The Mystery of Death by Nikolaos P Vassiliadis Published by the Orthodox Brotherhood of Theologians, “The Saviour”, Athens, 1993. The significance of our Lord Jesus Christ’s Resurrection and conquest over death is thoroughly explored by Nikolaos P Vassiliadis in his highly acclaimed and much referenced work titled, The Mystery of Death. He commences with the profound impact of death upon all humanity and explores the secular and ancient Greeks’ view of death. He then explores how sin was the cause of death, the consequential separation of the soul and body, and how this punishment becomes a blessing through the incarnation [...]

Let Us Attend: a Journey through the Orthodox Divine Liturgy by Fr Lawrence Farley, Conciliar Press, 2007. The Orthodox Divine Liturgy is the heart of Orthodox spiritual practice. While many books have been written on the Liturgy, this book is unique. In 98 pages, Fr Farley analyses the structure, content and historical context of the Orthodox Liturgy, all the while developing the spiritual mystery of the Liturgy. Each chapter deals step by step with a section of the Divine Liturgy, beginning with “Blessed is the Kingdom” and ending with the Final Rites. The role of the priest, worshipers and chanters [...]

How to Actualize the Image of God in You by Anthony M Coniaris We are all made in God’s image. But to be in His likeness is only granted to those who deny their own will to follow God’s will. In this book, Anthony Coniaris guides us Christians on our way towards theosis: towards union with God. We are described as iconographers of our lives. We are iconographers, and each and every one of us has a grand icon to construct. The image of God in us is the God-given capacity of love.  Archbishop Demetrius quotes: “We should distinguish ourselves [...]

Teenage Book Review The Blessed Surgeon: The Life of Saint Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol by Archdeacon Vasiliy Marushchak Published by Divine Ascent Press, Second Edition, 2008 The Blessed Surgeon is a biography of St Luke, Archbishop of Simferopol and the Crimea (1877-1961), a Bishop doctor who lived during the harsh Communist regime of the Soviet Union, and who is considered a Holy Unmercenary Saint of the Orthodox Church. Saint Luke was ordained a priest at the age of 44 after his wife passed away, then served as a Bishop, professor, surgeon and father, who faced many struggles with not only [...]

Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit: The Lives & Counsels of Contemporary Elders of Greece By Herman A. Middleton Published by Protecting Veil,  3rd edition, 2011. “Read a lot so that God might enlighten your mind.” – St Porphyrios Precious Vessels of the Holy Spirit describes the lives and teachings of eight important Spiritual Fathers of modern Greece. The book gives a biography of each Elder along with a selection of their teachings and counsels in the style of ‘The Sayings of the Desert Fathers’. The Elders described are: Amphilochios of Patmos, Epiphanios of Athens, Iakovos of Evia, Joseph the [...]