Eastern Orthodox Spirituality

In this short, accessible account of the Eastern Orthodox Church, John McGuckin begins by tackling the question "What is the Church?" His answer is a clear, historically and theologically rooted portrait of what the Church is for Orthodox Christianity and how it differs from Western Christians' expectations.

Eve Tibbs offers a comprehensive, yet very accessible, introduction to the beliefs and practices of the Eastern Orthodox Church for Western listeners. Tibbs has devoted her career to translating the Orthodox faith to an evangelical audience, and she has over 20 years of experience teaching this material to students. Assuming no prior knowledge of Orthodox theology, this survey covers the basic ideas of Eastern Orthodox Christianity, from its origins at Pentecost to the present day.

Dive into the spiritual depth that has enlightened seekers for generations with "The Philokalia: A Beginner's Guide." This book is a gateway to the profound wisdom of Eastern Orthodox mysticism, tailored for those at the beginning of their spiritual quest as well as for those looking to deepen their journey. It is your companion on a transformative path of self-discovery and divine connection. Unveil Timeless Wisdom: Explore the distilled teachings of the desert fathers, made relevant for today’s seekers. Learn to cultivate stillness, deepen your prayer life, and find inner peace amid the...

Welcome to the Orthodox Church - its history, theology, worship, spirituality, and daily life. This friendly guide provides a comprehensive introduction to Orthodoxy, but with a twist: listeners learn by making a series of visits to a fictitious church, and get to know the faith as new Christians did for most of history, by immersion. Mathews-Green provides commentary and explanations on everything from how to "venerate" an icon, the Orthodox understanding of the atonement, to the Lenten significance of tofu.

Imagine a life where the chaos of the world fades into the background and you find yourself grounded in profound inner peace. Hesychasm for Beginners is your gateway to this ancient practice, a spiritual treasure rooted in centuries of wisdom and designed for modern seekers longing for stillness, clarity, and connection. Discover the transformative power of Hesychasm—a spiritual tradition that has inspired saints, mystics, and ordinary people alike. Whether you're a seasoned believer or simply seeking solace, this book offers practical steps to integrate sacred practices into your daily ...

In a world drowning in noise, the wisdom of a 4th-century desert monk offers a lifeline to clarity, peace, and purpose. Evagrius of Pontus for Beginners is your guide to the profound teachings of one of Christianity’s most influential thinkers, presented in a way that’s accessible, transformative, and utterly relevant for modern life. Unlock the secrets of apatheia—a state of inner calm that frees you from the tyranny of distractions and passions. Master the eight evil thoughts that threaten your peace and learn practical strategies to overcome them with grace and resilience. ...

The Eastern Orthodox Church, is the world's second-largest Christian church, with more than 260 million members. It operates as a communion of autocephalous churches, each governed by bishops in local synods. In this classic work Prof. Adrian Fortescue describes in detail the history, structure, and current state of the Orthodox Church. An excellent introduction for those seeking to better understand this historic apostolic church.

To many in the West, Orthodoxy remains shrouded in mystery, an exotic and foreign religion that survived in the East following the Great Schism of 1054 that split the Christian world into two camps - Catholic and Orthodox. However, as the second largest Christian denomination, Orthodox Christianity is anything but foreign to the nearly 300 million worshipers who practice it. For them, Orthodoxy is a living, breathing reality; a way of being Christian ultimately rooted in the person of Jesus and the experience of the early church.

Unlock the mysteries of a faith that has stood the test of time, survived centuries of upheaval, and continues to inspire millions today. Polish Orthodox Church: A Beginner's Guide: An Introduction to Poland's Orthodox Heritage invites you on a journey into a world of rich traditions, breathtaking art, and timeless spirituality. Immerse Yourself in History: From the arrival of Byzantine missionaries to the rise of autocephaly, discover how Poland’s Orthodox Church has shaped and been shaped by the country’s turbulent history. Learn about its resilience during the partitions, its role ...

For nearly a thousand years following its foundation, there was only one Christian church. Centered in the city of Rome, the church expanded and grew until it became the dominant religion in Europe and beyond. The early growth of the Church had been suppressed by the Romans until the Emperor Constantine became the first to convert the empire to Christianity. From that point forward, the growth of the Church was inextricably linked with the Roman Empire - the most powerful military, economic, and political force in the ancient world.

Father Thomas Hopko draws on the wisdom of the Orthodox Christian Church and the Holy Scriptures to help us understand same-sex attraction, with both compassion and clarity. Combining theological and pastoral insights, this small gem will aid pastors, those who experience same-sex desires, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the nature of our identity and our sexuality. This book is in reality a primer on how to overcome the passions through the traditional Christian ascetic struggle, which, of course, applies to everyone.

Immerse yourself in the journey of Holy Week with "Time of Love!" This work invites readers to follow in Jesus's footsteps from the Friday of the culmination of Lent to the joyous Resurrection, offering daily reflections that illuminate the deep, spiritual significance of this sacred period. "Time of Love!" is a spiritual guide through the most pivotal week in the liturgical calendar. Each day unveils the scriptures of Holy Week with rich commentary and heartfelt meditations that engage both the mind and the spirit. From Lazarus Saturday, through the triumphant entry on Palm Sunday, to the ...

This book offers the practical details of entering into deep meditation, from ways of sitting to the classic position of hands. It draws from a variety of teachings, including ancient Christian, Buddhist and modern psychotherapy. The reader will also find here the presentation of the mystical side of Christianity as taught in the early centuries when union with the Divine was meant to be an experience, not merely a belief. The authors are also influenced by the great German master Karlfried Graf Durckheim, whose teaching combines years of study with Zen Buddhists in Japan, a personal ...

This little book introduces the reader to the Paisian tradition from his time through to the lives of the Optina Elders, giving a brief history of how this spiritual transmission developed from the labors and spiritual hunger of St. Paisius Velichkovsky on Mount Athos to his disciples in the Roslavl forests in Russia to the Optina Monastery which over the course of 100 years produced a series of fourteen charismatic elders. This is the tradition that gives us the Philokalia, The Kollyvades Fathers, and the spiritual renewals of Greece and Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Meteora: The History of the Famous Greek Landmark That Houses Eastern Orthodox Monasteries looks at the unique place and what life has been like there since the monasteries were built there. You will learn about Meteora like never before.

Mount Athos: The History of the Greek Mountain and the Center of Eastern Orthodox Monasticism looks at the unique region and what life has been like there since medieval times. You will learn about Mount Athos like never before.

In this book, the authors present the fundamental practices of the Christian experience. They are backed by two thousand years of history and a sea of witnesses who, down through the ages, have journeyed on this path that has led them to the summits of wisdom and holiness. The difficulty in the presentation of these "methods" is their inevitable and artificial juxtaposition when they only find their internal and organic coherence in the living Tradition. This is a teaching in the form of a spiral, an "eating of the word" where, as in liturgical chants and the experiential method of ...

This work of love is an examination of a God-centered view of life through the eyes of a modern-day mystic by the name of Dr. Charles Bozidar Ashanin. His is a story of the evolutionary effect which suffering can have on the human psyche when it is a suffering which is accepted as an opportunity for spiritual awakening. Like the saints of the Early Church before him, Dr. Ashanin demonstrated with his life how transformative and powerful suffering can be when it is received as a part of one’s relationship with God and therefore with one’s relationship with the universe.

The origins of the teachings of Gurdjieff come from Eastern Orthodox spirituality and precise, transformative instructions to monks. Gurdjieff brought these unknown, transformative teachings to the West in the 1920s and introduced them in a modern, psychological language. Since then, his teachings have had a profound influence on contemporary psychology, and impacted the New Thought movement in foundational ways..But they have also been appropriated by cultish organizations, and distorted to use as self-empowerment and control over others rather than for the purpose of achieving God ...