Date: Fri, 11 Oct 1996 13:41:59 EDT
Reply-To: Orthodox Christianity <ORTHODOX@IUBVM.UCS.INDIANA.EDU>
Sender: Orthodox Christianity <ORTHODOX@IUBVM.UCS.INDIANA.EDU>
From: Elias G Gorsky <elias_g.gorsky@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Reading materials
Dear Father,
Christ is truly in our midst!
What a beautiful compilation of books. Just reading the titles brings one
back to the heavenly lines of the ones I have read. For those looking for
reading materials, these are truely the gems of today's orthodox
literature. Many thanks to you for spending the time to compile this
list. This will surely be a boon to many who will take advantage of your
labors.
And, yes, father, this list does tell a lot about you.
May our Lord send his blessings upon you,
priest Elias
Date: Thu, 2 Jun 1994 10:11:15 -0500
Sender: Orthodox Christianity <ORTHODOX@IUBVM.BITNET>
From: rev dcn mark gilstrap <anachem@BRONZE.UCS.INDIANA.EDU>
Subject: Re: Parish bookstore
Okay, I took a few minutes and scribbled down the names of a few of my
favorites of a general interest nature - all, I believe, obtained from
parish bookshelve/store(s). If possible, encourage people to let you
order their other books for them so that the church always gets a "cut."
If handled delicately, this can also give you a lot of insight into what is
of interest (profitably or otherwise) to parishioners. Perhaps the following
tells you more than I wish about myself??
+ + +
"The Heavenly Garden", Nicholas Fotiou, St Nicholas Orthodox Education
Society, 1978
A wonderful iconographic depiction of the creation of man, with
a description of the angelic orders in an appendix. Bought as
a chldren's book, but discovered to be much more.
"Lives of Saints for Young People" in 9 small (but large format) volumes
compiled by Lev Puhalo and published by Synaxis Press, 1976
(includes the life of St Mark the Anchorite April 5 - my saint)
"Marriage and the Christian Home", Rev Michael Henning, St Nectarios
Press, 1981. A small book (slightly more than a tract) that has an
"old style" feel to it - as opposed to Light and Life's "Making God
Real in the Orthodox Christian Home." It goes more to the heart of
the matter rather than discussing external tactics.
"A Manual of the Orthodox Church's Divine Services" Archpriest D.
Sokolof, Jordanville, 1975. This is one of the first books on
Orthodoxy I obtained - or rather, it was my _first_ Orthodox book
- the others were only "about" orthodoxy. I found it at a book
and icon sale at the Greek Church Hall in Indy - at a festival held
by the Russian Church. For someone like me, it was perfect. It
is a guide to feeling comfortable with all the new and seemingly alien
aspects of Orthodox worship. I will give a few details of the contents.
Preliminary Notions Nature, Origin and External Signs of
Divine Services (not extensive, but
better than most explanations you get
in a typical brief catechesis)
Church Temple names of things, external appearances,
internal arrangement, appurtenances
(very nice engraving repros of temple
layout, Oblation and Altar table layouts
etc...
Of the Persons Who Perform Divine Services and Their Vestments
descriptions of clergy and their vestments
(more engravings)
On Public Worship Daily, weekly and yearly cycles explained
and Vespers, Matins and Liturgy gone into
in greater detail.
Special Features of Divine Services On Feast Days and in Fast Times
On the Different Ministrations
Sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation
Anointing of the Tsar (dates the original doesn't it)
Consecration of a Church
Confession
Sacraments of Ordination, Matrimony, Unction, Conse-
cration of a monk, burila, and commemoration of the
dead, etc....
Books that contain the Divine Services
with an appendix on the Typikon
I like this book a lot, and other converts have found it to be quite useful
as well.
"A Man is His Faith - Ivan Kireyevsky and Orthodox Christianity" Fr Alexey
Young An excellent book for modern intellectuals and sceptics who are just
overcoming this handicap - an outstanding support in the Faith.
"The Young Elder - Blessed Archimandrite Ambrose of Milkovo" by Archbp
Anthony of San Francisco, Jordanville, 1974
"Antichrist" by Archpriest Boris Molchanoff, St John of Kronstadt Press
!!! "Vison of Heaven and Hell" by Dushan Yovanovich (who beheld these
visions), reprint from a Serbian Patriarchate Newspaper, 1983/4
"Confession", Metroplitan Anthony Krapovitsky (although you might not
need the help after reading the selection immediately above)
"The Order of the Typika" one of several versions for laymen who find
themselves far from a church, or who wish to increase the number of
devotions during the week.
"Apostasy and Antichrist", Lev Puhalo and Vasilli Novakshoneff,
Jordanville, 1978
"The Calendar Question" Rev Bassile Sakkas, Jordanville, 1973
"Prayers for Purity" Archpriest Anthony Gavalas, 1986
"Introduction to the Jesus Prayer" H.R.H Princess Ileana of Romania
"Letters from a Convert" to her parents, St John of Kronstadt Press
"The Sacramental Life" '' ''
"The Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete" (with the life of St Mary
of Egypt) Jordanville, 1967
"The Lamentations of Matins of Holy and Great Saturday, (with musical
score to get you started on melodies that will stay with you for eternity)
Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1981 Includes the remarkable homily
by St Epiphanius Bishop of Cyprus, on the burial, descent into Hades and
release of the captives. This homily was always read after the Lamentations
by my (and Fr Seraphim's) departed spiritual father. Nothing else in my
experience compares to the moment when Adam recognizes the footsteps of
his Lord (that he heard daily in the garden of Paradise). And as he tells
the others Who has come even to the depths of Hades, the joy and hope of
the Resurrection is more than anticipated, it literally pulls you up along
with it from the depths of our own sin towards Pascha. This homily is just
as important (IMO) to understanding as is St John's Homily on Pascha itself.
It deserves to be better known - but it really needs to be heard rather
than read (IMO).
"The Orthodox Veneration of the Mother of God" by Archbishop (Saint) John
Maximovitch of Shanghai and San Francisco
"My Life in Christ" by St John of Kronstadt
"Way of a Pilgrim" surely this has been mentioned already
"The Illustrated Sayings of the Holy Fathers" Monk John Vranos, St Xenia
Skete Press 1984. Another kids book for all of us.
"Anti-christianity - The New Athesim" Fr Michael Azkoul, Monastery Press,
Montreal 1984
"Christ the Savior and The Jewish Revolution" Met Anthony Krapovitsky, St
John of Kronstadt Press
"A Wonderful Revelation to the World" N.A. Motovilov, ST Nectarios
Press, 1985
!!! "Indication of the Way into the Kingdom of Heaven" Bp St Innocent
of Alaska, Jordanville , 1981
!!! "Meditations on the Divine Liturgy" Nikolai Gogol, Jordanville 1985
"Sacred Monarchy and the Modern Secular State" (Fr Michael?) Montreal 1984
"The Dogma of Redemption" Met Anthony Khrapovitsky. Monastery Press,
Montreal 1979
"Christianity or the Church?" New Martyr Archbishop Ilarion (Troitsky)
Jordanville 1985
"The Old Testament in the New Testament Church" Protopresbyter Micheal
Pomazansky, Jordanville 1977
And to supplement my list of selections, I will also add a couple that
should _NOT_ be included for curious and idle access:
The Philokalia
The Rudder
Date: Tue, 31 May 1994 10:08:59 -0500
Sender: Orthodox Christianity <ORTHODOX@IUBVM.BITNET>
From: Deacon Seraphim Holland <th7158@SWUTS.SBC.COM>
Subject: Parish bookstore
I am very interested in starting a parish bookstore, primarily as a missionary
and teaching tool. I would appreciate any suggestions, book lists, sources of
inexpensive books, etc. Since we are of limited means, we need to have a very
sparse inventory. I don't care about making money, and may even sell the books
at my cost (under retail), but the enterprise must support itself. As a start,
let's put our heads together and come up with a "basic" inventory. I'll give my
list, which is heavily weighted towards Synod publications, since these are
what I know, and everyone agrees that they are of very high quality. Does
anyone have any ideas about things that work in your parish?
Prayer books Approx price
------------
Jordanville prayer book $12
"Boston" psalter $20
Akathist for Holy Communion $2
Yearly Typicon $15
Yearly wall calendar $5
Horologion (Fr Laurence's) $15
Lenten Triodion ? $20
Festal Menaion ? $20
Canons for Holy Communion ? $3
Catechesis and pastoral works
-----------------------------
The Law of God $30
A Journey to Heaven $15
The Arena ? $15
One thing needful (sermons of Archbishop Andrei) $10
An indication of the Way to Heaven - St Innocent $4
Scripture, Fathers
------------------
Commentary on St Matthew (Blessed Theoflyact) $15
Commentary on St Mark (Blessed Theoflyact) $15
Gospel Homilies (St Gregory the Great) $15
Magazines
---------
Orthodox Life $12/yr
Living Orthodoxy $14/yr
Orthodox America $8/yr
The Shepherd donation
Tracts
------
....
Lives of the Saints
-------------------
The Prolog, as CHEAP as possible
Other books and pamphlets are needed here.
Other
-----
Incense
Candles
Olive Oil
Wicks
floats
hand censers
icons (which)
This list is not even close to comprehensive. I invite your suggestions.
--
Deacon Seraphim Holland -- ADDRESS: 6543 Hickory Trails, House Springs,MO 63051
EMAIL:th7158@swuts.sbc.com WORK:314/235-3229 HOME:314/671-0464