New to Orthodoxy

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.

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.

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.