Picture 1 of 1
Frederica Mathewes-Green Welcome to the Orthodox Church (Paperback) (UK IMPORT)
Another great item from Rarewaves | Free delivery!
Condition:
More than 10 available
Shipping:
Located in: GU14 0GT, United Kingdom
Delivery:
Varies
Returns:
Payments:
Shop with confidence
Seller information
- 98.4% positive feedback
Registered as a Business Seller
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:276355689764
Item specifics
- Condition
- Book Title
- Welcome to the Orthodox Church : an Introduction to Eastern Christianity
- Publication Name
- Welcome to the Orthodox Church
- Title
- Welcome to the Orthodox Church
- Subtitle
- An Introduction to Eastern Christianity
- Format
- Trade Paperback
- ISBN-10
- 1557259216
- EAN
- 9781557259219
- ISBN
- 9781557259219
- Publisher
- Paraclete Press, Incorporated
- Genre
- Religion, History
- Release Date
- 01/04/2015
- Release Year
- 2015
- Language
- English
- Country/Region of Manufacture
- US
- Item Height
- 1in
- Item Length
- 8.5in
- Item Width
- 5.5in
- Item Weight
- 15.2 Oz
- Publication Year
- 2015
- Topic
- Theology, Russia & the Former Soviet Union, Christianity / Orthodox
- Number of Pages
- 384 Pages
About this product
Product Information
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: readers 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. It's the perfect book for inquirers and newcomers, but even readers who have been Orthodox all their lives say they learned things they never knew before. Enjoyable, easy-to-read, and leavened with humor, Welcome to the Orthodox Church is a gracious guide to the ancient faith of the Christian East.
Product Identifiers
Publisher
Paraclete Press, Incorporated
ISBN-10
1557259216
ISBN-13
9781557259219
eBay Product ID (ePID)
159922257
Product Key Features
Book Title
Welcome to the Orthodox Church : an Introduction to Eastern Christianity
Format
Trade Paperback
Language
English
Topic
Theology, Russia & the Former Soviet Union, Christianity / Orthodox
Publication Year
2015
Genre
Religion, History
Number of Pages
384 Pages
Dimensions
Item Length
8.5in
Item Height
1in
Item Width
5.5in
Item Weight
15.2 Oz
Additional Product Features
Lc Classification Number
Bx320.3.M38 2015
Grade from
Ninth Grade
Reviews
"In her own warm, engaging way, Frederica takes us on a journey that is strange and exotic for those previously unfamiliar, and a spiritual refuge and oasis for those who have embraced it. This just may be the Church you have been looking for and didn't even know it existed." --John Maddex, CEO, Ancient Faith Ministries, With exhilarating clarity, Frederica Mathewes-Green introduces the profound mystery at the heart of the Orthodox Christian faith, which is also our common inheritance: it is a way of life to be encountered and performed; it is not reducible to a range of propositions to be considered. With great charm and with characteristic wit and humor, she prepares the way for those who arrive at an Orthodox church for services, letting them know what to expect, what to watch for, how to lean in--letting them know how best to open their hearts to this worship that is both ancient and ever new. --Scott Cairns Beautifully written and carefully explained with a heart for the non- Orthodox. As an evangelical, who grew up in the Greek Orthodox Church, until being shipped off to boarding school in England, I found myself longing to revisit the liturgy and traditions of my youth! --Emmanuel Kampouris, Former Chairman & CEO of American Standard Companies, Founder of www.biblemesh.com , "In her own warm, engaging way, Frederica takes us on a journey that is strange and exotic for those previously unfamiliar, and a spiritual refuge and oasis for those who have embraced it. This just may be the Church you have been looking for and didn't even know it existed." --John Maddex, CEO, Ancient Faith Ministries "How do you introduce (Eastern) Orthodoxy? Frederica Mathewes-Green suggests we treat it as a large, and much-loved, family house. She takes us round it, showing us all the rooms and what goes on in them. Her conversational style is completely accessible, but utterly honest; there is lots of information, and she deals directly with problems to be encountered. It feels a bit like Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition . This is a wonderful book." --The Very Revd. Archpriest Andrew Louth, Professor Emeritus of Patristic and Byzantine Studies, Durham University, author of Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology "Frederica Mathewes-Green, author of Facing East: A Pilgrim's Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy ...has written a new book about getting to know the Orthodox Church. In it she walks the reader through a semi-fictional, representative American parish of the Orthodox Church, stopping to chat along the way...Mathewes-Green is a good companion, colloquial and easy, clear even when she dives into knotty theological controversies. What other book will you read this year that gives a quick summary of the controversy over the double procession of the Holy Spirit? But one of the great things about Mathewes-Green's writing is that, unlike so much from the C.S. Lewis school of Christianity, she does not live entirely in the world of arguments. She writes with 'the mind in the heart,' as the Orthodox say. Christianity is not primarily a philosophy or assent to a set of propositions; it's a way of life. Mathewes-Green never loses sight of that...The reader gets what the book's title promises. But the best reason to read this book is that the author is wise. Wisdom springs from deep roots within a well-ordered soul, and is quite different from the things we mistake it for: intelligence, charm, wit, sympathy, openness, or empathy. Wisdom is rare in public discourse; when you see it, you recognize it." --J. Mulrooney, New Oxford Review "Plenty of books deal with Christian theology in weighty and abstruse ways, but precious few apply the theology so wholly to the everyday lived realities of life, and in such easily accessible prose, as does Welcome to the Orthodox Church. This book follows exactly Frederica Mathewes-Green's tried and true recipe, of lucid writing marked by a strong sense of humor, but never escaping from the deepest spiritual realities. Do take warning, though. If you do read this thoughtful and passionate book, you will run the risk of having to take the claims of Orthodox Christianity very seriously indeed." --Philip Jenkins "Frederica Mathewes-Green, through her writing, has become the 'Greeter' for every person who begins to seek out and explore the "other Christianity" which is the Eastern Orthodox Church. Few authors can take the mystery, beauty and often daunting complexities of Orthodoxy and transform them in such an inviting path of spiritual journey as this author has done with this book." --The Very Rev Dr Chad Hatfield, Chancellor, St. Vladimir's Orthodoxy Seminary, New York, This beginner's guide to Orthodoxy is comprehensive but not ponderous, profound but lightened by humor, focused on heaven but framed in down-to-earth terms. It is, moreover, a work of superb hospitality. While guiding her guests through a fictitious but true-to-life Orthodox house of worship and introducing them to its parish family, Frederica Mathewes-Green serves up a lavish feast of Orthodox architecture, art, theology, history, and devotional practices, all seasoned with tangy anecdotes and nuggets of wisdom. Even longstanding Orthodox believers will find nourishment here. --Carole Monica Burnett, Editor, Fathers of the Church Series, Catholic University of America Press, Washington, DC Frederica Mathewes-Green, through her writing, has become the "Greeter" for every person who begins to seek out and explore the "other Christianity" which is the Eastern Orthodox Church. Few authors can take the mystery, beauty and often daunting complexities of Orthodoxy and transform them in such an inviting path of spiritual journey as this author has done with this book. --The Very Rev Dr Chad Hatfield, Chancellor, St. Vladimir's Orthodoxy Seminary, New York, This excellent book is most valuable because it is more like a friend than a book. It's the voice you hope to hear beside you in church, murmuring explanations and encouragement as you make your journey. I highly recommend it. -- Rev. Dr. Christopher Metropulos, Executive Director, Orthodox Christian Network, MyOCN.net Frederica Mathewes-Green is one of the most engaging interpreters of the Eastern Christian way in our time. In this book she takes us by the hand as it were and introduces us to something of the mystery, wisdom, worship, and beauty--in short, the life--of Eastern Christianity. A rich, illuminating introduction. --Timothy George is the founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University and chair of the Doctrine and Christian Unity Commission of the Baptist World Alliance. Though I have always been interested in the Orthodox Church, I stayed away because I didn't know anyone that practiced. That has changed. This book is an amazing introduction to the world of Orthodoxy, The author does a masterful job of making you feel as if you are a visitor to the Church and are being walked through its many moving parts. You come to know the members of St. Felicity and feel like a part of its community. In the process of reading the book, you are introduced to the "parts" of the church, the use of Icons, traditional services, a Paschal service, and even marriage, the blessing of a home, and a funeral. It was a heartfelt and very personal journey. --Jonathan Premo I really liked this book very much indeed. Instead of starting off with basic theological concepts which can still be really overwhelming to the average reader as well as pretty hard-going, the book starts with describing a fictitious but very typical Orthodox church which is dedicated to St Felicity. From the first moment of entering the lobby- or Narthex - of an Orthodox church, it will be very unlike most other churches. Icons, sandboxes, beeswax taper candles, books in English and often Church Slavonic or Greek too! make a confusing visual introduction, which is carefully explained, introducing the Sign of the Cross, veneration of icons and prayer before entering the main part of the Church, in a quiet moment when it is empty, to explore further. We find out how and why Orthodox churches are built the way they are, look at the visually striking iconostasis, examine the lovely icons and learn about the life of St Felicity the Martyr amongst many other things. Everything is explained in a lively, conversational and reassuring manner, gently and gradually leading deeper and deeper into the mystery that is Eastern Orthodoxy. Eventually we get to visit the Church when there are services in full swing and meet Orthodox liturgy in action, which requires even more detailed explanation of concepts mentioned earlier, especially through the Hymnody of the Vigils and Liturgy where incredibly complex and profound theology can be packed into a hymn only a few lines long - but the study of which could occupy a lifetime of prayer and meditation. Finally, in the last section of the book, we learn about living the Orthodox life through events such as house blessings, the Sacraments, life events including death and burial, traditional fasting customs and prayer. What had seemed impossibly complicated at the beginning of the book seems logical and workable by the end, and it has been an enjoyable and informative read throughout. Deceptively simple but remarkably thorough, this is an excellent introductory book about Orthodoxy. --Sian Williams, The Garden Window blog, "In her own warm, engaging way, Frederica takes us on a journey that is strange and exotic for those previously unfamiliar, and a spiritual refuge and oasis for those who have embraced it. This just may be the Church you have been looking for and didn't even know it existed." --John Maddex, CEO, Ancient Faith Ministries 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: readers 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. Mathewes-Green provides commentary and explanations on everything from how to "venerate" an icon, to the Orthodox understanding of the atonement, to the Lenten significance of tofu. It's the perfect book for inquirers and newcomers, but even readers who have been Orthodox all their lives say they learned things they never knew before. Enjoyable, easy-to-read, and leavened with humor, Welcome to the Orthodox Church is a gracious guide to the ancient faith of the Christian East., "How do you introduce (Eastern) Orthodoxy? Frederica Mathewes-Green suggests we treat it as a large, and much-loved, family house. She takes us round it, showing us all the rooms and what goes on in them. Her conversational style is completely accessible, but utterly honest; there is lots of information, and she deals directly with problems to be encountered. It feels a bit like Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition . This is a wonderful book." --The Very Revd Archpriest Andrew Louth, Professor Emeritus of Patristic and Byzantine Studies, Durham University, author of Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology Frederica Mathewes-Green, author of Facing East: A Pilgrim's Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy, a past vice president of Feminists for Life of America, the best of National Public Radio's commentators, and Khouria (priest's wife, "mother") of Holy Cross Orthodox Church in Baltimore, has written a new book about getting to know the Orthodox Church. In it she walks the reader through a semi-fictional, representative American parish of the Orthodox Church, stopping to chat along the way... Mathewes-Green is a good companion, colloquial and easy, clear even when she dives into knotty theological controversies. What other book will you read this year that gives a quick summary of the controversy over the double procession of the Holy Spirit? But one of the great things about Mathewes-Green's writing is that, unlike so much from the C.S. Lewis school of Christianity, she does not live entirely in the world of arguments. She writes with "the mind in the heart," as the Orthodox say. Christianity is not primarily a philosophy or assent to a set of propositions; it's a way of life. Mathewes-Green never loses sight of that. Liturgy, the life of prayer, reflection, confession of sins, frank acknowledgement of the need for mercy, sacraments, hymns, Scripture, the 80-year-old woman who no longer stands during vespers, the tiny Ethiopian who removes his shoes to pray, the smell of incense, the burning of candles, vigilance against the Devil -- these all come into play. Progress in religion is about the turning of the total self toward God, not another analogy proving that what Christians believe is reasonable. Herein lies the real pleasure of reading Mathewes-Green. This is religion for the whole person, mind in heart, heart in body, body and soul. There are deep veins of wisdom shot throughout: - "A sin we especially long to cast off might be held in place by a different sin, one that has to be removed first, even if we don't grasp the connection and consider it less important." - "I shouldn't have to say this, but the evil one is really evil. Don't picture him trying to tempt a fat lady into eating more chocolate." - "Thinking and talking about God is not communion with God. Only prayer is prayer." She quotes liberally from the dynamic liturgies that, with the icons, are the chief cultural glory of Orthodoxy: "Why, Judas, did you betray the Savior? Did he shut you out from the company of the disciples? Did he sit at table with the rest, but send you away? Did he wash the feet of others, but pass you by? How much kindness you have forgotten." ...The reader gets what the book's title promises. But the best reason to read this book is that the author is wise. Wisdom springs from deep roots within a well-ordered soul, and is quite different from the things we mistake it for: intelligence, charm, wit, sympathy, openness, or empathy. Wisdom is rare in public discourse; when you see it, you recognize it. --J. Mulrooney, New Oxford Review, Plenty of books deal with Christian theology in weighty and abstruse ways, but precious few apply the theology so wholly to the everyday lived realities of life, and in such easily accessible prose, as does Welcome to the Orthodox Church. This book follows exactly Frederica Mathewes-Green's tried and true recipe, of lucid writing marked by a strong sense of humor, but never escaping from the deepest spiritual realities. Do take warning, though. If you do read this thoughtful and passionate book, you will run the risk of having to take the claims of Orthodox Christianity very seriously indeed. --Philip Jenkins Every single Orthodox person knows that in order to become Orthodox, you don't read about it. You live it. You attend the services, do the fasting, say the prayers and read the Bible. You accept the sacraments, venerate the icons, kneel in the prostrations and inhale the incense. Books and courses, as Frederica Mathewes-Green points out in her introduction to Welcome to the Orthodox Church teach you ABOUT the faith, but they can't teach the faith itself, because it's not "primarily a religious institution, but a spiritual path." So if that's the case, and she knows it, why would she write a book about it? It's a very simple answer: this book is about as close as you can get to learning to be Orthodox while still being a book about the Orthodox Church. It's meant for inquirers and those who aren't Orthodox but are curious about those weird folk who process around their church in the middle of the night. Except that it's a pretty good book for Orthodox people as well. ...Frederica writes in a conversational style that is relaxing, engaging and humorous, a style that teaches without lecturing. It really does feel like a prolonged, relaxed visit with a friend. I hadn't realized just how engaging the book was until I was most of the way through it. I had set myself a limit of four chapters per day, so I could get the book read in a reasonable amount of time and still have time for other work. As it happened, I started Chapter 12 one morning, and after a while, wondered just how long it was going to be before I finished the day's chapters - this was feeling awfully long and, honestly, a bit tedious. I turned the page, and realized that I had just finished Chapter 19. The book wasn't tedious at all, not if I could become so engaged that I simply forgot about my four chapter limit, and did two days reading in one! The problem was that I'd had overdosed on information and needed to let it settle down in my head. I would recommend the same to other readers - don't try to read too much at once, because you do need time to let the information you've read be absorbed and integrated in your mind, but do read the book. For long time Orthodox, much of the book won't be news - it's basic theology, history and information that we learn in the first few years, both by learning about the church and by living the faith. Yet Frederica has a way of explaining and describing that can shine a light on these well-known truths. She uses metaphors and comparisons that show us things from a new angle, that can help deepen our understanding of the services, the faith and our theology without ever lecturing, talking down to us or sounding as though she's in a classroom lecturing us. She provides quotes from the services and hymns that allow us to reflect on them in new ways, since they are outside their usual setting and in slightly different translations than we're probably used to. Even though the book is intended for interested non-Orthodox, I don't hesitate in recommending it for those in the faith as well. It fits my criteria for a good book about my faith: it makes me want to go (as CS Lewis put it in The Last Battle) "further up and further in." It makes me want to draw closer to God. --Bev Cooke, Orthodox Christian Network, Plenty of books deal with Christian theology in weighty and abstruse ways, but precious few apply the theology so wholly to the everyday lived realities of life, and in such easily accessible prose, as does Welcome to the Orthodox Church. This book follows exactly Frederica Mathewes-Green's tried and true recipe, of lucid writing marked by a strong sense of humor, but never escaping from the deepest spiritual realities. Do take warning, though. If you do read this thoughtful and passionate book, you will run the risk of having to take the claims of Orthodox Christianity very seriously indeed. --Philip Jenkins , This excellent book is most valuable because it is more like a friend than a book. It's the voice you hope to hear beside you in church, murmuring explanations and encouragement as you make your journey. I highly recommend it. -- Rev. Dr. Christopher Metropulos, Executive Director, Orthodox Christian Network, MyOCN.net Frederica Mathewes-Green is one of the most engaging interpreters of the Eastern Christian way in our time. In this book she takes us by the hand as it were and introduces us to something of the mystery, wisdom, worship, and beauty--in short, the life--of Eastern Christianity. A rich, illuminating introduction. --Timothy George is the founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University and chair of the Doctrine and Christian Unity Commission of the Baptist World Alliance., "In her own warm, engaging way, Frederica takes us on a journey that is strange and exotic for those previously unfamiliar, and a spiritual refuge and oasis for those who have embraced it. This just may be the Church you have been looking for and didn't even know it existed." --John Maddex, CEO, Ancient Faith Ministries "How do you introduce (Eastern) Orthodoxy? Frederica Mathewes-Green suggests we treat it as a large, and much-loved, family house. She takes us round it, showing us all the rooms and what goes on in them. Her conversational style is completely accessible, but utterly honest; there is lots of information, and she deals directly with problems to be encountered. It feels a bit like Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition . This is a wonderful book." --The Very Revd. Archpriest Andrew Louth, Professor Emeritus of Patristic and Byzantine Studies, Durham University, author of Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology "Frederica Mathewes-Green, author of Facing East: A Pilgrim's Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy ...has written a new book about getting to know the Orthodox Church. In it she walks the reader through a semi-fictional, representative American parish of the Orthodox Church, stopping to chat along the way...Mathewes-Green is a good companion, colloquial and easy, clear even when she dives into knotty theological controversies. What other book will you read this year that gives a quick summary of the controversy over the double procession of the Holy Spirit? But one of the great things about Mathewes-Green's writing is that, unlike so much from the C.S. Lewis school of Christianity, she does not live entirely in the world of arguments. She writes with 'the mind in the heart,' as the Orthodox say. Christianity is not primarily a philosophy or assent to a set of propositions; it's a way of life. Mathewes-Green never loses sight of that...The reader gets what the book's title promises. But the best reason to read this book is that the author is wise. Wisdom springs from deep roots within a well-ordered soul, and is quite different from the things we mistake it for: intelligence, charm, wit, sympathy, openness, or empathy. Wisdom is rare in public discourse; when you see it, you recognize it." --J. Mulrooney, New Oxford Review "Plenty of books deal with Christian theology in weighty and abstruse ways, but precious few apply the theology so wholly to the everyday lived realities of life, and in such easily accessible prose, as does Welcome to the Orthodox Church. This book follows exactly Frederica Mathewes-Green's tried and true recipe, of lucid writing marked by a strong sense of humor, but never escaping from the deepest spiritual realities. Do take warning, though. If you do read this thoughtful and passionate book, you will run the risk of having to take the claims of Orthodox Christianity very seriously indeed." --Philip Jenkins 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: readers 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. Mathewes-Green provides commentary and explanations on everything from how to "venerate" an icon, to the Orthodox understanding of the atonement, to the Lenten significance of tofu. It's the perfect book for inquirers and newcomers, but even readers who have been Orthodox all their lives say they learned things they never knew before. Enjoyable, easy-to-read, and leavened with humor, Welcome to the Orthodox Church is a gracious guide to the ancient faith of the Christian East., This excellent book is most valuable because it is more like a friend than a book. It's the voice you hope to hear beside you in church, murmuring explanations and encouragement as you make your journey. I highly recommend it. -- Rev. Dr. Christopher Metropulos, Executive Director, Orthodox Christian Network, MyOCN.net Frederica Mathewes-Green is one of the most engaging interpreters of the Eastern Christian way in our time. In this book she takes us by the hand as it were and introduces us to something of the mystery, wisdom, worship, and beauty--in short, the life--of Eastern Christianity. A rich, illuminating introduction. --Timothy George is the founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University and chair of the Doctrine and Christian Unity Commission of the Baptist World Alliance., "In her own warm, engaging way, Frederica takes us on a journey that is strange and exotic for those previously unfamiliar, and a spiritual refuge and oasis for those who have embraced it. This just may be the Church you have been looking for and didn't even know it existed." --John Maddex, CEO, Ancient Faith Ministries 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: readers 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. Mathewes-Green provides commentary and explanations on everything from how to "venerate" an icon, to the Orthodox understanding of the atonement, to the Lenten significance of tofu. It's the perfect book for inquirers and newcomers, but even readers who have been Orthodox all their lives say they learned things they never knew before. Enjoyable, easy-to-read, and leavened with humor, Welcome to the Orthodox Church is a gracious guide to the ancient faith of the Christian East., "How do you introduce (Eastern) Orthodoxy? Frederica Mathewes-Green suggests we treat it as a large, and much-loved, family house. She takes us round it, showing us all the rooms and what goes on in them. Her conversational style is completely accessible, but utterly honest; there is lots of information, and she deals directly with problems to be encountered. It feels a bit like Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition . This is a wonderful book." --The Very Revd Archpriest Andrew Louth, Professor Emeritus of Patristic and Byzantine Studies, Durham University, author of Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology, With exhilarating clarity, Frederica Mathewes-Green introduces the profound mystery at the heart of the Orthodox Christian faith, which is also our common inheritance: it is a way of life to be encountered and performed; it is not reducible to a range of propositions to be considered. With great charm and with characteristic wit and humor, she prepares the way for those who arrive at an Orthodox church for services, letting them know what to expect, what to watch for, how to lean in--letting them know how best to open their hearts to this worship that is both ancient and ever new. --Scott Cairns Beautifully written and carefully explained with a heart for the non- Orthodox. As an evangelical, who grew up in the Greek Orthodox Church, until being shipped off to boarding school in England, I found myself longing to revisit the liturgy and traditions of my youth! --Emmanuel Kampouris, Former Chairman & CEO of American Standard Companies, Founder of www.biblemesh.com, Plenty of books deal with Christian theology in weighty and abstruse ways, but precious few apply the theology so wholly to the everyday lived realities of life, and in such easily accessible prose, as does Welcome to the Orthodox Church. This book follows exactly Frederica Mathewes-Green's tried and true recipe, of lucid writing marked by a strong sense of humor, but never escaping from the deepest spiritual realities. Do take warning, though. If you do read this thoughtful and passionate book, you will run the risk of having to take the claims of Orthodox Christianity very seriously indeed. --Philip Jenkins Every single Orthodox person knows that in order to become Orthodox, you don''t read about it. You live it. You attend the services, do the fasting, say the prayers and read the Bible. You accept the sacraments, venerate the icons, kneel in the prostrations and inhale the incense. Books and courses, as Frederica Mathewes-Green points out in her introduction to Welcome to the Orthodox Church teach you ABOUT the faith, but they can''t teach the faith itself, because it''s not "primarily a religious institution, but a spiritual path." So if that''s the case, and she knows it, why would she write a book about it? It''s a very simple answer: this book is about as close as you can get to learning to be Orthodox while still being a book about the Orthodox Church. It''s meant for inquirers and those who aren''t Orthodox but are curious about those weird folk who process around their church in the middle of the night. Except that it''s a pretty good book for Orthodox people as well. ...Frederica writes in a conversational style that is relaxing, engaging and humorous, a style that teaches without lecturing. It really does feel like a prolonged, relaxed visit with a friend. I hadn''t realized just how engaging the book was until I was most of the way through it. I had set myself a limit of four chapters per day, so I could get the book read in a reasonable amount of time and still have time for other work. As it happened, I started Chapter 12 one morning, and after a while, wondered just how long it was going to be before I finished the day''s chapters - this was feeling awfully long and, honestly, a bit tedious. I turned the page, and realized that I had just finished Chapter 19. The book wasn''t tedious at all, not if I could become so engaged that I simply forgot about my four chapter limit, and did two days reading in one! The problem was that I''d had overdosed on information and needed to let it settle down in my head. I would recommend the same to other readers - don''t try to read too much at once, because you do need time to let the information you''ve read be absorbed and integrated in your mind, but do read the book. For long time Orthodox, much of the book won''t be news - it''s basic theology, history and information that we learn in the first few years, both by learning about the church and by living the faith. Yet Frederica has a way of explaining and describing that can shine a light on these well-known truths. She uses metaphors and comparisons that show us things from a new angle, that can help deepen our understanding of the services, the faith and our theology without ever lecturing, talking down to us or sounding as though she''s in a classroom lecturing us. She provides quotes from the services and hymns that allow us to reflect on them in new ways, since they are outside their usual setting and in slightly different translations than we''re probably used to. Even though the book is intended for interested non-Orthodox, I don''t hesitate in recommending it for those in the faith as well. It fits my criteria for a good book about my faith: it makes me want to go (as CS Lewis put it in The Last Battle) "further up and further in." It makes me want to draw closer to God. --Bev Cooke, Orthodox Christian Network, This excellent book is most valuable because it is more like a friend than a book. It's the voice you hope to hear beside you in church, murmuring explanations and encouragement as you make your journey. I highly recommend it. -- Rev. Dr. Christopher Metropulos, Executive Director, Orthodox Christian Network, MyOCN.net Frederica Mathewes-Green is one of the most engaging interpreters of the Eastern Christian way in our time. In this book she takes us by the hand as it were and introduces us to something of the mystery, wisdom, worship, and beauty--in short, the life--of Eastern Christianity. A rich, illuminating introduction. --Timothy George is the founding dean of Beeson Divinity School of Samford University and chair of the Doctrine and Christian Unity Commission of the Baptist World Alliance. Though I have always been interested in the Orthodox Church, I stayed away because I didn't know anyone that practiced. That has changed. This book is an amazing introduction to the world of Orthodoxy, The author does a masterful job of making you feel as if you are a visitor to the Church and are being walked through its many moving parts. You come to know the members of St. Felicity and feel like a part of its community. In the process of reading the book, you are introduced to the "parts" of the church, the use of Icons, traditional services, a Paschal service, and even marriage, the blessing of a home, and a funeral. It was a heartfelt and very personal journey. --Jonathan Premo, This beginner's guide to Orthodoxy is comprehensive but not ponderous, profound but lightened by humor, focused on heaven but framed in down-to-earth terms. It is, moreover, a work of superb hospitality. While guiding her guests through a fictitious but true-to-life Orthodox house of worship and introducing them to its parish family, Frederica Mathewes-Green serves up a lavish feast of Orthodox architecture, art, theology, history, and devotional practices, all seasoned with tangy anecdotes and nuggets of wisdom. Even longstanding Orthodox believers will find nourishment here. --Carole Monica Burnett, Editor, Fathers of the Church Series, Catholic University of America Press, Washington, DC Frederica Mathewes-Green, through her writing, has become the "Greeter" for every person who begins to seek out and explore the "other Christianity" which is the Eastern Orthodox Church. Few authors can take the mystery, beauty and often daunting complexities of Orthodoxy and transform them in such an inviting path of spiritual journey as this author has done with this book. --The Very Rev Dr Chad Hatfield, Chancellor, St. Vladimir's Orthodoxy Seminary, New York
Copyright Date
2015
Target Audience
Trade
Lccn
2014-041905
Dewey Decimal
281.9
Dewey Edition
23
Illustrated
Yes
Item description from the seller
Business seller information
Value Added Tax Number:
- GB 864 1548 11
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.
eBay item number:276355689764
Shipping and handling
Item does not ship to United States
Item location:
GU14 0GT, United Kingdom
Ships to:
Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Americas, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Asia, Azerbaijan Republic, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Europe, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Fiji, Finland, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Gabon Republic, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Republic of Croatia, Republic of the Congo, Reunion, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Swaziland, Sweden, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vatican City State, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (U.S.), Wallis and Futuna, Western Sahara, Western Samoa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Excludes:
Afghanistan, Australia, Austria, Belarus, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Libya, Nauru, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Somalia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Yemen
| Handling time |
|---|
| Will usually ship within 7 business days of receiving cleared payment. |
| Taxes |
|---|
| Taxes may be applicable at checkout. Learn moreLearn more about paying tax on eBay purchases |
Sales tax for an item #276355689764
Sales tax for an item #276355689764
Seller collects sales tax for items shipped to the following provinces:
| Province | Sales Tax Rate |
|---|
Return policy
| After receiving the item, contact seller within |
|---|
| 30 days after the buyer receives it |
The buyer is responsible for return shipping costs.
Payment details
Payment methods
Popular categories from this store
Seller feedback (182,728)
u***n (38)- Feedback left by buyer.
Past 6 months
Verified purchase
Product is 95% alike picture but a little more blurry. Controller play well but had a notice from psn that my joypad wasn't authentic and could by problematic🤷♂️ no trouble so far! Shipping was fast but no tracking and worst packaging ever.. like the box came banged up... send a question to seller never had a reply 😅.... Good product overall, excellent price, fast shipping, wrapped only on 4 sides out of 6, no tracking and never reply... 4★ product / 2★ seller ✌️
l***t (120)- Feedback left by buyer.
Past 6 months
Verified purchase
The book is in perfect condition, brand new, and is exactly as described. This item is difficult to find here, and the seller priced it very reasonably. It shipped from the UK to Canada, and unfortunately took a little longer to arrive than the seller hoped, but it was shipped less than 24 hours after I purchased. When I contacted the seller, they were very responsive and helpful. I would not hesitate to purchase from this seller again. Definitely recommend!
s***a (696)- Feedback left by buyer.
Past month
Verified purchase
AAA seller. Item came as described and within the due date. Great communication. Well packed and no damage to the case.
Product ratings and reviews
Most relevant reviews
- Apr 25, 2023
Welcome to the Orthodox Church
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: worldofbooksinc
- Feb 16, 2021
Perfect condition!
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-OwnedSold by: goodwill_colorado_springs
More to explore:
- Fiction Paperback Nonfiction Books & Orthodox Church,
- Nonfiction Paperback Fiction & Orthodox Church Books in Russian,
- Nonfiction Paperback Fiction & Orthodox Church Books in English,
- Nonfiction Orthodox Church Religious & Spiritual Paperbacks Books in English,
- Nonfiction Books Fiction & Orthodox Church,
- Nonfiction Books in Russian Fiction & Orthodox Church,
- Nonfiction Books Illustrated Fiction & Orthodox Church,
- Nonfiction Orthodox Church Religious & Spiritual Fiction & Books in English,
- Orthodox Church Nonfiction Books in English Fiction & 1950-1999 Publication Year,
- John Green Paperbacks Books in Spanish