The Orthodox Study Bible: New Testament and Psalms
(New King James Version)
St. Athanasius Orthodox Academy, 1993.

The Bible is the Book of Orthodox Christianity. We love and revere the Holy Scriptures. Thus, the Bible should be at the top of any list of books on Orthodox Christianity. With well prepared study notes the Orthodox Study Bible is especially helpful for those who want to understand the Bible within a tradition of interpretation that goes back to the apostles themselves. The Orthodox Study Bible also comes with a chart of Scripture readings for daily devotions, a guide for morning and evening prayers, quotes from the early Church Fathers, and a glossary of Orthodox Christian terminology.

Many people have no idea what Orthodox Christianity is all about. Below is a list of highly recommended books that explain what Orthodox Christians believe, how they worship, and how they approach the Christian life.

 

The Faith: Understanding Orthodox Christianity.
by Clark Carlton.
Regina Orthodox Press, 1997.

"Quite simply, The Faith is the best single-volume introduction to Orthodoxy in the English language. The Faith is a beautifully written book that truly answers the question, 'What is it that you Orthodox believe?' Perfect for inquirers and study groups, high-school age and up." (from the back cover)

 

Written in the form of questions and answers between the inquirer and Elder Cleopa, this book covers a wide range of topics: the Church, Holy Scripture, Holy Tradition, the Veneration of the Saints and the Angels, Prayers for the Dead, Personal Salvation, the Second Coming of Christ. Heavily annotated with biblical references this book shows that Orthodox Christianity is a faith rooted in Scripture. The author explains the Orthodox faith with a simplicity and clarity that makes it appealing to both Orthodox and non-Orthodox. Although just recently published, this book is likely to become a classic.

The Orthodox Church
by Timothy Ware
Penguin Books, 1963.

Already recognized to be the classic introduction to Orthodox Christianity. Although not easy reading, The Orthodox Church is well worth the effort.

"This book is a clear, detailed introduction to the Orthodox Church, written for the non-orthodox, as well as for Orthodox Christians who wish to know more about their own tradition. Part One describes the history of the Eastern Church over the last 2,000 years and particularly its problems in the twentieth-century Russia. Part Two explains the beliefs and worship of the Orthodox today. Finally the author considers the possibilities of reunion between East and West." (from the back cover)

 

 

One of the best ways of understanding Orthodox Christianity is by reading the personal stories how people became Orthodox and their experiences in living the Orthodox faith.

Becoming Orthodox: 
A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith
By Peter E. Gillquist
Conciliar Press, 1989.

One of the exciting development in recent times are the growing numbers of Protestant Evangelicals who have discovered Orthodoxy. In this easy to read book Peter Gillquist tells how he and his coworkers from Campus Crusade embarked on the journey from Protestant Evangelicalism to Orthodoxy. The journey was far from easy for them. In the book Gillquist describes the twist and turns and surprises (pleasant and unpleasant) that he encountered in his journey to Orthodoxy. This book is especially valuable for Evangelicals who are interested in Orthodoxy but have all kinds of objections and problems with the "unbiblical" aspects of Orthodox Christianity.

Coming Home: 
Why Protestant Clergy are Becoming Orthodox
by Peter E. Gillquist (ed.).
Conciliar Press, 1992.

Protestants from all denominational backgrounds are joining the Orthodox Church. This book includes the stories of pastors from the following backgrounds: Oral Roberts University, Church of Christ, Concordia Seminary, United Church of Canada, Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, Campus Crusade for Christ, United Methodist Church, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Episcopal, Assemblies of God, Luther Rice Seminary etc.

Facing East: 
A Pilgrim's Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy
by Frederica Matthewes-Green.
HarperSanFrancisco, 1997.

Ever wanted to know what it's like to be Orthodox? This is the book for you. Known as the Orthodox Erma Bombeck Frederica Matthewes-Green describes with humor and a light touch life as an Orthodox Christian. In this book Matthewes-Green describes how a mystical encounter with Christ on her honeymoon converted an agnostic flower child into a believer and how the theological chaos in the Episcopal Church led her and her husband into the Orthodox Church. With humor and vivid word sketches Matthewes-Green describes how her family copes with the unfamiliar world of Orthodox Christianity: the fasts, the feast days, the worship services, the chanting.

Known as the Orthodox Erma Bombeck Frederica Matthewes-Green describes with humor and a light touch life as an Orthodox Christian. In this book Matthewes-Green interweaves brief bite size descriptions of traditional worship on Sunday mornings with life in contemporary America -- a family outing at a Mexican restaurant, an alternate Christian concert, a visit to a correctional facility for women.

The Christian Faith is at the same time both simple and profound. Although not always easy to read, these classics will pay rich dividends for those who want to deepen their faith.

 

Written in the fourth century, Bishop Eusebius wrote the earliest church history book. In his stirring classic Eusebius describes the founding of the Church by Jesus Christ, the life and ministry of the apostles, the fierce persecutions by the Roman authorities, the courage of the martyrs in the face of death, and the events leading up to official acceptance of Christianity.

Apostolic Fathers
Edited by Rev. Fr. Jack N. Sparks
Light & Life Publishing, 1978

When he established the Church, Christ handed over the Christian Faith to the apostles who in turn handed the Faith to their successors the bishops. One could say that the Apostolic Fathers were nisseis -- second generation Christians. The Apostolic Fathers is a collection of writings by second century Christian leaders who sought to protect the early Church from heresy and division. Among the writers are: Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Ignatius of Antioch, and the anonymous Didache and the Epistle to Diognetus. Reading the Apostolic Fathers provides a useful benchmark by which one can assess the Orthodox Church's claim to have kept the Faith without change over the past two millennia.

On the Incarnation.
De Incarnatione Verbi Dei
by Saint Athanasius of Alexandria
St. Vladimir Seminary Press, 1993

One of the key tenets of the Christian faith is the divine nature of Jesus Christ. During the fourth century this doctrine came under serious attack by Arius and his followers. In response to this threat Athanasius wrote the classic On the Incarnation in which he defended and explained the Christian Faith. This book is highly recommended for modern Christians especially in light of reemergence of the Arian heresy among theologically liberal Christians. C.S. Lewis wrote,

When I first opened his De Incarnatione I soon discovered by a very simple test that I was reading a masterpiece, for only a master mind could have written so deeply on such a subject with such classical simplicity . . . . (from the back cover)

 

One of the distinctive aspects of Orthodox Christianity is the use of icons in worship and prayer. Written in the eight century John of Damascus presents one of the classic defense for the use of icons (religious images of Christ and the saints). In this important work John of Damascus argued that the veneration of icons is a necessary safeguard for the doctrine of the Incarnation, Christ taking on human nature for our salvation. Icons are an integral part of the historic Christian Faith and iconoclasm a deviant departure from historic Christianity. This book is highly recommended for Protestants who are struggling with the use of icons.

Written towards the end of the fourth century, this classic explains the Christian understanding of the Trinity. In this classic exposition of Trinitarian doctrine Saint Basil the distinct yet perpetual communion of the divine Persons. Chapter 27 also contains one the most eloquent defense for the role of unwritten Tradition, a passage that Protestants need to take heed of.