Books and Series
1. The Orthodox Faith, Worship, and Life, by Hieromonk Gregorios
“A comprehensive catechism of the Holy Orthodox faith based upon the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed divided into three sections: The Faith of the Church; The Worshiping Church; [and] The Life in Christ” (Amazon.com product summary).
2. The Living God: A Catechism for the Christian Faith, 2 Vols., edited by M. Olivier Clement
“The Living God is a unique catechetical work for families, inquirers, and adults who are searching for a clear, vivid presentation of the Christian faith. Unlike traditional catechisms containing questions and answers in a rather formal, even scholastic style, this introduction to the basic teachings and life of the Church brings together Scripture, theology, iconography, hymnography, feasts, and liturgy in a fully integrated manner. Originally written in French as a ‘catechism for the family,’ this English edition, with its warm, personal, holistic approach, will be welcomed by parents, catechists, teachers, pastors, and persons of any age who are looking for a simple way to explain or understand the sources of the Church’s revelation. The book is characterized by its unique and creative method of organization: a ‘seeker’ poses the questions, representing those of many believers; and the ‘sage’ answers, articulating the Church’s explanation to those questions. The two volumes integrate the major feasts of the liturgical year with an overview of the history of salvation” (Amazon.com product summary).
3. A Visual Catechism of the Orthodox Church, by Met. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos
“A Visual Catechism is a book written in an original way, which offers essential information to young children and those wishing to come to the Orthodox Church and be baptized. In a simple and concise manner it communicates the basic truths of our faith and what the Orthodox Church is. The first part of the book contains iconographic illustrations with short titles which make clear the central meaning of the picture. In the second part there are brief explanations which analyse and interpret the illustration in more detail. Thus the book provides a visual catechism and makes us aware of Orthodox teachings” (Amazon.com product summary).
4. Come, Follow Me: A Byzantine Christian Approach to Evangelization and Disciple-making, by Fr. Justin Rose
“I [Fr. Justin] have found that Roman Catholics are curious about the Spirituality of the Christian East. Perhaps this text could be a part of a deeper exploration of Christianity for those unfamiliar with the Christian East” (Amazon.com product summary).
5. Eastern Orthodox Mission Theology Today, by James Stamoolis
“Stamoolis is probably the first author to deal exclusively with the Eastern Orthodox Church’s beliefs regarding mission and evangelism. Tracing her roots all the way back to the day of Pentecost, the Holy Orthodox Church has historically been a missionary Church, fulfilling the Great Commission given by our Lord to ‘make disciples of all nations’ (Matt 28:19). Her missionary endeavors can be seen in the pages of the Book of Acts, as well as throughout history in the untiring efforts of such holy evangelists as St. Innocent, missionary to North America, and Sts. Cyril and Methodius, both missionaries to the Slavs. However, the Orthodox Church has not always been able to fulfill the Great Commission because of the persecution she has faced. In the 20th century, Orthodox Christians have endured widespread persecution at the hands of Communism (in Russia and Romania) and Islam (in the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia). Therefore, many Orthodox immigrants to America have lost their missionary zeal and see as their primary goal to preserve their heritage, but lack the desire to share their faith with others. The goal of the author is to shatter the myth that the Orthodox Church is not evangelistic, and to explain how the theological differences between Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Christianity determine how they view missiology differently” (Amazon.com product review).
6. Into All the World: An Orthodox Theology of Mission, by Fr. Edward Rommen
“As the constraints of political and religious oppression have eased, the Church is awakening to its own history, but more importantly to its own missionary responsibility. There has been a great deal of fresh activity among Orthodox scholars that can enrich our reexamination of the Church’s mission. So it is now indeed an opportune time to tap into the biblical, historical, and traditional resources of the Orthodox Church and attempt to reformulate a systematic, theological statement of the rationale and goal of mission, to reaffirm the centrality of the Church in missionary outreach, to describe for a new generation the nature of the gospel and the basic content of church education, and to re-articulate the guidelines that should govern our mission work” (from the back cover).
7. Mission in Christ’s Way: An Orthodox Understanding of Mission, by Abp. Anastasios Yannoulatos
“A collection of fifteen significant essays on Orthodox Christian mission prepared by the author over his ministry. They demonstrate that mission is the work of the entire Christian Church, not just a specialized interest of a few experts. The papers have been edited to avoid repetitions, but they show the development of Orthodox Christian thinking on missions and evangelism. Prepared for various occasions over the years, from ecumenical conferences to Orthodox publications, each essay is introduced by its extensive publication history” (Amazon.com product summary).
8. Orthodox Alaska: A Theology of Mission, by Fr. Michael Oleksa
“The history of the Alaskan Church confirms the eternal and indestructible character of the Church’s vision, integrating into her worship the cosmic, scriptural and eschatological dimension of faith. Among the Native Americans in Alaska, Orthodoxy has become an integral part of an authentically American culture. Consequently it is appropriate that an Orthodox theology of mission should originate from the Alaskan context. If an American Orthodox missiology is to emerge, its formulation should serve not only the Church in America but contribute to the clarification of Orthodox theology for the universal Church as well” (from the back cover).
9. Herman, A Wilderness Saint: From Sarov, Russia to Kodiak, Alaska, by Sergei Korsun
“Since his canonization in 1970, St. Herman has been remembered for his just treatment of native peoples and his respect of the environment. Explaining how it came to be that this simple Russian Orthodox monk eventually settled in Kodiak, Alaska, this account brings to light many primary sources that illuminate the story of St. Herman and the wider context of the little-known history of Russian colonization in the Pacific Northwest. Providing a considerable amount of new information about his life, this book also reveals his fascinating connection to St. Seraphim of Sarov, the most universally recognized saint of the Russian Orthodox Church today” (from the back cover).
10. St. Innocent: Apostle to America, by Paul D. Garrett
“This eminently readable biography traces the course of North America’s beloved Orthodox saint, Innocent of Alaska: his boyhood in Siberia, his call to mission in America, his labors first as a priest and then as a bishop in America and Asia, and his last years as Metropolitan of Moscow. Revealing the many facets of his warm personality and abiding interest in the natural and social sciences, this portrait fully describes him as a man of affection with an unfailing sense of humor. In this work, St Innocent emerges as an apt and accessible example of a dedicated bondservant of Jesus Christ” (from the back cover).
11. Indication of the Way into the Kingdom of Heaven: An Introduction to Christian Life, by St. Innocent of Alaska+
“Originally published in the Aleut (Eskimo) language in 1833, this book is a simple yet challenging introduction to Christianity from one of the greatest teachers of the Russian Orthodox Church: sainted Russian Bishop and missionary Innocent Veniaminov. Timeless and universal, this updated edition—which includes a new section entitled ‘Points for Reflection’ at the end of each chapter—discusses what it means to know God and have a relationship with Jesus. It will appeal to those seeking to understand their own faith more fully” (Amazon.com product summary).
Orthodox Blogs and Articles on Discipleship and Evangelism
Sub-section under construction…
Pilgrim at the Crossroads 