Thank you Paul, I have read some of these, but the majority I haven't. You've given me something to get my teeth into. I also found 'Thinking Orthodox' very useful in understanding the Orthodox phronema more, and I love 'Wounded by Love', which I have also bought for a friend who was recently baptised.
I can't agree more on actually going to a Divine Liturgy to really find out if it's for you. After a nudge from you I went to a Greek Divine Liturgy, didn't understand a word, and new straight away that I was home! I spoke to the Priest who forthrightly asked me why I wanted to be Orthodox. I was caught off guard and mumbled something about this author I was following and how Anglicanism seemed to be 'a form of Godliness without power'. Later, after a longer conversation, it became apparent to me that this was what I had been searching for (without knowing what 'it' was) throughout my entire life. We have an English service every Saturday, and every week there are new people turning up. People from all walks of life and all nationalities. I can't wait to go each week. It recharges me in a way I can't explain. I never felt like this in the Anglican church. When Orthodoxy talks about the 'fullness' of life being in her Church, there was never a truer word spoken!
Saint Sophrony of Essex wrote a great book (my first Orthodox book given to me by my Priest) called 'On Prayer'. You can buy it at the online bookshop of the Essex Monastery, whose website I would also recommend. They have podcasts, videos and articles which are very helpful. I've also bought some of Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou's books, who was a disciple of Saint Sophrony, and they are a very good read and easy to follow.
If there is one thing I would caution against, it is against getting too much of one's Orthodoxy on-line, or even from books. Better to experience as much as you can, first-hand and in-person.
This is an interesting list of resources. I agree that the Liturgy itself cannot be matched by reading or listening to podcasts, but given that for some of us, getting to a Divine Liturgy regularly is challenging, it’s helpful to have quality input. Thank you, Paul.
This is very useful, thank you. I was received into the Orthodox Church about three years ago and I have benefited from many of these resources. I’d add a recommendation for (YouTube) Patristix as a good, balanced source of information about individual topics (and quirky tea).
Hello Paul, Thank you very kindly for this list. I, by God's grace discovered your work shortly before you began writing your articles on the machine and immediately began to follow. Anyway I am set to become a Catechumen at the end of next month as a part of a smal Orthodox Mission in Cape Breton , Canada. Kindest regards, Jeff
It would be a very interesting essay Paul, (if you ever get to finish it) as why you chose the Orthodox Church.
My main reservation about the Orthodox tradition is their claim to be the only ''true'' Church. they are not alone here, with the Roman Catholic Church also making the same claim. Also, many ''Christian'' sects do as well.
If you are going to have a power-hungry elite, setting up a religious system to rule over the laity, then they are always going to make this claim...''obey us, or we will excommunicate you and you will lose your salvation''.
Even though Protestants have a plethora of denominations, none of them claim to be the only true Church and we can disagree on non-core doctrines but still consider ourselves brothers in Christ.
The question of what 'the true church' is is fraught, of course. I think that characterising Orthodoxy, or any other church, as a 'power hungry elite' is not helpful. Those people do exist, but I think, and hope, that the Church is motivated by a desire, however imperfect and clumsy, to follow the path that Christ laid down.
When I became Christian, 'which Church?' was obviously a key question. For various reasons which I might write about one day, I could not become Anglican, despite being English, or Catholic, despite living in Ireland. I didn't become Orthodox as a result of argument or theological comparison, but nevertheless I did come to the conclusion that the Orthodox Church was and is the original and true Church founded by Christ. Unlike the Roman Church it has not innovated or bent the teachings of the early centuries - a process which led to the 'protestant' Reformation. I couldn't become a Protestant either, because I believe that movement has stripped out much of the essence of the faith, not least monasticism and the reality of the saints. And anyway, what does 'protestant' even mean? There are so many groups to choose from.
I wanted, myself, to join the original Church and to follow its teachings, so that they changed me in the way I needed to be changed. I didn't want to argue about what those teachings were, or choose my own. So this is where I ended up. Every week I sing along to a liturgy which is 1600 years old, and I feel its power, and the presence of God in it. I am entranced by the ancient saints and the relevance they still have today. There is a depth I have not found anywhere else.
I do believe that the Orthodox Church is the true and original church, but this doesn't lead me to think of non-Orthodox people as less Christian than me. It's not up to me to decide what any of this means, or what those people should do. The writer Michael Warren Davies, who until recently was Catholic, wrote an essay recently explaining why he became Orthodox (https://yankeeathonite.substack.com/p/why-i-became-orthodox). He included a quote from St Theophan the Recluse, which summarised my feelings overall:
'You ask, “Will the heterodox be saved?” . . . Why do you worry about them? They have a Savior who desires the salvation of every human being. He will take care of them. You and I should not be burdened with such a concern. Study yourself and your own sins.'
Excellent response to the question, Paul. That St. Theophan quote is golden. I came from a Protestant background, but had the same question at the beginning: "Now where?" I no longer accepted the "Protestant distinctives" but didn't know where to go from there, and I knew virtually nothing about Orthodoxy at the time.
My own conversion resonates with these comments. Thank you. I recorded my own path from American Evangelicalism for anyone interested. Not looking for attention. Just trying to be helpful. https://bearingfardels.blogspot.com/2017/02/
I have the same concern that you are responding to. I became Anglican from another tradition because in my part of the USA the Anglicans are orthodox and also have tradition that is rooted in the apostles and early centuries of the church, particularly in the 'mere Christianity' of the Apostles, Nicene, and other creeds and councils.
I am an old man now and very weary of Christians who claim to be the 'one true church'. Maybe I'm just a crotchety old man who sees so much division in the world that I long for the Christian community to celebrate unity in its diversity - without giving up the distinctives of orthodox (small o) Christianity as so many have done. I believe in loving the family you are part of (in my case Anglican and your case Orthodox), but long for honor to be shown to one another in a world that needs Christ and his Church.
I have a difficult time when I see a book titled Orthodox Saints of the British Isles thinking he means Orthodoxy and not orthodox. Is he laying claim to these saints for Orthodoxy or is he referring to orthodox saints who influenced the Christianity of the British Isles, including the later Anglican Church in England which has now drifted in large part away from that heritage.
Many of the books you recommended I have read and benefited from immensely in my own journey of faith. I have a wonderful friend who is an Orthodox monk and priest to whom I go to for advice and Christian friendship. I have found that as an Anglican it has been a joy to learn from Roman Catholics, all sorts of Protestants, as well as Orthodox, including you! Don't we have a common Christian heritage in the essentials of 'the faith once delivered to the saints'? I know there are significant differences, but should they divide us so sharply into camps of the 'ins and outs'? the one true church? Where does this the rest of us? The Theophan the Recluse quote sounds better all the time!
I will stop now. I rarely respond to any post here or elsewhere, but I want to experience the best of the Orthodox community so I thought it might be helpful to hear another perspective. Thank you for all you do. You are a true blessing to the Christian community - and beyond.
Yes, the endless bifurcating divisions in the Christian world can be very disheartening. I too have learned a lot from Christians of all backgrounds, and still do. I think we should all be praying for unity while recognising that love is probably the more realistic option. We are never all going to agree. But I don't think we need to. It's why I like St Theophan's advice so much. I believe I have found a path which is true. Now I have to try and live it. That is already a challenge for the remainder of my life. I have no time remaining to judge the paths of others!
Tom, I don't know if this will be helpful or not, so please disregard if it's not.
"True" is a fraught word. We often conflate it with "factual", and thus conflate "truth" with "fact" - in conversations it is easy to exchange one for the other without a moment's thought ("thought" being another fraught word, for another time).
Yet the words do not mean the same thing when you plumb down (and yes I'm setting up a pun there).
When we are building things we often use the word "true" in its deeper meaning, where it indicates a soundness of direction, and an alignment with other members and structures - hence things like plumb lines. In accounting we "true-up" our books and records to make them align with each other (or with our customers' or suppliers' records).
When the Orthodox talk about the one "True" church, this is often the sense in which they mean it: the most aligned, contiguous, and continuous with Christ and the Apostles. This is not strictly a fact-based or doctrinal statement (it is notable that the only creed the Orthodox use is the Nicene Creed). There is no Orthodox Catechism like the Roman Catholics have developed - no unitary book you can point to that lays out theses, positions, and rules. Even the various canons (statements of church law and practice) that have come out of the various councils and synods over the centuries cannot be necessarily considered authoritative - some were applicable in certain times and places but irrelevant now, and their use is often a pastoral matter.
This is not necessarily how the Roman Catholics understand the "true church" - their claim is, you might say, more fact-based (i.e. Christ gave authority first to St. Peter, who thereafter made Rome the highest authority, AND the absolute authority, end of story). The eastern churches dispute this interpretation and its outworkings.
Hi Skip, I confess to being quite ignorant in regard to the Orthodox faith and that is one reason I like Paul`s substack (and the fact that he is an excellent writer! )..so,thanks for your comment shedding light on what the Orthodox mean in their being the ''True'' Church.
I am more familiar with the Roman Catholic Church, and you only need a cursory knowledge of history to understand how they used the only ''True'' Church claim as a control mechanism in their pursuit of temporal power and wealth.
I live in China where the underground House Church is thriving. It is non-denominational, small (so, not to attract attention) and local. This seems to be the model of the early Church, as written about in the book of Acts but very different from most Churches in the West. And in my mind, this is the best Chruch structure, keep it small and local so the temptations of ''filthy lucre'' and power are less likely to be available.
I agree with a lot of your recommendations for reading / watching, can I just suggest also the Search the Scriptures podcast from Dr Jeannie Constantinou. And any of the writings of St Theophan the Recluse especially ‘The Spiritual life and how to be attuned to it’ and ‘Pathway to salvation’. They’re very accessible and relevant even now. And last Patristic Nectar publications, lecture series etc are also excellent.
I have read several of the books you listed, and the one that really brought me to Chrismation was ‘Courage to Pray,’ by Metropolitan Bloom. Of course, the Divine Liturgy worked its spiritual ‘magic’ you might say and that came about through attending services with my Father in-law and husband. I often read Fr. Hopko’s 55 Maxims. Thank you for compiling this list and I was unaware of a couple of books, but I like Stephen Freeman too. I will add his podcast to my few podcasts.
Thank you. St Sophrony's quote stands out to me. I have struggled and watched other evangelical converts struggle with this. So used to the "I am now a Christian. Things should be so much different (better)."
It occurs to me that we all need to know our backgrounds, where we came from in order to feel rooted and secure ...and to know where we are going.
Our families are often fractured, so many of my contemporaries have had no relationship with grandparents.... and our religious beliefs have been watered down to gruel and politically correct slogans.
Those from the Roman Catholic and any Protestant sect will find Orthodoxy uses many of the same words but their understandings can be very, or subtly, different. If you think you already understand something you may very well not. Be careful when you think you already know something.
It is not possible to fully understand Orthodoxy from books or videos. You absolutely must regularly physically attend the Divine Liturgy. So, as Paul said, find a church above all else. You will only find understanding in the Church.
As a side note, I've found I prefer Orthodox churches without pews to those with them. There is a separation with pews that that limits the bonding that should occur between people.
For Protestants wondering about how the Orthodox view the Bible and its relationship with the Church, you can't do better than Georges Florovsky's "Bible, Church, Tradition." It's a small book, but it's loaded with information and as usual with Fr. Florovsky, it's written with much charity. It may be out of print, but it's worth seeking out from the library or interlibrary loan. I found it extremely helpful to me, as I was raised in a very Bibliocentric form of Protestantism.
I love the quote by St Sophrony. Thank you so much. I’ve been Orthodox now 22 years and feel like a baby. It gives me comfort that a Saint like him felt that way.
Thank you for these suggestions - I will definitely be following up on some of them. I sometimes wonder what an authentic Anglo-Orthodoxy would look like (probably not anything like the reimagining of Celtic spirituality that still seems popular in some circles). A few years ago I visited Fr Silouan (Anglican convert to Orthodoxy), at his hermitage in Shropshire. He has since moved, but is still living the life, and he was/is a great enthusiast of ancient British Christianity, Arthurian romance, etc., and used to argue persuasively for the influence of Egyptian Christianity on the Celtic tradition. He has a blog/website here: https://www.wisdomhermitage.org.uk
That's a fascinating question, which pulls at me too. I have a strong sense that Orthodoxy is also the religion of our ancestors. I've come across Fr Silouan before, but it may be time to read him properly. One day, God willing, I might write a book about a return to Orthodox England ...
On which note, you have probably come across the English Orthodox Trust? I don't know much about it, but I am intrigued:
Thank you for the link - I haven't come across them before. I must admit, I do find navigating the different branches of Orthodoxy even more confusing than getting my head round all the different Protestant denominations! A book about a return to Orthodox England sounds great - you must add it to what I suspect might be a growing list!
Orthodoxy is both confusing and simple, in a strange way. Confusing because there are many patriarchies, national churches and different ethnic or cultural expressions of the faith. But also simple because all of them celebrate the same liturgy and express the same faith. I can walk into a Russian, Greek or Romanian Church and feel, despite the language barrier, that I know where I am.
Still, there is something to be said for an English expression of that same faith ...
Yes, exactly - all the same and all different, which is precisely why it's confusing! But the point about orthopraxy is really important. In a not entirely dissimilar way, a consistent liturgy (i.e. BCP) was what once held the dear old C of E together. Not any more though...
A very thorough and scholarly introduction to the Orthodox Church that includes a careful look at the different 'churches' in their ethnic histories while also the theology, spirituality, and perhaps most of all worship and practice of us all, is:
The Orthodox Church - An Introduction to its History, Doctrine, and Spiritual Culture, by Fr John McGuckin
There is only one Orthodox Church. The understanding of the faith is the same, be it Russian or Greek, the only difference is the "bowl" in which it is served.
Thanks Paul, very much appreciate you taking the time and thought to do this.
Thank you Paul, I have read some of these, but the majority I haven't. You've given me something to get my teeth into. I also found 'Thinking Orthodox' very useful in understanding the Orthodox phronema more, and I love 'Wounded by Love', which I have also bought for a friend who was recently baptised.
I can't agree more on actually going to a Divine Liturgy to really find out if it's for you. After a nudge from you I went to a Greek Divine Liturgy, didn't understand a word, and new straight away that I was home! I spoke to the Priest who forthrightly asked me why I wanted to be Orthodox. I was caught off guard and mumbled something about this author I was following and how Anglicanism seemed to be 'a form of Godliness without power'. Later, after a longer conversation, it became apparent to me that this was what I had been searching for (without knowing what 'it' was) throughout my entire life. We have an English service every Saturday, and every week there are new people turning up. People from all walks of life and all nationalities. I can't wait to go each week. It recharges me in a way I can't explain. I never felt like this in the Anglican church. When Orthodoxy talks about the 'fullness' of life being in her Church, there was never a truer word spoken!
Saint Sophrony of Essex wrote a great book (my first Orthodox book given to me by my Priest) called 'On Prayer'. You can buy it at the online bookshop of the Essex Monastery, whose website I would also recommend. They have podcasts, videos and articles which are very helpful. I've also bought some of Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou's books, who was a disciple of Saint Sophrony, and they are a very good read and easy to follow.
https://essexmonastery.com/
"Come and See!"
If there is one thing I would caution against, it is against getting too much of one's Orthodoxy on-line, or even from books. Better to experience as much as you can, first-hand and in-person.
Lovely, thanks for sharing your story. We have new people showing up just about every Sunday at our parish in California. Such exciting times!
This is an interesting list of resources. I agree that the Liturgy itself cannot be matched by reading or listening to podcasts, but given that for some of us, getting to a Divine Liturgy regularly is challenging, it’s helpful to have quality input. Thank you, Paul.
This is very useful, thank you. I was received into the Orthodox Church about three years ago and I have benefited from many of these resources. I’d add a recommendation for (YouTube) Patristix as a good, balanced source of information about individual topics (and quirky tea).
Second Patristix! The Brothers Robinson illustrate the Orthodox tradition and phronema in word, image, and gentleness.
Hello Paul, Thank you very kindly for this list. I, by God's grace discovered your work shortly before you began writing your articles on the machine and immediately began to follow. Anyway I am set to become a Catechumen at the end of next month as a part of a smal Orthodox Mission in Cape Breton , Canada. Kindest regards, Jeff
It would be a very interesting essay Paul, (if you ever get to finish it) as why you chose the Orthodox Church.
My main reservation about the Orthodox tradition is their claim to be the only ''true'' Church. they are not alone here, with the Roman Catholic Church also making the same claim. Also, many ''Christian'' sects do as well.
If you are going to have a power-hungry elite, setting up a religious system to rule over the laity, then they are always going to make this claim...''obey us, or we will excommunicate you and you will lose your salvation''.
Even though Protestants have a plethora of denominations, none of them claim to be the only true Church and we can disagree on non-core doctrines but still consider ourselves brothers in Christ.
I hope I will get around to it one day.
The question of what 'the true church' is is fraught, of course. I think that characterising Orthodoxy, or any other church, as a 'power hungry elite' is not helpful. Those people do exist, but I think, and hope, that the Church is motivated by a desire, however imperfect and clumsy, to follow the path that Christ laid down.
When I became Christian, 'which Church?' was obviously a key question. For various reasons which I might write about one day, I could not become Anglican, despite being English, or Catholic, despite living in Ireland. I didn't become Orthodox as a result of argument or theological comparison, but nevertheless I did come to the conclusion that the Orthodox Church was and is the original and true Church founded by Christ. Unlike the Roman Church it has not innovated or bent the teachings of the early centuries - a process which led to the 'protestant' Reformation. I couldn't become a Protestant either, because I believe that movement has stripped out much of the essence of the faith, not least monasticism and the reality of the saints. And anyway, what does 'protestant' even mean? There are so many groups to choose from.
I wanted, myself, to join the original Church and to follow its teachings, so that they changed me in the way I needed to be changed. I didn't want to argue about what those teachings were, or choose my own. So this is where I ended up. Every week I sing along to a liturgy which is 1600 years old, and I feel its power, and the presence of God in it. I am entranced by the ancient saints and the relevance they still have today. There is a depth I have not found anywhere else.
I do believe that the Orthodox Church is the true and original church, but this doesn't lead me to think of non-Orthodox people as less Christian than me. It's not up to me to decide what any of this means, or what those people should do. The writer Michael Warren Davies, who until recently was Catholic, wrote an essay recently explaining why he became Orthodox (https://yankeeathonite.substack.com/p/why-i-became-orthodox). He included a quote from St Theophan the Recluse, which summarised my feelings overall:
'You ask, “Will the heterodox be saved?” . . . Why do you worry about them? They have a Savior who desires the salvation of every human being. He will take care of them. You and I should not be burdened with such a concern. Study yourself and your own sins.'
Excellent response to the question, Paul. That St. Theophan quote is golden. I came from a Protestant background, but had the same question at the beginning: "Now where?" I no longer accepted the "Protestant distinctives" but didn't know where to go from there, and I knew virtually nothing about Orthodoxy at the time.
My own conversion resonates with these comments. Thank you. I recorded my own path from American Evangelicalism for anyone interested. Not looking for attention. Just trying to be helpful. https://bearingfardels.blogspot.com/2017/02/
Paul,
I have the same concern that you are responding to. I became Anglican from another tradition because in my part of the USA the Anglicans are orthodox and also have tradition that is rooted in the apostles and early centuries of the church, particularly in the 'mere Christianity' of the Apostles, Nicene, and other creeds and councils.
I am an old man now and very weary of Christians who claim to be the 'one true church'. Maybe I'm just a crotchety old man who sees so much division in the world that I long for the Christian community to celebrate unity in its diversity - without giving up the distinctives of orthodox (small o) Christianity as so many have done. I believe in loving the family you are part of (in my case Anglican and your case Orthodox), but long for honor to be shown to one another in a world that needs Christ and his Church.
I have a difficult time when I see a book titled Orthodox Saints of the British Isles thinking he means Orthodoxy and not orthodox. Is he laying claim to these saints for Orthodoxy or is he referring to orthodox saints who influenced the Christianity of the British Isles, including the later Anglican Church in England which has now drifted in large part away from that heritage.
Many of the books you recommended I have read and benefited from immensely in my own journey of faith. I have a wonderful friend who is an Orthodox monk and priest to whom I go to for advice and Christian friendship. I have found that as an Anglican it has been a joy to learn from Roman Catholics, all sorts of Protestants, as well as Orthodox, including you! Don't we have a common Christian heritage in the essentials of 'the faith once delivered to the saints'? I know there are significant differences, but should they divide us so sharply into camps of the 'ins and outs'? the one true church? Where does this the rest of us? The Theophan the Recluse quote sounds better all the time!
I will stop now. I rarely respond to any post here or elsewhere, but I want to experience the best of the Orthodox community so I thought it might be helpful to hear another perspective. Thank you for all you do. You are a true blessing to the Christian community - and beyond.
Yes, the endless bifurcating divisions in the Christian world can be very disheartening. I too have learned a lot from Christians of all backgrounds, and still do. I think we should all be praying for unity while recognising that love is probably the more realistic option. We are never all going to agree. But I don't think we need to. It's why I like St Theophan's advice so much. I believe I have found a path which is true. Now I have to try and live it. That is already a challenge for the remainder of my life. I have no time remaining to judge the paths of others!
Tom, I don't know if this will be helpful or not, so please disregard if it's not.
"True" is a fraught word. We often conflate it with "factual", and thus conflate "truth" with "fact" - in conversations it is easy to exchange one for the other without a moment's thought ("thought" being another fraught word, for another time).
Yet the words do not mean the same thing when you plumb down (and yes I'm setting up a pun there).
When we are building things we often use the word "true" in its deeper meaning, where it indicates a soundness of direction, and an alignment with other members and structures - hence things like plumb lines. In accounting we "true-up" our books and records to make them align with each other (or with our customers' or suppliers' records).
When the Orthodox talk about the one "True" church, this is often the sense in which they mean it: the most aligned, contiguous, and continuous with Christ and the Apostles. This is not strictly a fact-based or doctrinal statement (it is notable that the only creed the Orthodox use is the Nicene Creed). There is no Orthodox Catechism like the Roman Catholics have developed - no unitary book you can point to that lays out theses, positions, and rules. Even the various canons (statements of church law and practice) that have come out of the various councils and synods over the centuries cannot be necessarily considered authoritative - some were applicable in certain times and places but irrelevant now, and their use is often a pastoral matter.
This is not necessarily how the Roman Catholics understand the "true church" - their claim is, you might say, more fact-based (i.e. Christ gave authority first to St. Peter, who thereafter made Rome the highest authority, AND the absolute authority, end of story). The eastern churches dispute this interpretation and its outworkings.
I hope this helps.
Hi Skip, I confess to being quite ignorant in regard to the Orthodox faith and that is one reason I like Paul`s substack (and the fact that he is an excellent writer! )..so,thanks for your comment shedding light on what the Orthodox mean in their being the ''True'' Church.
I am more familiar with the Roman Catholic Church, and you only need a cursory knowledge of history to understand how they used the only ''True'' Church claim as a control mechanism in their pursuit of temporal power and wealth.
I live in China where the underground House Church is thriving. It is non-denominational, small (so, not to attract attention) and local. This seems to be the model of the early Church, as written about in the book of Acts but very different from most Churches in the West. And in my mind, this is the best Chruch structure, keep it small and local so the temptations of ''filthy lucre'' and power are less likely to be available.
I found this very helpful at one time:
Ecclesiology of the Cross
https://glory2godforallthings.com/ecclesiology-of-the-cross/
From Father Stephen Freeman's excellent blog, Glory to God for all Things" (recommended by Paul)
I agree with a lot of your recommendations for reading / watching, can I just suggest also the Search the Scriptures podcast from Dr Jeannie Constantinou. And any of the writings of St Theophan the Recluse especially ‘The Spiritual life and how to be attuned to it’ and ‘Pathway to salvation’. They’re very accessible and relevant even now. And last Patristic Nectar publications, lecture series etc are also excellent.
Morning Paul,
I have read several of the books you listed, and the one that really brought me to Chrismation was ‘Courage to Pray,’ by Metropolitan Bloom. Of course, the Divine Liturgy worked its spiritual ‘magic’ you might say and that came about through attending services with my Father in-law and husband. I often read Fr. Hopko’s 55 Maxims. Thank you for compiling this list and I was unaware of a couple of books, but I like Stephen Freeman too. I will add his podcast to my few podcasts.
Thank you. St Sophrony's quote stands out to me. I have struggled and watched other evangelical converts struggle with this. So used to the "I am now a Christian. Things should be so much different (better)."
Thank you !
It occurs to me that we all need to know our backgrounds, where we came from in order to feel rooted and secure ...and to know where we are going.
Our families are often fractured, so many of my contemporaries have had no relationship with grandparents.... and our religious beliefs have been watered down to gruel and politically correct slogans.
FWIW, F.M. Dostoevskii contrasted Orthodoxy with Roman Catholicism by likening one to an organism and the other to an organization.
The podcast Ek Nekron is excellent. Here is a Spotify link:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3Kfh6ZBxB54Xi90QmzVUox?si=mYrETZmBTYehIW4c2szWlQ
Those from the Roman Catholic and any Protestant sect will find Orthodoxy uses many of the same words but their understandings can be very, or subtly, different. If you think you already understand something you may very well not. Be careful when you think you already know something.
It is not possible to fully understand Orthodoxy from books or videos. You absolutely must regularly physically attend the Divine Liturgy. So, as Paul said, find a church above all else. You will only find understanding in the Church.
As a side note, I've found I prefer Orthodox churches without pews to those with them. There is a separation with pews that that limits the bonding that should occur between people.
For Protestants wondering about how the Orthodox view the Bible and its relationship with the Church, you can't do better than Georges Florovsky's "Bible, Church, Tradition." It's a small book, but it's loaded with information and as usual with Fr. Florovsky, it's written with much charity. It may be out of print, but it's worth seeking out from the library or interlibrary loan. I found it extremely helpful to me, as I was raised in a very Bibliocentric form of Protestantism.
It is free here! https://www.bulgarian-orthodox-church.org/rr/lode/florovsky1.pdf
I love the quote by St Sophrony. Thank you so much. I’ve been Orthodox now 22 years and feel like a baby. It gives me comfort that a Saint like him felt that way.
🙏🏼☦️
Thank you for these suggestions - I will definitely be following up on some of them. I sometimes wonder what an authentic Anglo-Orthodoxy would look like (probably not anything like the reimagining of Celtic spirituality that still seems popular in some circles). A few years ago I visited Fr Silouan (Anglican convert to Orthodoxy), at his hermitage in Shropshire. He has since moved, but is still living the life, and he was/is a great enthusiast of ancient British Christianity, Arthurian romance, etc., and used to argue persuasively for the influence of Egyptian Christianity on the Celtic tradition. He has a blog/website here: https://www.wisdomhermitage.org.uk
That's a fascinating question, which pulls at me too. I have a strong sense that Orthodoxy is also the religion of our ancestors. I've come across Fr Silouan before, but it may be time to read him properly. One day, God willing, I might write a book about a return to Orthodox England ...
On which note, you have probably come across the English Orthodox Trust? I don't know much about it, but I am intrigued:
http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/hp.php
I think that’s Fr Andrew Philips’ work. Always an interesting read.
Thank you for the link - I haven't come across them before. I must admit, I do find navigating the different branches of Orthodoxy even more confusing than getting my head round all the different Protestant denominations! A book about a return to Orthodox England sounds great - you must add it to what I suspect might be a growing list!
Orthodoxy is both confusing and simple, in a strange way. Confusing because there are many patriarchies, national churches and different ethnic or cultural expressions of the faith. But also simple because all of them celebrate the same liturgy and express the same faith. I can walk into a Russian, Greek or Romanian Church and feel, despite the language barrier, that I know where I am.
Still, there is something to be said for an English expression of that same faith ...
Yes, exactly - all the same and all different, which is precisely why it's confusing! But the point about orthopraxy is really important. In a not entirely dissimilar way, a consistent liturgy (i.e. BCP) was what once held the dear old C of E together. Not any more though...
A very thorough and scholarly introduction to the Orthodox Church that includes a careful look at the different 'churches' in their ethnic histories while also the theology, spirituality, and perhaps most of all worship and practice of us all, is:
The Orthodox Church - An Introduction to its History, Doctrine, and Spiritual Culture, by Fr John McGuckin
https://svspress.com/the-orthodox-church-an-introduction-to-its-history-doctrine-and-spiritual-culture/
This is an introduction geared for academics, really, despite the name. :)
but even people like myself have received much from it.
There is only one Orthodox Church. The understanding of the faith is the same, be it Russian or Greek, the only difference is the "bowl" in which it is served.