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Many laypeople have attempted to read the great spiritual classic, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, but have been frustrated in attempting to apply the lessons of this monastic text to their everyday lives in the world. In Thirty Steps to Heaven, Archimandrite Vassilios interprets the Ladder for the ordinary Christian without sacrificing any of its beauty and power. Now you too can accept the challenge offered by St. John Climacus to ascend closer to God with each passing day.

The twentieth-century elder Abba Matta of Egypt, known in the West as Matthew the Poor, is widely regarded as the greatest Egyptian elder since St. Antony the Great. This series constitutes the first appearance in English of a selection of the informal talks Abba Matta gave to his fellow monks and to visitors. In simple, accessible language, he addresses subjects ranging from Scripture to the church year to everyday life in the world. To read these talks is to sit at the feet of one of the greatest spiritual teachers of our age.See also Words for Our Time: The Spiritual Words of Matthew the Poor, Volume 1

Annalisa Boyd knows motherhood-its challenges, its joys, and its potential for spiritual growth. In this prayer book she offers a wide selection of prayers mothers can use to intercede for their families as well as to grow in virtue themselves.

Pregnancy is not just a trek from one medical appointment to another but a journey of the heart. Here at last is a guidebook through its sacred terrain. For each week, Orthodox doula Laura Jansson provides a new reflection on a theme specific to the ground covered at that stage. From one milestone to the next, she helps us unearth the spiritual treasures buried within the physical experiences of childbearing. These are gifts of love from a merciful God who reaches out to us, making a perilous expedition into a path of salvation. Cover and interior illustrations by Clare Freeman.

Most books aimed at introducing Orthodoxy to the non-Orthodox begin by explaining basic points of doctrine and practice that differ from what the average reader may be familiar with. But for the average American, this approach doesn't go deep enough. In order to be able to fully understand Orthodox doctrine and practice, we have to unlearn an entire secular worldview and become participants in a sacramental worldview instead-a worldview that embraces reality as it truly is. Dr. Zachary Porcu provides a guide to this process that is easily accessible both to Western Christians and to those who lack any grounding in the Christian Faith.

Much has been written about the similarities and differences between the Orthodox and Evangelical faiths. In this book, Fr. Lawrence Farley provides a concise and non-confrontational summary of the major issues that divide the two. Evangelicals inquiring into Orthodoxy, Orthodox Christians who want to speak knowledgeably with evangelical friends, and Orthodox Christians who simply wish to understand and appreciate their own tradition more fully will find this book useful and accessible.

The modern world doesn't acknowledge but is nevertheless haunted by spirits-angels, demons, and saints. In our time, many yearn to break free of the prison of a flat, secular materialism, to see and to know reality as it truly is. What is this spiritual reality like? How do we engage with it well? How do we permeate everyday life with spiritual presence? In The Lord of Spirits: An Orthodox Christian Framework for the Unseen World and Spiritual Warfare, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick provides a distillation and expansion of the material in the popular podcast The Lord of Spirits, which he co-hosts with Fr. Stephen De Young.

En nuestro mundo roto, muchos cristianos ven su progreso espiritual obstaculizado o estancado por heridas psicológicas de su pasado. Pero estas heridas pueden ser sanadas con el tratamiento adecuado. El sacerdote y terapeuta Joshua Makoul muestra cómo podemos aprovechar las perspectivas y los recursos tanto de la Iglesia como de la psicología moderna para ayudarnos a reconciliarnos con el pasado y utilizarlo para avanzar en nuestro camino hacia la unión con Dios.

Although it is found in every major extant Christian manuscript ofthe Old Testament, the later exclusion of the Wisdom of Sirach (also known as Ecclesiasticus) from the Protestant canon has made it one of the little-known gems of Holy Scripture. Composed in Hebrew and translated into Greek in the second century before Christ, it is among the last books of the Old Testament. Sirach represents the more primitive and conservative aspect of Israel's Wisdom tradition-the practical application of the fear of God to daily life-but he enhances that tradition by a singular attention to biography and historical literature in the shaping of the soul. In short, Wise Lives.Sirach's social context-the struggle to preserve the Jewish religion and culture against the corrosive influence of Hellenic paganism-will resonate with Christians living in the secular world today. In this commentary, Fr. Patrick Reardon illustrates for contemporary readers the riches of this often-neglected jewel of the Bible.

The forty days of fasting before Christmas are meant to prepare us for the Feast of the Nativity, but the busyness of the secular celebration can interfere with our best efforts to center our hearts on Christ. Behold a Great Light is a daily devotional designed to help readers contemplate the mysteries of the Incarnation from the beginning of the Nativity fast on November 15 through Christmas and Theophany, ending with the Synaxis of St. John the Baptist on January 7. Popular Ancient Faith authors, bloggers, and podcasters bring their own unique perspectives to these meditations, which are paired with selections from the Scriptures and the hymns of the Church.Contributors: Fr. Basil Ross Aden; Elissa Bjeletich Davis; Fr. Stephen De Young; Fr. Stephen Freeman; Fr. Michael Gillis; Laura S. Jansson; Nicole M. Roccas; Brandi Willis Schreiber

Since the advent of the internet, it has become increasingly obvious that our society suffers from a pornography problem-and Orthodox Christians are no exception. While many practical resources are available to help those who struggle with pornography use, these fail to address the problem at its deeper, spiritual root. From Object to Icon offers a solution by showing all of us how to change the way we see-how to see iconographically rather than pornographically. Whether or not we struggle with pornography use, this book shows us how to stop objectifying others and instead see the spiritual reality in everyone we encounter.

This large-print edition of Thirty Steps to Heaven includes an industry standard 16pt font on bright white paper. This edition is ideal for the visually impaired, late-night readers, or anyone who prefers reading larger type.Many laypeople have attempted to read the great spiritual classic, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, but have been frustrated in attempting to apply the lessons of this monastic text to their everyday lives in the world. In Thirty Steps, Archimandrite Vassilios interprets the Ladder for the ordinary Christian without sacrificing any of its beauty and power. Now you too can accept the challenge offered by St. John Climacus to ascend closer to God with each passing day.

In this follow-up volume to Big in Heaven and Secret Turning, we see the people of Saint Alexander the Whirling Dervish parish and those around them at their worst and at their best. We see God's grace shining into even the darkest corners of human life. These stories will make you laugh, cry, examine your own conscience, and look at the people around you with a more compassionate eye.

Many Christians today divide ancient Jewish and Christian literature into two categories: what is in the Bible and what is not. The Christian East, however, has traditionally described a third category considered beneficial for Christians to read in the home: "apocrypha." These texts, from the centuries before and after the Incarnation of Jesus Christ-beyond even the larger canons of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Old Testaments-reveal to us the religious world and theological framework of the apostles and early Church Fathers. In Apocrypha, a companion volume to The Religion of the Apostles, Fr. Stephen De Young surveys these works, which connect elements of Liturgy, Scripture, iconography, and patristic writings. Familiarity with them will enhance readers' understanding of the breadth and depth of the Orthodox Christian Faith.

In order to become a healing presence for others, we must first be healed ourselves-through an active relationship with the great Healer, Christ. Drawing on the teachings of the Fathers and saints of the Church, Dr. Rossi gently points the way toward deepening our love for God and for each other so that others may experience Christ through us.

How do we as Orthodox parents keep our children in the Church throughout their lives? It all begins with involving them in the life of the Church from birth onward-in the parish and also at home. Blueprints for the Little Church provides practical ideas and encouragement-without judgment-for incorporating the primary practices of Orthodox spirituality into your family life at every stage of its growth and throughout the church year.

Years ago, Fr. Peter Gillquist of blessed memory told an interviewer about the next book he'd like to write. "I'd like to start from my youngest memories about how the Lord has been merciful to me and now to us, through those years of searching for the Church, learning how to be Orthodox, doing the missions and evangelism work; up through the years of retirement, where I continue experiencing His mercy . . . to share with other people the faithfulness of God in a way that I hope will motivate them to trust in Him more than they do now." Memories of His Mercy is that book. Whether you knew Fr. Peter in his lifetime or are just discovering him now, this book will take you into the life and heart of a man whose faith in God's mercy kept him buoyant and optimistic through good times and bad. You will find his faith contagious.

This unpretentious little book of meditations based on Scripture, ancient hymns, and writings from Church Fathers will nourish the souls of reflective seekers during the forty-day period of Great Lent. Authors of each meditation have delved deeply into the sins and shortcomings of their own hearts, enabling readers to share in a collective human experience-from darkness to light, from despair to hope, and from isolation to commonality in the body of Christ-as they move steadily toward our Lord's Resurrection.The first edition of this book (titled A Journey through Great Lent, edited and authored by Archpriest Steven John Belonick, with coauthors Michele Constable and Michael Soroka), was published by Light & Life Publishing in 1998.

What is the spiritual significance of almsgiving in the life of a believer? Bishop Alexei of Sitka and Alaska (OCA) draws on a wealth of patristic and modern sources to explore why God commands us to give, what motivates people to give or hold back, what spirit should characterize our giving, and the spiritually transformative results giving can have for us.

Preparing for Confession has been extremely popular ever since it was first published in 1987. Ancient Faith Publishing is pleased to bring to the public an expanded edition of this eminently useful booklet, which offers practical advice for preparation and answers questions such as "What is sin?" and "What is the priest's role?" This is the guide every Orthodox Christian needs for a more powerful experience of the Sacrament of Confession.

Losing someone we love is never easy, but the Orthodox Church provides a wealth of resources that help us to bear it. Chaplain and bereavement coordinator Sarah Byrne-Martelli draws on these theological, scriptural, and liturgical resources, as well as the collected experience of a variety of people undergoing grief and loss, to provide a kind of roadmap to the grieving process. Included in the book is a guide to an eight-week bereavement curriculum that can be used in a group or on one's own. As Orthodox Christians, we do not seek to "get over" grief but to carry the memory of our loved ones eternally in our hearts.

In this final volume of the series, John Strickland tells the story of Christendom's most tumultuous century. As nihilism began to cast its menacing shadow on the eve of the First World War, a self-styled "antichrist" named Friedrich Nietzsche and an obstinately Christian Fyodor Dostoevsky both offered ominous visions of what the West would become if "God is dead" and any moral act thus becomes permissible. Though total warfare seemed to confirm such predictions, a project arose in its wake to rebuild utopia with secular ideologies that, in the case of Nazism, opened the abyss even further. Communism and liberalism were left after the Second World War to compete for ultimate preeminence, but both would ultimately fail to replace the lost transcendence of the West's deep first-millennium past. As the twenty-first century opened, utopia was as elusive as ever, and a culture of paradise once again beckoned to a civilization exhausted by centuries of secularism.

Jesus' last words to his disciples were "Go . . . and make disciples of all the nations" (Matt. 28:19-20). Unfortunately, many parishes are struggling to follow this commandment. In Reclaiming the Great Commission, Fr. Evan Armatas offers a roadmap to help us get back on track. Relying on his 20 years of parish experience, Holy Scripture, and insights from research and his visits with churches across the US, he discusses how you and your community can implement changes that will transform, revitalize, and renew your parish. You'll learn how to diagnose and remove the barriers you face, deal with resistance to change, define what a healthy parish looks like, lead with purpose, and create a Parish Health Plan. Written for clergy, council members, ministry leaders, small groups, and all committed parishioners, this book will help any church in its journey to reclaim the Great Commission.

When we begin our healing journey, we often feel mystified and disoriented. Where do we start? How do we know which way to go? Like a trusted map, Healing Work orients readers with practical strategies and insights they need to navigate healing's ebbs and flows, successes and setbacks, with wisdom and confidence. While recognizing that deep emotional pain can defy easy answers, Healing Work shows that true and total healing is possible for us, no matter how severe our wounds. With the techniques in this book, we can acquire the skills that enable us to finally let go of the pain and fear that hold us captive.

Part history, part theology, part devotional, The Story of Jesus explores the complete life and teachings of Our Lord from before His conception in the womb of Mary until His Ascension. Revered twentieth-century Egyptian elder and scholar Matthew the Poor wrote many volumes on the subject of Christ's significance, life, and teaching, which translator James Helmy has distilled into one highly readable book that will make an essential addition to every Christian's library.

Though it's often too subtle to see, much of modern Christianity has fallen prey to the ancient Gnostic heresy which taught that the material world has no lasting spiritual value. Rediscovering the Goodness of Creation diagnoses the problem, takes us through its history, and helps us discover "the purposefulness of the material world, the goodness of the human body, and the eschatological hope of a transformed universe." But this is not just a book about heresy. Rather, through the author's exploration of his own spiritual biography, you'll also see how incipient Gnosticism can show up in our lives, and you'll learn how to recover from your own Gnostic tendencies through the spiritual practices of Orthodox Christianity.

From advertising to social media, from trauma survival to keeping up with the Joneses, shame is deeply embedded in our culture and our psyches, directing much of our behavior from far behind the scenes. But is all shame bad? Popular author and speaker Fr. Stephen Freeman explores the roots and meaning of both toxic and healthy shame, revealing the crucial importance of this understanding for our relationship with God.

A dedicated group of Orthodox monks (who wish to remain anonymous) have created a fresh English translation of the Masoretic Hebrew text of the Psalter, corrected to the Septuagint, that is eminently readable and singable.This large print Psalter is easy to read and will make the perfect companion for your large print Ancient Faith Prayer Book.

In this posthumous collection of poet and teacher Donald Sheehan's reflections on Psalms and psalmic prayer, culled from his journals and teaching notes, you will find two quite different kinds of writing working in tandem: poetic and personal journaling by a man of faith, a scholar, a linguist, and, in the deepest sense, a teacher; alongside scholarly linguistic and poetic analysis by a man steeped in poetry who thought like a poet. "In the spiritual life, two things are essential: what we do, and how we do it. In this wonderful collection of the late Donald Sheehan's thoughts on the Psalms, we see both. He takes us into what the Psalms are in depth-the Word of God. He also demonstrates, time and again, how those depths shape his life and the world in which he lives. Thus, we are given two things: the Word of God and a life in which the Word has given shape. It is a path we all should walk." -Fr. Stephen Freeman

This unpretentious little book of meditations based on Scripture, ancient hymns, and writings from Church Fathers will nourish the souls of reflective seekers during the forty-day period of Great Lent. Authors of each meditation have delved deeply into the sins and shortcomings of their own hearts, enabling readers to share in a collective human experience-from darkness to light, from despair to hope, and from isolation to commonality in the body of Christ-as they move steadily toward our Lord's Resurrection.The first edition of this book (titled A Journey through Great Lent, edited and authored by Archpriest Steven John Belonick, with coauthors Michele Constable and Michael Soroka), was published by Light & Life Publishing in 1998.