The rite of marriage (betrothal and crowning) as celebrated in the Holy Orthodox Church. the text is in Greek and English on in columns and follows the Great Euchologion of the Great Church of Christ. Also included are the Service for a Second Marriage, and the Service for the Restoration of a Marriage for those Previously Divorced. The translation is base on that of V. Rev. Arch. Ephrem Lash. Music aids are included in both Byzantine and Western notation and were arranged Fr. Ephraim of St. Anthony Monastery, Florence, Arizona.

The services of Holy Week of the Orthodox Church in Greek and English. Contains: Holy Sunday evening (Nymphios), Holy Monday evening, Holy Tuesday evening, Holy Wednesday morning (Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts), the Service of Holy Oil (afternoon) and evening (Orthros of Holy Thursday), Holy Thursday morning (Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great) and evening (The Passion), Holy Friday morning (Great Hours), Holy Friday afternoon (Unnailing), Holy Friday evening (Lamentations w/ Greek phonetics), Holy Saturday morning (Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great), Holy Saturday evening (The Vigil of Pascha) and Holy Saturday afternoon (Vespers of Love). The texts of the services are uncut, and include the priestly prayers missing from other texts currently available. Appendix contains the Service of Preparation for Holy Communion, the Prayers of Thanksgiving after Holy Communion, and the entire Lamentations for Holy Friday evening (uncut with verses). The text also includes Gospel readings for Paschal Vespers (Love) in seventeen languages, as well as the Paschal greeting in 76 languages. Translation by Arch. Ephrem Lash, modified by Rev. Fr. Michael Monos. English text metered and set to traditional Byzantine melodies by David Melling. Paschal Canon adapted to traditional melodies by EIKONA.

Fourth-century church father Basil of Caesarea was an erudite Scripture commentator, an architect of Trinitarian theology, a founder of monasticism, and a metropolitan bishop. This introduction to Basil's thought surveys his theological, spiritual, and monastic writings, showing the importance of his work for contemporary theology and spirituality. It brings together various aspects of Basil's thought into a single whole and explores his uniqueness and creativity as a theologian. The volume engages specialized scholarship on Basil but makes his thought accessible to a wider audience. It is the third book in a series on the church fathers edited by Hans Boersma and Matthew Levering.

Following his retirement after twenty-five years of medical practice, he proceeded to writing the Sunday bulletins of the cathedral and essays on a variety of topics of interest to his fellow Orthodox parishioners. He was urged by the protopresbyter Steven Zorzos, the current dean of the cathedral, to publish his writings as books. This is the first in which he provides examples of how he has experienced and interpreted his reading of the Holy Scriptures. He provides examples of what is available within them that are frequently overlooked by many readers. Furthermore, the English translations of the Bible are filled with many errors, which can only be clarified by finding the most appropriate English words, among the many available, for translating the true meaning of some Greeks words in the original New Testament and the Septuagint. Many examples of this phenomenon are provided in this volume.

The life received by St. Anthony is one that is precisely in accordance with the Bible, one which was aided by tremendous power from the Holy Spirit. His going out into the wilderness as an eighteen year old, to live in the mountains and parched deserts, was an expression of the measure of intense faith that filled the heart of St Anthony, The young teen who was accustomed to living a lavish lifestyle, was not hindered by the circumstances of his one and only orphan sister, or the allure of three hundred acres of land that promised a comfortable earthly life in response to the gospel call This book explores the biblical basis of the monastic life through the lens of the life and writings of its founder

Even though the Eastern Orthodox Church is widely recognized as having a deep and profound theological understanding of the world as God's creation, practice of this theology has been elusive. To address this dilemma this text provides guidance on the spiritual and physical steps that are necessary for Orthodox Christians to apply their theology to ecological issues. This book includes a special foreword by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who introduces the challenge of greening the Church. In his commentary, he sees that the application of this book's themes can lead to the creation of "green parishes" and even "green priests" throughout the world. Throughout the book the principles and practices underlying the transformation and transfiguration of creation are emphasized. The result is a simple yet comprehensive "hands-on" approach to a Christian caring for the earth. This is accomplished by providing an organic sequence of themes that engage the development of ecological consciousness within the Church. The book unfolds in the following manner. First, Greening the Orthodox Parish provides theological foundations for ecological action. This includes the writings of the Orthodox patriarchs as they translate theology into a call for Christian action on ecology; the Scriptural passages which lead to care for the earth; and the writings of the saints which provide historical perspective on ecology as a perennial imperative for the Church. Second, upon these foundations - the Scriptures, the saints, and the voice of the Church, a series of issues are examined through Orthodox theology and modern science. This leads to spiritual direction on how to extend the teachings of the Church into issues such as global warming, toxic chemicals, forests, consumerism, etc., so that healing direction results for parishioners, the surrounding culture, and through these, the environment. Third, a process for developing parish groups is identified so that any parish may address environmental issues. The task is not only the greening of parish action, but a greening of attitudes. For this task principles are provided including a check list for pastors to ensure that the parish is using suitable methods for energy and conservation. Guidelines are also available for parishioner attitudes so that they may develop ecological consciousness that is at once obedience to God, fidelity to the Church, and an engagement with the issues that assault the life of the parish. Fourth, a further orientation to Orthodox ecological awareness is cultivated through the inclusion of a study course that uses key writings by Orthodox hierarchs and theologians. The task of greening the parish requires study and application. This course launches a journey of learning and growing in ecological awareness that becomes an extension of the life of the parish into the life of the world. Throughout the book a special emphasis exists on the ecological witness of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. Not only is this book dedicated to His All-Holiness, but it relies on his writings for a stream of quotations. These citations indicate that this greening theme is not some modern innovation creeping into Orthodox thought. Rather, it is an extension of timeless theological principles to the serious issues facing our world. Creation care is akin to new wine drawn from old wineskins; it is a continuation of the gospel message that allows an addressing of the problems facing the modern world. Jesus Christ taught us the need to do the will of God "on earth as it is in heaven." This Handbook is only a contemporary pathway for the application of the timeless Orthodox faith to the issues of the modern world.

""You shall be perfect, even as your Father Who is in the heavens is perfect."" (Mt 5:48) These words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ represent one of the most daunting of the commandments he has given his followers. But how are we to accomplish such a lofty task, living in a world full of turmoil, distractions, and challenges to our spiritual progress? In simple but powerful language, Discussion at a Monastery addresses questions about the meaning of Orthodox Christian monasticism, and of the spiritual life in general, based on the real-life experiences of a contemporary Greek Orthodox monk and his fellow spiritual laborers. Far from being suited only to monastics, however, this profound little book contains deep spiritual insights that will illumine the souls of all readers. At the same time, it will challenge anyone who is interested in developing a clearer understanding of the nature of the spiritual life-which is fundamentally a life of prayer-to first develop a clearer understanding of his or her own inner nature. "Monk Macarius is a monk of the Holy Cenobitic Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Penteli, Attica, Greece."

The four volumes of the Christian Living Series are the fruit of a catechism class that the late Bishop Youanis used to teach to university students who came to Cairo from other states to study. The Chapters of these volumes have been a hand book for many Christians who are pursuing their spiritual path and a source of direction to many over the last fifty years, now we present it to you in the English language. This volume, Spiritual Nourishment, Prescribes the necessary spiritual nourishments that are needed along the spiritual path. Chapters include: Bible Reading, Spiritual Reading, Retreats, and Service.

According to Fr. Alexander Men (1935-1990), the Russian Orthodox priest and popular spiritual teacher who was publicly martyred in 1990 in the former USSR, prayer is "the flight of the heart toward God." This work, available for the first time in English, is a collection of his writings, lectures, and sermons on prayer. You will discover both ancient and modern wisdom, and you will see how one Eastern Orthodox priest taught his parishioners to pray.
"His simple but profound teaching on the absolute necessity of a prayer life could change the world. " Scott Cairns, Poet

Russian baptists and the Orthodox Church have had a difficult and, at times, dramatic relationship over the past century and a half. However, the purpose of this thesis is to examine certain internal connections between these two Christian bodies.

Presented here is a collection of talks and sermons by Russian Orthodox Archpriest Georgy Neifakh (1953-2005). Father Georgy - a former academic biologist, and later the builder and senior priest of the Church of the Falling-Asleep of the Mother of God in the city of Kurchatov, Russia - has spoken in these sermons and talks about family life, the upbringing of children, prayerful concern for our neighbors and kin, sincerity in faith and the harm to the soul that comes from merely external piety, the possibility of resisting the temptations peculiar to our time, and much else that is important for everyone. Originally given during Lent, these reflections on the eight categories of temptation and sin "the passions," as the Church names them reveal both Fr. Georgy's insight into our human condition and his refreshingly practical advice for recognizing and dealing with these temptations. While Fr. Georgy does not permit us excuses for our sin, he offers his pastoral wisdom in a spirit of humility, as one who faces the same struggles we do, offering companionship and encouragement, as well as instruction, along the way.

Many Asians are drowning in shame and addictions with no way out. Is this any different from a traditional Westerner? I would say very much so. Shame is embedded in the Asian way of thinking, behaving, and interacting. If you do not understand the cultural history of shame and its underpinnings, then you will have a hard time understanding the mindset of typical Asians, let alone the stranglehold of shame in their midst. This book is geared towards any Christian pastor, leader, or parishioner who has a heart for reaching the Asian community. God's unconditional love is hard for many Asians to understand because of the shame that binds them. This book is to help you get to the heart of Asian Shame and some of the associated behaviors and addictions that result from a culture that inhibits healthy emotional expression. If you want healthy Christianity among Asians, you need to understand how to recognize and break this cultural cycle of shame that has shackled millions of Asians to fall prey to the vices of gambling, infidelity, sex, out-of-control spending, over-eating, and other addictive behaviors.

"For anyone wanting to understand an extraordinary and important episode in the modern history of Christianity, Tom Dykstra's excellent account, which is both meticulous and highly readable, should be an indispensable starting-point. It brings alive a passionate argument over the holiness of the Name of God which shook the Tsarist and Balkan world on the eve of the first world war. Better than any other chronicler of the tragedy that came to a head in the main monastic stronghold of the Christian East, he combines a clear view of the theological stakes with a keen sense of the politics, both secular and ecclesiastical, which determined the outcome. Dykstra also manages to situate the Imperial Russian quarrel over sacred names in the broader sweep of the history of monotheism." - Bruce Clark, Writer on religion and public policy, The Economist, www.economist.com

Gives a brief account of the history and traditions of the modern Assyrian people, and the fateful history of the Church of the East. The first seven Chapters are dedicated to the modern period, while the final six chapters discuss Christian-Moslem relations and the fate of the Church of the East and the Assyrian people during and after World War I.

The services of Holy Week of the Orthodox Church in Greek and English in full color. This edition contains: Holy Sunday evening (Nymphios), Holy Monday evening, Holy Tuesday evening, Holy Wednesday morning (Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts), Holy Wednesday afternoon (Holy Oil), Holy Wednesday evening (Orthros of Holy Thursday), Holy Thursday morning (Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great) and evening (The Passion), Holy Friday morning (Great Hours), Holy Friday afternoon (Unnailing), Holy Friday evening (Lamentations w/ Greek phonetics), Holy Saturday morning (Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great), Holy Saturday evening (The Vigil of Pascha) and Holy Saturday afternoon (Vespers of Love). The texts of the services are uncut, and include the priestly prayers missing from other texts currently available. Translation by Arch. Ephrem Lash. English text metered and set to traditional Byzantine melodies by David Melling. Paschal Canon adapted to traditional melodies by EIKONA. Third softcover printing, Decemeber 2012. Replaces ISBN 978-0981731759.

Twenty years have passed since the fall of the Iron Curtain, yet emerging democracies continue to struggle with a secular state which does not give preference to churches as major political players. This book explores the nationalist inclinations of an Eastern Orthodox Church as it interacts with a politically immature yet decisively democratic Eastern European state. Discussing the birth pangs of extreme nationalist movements of the twentieth century, it offers a creative retelling of the ideological idiosyncrasies which have characterized Marxist Communism and Nazism. Cristian Romocea provides a constant juxtaposition of the ideological movements as they interacted and affected organized religion, at times seeking to remove it, assimilate it or even imitate it. Of interest to historians, theologians and politicians, this book introduces the reader, through a case study of Romania, to relevant and contemporary challenges churches worldwide are facing in a context characterized by increased secularization of the state and radicalization of religion.

Orthodoxy is a book by G. K. Chesterton that has become a classic of Christian apologetics. Chesterton considered this book a companion to his other work, Heretics. In the book's preface Chesterton states the purpose is to "attempt an explanation, not of whether the Christian faith can be believed, but of how he personally has come to believe it." In it, Chesterton presents an original view of Christian religion. He sees it as the answer to natural human needs, the "answer to a riddle" in his own words, and not simply as an arbitrary truth received from somewhere outside the boundaries of human experience (wikipedia.org).