The Orthodox Christian Faith embodies the most important truths of this life and all human existence which God first revealed to Moses and the other Old Testament prophets. The fullness of that truth was then completely made manifest in the birth, life, teachings, miracles, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. “It is the fulfillment of all religions in their search for divine truth and human meaning as inspired by God’s law written on human hearts,” explains Fr. Thomas Hopko.
The Orthodox Faith series – Fr. Thomas Hopko
The Orthodox Faith series provides basic, comprehensive information on the faith and life of the Orthodox Church. It consists of four volumes. The author, Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko (1939–2015), was professor of dogmatic theology and served as dean of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. Alongside his numerous books and articles, Father Thomas was also renowned as a gifted speaker and homilist. This series is designed to give instruction in the basics of the Orthodox Christian faith to inquirers, catechumens, and Orthodox Christian faithful.
Volume I – Doctrine and Scripture
Volume 1 contains four sections: (1) sources of Christian Doctrine, (2) main doctrines of the Orthodox Church present by way of commentary on the Nicene Creed, (3) an explanation of the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, and (4) an explanation on Scripture.
Volume II – Worship
Volume 2 contains five sections: (1) the Church building, (2) the Sacraments, (3) daily cycles of prayer, (4) the Church year, and (5) the Divine Liturgy.
Volume III – Church History
Volume 3 presents the most important historical events, leading personalities, and significant doctrinal, liturgical, spiritual, and ecclesiastical developments in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Volume IV – Spirituality
Volume 4 deals with the main themes of Christian Life: prayer, fasting, repentance, the virtues, witness in the world, and communion with God.
Essential Orthodox Christian Beliefs
PDF book to assist clergy and parishes in their work of instructing inquirers and the faithful in the truths of the Orthodox Christian Faith.
Orthodox Study Bible
The Orthodox Study Bible: Ancient Christianity Speaks to Today’s World
Orthodox Christianity is the face of ancient Christianity to the modern world and embraces the second largest body of Christians in the world. In this first-of-its-kind study Bible, the Bible is presented with commentary from the ancient Christian perspective that speaks to those Christians who seek a deeper experience of the roots of their faith.
Books on the Orthodox Christian Faith
Becoming Orthodox – Fr. Peter Gillquist
This engaging account of the conversion of over 2,000 evangelical Protestants to the Orthodox Church has helped many embrace the True Faith. However, the author does say a number of inaccurate things and makes certain statements in an un-Orthodox tone. We recommend it cautiously, without in any way wishing to impugn the author’s zeal or sincere intentions to lead others to the Church.
Introducing the Orthodox Church: Its Faith and Life – Fr. Anthony M. Coniaris
A genuinely different and practical book for the inquirer and potential convert to Orthodox Christianity. It is different in a number of ways, all of which commend this volume to wide use by pastors whose task it is to introduce the members of their inquirers classes to an Orthodox way of life which will touch their lives in a full and complete way
Religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First Century – Fr. Stephen De Young
Book traces the lineage of Orthodox Christianity back to the faith and witness of the apostles, which was rooted in a first-century Jewish worldview. The Religion of the Apostles presents the Orthodox Christian Church of today as a continuation of the religious life of the apostles, which in turn was a continuation of the life of the people of God since the beginning of creation.
Theosis: The True Purpose of Human Life – Archimandrite George
Book states in clear and simple terms the original purpose of the Christian life – namely Theosis. The idea of Theosis (sanctification) may be unfamiliar to the Western mind, but it’s not a new concept to Christianity. When Christ says, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” this is a call to a life of Theosis.
Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity – Frederica Mathewes-Green
This book, written by the wife of an Orthodox priest, provides an introduction to Orthodoxy through a series of visits to a fictitious Orthodox church. The author provides commentary on everything from venerating an icon to the Orthodox understanding of the atonement.
Orthodox Prayer Books
Prayer Book – Holy Trinity Monastery
This is perhaps the most popular Orthodox prayer book published in the English language, frequently referred to as “The Jordanville Prayer Book.” Contains morning and evening prayers and much more besides.
Orthodox Christian Prayer Book – Michael Monos
A beautiful, well crafted Orthodox prayer book in English. It contains 12 color icons (10 of which fill most of a page) from Koutloumousiou Monastery on Mount Athos, plus a few line art pictures. Each section has a decorative chapter head.
