New to Orthodoxy

This is a book for those struggling to establish an effective life of prayer. Written neither for seasoned monastic nor lofty scholar, A Beginner?s Guide to Prayer speaks to the average man or woman on the street who desires a deeper relationship with God but is unsure how or where to begin. Drawing from nearly 2000 years of Orthodox spiritual wisdom, the author offers warm, practical, pastoral advice whose genius is to be found in its homespun simplicity and straightforwardness of style. If you?ve been desiring to make prayer a meaningful and regular part of your life, A Beginner?s Guide to Prayer will help set you on your way. But be careful! Prayer can be habit forming! In fact, the advice offered in this book may just change the course of the rest of your life. So, in the words of the author, "What are you waiting for? Start to pray!"

Fr. Michael Keiser walks us through the Orthodox Church’s timeless teachings and practices on the ancient understanding of Christian spirituality with humor and keen insight. He outlines how ascetic practices, personal and corporate worship, confession and repentance, overcoming the passions, and opening ourselves up to God’s grace can lead us to transformation, and to our ultimate destiny—Jerusalem, the heavenly city.

Michael Harper, known to many American Christians as a longtime leader in the evangelical and charismatic movements in the Church of England, now comes before us in a new role: as a convert to the Orthodox Church.

This book is a general account of the doctrine, worship and life of Orthodox Christians by the author of the now classic The Orthodox Church. It raises the basic issues of theology: God is hidden yet revealed; the problem with evil; the nature of salvation; the meaning of faith; prayer; death and what lies beyond. In so doing, it helps to fill the need for modern Orthodox catechism. Yet this book is not a mere manual, a dry-as-dust repository of information. Throughout the book, Bishop Kallistos Ware shows the meaning of Orthodox doctrine for the life of the individual Christian. Doctrinal issues are seen not as abstract propositions for theological debate but as affected the whole of life.

A wealth of texts drawn from theologians and spiritual writers of all ages accompanies Bishop Kallistos' presentation. They too reveal Orthodoxy not just as a system of beliefs, practices and customs but indeed as the Way.

This beautiful Russian Wall Crucifix was painted in the mid 1700s, and shows the Lord on the Cross after His side was opened and His blood and water flowed out.

Why do feasts and seasons matter? There is beauty and grace in the cycle of the church year, but sometimes we don't understand its significance to us. These short yet thoughtful reflections, written in an insightful and sometimes humorous style, will help weave together the great feasts into the fabric of our lives.