions. Texts sung by the choir are also shown. The parallel format gives the Church Slavonic texts on the left page and the English on the right. The book includes the proskomedia, daily and festal dismissals, thanksgiving prayers, and special petitions. This smyth-sewn gold foil stamped hardback edition is printed in two colors, with rubrics in red. Includes two marking ribbons.
Form: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Clergy Service Book: The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts of Our Father Among the Saints Gregory the Dialogist (Parallel English-Slavonic Text)
$30.00
About the Book: This convenient pocket-sized book contains the necessary texts for the lenten celebration of the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts by the priest and deacon, interpolated with comprehensive rubrical directions. The parallel format gives the Church Slavonic text on the left page and the English on the right. The book also includes thanksgiving prayers upon receiving Holy Communion and the priest's prayers at Matins. This smyth-sewn and stamped hardback edition is printed in two colors, with rubrics in red. Includes two marking ribbons.
Author Biography: The monks who came to Holy Trinity Monastery from Eastern Europe after World War II inherited a tradition of printing that stretches back almost to the invention of the printing press in the fifteenth century. Through the fathers’ tireless efforts, the monastery has been printing and publishing Orthodox Christian books for almost sixty-five years. In keeping with the humble spirit required of a monk, books that are written or prepared by members of the monastic brotherhood are published under the general authorship of Holy Trinity Monastery.
– Contents –
The Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts of Our Father Among the Saints Gregory the Dialogist
The Thanksgiving Prayers after Communion
The Prayers of Matins
Hardcover, 154 pages.
Clergy Service Book: The Order of the Moleben and the Panikhida
$12.00
This booklet contains the order of the General Moleben (or Service of Intercession), which may be served on any occasion to invoke the aid of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, or the saints, as well as the order of the Pannikhida (or Memorial Service) in which Orthodox Christians pray for the blessed repose and salvation of the departed.
Hardcover, 96 pages.
Color as Light in Byzantine Painting
$50.00
Color as Light in Byzantine Painting: Theory and Practice with A Guide to Egg Tempera with Underpainting
This book records the many years of experience of George Kordis’ use of egg tempera, which after many tests and research he combines with a specific type of sub-painting. It shows that this technique, which is a personal technological proposal, can be combined with the traditional Byzantine style, established for centuries in the Hellenic lands as the appropriate way for the rendering of Orthodox images.
In the first chapters of the first part, the Byzantine painting system’s visual autonomy is examined, with reference to the western naturalistic painting system and other contemporary artistic proposals. The foundation of the findings is attempted with an analysis of selected works of Byzantine and post-Byzantine painting. A detailed description of the egg tempera technique is given by sub-painting and evaluation based on its functionality in the Byzantine painting system.
In the second part, the technique of egg tempera with sub-painting is presented on a laboratory level. More specifically, methods of preparation of the host (wood) are presented, gilding techniques, and mainly how landscapes, clothes, objects, faces, and compositions are painted with the technique of egg tempera with sub-painting. Also included are appendices from fresco paintings and icons painted with the method presented in the book.
Paperback, 272 pages.
Commemoration Book: Living and Departed
$5.00
This Commemoration Book is designed for collecting the names of your loved ones and all those for whom you offer prayers. It contains eleven pages for the health fo the living, and ten pages for the commemoration of the departed. Both the cover and inner pages are printed in color; 24 pages.
Conversations with My Heart: Contemplations on God and the World
$20.00
Metropolitan Anastasy was a leading figure of the Russian emigration following the Communist takeover of his homeland. A man of erudition, he formed a bridge between two worlds -- the Imperial Court of the last Tsar and the transient 20th century Russian diaspora. These reflections from his diary offer the groanings of his heart and musings on the eternal mercy of God which he writes “are part of my very essence.” They draw upon wisdom from sources as diverse as writers of classical antiquity, authors, composers and inventors of the age of enlightenment, offering unique perspectives on these. Also instructive are the bishop's inspired essays on the subject of revolution. This volume is enhanced by a short life of the author written by Archbishop Averky (Taushev) together with several black and white photographs.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 176
Elder Cleopa Stories for Children: Volume 1
$18.00
Volume 1: This collection of stories, written for a young audience by one of the most important Orthodox Christian elders of Romania, contains teachings about faith, the Christian virtues, the lives of the saints, prayer, icons, and many other topics. The first volume includes stories about God's greatness, the value of faith, St. Mark of Trache, the fear of God, and one of the Psalms.
Paperback, 78 pages.
Elder Cleopa Stories for Children: Volume 2
$15.00
Volume 2: This collection of stories, written for a young audience by one of the most important Orthodox Christian elders of Romania, contains teachings about faith, the Christian virtues, the lives of the saints, prayer, icons, and many other topics. In the second volume, Elder Cleopa tells stories about the importance of humility and a miracle with the Holy Cross.
Paperback, 38 pages.
Eternity in the Moment
$17.00
Elder Arsenie (Papacioc) of Romania (1914–2011) was a witness of the eternal truth of Christ, given by God to contemporary man. A man of deep prayer, he also possessed experiential knowledge of the ways of the world. Before going to the monastery, he had been a gifted athlete, a talented sculptor, a soldier, a mayor, and a prisoner of the Romanian Communist regime. Prison became a spiritual academy for him, and after his release, he dedicated his life to God as a monastic. For the next six decades, he would labor as a monk—in prison and out of prison. He became a beloved spiritual father, counseling the nuns of the Techirghiol Monastery and the multitude of faithful who flocked to his monastic cell. Drawing on his knowledge of the spiritual life and the workings of the world, he was able to guide people to a life in Christ, marked by activity, not philosophizing and speculation.
Every endeavor of his life was characterized by an intensity of purpose and an uncompromising confession of the truth: a knowledge that within each moment we make our choice for eternity. During his long years in prison, he had profound experiences of grace, which helped him realize the power of suffering and sacrifice for Christ. As he himself said, “We must sacrifice not what we have, but what we are.”
This comprehensive biography, compiled from the elder’s own words, the recollections of his spiritual children, and the 3,500 pages of files kept by the Romanian secret police, includes many of Fr. Arsenie’s counsels and spiritual maxims.
288 pages, paperback, illustrated.
Fertile Ground: A Pilgrimage through Pregnancy
$19.00
Pregnancy is not just a trek from one medical appointment to another but a journey of the heart. Here at last is a guidebook through its sacred terrain. For each week, Orthodox doula Laura Jansson provides a new reflection on a theme specific to the ground covered at that stage. From one milestone to the next, she helps us unearth the spiritual treasures buried within the physical experiences of childbearing. These are gifts of love from a merciful God who reaches out to us, making a perilous expedition into a path of salvation.
About the Author: Laura S. Jansson is an Orthodox Christian doula, childbirth educator, and mother living and writing at the intersection of birth and faith. She earned her Masters degree in Theology and Philosophy from the University of Oxford, UK, and has also resided in the USA, Serbia, Germany, and Fiji. Since 2005 she has guided scores of expectant mothers on the path to parenthood, witnessing with wonder as bellies and souls grow along the way.
Praise for Fertile Ground: A Pilgrimage through Pregnancy
"This eloquent book leads us week by week through the deepening journey to birth, accompanied by the insights the Orthodox faith uniquely can provide. Fertile Ground is an able companion and a wise guide to the deeply transformative experience of pregnancy and birth." -Kh. Frederica Matthewes-Green, author, mother, grandmother, and former childbirth educator
"Laura captures the sacred and eternal aspects of pregnancy and childbirth that can get lost in the medical exams, morning sickness, and dramatic life changes. She does not shy away from or sugar-coat the difficult topics or real hardships of pregnancy. Rather, she laces them with stories, scriptures, and theological reflection to find, within them, Christ Himself. This book captures how, with pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting, we find ourselves drawn forward toward the love of God who invites us to co-create with Him." -Dr. Philip Mamalakis, professor at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, author of Parenting Toward the Kingdom, and father of seven
"Laura’s incredible ability to home in on the feelings of women in pregnancy and immediate postpartum stages gives her work an astonishing depth. As the mother of eleven children, I had many opportunities to reflect and pray while pregnant but never found an appropriate resource. This book was long needed. I will buy it for every pregnant mother I know." -Pres. Melissa Naasko, mother of 11, clergy wife, and author of Fasting as a Family
Read more under EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Author: Laura S. Jansson
Paperback: 320 pages
Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 inches
For Mind and Heart: St. Nektarios as Teacher
$21.00
Author:St. Nektarios of Pentapolis
Translator:Rev. Dr. Fr. John Palmer
Pages: 124
Binding:Sewn and Glued
St Nektarios of Pentapolis (1846-1920) was both a careful student of the art of teaching and a tireless teacher. The present work aims to present and analyze his labors with the sphere of education as well as furnish translations of his core writings on the topic. By these means he is shown a strong proponent of the view that education is properly understood as formation of the whole person, rather than the simple imparting of information.
FROM THE PROLOGUE: It is often observed that St. Nektarios’ well-earned reputation as a wonderworker has largely overshadowed his other feats and accomplishments, as well as the other gifts he has bestowed upon the Church. Numbered among these oft-forgotten contributions is the bequest he has made to the sphere of education, a bequest under-girded by a rare, insurmountable desire to both learn and teach. From the time the Saint could read the 50th Psalm, he began repeating and emphasizing the line, I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee. From the time his little hands could manage, be began sewing together little booklets in order to disseminate God’s words. From the time he could clamor, he would ascend the stool in his mother’s kitchen and preach the homily he had heard that morning in church for the benefit of any who might hear. These youthful expressions of that desire to teach are interpreted by the Saint’s modern encomiasts as foreshadowing the significant educational work which would occupy a central, albeit oft-overlooked, place in his life and spiritual legacy.
Friends of Christ - January
$22.00
Pages: 72
Binding: Hardcover
Introducing Friends of Christ, a new twelve volume hardcover series of books for young people. Each beautifully illustrated volume contains the lives of five Saints, which take children on a journey where the real events of history inspire them to love the Lord and His wondrous deeds in the lives of the Friends of Christ!
The January volume contains the lives of : St. Basil the Great (Jan 1), St. George the Neo-Martyr of Ioannina (Jan 17), St. Mark of Ephesus (Jan 19), the Venerable Ascetic Xenia (Jan 24), and the Venerable Ascetics Xenofon, his wife Maria and their two children Arkadios and John (Jan 26).
Each volume includes a large decal.
From Crimea to the Stars: The Story of Saint Luke the Physician
$22.00
Saint Luke was a remarkable man who blended his amazing talent for surgery, research, and drawing into a very influential personality. He had incredible physical endurance for work and during hardships, he was hard-working with a good work ethic, he was strong-willed, courageous, and kind-hearted, consistent, and responsible. He loved his people, especially those who suffered. Through all these traits, he was completely devoted to God, the Church, and his people.
Paperback, 150 pages.
God Views Us Through Love
$18.00
The present volume collects essays and articles written by Bishop Ignatije on man within history and within the Church; on the roots of the Church according to Saint Maximus the Confessor; on how God views us through love; about a call to rediscover our true self in our neighbor; on reconciliation in society and policy; on iconizing that which is to come seen in the Iconography of Stamatis Skliris.
Characteristics of Ignatije’s theological synthesis are found especially in these areas: Christology, ecclesiology and anthropology. For Bishop Ignatije, spirituality in Christian understanding does not mean a merely individual fulfillment of God’s commandments, but a life based on the fellowship in the Church, which is the community of freedom and love. The ecclesial way of life is manifested as liturgical community, which involves the eschatological dimension of the existence in this world.
Paperback, 112 pages.
Gratitude in Life's Trenches: How to Experience the Good Life. . . Even When Everything Is Going Wrong
$18.95
No end of books these days offer us techniques for self-improvement. Taking a different tack, Robin Phillips shows that God meets us where we are, in the pain and heartache of the present moment. Instead of looking for a way to escape from hardship, we can cultivate an attitude of gratitude, peace, and self-acceptance that will transform our experience of suffering.
Drawing on his own experiences and his work as a consultant in the behavioral health industry - as well as stories of saints and sufferers, teachings of the Fathers, and recent discoveries in neuroscience - Phillips shows us that the journey to personal well-being is one we can all travel, regardless of the hardships we may face.
About the Author: Robin Phillips is a freelance author and researcher living in the Pacific Northwest. He has a Master’s in Historical Theology from King’s College London and is completing a Master’s in Library Science through the University of Oklahoma. He contributes to a variety of publications, including Touchstone and Salvo, and in his spare time he loves playing the piano, reading, hiking, spending time with family and friends, and writing for his blog. While researching for his earlier book, Saints and Scoundrels, Robin was impressed by heroes of the faith who retained a spirit of gratitude in the face of suffering and affliction. After experiencing some setbacks in his own life, he decided to study how these Christians were able to live the good life even when everything was going wrong. This book is the result of that spiritual journey.
Praise for Gratitude in Life's Trenches:
"Modern pop Christianity too often deals with suffering through cotton-candy forms of denial. Orthodox Christianity, by contrast, sees that suffering can be for our own salvation -- but only if we accept it in a Christian way. Robin Phillips uses Scripture, Orthodox teaching, and stories from everyday life to show how we can not only carry our crosses, but also be made holy by them. Phillips has a gift for making profound wisdom accessible to a wide readership. This book will open closed minds, gladden weary hearts and change people's lives." -Rod Dreher, senior editor at The American Conservative and author of The Benedict Option and Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents
"Who among us has not, at one time or another, found themselves trapped in the dark, disorienting trenches of life? When we are at our lowest, what we most long for is not an end to pain, but a lens to help us locate meaning from within it. Like a luminous beacon, Robin Phillips's Gratitude in Life's Trenches guides travelers lost on the seas of stress, weariness, chronic toxic thinking, and despondency back to the harbor of gratitude and the peace only Christ offers." -Nicole M. Roccas, PhD, author of Time and Despondency: Regaining the Present in Faith and Life
Read more under EDITORIAL REVIEWS
Author: Robin Phillips
Paperback: 328 pages
Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches
Habitation of Holiness: Selections from the Writings of St. Nektarios
$23.00
Author: St. Nektarios of Pentapolis (1846-1920)
Translator: Rev. Fr. Peter Chamberas
Pages: 170
Binding: Sewn and Glued
As Abbess Theodosia wrote concerning the founder of her monastery, "St. Nektarios delighted insatiably in the spiritual honey of the doctrines, the mysteries, the worship, the hymnography, the Christian ethics and in general of the Orthodox spiritual life and tradition. He was most meticulous in studying and very precise in applying the divine word, which he then transmitted through his preaching, his writings and primarily his personal example." This collection gathers some of this spiritual fruit, translated for the first time in English.
This collection includes the following essays:
- The Privilege of Loving and Worshiping God
- The Relation of True Freedom with Moral Freedom
- Attaining Salvation Through the Grace of God and the Will of the Human Person
- Worship in Spirit and Truth
- The Nature and Mission of the Church
- The Priesthood of the Church
Harbor for Our Hope: On Acquiring Peace Amidst Suffering
$23.00
St Ignatius Brianchaninov (1807-1867) is renowned as a writer on the spiritual life in general. What is less well known is that throughout most of his adult life he struggled with chronic illness and disability. Thus his own life experience disposed him to reflect on the meaning of suffering for human existence and how through it we might find “a harbor for our hope.”
The saint frequently returns to these themes in many of his letters, newly translated into English and excerpted, adapted and presented here in thematic subject groups. For the translator these writings provided a source of consolation and encouragement during her husband’s lengthy illness and eventual death. They will equally benefit all who suffer physical or spiritual pain, however great or small, and reveal how the love of God may be experienced in its midst.
"Timidity and doubt do not suit you. As you look upon the powerful winds there is one who calls upon you to walk among the sorrowful seas that separate you from your brethren: It is the Lord Himself. This calling is also a blessed election! Christ marks “His own” with the seal of suffering. He found your soul useful for Himself and that is why He marks it with his seal! And the small flock stands out, as part of Christ, from among other people; Christ’s flock holds in its hands the sign of being chosen by Christ, the cup of Christ. On their shoulders there is a banner: The Cross of Christ. Far, far were they flung from the children of the world!"
Paperback, 192 pages.
Healing Humanity: Confronting Our Moral Crisis
$25.00
Western societies today are coming unmoored in the face of an earth-shaking ethical and cultural paradigm shift. At its core is the question of what it means to be human and how we are meant to live. The old answers are no longer accepted; a dizzying array of options are offered in their stead. Underpinning this smorgasbord of lifestyles is a thicket of unquestioned assumptions, such as the separation of gender from biological sex, which not so long ago would have been universally rejected as radical notions.
In the spring of 2019, a group of Orthodox Christian scholars drawn from a wide variety of academic disciplines met together to offer responses to the moral crisis our generation faces, elaborating upon its various forms and facilitating a fuller understanding of some of its theological and philosophical foundations. In doing so they offer support to all those who question the claims that are so forcefully insisted upon today – a clarity that will aid them in standing up and resisting trends that have already shown to be the cause of great suffering and unhappiness.
Among the contributors to this volume are NY Times bestselling author Rod Dreher, Frederica Matthewes-Green, Dr. David Bradshaw, Fr Chad Hatfield, and Fr Peter Heers. Collectively, these scholars remind us that it is only through our participation in the life of Christ, God who became man, that we can find the healing of our humanity through the restoration in us of His image, in which we were formed at the beginning of time.
Paperback, 207 pages.
Healing of the Healers: Clergyman as Penitent
$20.00
Book: Sewn hardcover, printed in two colors with gilded edges and page marker ribbon. 260pp..17x24cm.
Made for Union, by Rev. Fr. George Dokos, presents a comprehensive study of the sacramental spirituality of St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain, a Saint of the Orthodox Church who flourished in the late 18th and early 19th century during the period of the Ottoman Occupation. Although a monk and serious ascetic himself, St. Nikodemos emphasized in his many works the centrality and necessity of the liturgy and sacraments in the life of the Christian.
From the Foreword(by V. Rev. Archimandrite Maximos Constas)
In a series of richly and meticulously documented chapters, Fr. Dokos details St. Nikodemos’ sacramental spirituality, providing us with a detailed presentation of the sacramental foundations of the saint’s thought and theology. After an introduction covering the saint’s life and work, the book begins with a general overview of St. Nikodemos’s ecclesiology, in which the Church is the locus of new life in Christ. This is followed by chapters on Baptism, Chrism, Eucharist, and Confession and Repentance. Fr. Dokos possesses a virtually unparalleled familiarity with St. Nikodemos’ writings, which he has studied both deeply and widely, bringing the full range of the saint’s teaching to bear on the subject. His book provides us with an important corrective to the specious separation of “private” ascetic prayer and “public” liturgy.
Healing the World from Evil: Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Proclus
$19.00
Could Greek philosophers—Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, Proclus—be considered as guardians and schoolmasters (παιδαγωγός) that brought humanity to Christ in a way similar to the Law of the Old Testament according to Saint Paul (Gal. 3,24)? Τhe philosophical project of Platonism had five fundamental tenets, namely monism, transcendence, participation, ethics of purification and a relevant notion of evil as non-being. Dr. Dionysios Skliris is both theologian and philosopher, and he sees that all of these philosophical demands were realized in the theology of the Fathers in the most radical way, yet “in another form” (Mark 16,12). After Christ, transcendence means that God is uncreated and creates a contingent world out of free love. Monism coexists with a Trinity of Persons since God is love in His own transcendent being and not only in relation to the world. On every page, Skliris shows us the true implications of purification: it leads to transformation and evil is non-being not as a “fading away” of light, but as a historical closedness to God that cannot survive in the eschaton.
Paperback, 128 pages.
I Pray Today (board book)
$14.95
by Angela Isaacs, illustrated by Amandine Wanert
Good morning, God.
The day is new.
I say my first small prayer to You.
Lord, have mercy!
Lord, have mercy! When you're a toddler, every day is full of beautiful ups and difficult downs. And yet from sunrise to sunset, each day, each moment even, can be met with a powerful prayer that young children can remember: Lord, have mercy.
About the Author: Angela Isaacs didn’t realize she should be a writer until after getting an MA in Cognitive Psychology. Now she juggles freelance editing with book writing and raising her two daughters. Her first book for children, Goodnight Jesus, was published by Ancient Faith Publishing in 2016. She also has a forthcoming educational children’s book series, The Little Elephants' Big Adventures. When not writing or reading, Angela can usually be found knitting or cycling around the Illinois flatlands with her two daughters in tow.
About the Illustrator: Amandine Wanert is a French illustrator who currently lives in Paris. She illustrates both for the medical field and for children's book publishers, especially enjoying those projects that illuminate the world of young children. She previously illustrated In the Candle's Glow for Ancient Faith Publishing and has appreciated working on I Pray Today, bringing to life one little girl's quest to pray throughout the day. Amandine has two sons and a baby daughter.
Age Range: 2 – 6 years
Author: Angela Isaacs
Illustrator: Amandine Wanert
Format: Board book (heavy card stock, with rounded corners)
Dimensions: 6 X 8.5 inches
Page Length: 24 pages
Illness and Healing in Orthodox Theology
$12.00
The basic questions the author answers for discussion are: What, in general, is sickness, and what, specifically, is mental illness? What is therapy and what is a cure? When can we say that someone is healed or cured? What means or methods do we have at our disposal to effect treatment, as this is understood by theology? John Zizioulas provides answers to the questions based on certain fundamental principles of Orthodox theology. Among the Fathers of the Church, he turns particularly to St. Maximus the Confessor, a father of the 7th century.
For St. Maximus, the essence of sickliness is self-love. Self-love is not simply a passion: it is the root cause of all passions: If you want to be liberated from the passions, cast off the mother of the passions, self-love. The only real healing lies in the eradication of self-love, which is the root of all the passions. The only way to separate a passion from a “representation” is with love, self-restraint (i.e., self-mastery), and free will. On this point, theology can offer us some crucial principles.
Paperback, 52 pages.
In the Eyes of Your Creator: Truly Valuing Yourself and Others
$19.00
Many of the ills of our society can be traced to the sense of worthlessness that afflicts so many people today. If we only understood in the depths of our being how valuable we are in the eyes of our Creator, we could learn to obey Christ’s commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves. With In the Eyes of Your Creator: Truly Valuing Yourself and Others, priest and counselor David Fontes marries the best insights of psychology with those of the spiritual tradition of the Orthodox Church to point the way toward this understanding.
About the Author: David Fontes was born in California. During his college years he developed a strong personal relationship with God and wrestled with whether he should become a priest or a psychologist. He ended up becoming both an Orthodox priest and a licensed clinical psychologist. Along with years of pastoral care for others, he has counseled thousands of state employees through the Employee Assistance Program and hundreds of patients in his private practice.
Author: David L. Fontes
Format: Paperback
Dimension: 5.5 X 8.5 inches
Page Length: 256 pages
In the Mirror: A Collection of Iconographic Essays and Illustrations
$40.00
This collection of iconographic essays and illustrations by Fr. Stamatis Skliris is an anthology of his articles, translated into English, in which he combines adherence to the teachings of the Church Fathers with a vibrant expression of faith through the experience of Christ in the Church. The book is adorned with more than 200 of his striking icons and illustrations. Fr Stamatis is one example of an synthetical, Neopatristic approach in the arts. Although he basically employs a dark Byzantine under-painting, adding to it light “accents” (illuminations), he still plays with colors in such an impressionist manner that his work gains a “non-determinism of color.” Stamatis articulates a dialogue with modern art by evaluating the brush strokes of Van Gogh Cézanne, Monet’s colors, Matisse’s forms, Picasso’s Cubism, and Post-modernism. Stamatis reminds us of the times when Church had the ability to shape the culture; yet, he does not copies ready-made solutions from the iconographic past but researches everything anew; a strong experimental sense is at his disposal, and he combines strictly traditional elements with those that are modern; e.g., The Mighty Protectress (Theotokos) is strongly traditional, but Christ has the movement, the colors, and brush deposits of modern, expressionist art.
Paperback, 227 pages.
Laurel and the Wind
$19.95
At night, the wind blows through the rigging of the boat where Laurel lives. Sweet aromas float across the water and surprise her—as though they’d traveled from another land. One night, Laurel is transported across the water to an ancient world of mystery.
In this gorgeously illustrated and poetically written story, you will discover the wonder of Byzantium’s capital city, Constantinople, at the height of its glory. At the center is the magnificent church of Holy Wisdom, where the worship of God unfolds in splendor while the wind dances through the trees. This book will cultivate in the young a taste for the mystical and rekindle wonder in adult readers. In the waking dreams of a single little girl, this edifying tale explores in an alluring whirlwind both the power of remembrance and the beauty of truth, all centered around Christ’s glorious resurrection.
Age Range: 2-10 years
Author: Gaelan Gilbert
Illustrator: Ned Gannon
Hardcover: 32 pages
Dimensions: 8.5 x 11 inches
Light of the World
$25.00
THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD: PRAYERS TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, translated by Very Rev. Archimandrite Maximos Constas, is a collection of thirty prayers to Jesus Christ, along with a concluding prayer to God the Father. Intended as a companion volume to Mother of the Light: Prayers to the Theotokos,the prayers to Christ collected in this volume are remarkable for the intensity of religious feelings they express, as well as for their strongly compunctive and confessional character. These prayers are the work of some of the greatest Fathers of the Church, including St John Chrysostom, St Gregory the Theologian, St Maximos the Confessor, St Symeon the New Theologian, and St Gregory Palamas. The volume contains an introduction by the translator, the Very Rev. Archimandrite Maxmos Constas, Dean of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, who places these prayers within the larger context of Christian experience and the life of the Church.
Beautifully manufactured, Light of the World, is a round back hardcover, sewn bound, and offset printed on 100gsm Munken paper. It features a beautifully debossed cover, decorative endpapers, two page marker ribbons, and original artwork.
124 pages.
Living According to God’s Will: Principles for the Christian Journey
$18.00
Author: (Taushev), Archbishop Averky
Form: Paperback
Pages: 176
The task of man’s earthly life is preparing himself for eternal salvation and blessedness. To attain this, a man must live in a holy and pure manner - that is, according to God’s will.
In this short but incisive treatise the reader is guided on a spiritual journey that begins with the awakening of conscience and the realization of the presence of both sin and virtue in the world, culminating in a union with God: that is “a living, personal relationship with the one we love.” In following the path of this ascent the author delineates many of its markers and stresses that these have both personal and societal aspects.
This book is suitable for both private reading and group study. Questions for discussion or contemplation are interspersed throughout this edition. A short biography of the author is also included.
Contents:
Foreword
1 Conscience and Moral Responsibility
2 The Nature of Sin
3 Virtue
4 God’s Law
5 Freedom of Will
6 The Christian “I”
7 Humility
8 Conversion of Sinners
9 Grace and Salvation
10 Learning and Religion
11 Emotional Development
12 Emotional Development in Children and on Christian Hope
13 The Education and Development of Man’s Will
14 Strengthening the Will with Work and Vows
15 The Struggle against Lust
16 Drunkenness, Greed, and Other Carnal Problems; Christian Death
17 Christian Justice
18 Falsehood: Christian Charity
19 Envy; Cursing and Anger
20 Insolvent Ethical Systems
21 Christian Love as the Basic Principle of Morality
22 The Orthodox Family
23 Family and Society; Patriotism
24 Christian Service; War
25 The Unity of Love for God and for Neighbor
26 The Christian Obligation to Know God
27 The Necessity of Prayer
28 The Model of Christian Prayer
29 Prayer; Feasts and Fasts
Appendix 1: A Short Biography of Metropolitan Philaret
Appendix 2: The Transfer of the Blessed Remains of Metropolitan Philaret
Appendix 3: Metropolitan Philaret on Christianity and Communism
Notes
Scripture Index
Copyright Holy Trinity Publications
Love at Lent (Activity Cards)
$15.00
by Michelle Bonanno Triant, illustrated by Maria Constantinescu
Love at Lent is a project for the whole family, with daily tasks that reinforce the Lenten values of kindness, forgiveness, prayer, generosity, gratitude, and love. Choose one card each day of Great Lent and Holy Week to discover a new task to complete! Tasks such as "Connect with Your Elders" or "Celebrate a Saint" encourage behavior toward the greater good, contribution to community, mindfulness, prayer, and spiritual devotion for families. The Love at Lent cards also work well in other settings, such as Sunday school classes, church ministry groups, and homeschool cooperatives. This beautifully illustrated set includes an introduction, fifty activity cards, and three prayer cards.
Age Range: 2 – 12 years
Format: 54 illustrated cards in a hinged-lid box
Dimensions: 3 x 4.25 inch cards
Mother of the Light: Prayers to the Theotokos
$25.00
Mother of the Light: Prayers to the Theotokos…translated by the V. Rev. Archimandrite Maximos Constas, is a collection of 13 prayers and 3 canons to the Mother of God. The prayers, originally written in Greek, are ascribed to St Ephraim the Syrian (and are the first published English translations of the Greek Ephraim in 300 years). The canons are the works of St Theodore the Studite, St Methodios of Constantinople, and St John of Euchaita (Mauropous). The prayers and canons are united by their spirit of compunction, praises of the Theotokos, and entreaties for her intercessions and deliverance.
A brief, but powerful, introduction accompanies the translation that addresses the place of the Theotokos within the Orthodox Church, and the spiritual and historical importance of the translated prayers and canons.
Beautifully manufactured, Mother of the Light, is a round back hardcover, sewn bound, and offset printed on 100gsm Munken paper. It features a beautifully debossed cover, decorative endpapers, two page marker ribbons, and original artwork.
87 pages.
My Brother's Keeper
$20.00
Rare are the books of Orthodox Christian authors that deal with the subject of politics in a comprehensive way. In this book, the reader will find a faithful engagement with the liturgical and patristic traditions, with contemporary thinkers, Orthodox and non-Orthodox, all in conversation with political science and philosophy.
The author is courageous in dealing with the very sensitive issue of the relationship between the Church and society and with urgent contemporary political and socio-economic issues. However, he understands that this cannot be done without theological criteria, i.e., this can be done only through the relational experience of the Church. Readily listening to the global ecumenical theological conversations and following the best theological voices from East and West, Fr Radovan focuses on a personalistic rather than an individualistic view of the law and politics. As an excellent Orthodox theologian and a proponent of dialogue, rooted in the catholic (holistic) being of the Orthodox Church and of his Serbian people, Fr. Radovan offers a methodology that encompasses the abovementioned concerns and quests.
Paperback, 184 pages.
No Faith Is More Beautiful Than the Christian Faith
$14.00
Penned by Bishop Danilo and Hieromonk Amfilohije, originally published in Serbian (in 1986) and now available in English for the first time, this Catechism book is a great introduction into the basic evangelical teachings of the Orthodox faith and life. Authors of this publication are offering this simple but existential gift to all. This wonderful book belongs to Christian Orthodox Catechism series and explores the mystery of faith in Old and New Testament.
Among many other questions, it answers these existential inquiries: What is true faith? Who is God? What is God like? Who is man? What is God’s revelation? What is the Bible, or the Holy Scriptures? What is the Old Testament? What is the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Why is the Lord Jesus Christ called the God-Man? What did Jesus say on Saturday, the Sabbath? How does the history of the Church begin? It concludes with the chapter on the prayer life of the Church and the last days.
Paperback, 95 pages.
O is for Orthodox
$25.00
Author: Theofanis Sawabe / Vladimir Ilievski
Illustrator: Vladimir Ilievski
Pages: 104
Binding: Glued board book
In this beautiful alphabet book, parents and little ones will be introduced to 26 words related to the Orthodox Faith as they learn their ABCs together.
With thick, die-cut shapes for every letter, children will have an interactive way to learn a little about the holy Orthodox faith, as well as develop a tactile appreciation for the alphabet.
Orthodoxy and Islam in the Middle East: The Seventh to the Sixteenth Centuries
$18.95
In this short but in-depth survey, Constantin Panchenko offers a nuanced portrayal that opens up fresh vistas of understanding of the VII-XVI centuries focusing on the impact that the coming of Islam had on the Orthodox Christian communities of the Middle East and in particular the interplay of their Greek cultural heritage and experience of increasing Arabization.
Paperback, 216 pages.
Pain, Suffering and Resilience - Orthodox Christian Perspectives
$20.00
Spiritual Integration in psychotherapy together with integrative approaches in medicine are increasingly recognized as offering the best care for those who suffer as well as for those who care for them.
This volume is a compilation edited from peer-reviewed papers selected from presenters at the 2016 and 2017 national conferences of the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion which includes eminent scholars, clergy, physicians, and psychotherapists seeking to serve people in their respective fields, through their respective disciplines informed and guided by the depth and riches of the Orthodox Christian Faith. This is the unifying thread for each of the contributors who bring this ancient Christian perspective into dialogue with the contributions of modern psychology and medical science as they seek to address the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of pain and human suffering in a variety of contexts. The first half of the book focuses on the nature and problem of suffering, moving from the theological challenge of the story of Job and the problem of evil, to address the challenges of addiction and psychopathology, military medicine and trauma in combat as well as in the community.
The changing health care environment and the effects of stress on the healer is included and as one author concluded, “Our suffering in this life becomes an opportunity to draw near to Christ, suffer with him, find meaning in our suffering, and allow our suffering to be a vehicle for redemption in this world.” In the second half of the book, stories, reflections and discussions of chaplains physicians, priests and psychotherapists drawing from the well of Orthodox spiritual life, illumine the nature of resilience, revealing a greater depth to the human person. This is seen more clearly in the paradoxical face of resilience which is born out of the challenges of suffering that opens the way of transformative actions of the Spirit.
Elder Alexander of Gethsemane captures a mystery that is at the heart of the discussions, with his observation that, “The amount of suffering that the soul can accommodate is also how much it can accommodate the grace of God.
Paperback, 326 pages.
Parable of the Prodigal Son: A Commentary in the Light of the Fathers
$13.00
The Prodigal Son: A Commentary in the Light of the Fathers by Hieromonk Gregorios, Elder of the Cell of St. John the Theologian, Koutloumousiou Monastery, Mount Athos., Trans. by Stelios Zarganes. Trim Size: 10.5x17cm, 25px40p [4.15x6.6in], 100pp.
From the Prologue: The Lord taught this parable because “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them’.” (Luke 15:1) Christ lovingly welcomed sinners and ate with them. The Scribes and the Pharisees were unable to comprehend this love and, because of this, grumbled against the benevolent Lord, accusing Him of keeping company with tax collectors and sinners. In order to help them, Jesus told this wonderful parable which incorporates great truths for all believers.
It is to be hoped that some of the brethren reading this will make the decision to return to God our Father, whether like the younger or the elder son (whichever of the two they identify with spiritually), and confess: Father I sinned in heaven and against you. It is certain that they will hear the fatherly voice: This son of mine was dead and is alive again. And after a resurrection into God’s embrace, they shall share anew in His philanthropic love.
This new edition has been re-typeset in two colors, and includes new art.
Paperback, 90 pages.
Practicing Prayer: A Daily Workbook
$13.00
Developing a habit of prayer is crucial to the Christian life, but many people find the process confusing and intimidating. In this 28-day workbook, Fr. Alexander Goussetis breaks the process down into accessible steps. With each day's exercise, you will practice and journal about a new aspect of prayer, gradually incorporating each one into a sustainable daily prayer rule that is customized for you.
About the Author: Rev. Dr. Alexander Goussetis serves as director of the Center for Family Care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. He is a graduate of Drexel University, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (M.Div.), and Andover-Newton Theological School (D.Min. in Psychology and Pastoral Counseling). Fr. Alexander has served more than twenty years as a parish priest and authored four books on Orthodox life and faith. He hosts the podcast on Ancient Faith Radio entitled Family Matters. Fr. Alexander is married to Presbytera Lisa, and they have three children - Julia, Nicholas, and Sophia.
Paperback: 112 pages
Psychology in The Service Of the Church
$21.00
Man, being in the image of God and “an animal in the process of deification” (according to St. Gregory Nazianzen)—whose brain and nervous system are largely shaped by evolution, who is both restricted and boundless through his genes, sealed by his early experiences, moderated by his hormones, and under a great diversity of other influences—can display a wide range of behaviors, some of which are abnormal.
At the beginning of the third millennium, instead of advocating a “soul therapy approach,” Fr. Thermos offers an inter-disciplinary medical-theological study of such a fundamental and fascinating topic. By keeping the focus on modern ways of thinking about these ideas, Professor Thermos facilitates an exchange of views and experiences between the fields of theology, psychology and psychiatry. The ultimate purpose of this exchange is to serve mankind wishing the Church as well as in the context of the medical sciences.
Paperback, 166 pages.
Renewing You: A Priest, a Psychologist, and a Plan
$25.00
Are you struggling in your walk with Christ? Do you want to rediscover your reason for living, the person you were created to be? Renewing You: A Priest, a Psychologist, and a Plan gives you the keys to unlock areas of your life that hold you back from fully experiencing the renewal and transformation God has in mind for you. Co-authored by a priest and a psychologist, Renewing You combines principles of spiritual growth with psychological tools to help you become your best self, fully connected with God's purpose for you.
Rev. Dr. Nicholas Louh is a priest, and Dr. Roxanne Louh is a clinical psychologist. In their book and in their ministry, the Louhs are a marriage of two different worlds and fields of study. Their work unites the seemingly opposing fields of faith and psychology to support the kind of inward reflection that leads to lasting outward transformation. For the last 10 years, Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne have worked together to help people seek the changes they want most for their lives.
Paperback: 416 pages
Praise for Renewing You: A Priest, a Psychologist, and a Plan
"Fr. Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh have blended not only their lives in marriage, but also what they have learned in their vocations to provide insights and practical suggestions for becoming the person you were designed to be. I highly recommend this book for all who aspire to reach their potential for God and good in the world." -Gary Chapman, Ph.D., New York Times bestselling author of The Five Love Languages
"We all want to live healthier, more productive lives. Yet so often we get sidetracked by unhealthy habits and addictions. That leads to discouragement about our lack of spiritual progress. Father Nicholas and Dr. Roxanne Louh can help. Renewing You: A Priest, a Psychologist, and a Plan is a practical primer on how to become your best self. Here are the tools you need to build better habits and stronger relationships, starting today!" -Michael Hyatt, New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, speaker, and founder and CEO of Michael Hyatt & Company
"Drawing deeply from Scripture and the wisdom of the ancient Church, Father (Dr.) Nicholas and Presvytera (Dr.) Roxanne Louh inspire you to grow in relationship with the Lover of your soul, expel guilt, receive peace, nurture life and health in personal relationships, and aspire to spiritual and emotional maturity for the greater benefit of the Kingdom of God. I highly recommend this book!" -Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute and host of the Bible Answer Man broadcast and the Hank Unplugged podcast and author of numerous books, including Truth Matters, Life Matters More: The Unexpected Beauty of an Authentic Christian Life
Restoring the Inner Heart: The Nous in Dostoevsky's Ridiculous Man
$22.00
Suddenly I dreamed that I picked up the gun and, sitting in my armchair, pointed it straight at my heart—at my heart, and not at my head.
--Fyodor Dostoevsky
“The Dream of a Ridiculous Man” is a tale of the transformation of the heart and of a journey from despair to joy: a joy that can be known by all through an experience of God that transcends a simply rational discourse.
In this eye-opening literary study, Mary Naumenko uses the story as a springboard for a wider discourse on Christian spirituality and transformation. She examines the title character and his spiritual metamorphosis in light of the ancient concept of Nous as it has developed from the Greek philosophers to the Church Fathers. By comparing the “Ridiculous Man” to similar characters in Dostoevsky’s corpus the author shows how an Orthodox Christian understanding of how the nous underpins Dostoevsky’s own anthropology; in turn, his literary works guide the reader toward a truer vision of humanity.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 160
Rock and Sand
$26.00
Newly designed third edition.
Rock and Sand: An Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings, by Archpriest Josiah Trenham. Trim size 7x10in, 272pp.
From the Author's Introduction:This book has been written for three purposes. First, to provide the Orthodox reader with a competent overview of the history of Protestantism and its major traditions, from its beginnings in the 16th century to the present day. This overview relies heavily upon the Reformer’s own words as well as the creeds of various Protestant faiths, in order to avoid misrepresentation and caricature. Second, to acquaint Orthodox and non-Orthodox readers with a narrative of the historical relations between the Orthodox East and the Protestant West. Finally, to provide a summary of Orthodox theological opinion on the tenets of Protestantism.