Recommended Readings

Whether you are brand new to Orthodoxy or have been in the Church for years, these books are a good place to begin or to deepen your understanding of the faith.

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Intro to Orthodoxy

• Surprised by Christ: My Journey from Judaism to Orthodox Christianity Fr. James Bernstein
  Conciliar Press
• Facing East: A Pilgrim's Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy Frederica Mathewes-Green
  Harper Collins
• The Orthodox Way Met. Kallistos Ware
  SVS Press
• An Introduction to God: Encountering the Divine in Orthodox Christianity Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
  Ancient Faith Press
• The Mountain of Silence: A Search for Orthodox Spirituality Kyriacos Markides
  Random House
• The Religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First Century Fr. Stephen De Young
  Ancient Faith Press
• Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
  Ancient Faith Press
• The Orthodox Church Met. Kallistos Ware
  Penguin
• The Orthodox Faith, Vol. 1: Doctrine & Scripture Fr. Thomas Hopko
  SVS Press
• The Orthodox Faith, Vol. 2: Worship Fr. Thomas Hopko
  SVS Press
• The Orthodox Faith, Vol. 3: Church History Fr. Thomas Hopko
  SVS Press
• The Orthodox Faith, Vol. 4: Spirituality Fr. Thomas Hopko
  SVS Press

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Theology

• Orthodox Dogmatic Theology Fr. Michael Pomazansky
  St. Herman Press
• On the Apostolic Preaching St. Irenaeus of Lyons
  SVS Press
• On the Incarnation St. Athanasius
  SVS Press
• For the Life of the World Fr. Alexander Schmemann
  SVS Press
• The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church Vladimir Lossky
  SVS Press
• On God & Christ St. Gregory the Theologian
  SVS Press
• Orthodox Spirituality St. Dumitru Staniloae
  STS Press
• The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death Fr. John Behr
  SVS Press
• Orthodox Psychotherapy: The Science of the Fathers Met. Hierotheos Vlachos
  Theotokos Monastery
• Life After Death Met. Hierotheos Vlachos
  Theotokos Monastery

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The Spiritual Life

• Beginning to Pray Met. Anthony Bloom
  Paulist Press
• The Spiritual Life: And How to be Attuned to It St. Theophan the Recluse
  St. Paisius Press
• Discourses and Sayings Abba Dorotheos of Gaza
  Cistercian Press
• Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
  St. Herman Press
• The Enlargement of the Heart Archimandrite Zacharias
  Mount Thabor Publishing
• Great Lent: Journey to Pascha Fr. Alexander Schmemann
  SVS Press
• Saints Barsanuphius and John: Guidance toward Spiritual Life
  St. Herman Press
• Orthodox Spirituality: A Brief Introduction Met. Hierotheos Vlachos
  Theotokos Monastery
• Unseen Warfare ed. St. Nicodemus the Hagiorite, rev. St. Theophan the Recluse
  SVS Press
• The Arena: Guidelines for Spiritual and Monastic Life St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
  Holy Trinity Press

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Lives of Saints and Righteous Elders

• Fr. Seraphim Rose: His Life and Works Fr. Damascene Christiansen
  St. Herman Press
• St. Silouan the Athonite St. Sophrony Sakharov
  SVS Press
• Shepherd of Souls: The Life and Teachings of Elder Cleopa Archimandrite Ioanichie Balan
  St. Herman Press
• An Extraordinary Peace: St. Seraphim, Flame of Sarov Archimandrite Lazarus Moore
  Anaphora Press
• Fr. Arseny 1893–1973: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father
  SVS Press
• Fr. George Calciu: Interviews, Homilies, and Talks Fr. George Calciu
  St. Herman Press
• Everyday Saints: And Other Stories Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov
  Pokrov Publications
• A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain: Discussion with a Hermit on the Jesus Prayer Met. Hierotheos Vlachos
  Theotokos Monastery
• Wounded by Love: The Life and the Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios
  Denise Harvey Publishing

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