Teachings on Orthodox Theology - 5 different books - Multiple Book Discounts
1. On the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by St. Philaret of Chernigov
Over the centuries Orthodox Christians have utilized the time of Great Lent to contemplate the salvific Passion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ—the voluntary sufferings which He undertook out of love for mankind, in order to make possible our return from our fallen state to full communion with God. On the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by St. Philaret of Chernigov is a grace-filled aid in this contemplation. Originally preached in Russian churches during Great Lent, these sixty inspired sermons are permeated with a spirit of sincere love for Christ and awe before His sacrifice for mankind. Chronologically tracing the period of the last four days of the Savior’s earthly life, they take the reader through every aspect of His Passion, providing Christians with fertile material for soul-benefiting meditation on Christ’s final teachings, sufferings, and death on the Cross.
In this English edition, a moving homily by St. Philaret on Christ’s Resurrection follows the discourses on the Passion.
St. Philaret (Gumilevsky), Archbishop of Chernigov (1805–1866), was a fervent and effective pastor of Christ’s flock, as well as a prolific Church writer. Born in a small village in Russia, he was the son of the village priest, himself a notable pastor and preacher. As a young man, he was blessed by St. Seraphim of Sarov, who said that he would “be glorified throughout Russia as a learned man.” He was a close disciple of St. Philaret (Drozdov), metropolitan of Moscow, the great Russian theologian. Consecrated to the episcopacy in 1841, he was first assigned to the cathedra of Riga, Latvia, where, thanks to his pastoral zeal, over 100,000 souls were joined to the Orthodox Church. He was later transferred to the Russian diocese of Kharkov, and then to Chernigov, where he reposed. His literary works include historical, theological, and homiletic books, as well as numerous articles. The present book was first published in Russia in 1858.
456 Pages paperback
2. The First Created Man by St. Symeon the New Theologian
A knowledge of the beginning and end of all things is essential for us to understand the purpose of our existence here on this earth, and what lies beyond it. For a true interpretation of the first and last things, we must turn to those ancient teachers who beheld the beginning and end in a state of divine vision. Among these great seers was St. Symeon the New Theologian (+1022): he speaks of the mysteries of the beginning and end precisely because he has seen them.
His profound homilies on the first-created man and the future age are of special value to us because they give the foundation of spiritual life and struggle. The original state of man tells us of our deepest nature, of which our present fallen nature is a corruption that is to be overcome; and the future state of blessedness is the goal to which our spiritual struggle is aimed, and to which we can attain, by God’s grace, even despite our fallen state.
These homilies of St. Symeon have been selected, translated, and introduced by the renowned spiritual writer of contemporary America, Fr. Seraphim Rose (+1982) with the aim of reconnecting modern man with the ancient understanding of the true purpose of life.
128 pages, illustrated, full-color cover, paperback
3. Marriage and Virginity according to St. John Chrysostom
by Archpriest Josiah Trenham
This book is a treasure trove of the distilled counsels of St. John Chrysostom—distilled from his thorough knowledge of and love for the Holy Scriptures and his profound respect for and obedience to the mind of the Church—concerning matters of great interest and importance for people of all ages and circumstances: virginity, chastity, celibacy, marriage, contraception, parenting, family life, sexual practices, divorce, remarriage, and widowhood. You will find that this great fourth-century preacher and pastor of the Church still has an urgent (and salvific!) message to proclaim to people of the twenty-first century and beyond—the soul-profiting message of the beauty of consecrated virginity and the blessedness of marriage. I trust that after receiving his inspired counsel you will marvel at the beauty of the Scripture-based teachings so as to be lifted to the clouds in appreciation of and admiration for the God Who fashioned and sanctifies both states for His glory. May it be so!
—From the Foreword by His Grace Basil, Bishop of Wichita and Mid-America, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
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Saint John Chrysostom still speaks, today even louder than in the fourth century. Not all will wish to hear him, as not all wished to hear him then.… But those who have humility will find in him an able instructor, and will find a place of confidence in these confusing times. He radiates amidst the Holy Fathers of the Church as the great defender and sanctifier of the Christian home and city. Adherence to his teaching has produced innumerable saints in the Church, spiritually born both in the monastery and in the Christian home, and is capable of producing the same today.
—from the Afterword by Fr. Josiah Trenham
Paperback 304 pages
4. The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God by St. John Maximovitch
“For He hath looked upon the lowliness of His handmaiden; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”
—(Luke 1:48)
A right understanding of Mary, the Mother of God is essential for a right understanding of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God. When her image is distorted, the image of her Son also becomes distorted.
This concise little book is a classic exposition of how the Orthodox Christian Church has venerated the Mother of God throughout the ages, and on the chief errors that have sought to change or undermine this veneration: both ancient heresies and the later deviations of Western Christendom. It clearly tells why the Virgin Mary should truly be called the Mother of God and should be honored by all generations, and why at the same time She cannot be said to have been unable to sin, or considered a Co-Redemptress along with Jesus Christ, the only Savior of the world.
Written by a miracle-worker of modern times who was in close spiritual contact with the Mother of God - St. John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco (1896-1966) - this work was translated by an American convert to the Orthodox Faith who was a beloved disciple of St. John: Hieromonk Seraphim Rose of Platina (1934-1982).
88 pages, illustrated, full-color cover, paperback
5. Door to Paradise
An inspiring and easy-to-follow introduction to the Orthodox Church, artistically designed with pictures on every page. With its beautiful full-color cover, this large-format booklet makes an excellent missionary tool to give to friends and relatives, and even to people on the street who would want to discover the fullness of the ancient Christian faith.
“‘I am the door,’ said Christ. ‘By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.’ Christ is the Door to the Kingdom of Heaven, which we can find within us even during this life and which continues for eternity. But how do we find that Door amidst thousands of different sects and philosophies, all of which present a different image of Christ? If we look into the history of the Church He founded, we find one unbroken line in which His image has been kept pure and undistorted. That line is ancient Orthodoxy, the measuring stick of true Christianity.… ”
“This Church extends from the saints in Heaven down to the believers here on earth in order to raise us from earth to the heights of Heaven.… The true essence of the Church must be sought in Her spiritual life, which takes place in the heart; for it is within the heart that Christ reveals Himself.… ”
“Through the Sacraments, the Scriptures, the spiritual discipline and the ascetic teachings of the Orthodox Church, you will find the Door to Paradise. And then, in your own heart, your own inward being, you will find Paradise itself. You will find what true prayer is, and you will find Him Who has been calling you all your life: Christ, the Bridegroom of your soul.”
—excerpts from DOOR TO PARADISE
20 pages, illustrated, full-color cover, paperback