Below are the directed reading guides and focus questions for the series The Orthodox Faith, 4 Volume Set by Fr. Thomas Hopko. A full set of these books can be found in the church library. This series of books are introductory handbooks on Orthodox Faith and life. Presented in brief chapters, this series is excellent for quick reference or study, and provides valuable teaching material for both teens and adults.
Volume #1: Doctine and Scripture
Questions and Reflections for Discussion to be used with Volume I, Doctrine and Scripture
Questions and Reflections for Discussion to be used with Volume II, Worship
Questions and Reflections for Discussion to be used with Volume III, Church History
Questions and Reflections for Discussion to be used with Volume IV, Spirituality
These books are all available to borrow in our church library. Please come check out these and much, much more.
Bread & Water, Wine & Oil: An Orthodox Christian Experience of God by Fr. Meletios Webber
Know the Faith: A Handbook for Orthodox Christians and Inquirers by Fr. Michael Shanbour
Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity by Frederica Mathewes-Green
Becoming Orthodox by Fr. Peter Gillquist
The Orthodox Church by Bp. Kallistos Ware
Books for Parents and Famililes
The Good Samaritan: A Children's Catechism by Fr. Michael Shanbour
The Little Way of a Pilgrim by Jennifer Anna Rich
A Walk Through Acts: An Overview of the Acts of the Apostles
Blueprints for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home by Elissa Bjeletich & Caleb Shoemaker
An Orthodox Catechism by Patristic Nectar A broad introduction to Orthodox Christianity designed to expose catechumens to the countours of Orthodox faith and life. This series was developed to aid priests and parishes in preparing catechumens to be received into the Church, as well as edify Orthodox individuals seeking a better understanding of their faith. This is 16 part series by Fr. Josiah Trenham.
The Prayer Rule Series by Patristic Nectar This series of lectures will examine the content and order of the prayer rule, giving special emphasis to the prayers of repentance, the rule of prostrations, the giving of thanks, the use of the Jesus Prayer and spiritual reading. This is a 6 part series by Fr. Josiah Trenham
Lectures are available for free at the Patristic Nectar website. You must create a free account before you will be granted access. Patristic Nectar also has a mobile app that can be downloaded from the app store if you prefer to listen on your phone or tablet.
It’s all too easy to recite something so familiar without questioning whether we really understand it. The Lord's Prayer is God’s own instruction in how to pray. Maybe it's time we unpack this prayer to really understand how God intended us to pray.
Podcast: The Lord’s Prayer, Part One
Podcast: The Lord’s Prayer, Part Two
Being in the services, hearing the chanting and listening to the Word of God will touch their souls and leave deep impressions in their hearts. These moments will live in them and keep them in the faith throughout their lives. “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” (Matthew 19:14-15)
A few years ago, I was asked: “Father Thomas, if you summarized, in the shortest form, what a practical life of a believing Christian, of a human being who believes in God and believes in Christ, what would it be like? What kind of maxims or rules or whatever that would be, what would that include?”
The 55 Maxims of Fr. Thomas Hopko (podcast)
A 10-part series on the litanies of the Divine Liturgy by Fr. John Oliver. Fr. John shows us how important our intercessory prayers are for world and it’s people.
Part 6: In the next litany of the Divine Liturgy, we pray for our Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.
Part 7: Fr. John now reflects on the litany for those in civil authority and our armed forces.
"Sometimes called the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Orthodox Church is the first Christian Church, the Church founded by the Lord Jesus Christ and described in the pages of the New Testament. Her history can be traced in unbroken continuity all the way back to Christ and His Twelve Apostles. For twenty centuries, she has continued in her undiminished and unaltered faith and practice. Today her apostolic doctrine, worship, and structure remain intact. The Orthodox Church maintains that the Church is the living Body of Jesus Christ."
Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.
Saint Nikolai of Zhicha, “the Serbian Chrysostom,” was born in Lelich in western Serbia on January 4, 1881 (December 23, 1880 O.S.). His parents were Dragomir and Katherine Velimirovich, who lived on a farm where they raised a large family. His pious mother was a major influence on his…
Saint Cyril, Archbishop of Jerusalem, was born in Jerusalem in the year 315 and was raised in strict Christian piety. Upon reaching the age of maturity, he became a monk, and in the year 346 he became a presbyter. In the year 350, upon the death of Archbishop Maximus, he succeeded him on the…
The Holy Martyrs Trophimus and Eucarpion were soldiers at Nicomedia during the persecution against Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). They distinguished themselves by their great ferocity in carrying out all of the emperor’s decrees. Once, when these soldiers had caught up…
Saint Aninas was born at Chalcedon into a Christian family. After the death of his parents, he withdrew at age fifteen into a monastery, where he received monastic tonsure. In search of complete solitude, he went off into the heart of the desert where the River Euphrates separates Syria from…
No information available at this time.
