1 comments about Hymn of Entry: Liturgy and Life in the Orthodox Church (Contemporary Greek Theologians Series , No 1).

1. This is my least favorite book in the Contemporary Greek Theologians series. Archimandrite Vasileios writes about the mystical reality of the Liturgy, and takes his subject to the Nth degree. In short, he interprets every moment of the liturgy as an experience of heaven itself. I would be anxious to know if the common Orthodox believer experiences the liturgy in the same way.

5 comments about Monastic Wisdom: The Letters of Elder Joseph the Hesychast.

1. Excellent translation of the Greek version. This book demonstrates what an incredible saint Elder Joseph the Hesychast is. His writings will inspire you to practice the Jesus Prayer without ceasing. His ascetic struggle and love for Christ and the Virgin Mary will bring tears to your eyes. I am truly amazed that we have had such a saint in our century. This book is definitely one of the best Orthodox Christian books out there.



2. Elder Joseph's letters are awe-inspiring as well as action inspiring. This collection of letters comes from several sources (they don't all have the same recipient.) He addresses clergy, monastics, laity (both in Greece and abroad.)

   The level of asceticism he practiced he never pushed on anyone else. He expected much out of people, but made them want to be that way of their own will. He wasn't interested in having a bunch of puppets. He was a true spiritual father, not a spiritual dictator.

   Many of his ideas, sayings, etc will seem "radical" to most English speakers. After a while though, you realize Elder Joseph isn't the radical one, he is living the God-inspired life, while the rest of us aren't quite hitting the mark.

   More than anything though, you realize how his love of God has caused him to have extreme love for all of creation...even those that didn't like him. Elder Joseph was a man of incredible discipline, humility and love. He was always strict with himself, willing to admit when he was wrong. He was kind, generous, and loving to others.

   I can't say enough good things about this book. The Elder's words just melt you with joy and challenge you to become like Christ. I also want to comment on the literal book itself. The hardcover edition is beautifully put together. Embossed cover, multicolor printing, nice art, quality paper, binding etc. If taken care of, this book should exist for generations.

   Buy this book, and challenge yourself.




3. The wisdom and sweetness of the Elder's words make this book a true treasure. He epitomizes the very essence of spiritual fatherhood. It comes as no surprise to learn that Elder Joseph's spiritual children and grandchildren ( if you will ), number in the thousands, and that his blessed memory lives on in all of their hearts.



4. This is a collection of letters written by an illumined Eastern Orthtodox holy man who lived in the 20th century on the holy mountain of Athos in caves and huts. It is a book for those who want to go more deeply into the interior life of Christ, girded by the written instructions of an experienced guide and elder, without having to go outside the Christian tradition to do so. I am finding it an invaluable tool and motivation. One must understand however that it is a book by a monk and ascetic. Not all of what he instructs is practical or even possible for those of us who live in the world. But in the same way that one might read a book by Lance Armstrong on bicycle racing, without having any hope or possibility of achieving his level of accomplishment, this book will motivate and challenge you!



5. There's not much I can add to these reviews. I would just say that Elder Joseph's letters are eminently readable and that, although it is true he maintened a standard of asceticism far beyond that which most people are capable of, there are many practical aspects of this book that the ordinary individual can use and apply in his own spiritual journey.
   Ditto on the beautiful appearance of the book. It is a joy to handle and look at.

No comments about All that a Greek Orthodox should know: Answers to questions and problems of today's living.

No comments about THE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH: FAITH, HISTORY, AND PRACTICE.

1 comments about Greek Orthodox Patrology: An Introduction to the Study of the Church Fathers.

1. The title of this book is misleading. It is NOT a patrology, in the way that Altaner and Quasten are.
   
   Under this title we expect a series of sections, one per patristic author. Each section gives details of his life, with bibliography; then each of his works, describing it, giving editions and translations and studies, and then the next.
   
   Instead this book is apparently some introductory matter from the first volume of a patrology in modern Greek. Some 30 pages are devoted to a general discussion of the Jews in the Hasmonean period; more to an overview of Roman religion. Neither has any place in a patrology. These vague essays contain few footnotes, and some of the statements are wrong. The Roman cult of Mithras probably is not of Iranian origin. The fathers of Nicaea only number 318 in later texts, not in those written within a century of the events.
   
   I felt rather cheated by this. The translator indicates that he produced the volume for teaching purposes, and that he only included the first half of volume 1 of this Greek patrology by Chrestou. He also says that in a subsequent edition he hopes to translate the rest. This would be good, and interesting; but in the mean time it is unclear to whom this book will be of use.

5 comments about The Orthodox New Testament: Translated Out Of The Original Greek: The Text Of The 4 Gospels, Acts, 21 Epistles, And Revelation, Leatherette.

1. The One-Volume Edition of the Famous Orthodox New Testament by Holy Apostles Convent is exceptional. I highly endorse this English translation of the Official Greek New Testament text as published and approved by the Patriarch of Constantinople for both private study and liturgical use in The Holy Orthodox Church. The English translation is beautiful and sublime. The cadence of its sentences with the accuracy of its English in its proper translation of the Greek is a great combination. More than any other English translation this is the ONLY english translation of the New Testament that should be used by every Orthodox Christian (It gets the energy words exactly right!). It is literally the Best English translation of the New Testament on the market, and probably the best one ever since the King James Version. I highly endorse and recommend the Orthodox New Testament one-volume edition. Axios!



2. this is acompletely fresh translation from the greek and is most eccentric. it is so absolutely literal as to be of no possible use except as a crib. however the copious footnotes are a different matter and are very valuable. all the commentaries, sermons etc of the early fathers eastern and western (except st augustine for some obscure ideological reason) are used for these notes which cover practically all difficult passages.



3. Our local Orthodox church here uses the Gospel lectionary that Holy Apostles Convent publishes. While the book itself is very attractively done and laid-out, its rendering is awkward to bad English, often hard to understand, and above all more interpretation than translation. If their "Orthodox New Testament" is like this, I would not be impressed.



4. I own this one-volume version of the Orthodox New Testament. It is translated from the 1912 Byzantine Text, and uses the KJV as a starting point, but clarifying some of the more obscure wording of the KJV. The Orthodox New Testament uses Greek theological words like "Logos" and "hypostasis" in the text (see for example, John 1:1 and Hebrews 1:3). The Orthodox New Testament is a wonderful translation, a joy to read, maintaining much the traditional KJV language and phraseology; but it is more accurate and understandable. I just love it. It also has icons printed on several pages. Fits in a small bible cover, very portable. Although this edition of the Orthodox New Testament is a soft cover, the cover itself is of very good quality and feels durable. The Orthodox New Testament features large print for the size of the book, making it easy to read, and is printed in an attractive single column format. I highly recommend it. It is my new first string bible.



5. If you are seeking a New Testament closes to its original written language (Greek) this is an excellent version, as a single word missed or deleted from the modern versions, readily available, can change (modify) the meaning of the original message or place it in a different perspective. Although a bit difficult to read at times,with patience and good understanding, you can extract a tremendous amount of knowledge and wisdom.

No comments about St. John Chrysostom Old Testament Homilies Volume 1.

5 comments about Dancing Alone: The Quest for Orthodox Faith in the Age of False Religion.

1. Frank Schaeffer provides an excellent historical overview of the history of Christianity, which alone makes this book worthwhile. He's judgmental of Orthodox Christians who were born into the faith, but his fervent zeal for Christian Orthodoxy shines through. Well worth the read.



2. When Frank Schaeffer spoke at the Festival of Orthodoxy in Dallas in February 2005, he said that he was too harsh in this book, and that were he able to do it over, he would rewrite half of it. I don't know which half or which parts he would rewrite, but I agree with him about the harshness of his tone, which to me seriously degrades the value and trustworthiness of this book. It's interesting, but Schaeffer's jeremiad makes for wearisome reading after awhile.



3. Frank Schaeffer, a.k.a. Franky, was an inspiration to many evangelicals in the 80s. The opening chapter of his book "A Time for Anger", in which for several pages he documents the lunatic contradictions of advances in prenatal medicine contrasted with pro-abortion militancy is one of the most brilliant and compelling satires I have ever read. But Franky became disillusioned with the wishy-washy response of evangelicals to the issues of the day, Evangelical provincialism related to the arts and soon seemed to fade from sight.
   
   This book documents that disillusionment, as he studied the early church with others and eventually embraced Orthodoxy.
   
   He provides many insightful critiques of the shortcomings of Evangelicalism. His methodology follows in father's, in many respects, seeing roots of ideas in earlier eras which blossomed into worldviews that ran counter to essential Christianity. Why did Frank wind up in a different place than Francis?
   
   Francis was often accused (unjustly) of reductionism, condensing complex historical movements into tidy little compartments. But Francis was at least careful to hedge his conclusions and tended to connect the dots well. Frank, on the other hand, speaks in bold and sometimes condescending terms, and frustratingly makes huge leaps of logic. He builds a foundation from A to B to C, then leaps all the way to Z and pronounces his conclusion inevitable.
   
   Hence, where Francis Schaeffer lamented the rise of rationalism and its effects on secular and Christian thought, Frank instead blames rationalism on Augustine and the Reformers. It is as if all ideas which have developed in the Western world are constructions of confused Western theology and no ideas sprung from thought outside the church. He criticises virtually everything in the west, democracy included, and lays the blame for every ill from rampant abortion on demand to even theological excesses within the American Orthodox church on Protestantism. The key point, hammered mercilessly, is that rationalistic theology led to individualism, individualism led to endless division, and endless division led to pluralism and a lack of any solid moral compass. Western Christianity was not influenced, then, by secular and anti-Christian philosophies, rather Protestanism caused those philosophies by cutting theology away from "holy tradition".
   
   It is not that his logic from A to B to C is faulty or that his base points are not well taken. In fact some of the early points are rather compelling. But his leaps from C to Z is so outrageous as to make every previous point irrelevant.
   
   Daniel Clenendin's, or Kallistos Ware's books on Orthodoxy are much more worthwhile for a Protestant who wants to understand the Eastern Church. If you are just curious to know what happened to Franky Schaeffer, this is the definitive answer.



4. DANCING ALONE is a very well reasoned, no-holds-barred indictment of Roman Catholic structure, Western "Protestant" Christianity in general, and American Protestant Fundamentalism in particular. Mr. Schaeffer also dissects and flays cherished Protestant ideas which are, too often, poorly conceived, unhistorical, and downright silly. He also takes aim at nominal Christian theology, which the Church Fathers and Councils put to bed more than 1,700 years ago, yet are blindly touted as "new" or "modern."
   
   Mr. Schaeffer's overall scholarship is excellent, if not near-flawless. To see how this so, and expand one's knowledge, I suggest perusing the book's fascinating bibliography (with comments). Then delve into studying these key works. Most all the books in DANCING ALONE's bibliography are available via Amazon.
   
   The critics of Mr. Schaeffer's book mostly whine about his no-holds-barred, tell-it-like-it-is style -- as a lame substitute for real, substantive criticism of his (perfect) grasp of theological and historical facts. Others prattle on about Mr. Schaeffer's so-called "lack" of compassion because he makes very clear, scholarly theological points, which may -- all too often -- indict someone's long-held and emotionally mired belief system; Mr. Schaeffer tears apart faith which is at odds with history, facts, and logic; he unflinchingly unveils what for too many of us, nothing more than long-held falsehoods, half-truths and wishful thinking -- not reality; not Truth.



5. What strikes one about this account of one person's move from Evangelicalism to Orthodoxy is that one, he is passionate about his new church body and two, he constantly quotes not usually from the Word of God(and when he does, he quickly interprets it from Holy Tradition's stance), but the Holy Tradition.
   
   Thus, the heart of Orthodoxy is just that, the Holy Tradition interprets Scripture, not Scripture interprets Scripture (the Lutheran and Reformational principle). As Luther said it so well at Worms with his very physical life on the line: Although I have great respect for the hierachy and councils and ancient church fathers) my greater respect is for the Word of God.
   
   One cannot help in reading the ancient church fathers to find there a wide variety, diversity of theological opinions. Thus, the confusion of Orthodoxy. Pick and choose to quote from your favorite, or that which supports one's opinion. Thus the suspicion of the fathers being the ultimate norm for Biblical interpretation.
   
   This then exhibits itself most glaringly in Schaeffer's move in its position on original sin. Schaeffer says Maximus was right, Augustine and subsequent West had it wrong. Sin is not that bad in its original sin concept. It is just as tarnish on silver as leading American Orthodox spokesman said recently on radio. Just needs some polishing. Contrast this with writings of Paul quoting from the apostles' and Lord's Bible from Psalsm and Isaiah in Romans 3 and one gets idea that since fall into sin it is spiritual death, not just a freewill choice to not follow God willingly. Paul writes against this repeatedly.
   
   It seems that Schaeffer is into Christianity's engagement with and influence of culture, and thus frustrated with lack of such in his view. With this most of us Christians would agree. However, he totally reduces much of Christianity in a false generalization way to the worst of Calvinistic and fundamentialist position when he needs to be the most critical.
   
   Real Lutherans don't fit his mold. Some of Calvinists don't either. He paints a real false straw man here. I agree with most of this criticism, but don't see turning to Orthodoxy as solution, since by creating a false problem (free will following) rather than original sin, they than get the solution wrong.
   
   Much that can be supported with Schaeffer's critique of American Christianity (e.g. liturgy, morals,sacraments, confession/absolution,etc.), but his solution doesn't correlate with Scripture, unless one sees the Holy Tradition as presented as the God given only choice of interpretation. I'll go with the Apostles' as inspired by Spirit of God to put down into words that this day also may read for ourselves, rather than wait for other writers' to interpret for us.

No comments about St. John Chrysostom: Spiritual Gems from the Gospel of Matthew.

No comments about St. John Chrysostom: Eight Sermons on the Book of Genesis.