10 Orthodox Book Recommendations

The Importance of Reading for the Orthodox Christian

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Introduction

Being an Orthodox Christian among mostly non-Orthodox, I often get asked where I can go to learn more about Orthodox Christianity or what books are good to read to give one an “intro” to the Faith. I am generally not a fan of this approach; from my experience, one would be better off to follow the Lord’s command to “come and see”. Orthodoxy is seen- and lived- at its best in the Divine Liturgy and in the life of the parish. A multi volume book series on the Faith may be informative, but it will only get you so far. The Christian life is not spent entirely in books, but rather in walking in the Way, striving for the ultimate union with Christ so cherished by our forefathers.

Besides, there are quite a few bad popular level books out there, and I do believe that they have done a significant amount of damage that often goes unseen, not only in how we witness our Faith to outsiders, but also in helping converts adjust to their new life in the Church. That being said, I am the biggest reader I know, and reading has helped me in tremendous ways as I walk the path of Orthodoxy. As such, I am putting forward ten books that have helped me in my journey thus far, both while I was considering Orthodoxy and since having converted.

Clarifications

For this list, these are obviously my own personal recommendations and opinions. They are in no particular order, and if a book is not on there, it does not mean I do not think it’s worth reading. Additionally, I am not including any classic Patristic or early church texts in this list, as those writings are (with exception to individual opinions held by some Fathers) in line with Church teaching. Contemporary works can, and do, cause confusion and scandal, both to non-Orthodox and Orthodox alike. Yet they are also the most accessible and most widely read, and so this article will mostly highlight those books, though there are some that are more theologically dense. But lets face it, a more popular level survey of different topics will be more readily available in a parish bookstore than a dense 500 page tome by an ancient theologian on the Trinity, and so it is important to point to good books over harmful ones. I think there are various reasons for why some popular level “Orthodox” books have a tendency to promote heterodox views, but this article is not the place for that. This also does not include Scripture and official catechisms, which of course should always be prioritized reading before anything else. And as always, if you are unsure about a particular book, please consult your spiritual father.

1. Christ the Eternal Tao by Hieromonk Damascene

Published by St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood in Platina, California, Christ the Eternal Tao accomplishes much in one volume. On the one hand, it helps put into perspective the pre-Christian philosophical religions and philosophies and how, while they are certainly lacking, they universally point to the coming of Christ. And while we tend to think of this phenomenon as being something found only in the Greek philosophers, this work shows how Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching also contains similar themes. What’s more is that Damascene’s book presents a rewriting of Tzu’s monumental work with Christian language, showing the “unfolding of wisdom throughout the ages” that would lead to the ultimate Wisdom, that is Christ (Damascene, pg. 40). The latter half of the book then goes into incredible detail regarding Orthodoxy’s unique spirituality as expressed by Fathers both ancient and contemporary, and how the Faith presents the fullness of Christ as compared to Western Christian confessions:

“In the Christian East, we find clear guidance on acquiring stillness, overcoming the passions, dealing with thoughts, and cultivating the virtues, as well as precise teachings on spiritual deception which guide us more safely and surely on the path to God. Most important of all, we find the Undistorted Image of Christ which we had not beheld in other churches. In Him, Whom the ancient Akathist hymn calls the ‘Sunrise of the East’, we find the Beginning and End of our soul’s desire, and the door to eternal life” (pg. 25).

While this book engages with dense and complex themes, it is written in a way that virtually anyone can pick it up and read. One wanting to see the more universal themes of Orthodox spirituality and its relationship to the pre-Christian east and west should read this work. You can buy it here. (paid link)

2. On the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit by St. Seraphim of Sarov

Long before I even considered becoming Orthodox, I was privileged to have read St. Seraphim of Sarov’s On the Acquisition of the Holy Spirit. While relatively short, it is arguably one of the most recognizable and valuable spiritual works of the Orthodox faith in recent times. Written as a conversation between the Russian saint and a man named Nicholas Motovilov, this work highlights the indispensable role that the Holy Spirit plays in the life of the Christian. Indeed, it is the “true aim” of the Christian life according to St. Seraphim. Many Christians coming from western backgrounds often note the complete lack of reference to the Holy Spirit in their worship services, or a complete perversion of it through a revival of ancient heresies such as modalism or subordinationism. Having the profound spiritual wisdom of someone like St. Seraphim to guide us through these teachings is essential, and this work should be on the shelves of every Orthodox Christian. You can buy it here. (paid link)

3. Romans: An Orthodox Commentary by Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon

This work is the one I have most recently read on this list, as I have been wanting to undertake more studies of the Scriptures. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon’s Romans is a great introductory commentary for a book of Scripture that is not only highly significant in Orthodox theology, but also one that is at the center of many theological disputes, especially with certain strains of Protestantism. Reardon’s work goes through each chapter of Romans, extracting the most valuable insights from St. Paul’s letter and clarifying were Orthodoxy’s differs in its interpretation of the epistle compared to other Christians. He also frequently cites the works of Church fathers and ancient theologians, such as St. Hippolytus, Clement of Alexandria, and St. John of Damascus. Those wanting to develop a greater understanding of God’s word would do well to read this book. You can buy it here. (paid link)

4. With Pain and Love for Contemporary Man by St. Paisios the Athonite

This is the first volume of St. Paisios’ “Spiritual Counsels” series, published by the Monastery of St. John the Theologian. Written as a dialogue between St. Paisios and one of his spiritual disciples, the work presents the Athonite elder’s diagnosis of modern man’s many illnesses. St. Paisios helps provide a tremendously valuable insight in showing how even the most mundane parts of our lives are still part of the same spiritual battleground we find ourselves in, and that they can be either oriented towards God or to the evil one. Everything from family life to economics to education is covered, and while presented within the context of life in Greece, I am sure many of us from the West will find many of Paisios’ warnings to be just as relevant to our own circumstances. I have only read it once, though I will be definitely returning to it once I have more time. If there is one book that I can recommend for an Orthodox to read by this great saint, it would be this one. You can buy it here. (paid link)

5. Fr. Seraphim Rose: His Life and Works by Hieromonk Damascene

I have previously used this book for one of my articles, and I have returned to sections of it at different times. Also written by Hieromonk Damascene, this work is an unbelievably comprehensive biography of the life of Fr. Seraphim Rose, arguably one of the most important modern American Orthodox figures. A monastic in California, Rose is a household name among many converts to Orthodoxy in America as well as with Orthodox around the world. It covers his upbringing, conversion, and life in Christ, as well as his many works on modern spiritual phenomena that revealed the troubling foundations of modernity and how Orthodox should interact with it. The book also helps provide a great survey on different topics that provide the context for Roses’ work, including general American Orthodox history, the trials of the Russian Church Abroad, inter Orthodox disputes, and much more. While nearly impossible to aquire as an in print book today, it can be found online here.

6. On the Dogma of the Church by St. Hilarion Troitsky

Ecclesiology is one of the most important subjects of theology for Eastern Orthodoxy, and also one of the most misunderstood. While very rigorous and academic, St. Hilarion’s On the Dogma of the Church does an incredible job of providing the reader with the early Church’s conception of the Church as the Body of Christ and showing how Orthodoxy has inherited this ecclesiological vision. Especially valuable about this tome is its two-pronged approach in engaging with and disposing of opposition: St. Hilarion refutes various erroneous ideas about church history pushed by liberal Protestant theologians in the academic realm, while simultaneously dealing with Roman Catholic distortions on how the Patristics viewed church authority and the role of bishops. Fathers and theologians such as St. Ignatius of Antioch, Tertullian, and St. Cyprian of Carthage are examined, along with many others. It is a difficult read, but very much worth the struggle. You can buy it here. (paid link)

7. Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives by Elder Thaddeus

The topic of dealing with various thoughts and their implications for the spiritual life is one very often discussed by Orthodox spiritual teachers. A succinct yet profound treatment of this topic can be found in Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives by Elder Thaddeus, a Serbian monastic whose teachings have been compiled in this volume by St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood. As someone who struggles with anxiety and moral scrupulosity, I found this book to be both edifying and comforting. Elder Thaddeus helps to show the immense effect that one’s mental state can have on the spiritual life, and how it not only affects the individual struggler, but also those around them. Individual spiritual combat is discussed, along with familial relations, monasticism, and a life of prayer. There is also included a collection of individual sayings by the Serbian sage, and one of his sermons on the Dormition of the Theotokos. This is a great work for any Orthodox Christian wishing to deepen their understanding of the spiritual reality we find ourselves in. You can buy it here. (paid link)

8. Glorified in America by the Monastery of St. John the Forerunner

The wonderful thing about being an Orthodox Christian in America is that, while I am connected to a vast global faith with an enormous history, I can experience part of that history here in my own country. Glorified in America details the lives of North America’s greatest Orthodox saints. Though I tend to sometimes find biographies boring, this work is anything but that; not only is it written in a way that makes the saints come to life, but the volume is also a clear testimony of the love for Orthodoxy that its compilers have, including a wealth of color photos of the saints, original publications, etc. I found great joy in reading the individual achievements of the New World’s American laborers, while also seeing where they interacted with one another as they built up the Church on our continent. While it mostly focuses on individuals who have already been officially glorified, it also discusses those who still labored in God’s American vineyard, such as Elder Ephraim of Arizona and another, lesser known Orthodox hero of America. You should pick up this work if you would like to learn more. You can buy it here. (paid link)

9. After Christendom by Michael Warren Davis

This is definitely the most political writing on the list. After Christendom is written by a recent convert to Orthodoxy named Michael Warren Davis, and it examines the terrain of a West that has transitioned into a “post Christian” state. While many books have been written on this subject, I think Davis’s work stands out for 1) shifting the focus from a broader perspective on the new landscape to the role of the individual believer and how they can let their Faith shine in the ever growing darkness, and 2) its distinctly Orthodox approach to the subject, especially by taking time to show Orthodoxy’s unique aspects and how it can contribute to maintaining small oases of faith amidst of the desert of post-Christendom. If you want a teaser for what this book offers, I encourage you to read my article related to it here. If you would like to purchase it, you can do so here. (paid link)

10. The Rise and Fall of the Papacy by Patrick Craig Truglia

Though I read this book after I converted from Roman Catholicism, this book by Patrick Craig Truglia helped further solidify my choice to embrace Holy Orthodoxy. Truglia’s book details the historical role of the papacy within the early Church, particularly showing how, over time, its expanding claims of authority conflicted with the Patristics’ conception of consensus based, conciliar ecclesiology. Not only does Truglia provide a remarkably strong case for the Orthodox position against many popular Roman arguments, he also demonstrates the flaws in certain Orthodox claims, showing their faults while providing better cases that demonstrate the failure of Papism. This is a must read for those Orthodox wanting the best modern apologetics they can get. You may buy it here. (paid link)

Conclusion:

As I said in the beginning, these are my own recommendations. In one way or another, these books have contributed to my improvement in the Orthodox life, and I want others to be able to do the same by reading these works. If you also benefited from one of these, or have a book not included here that you think other Orthodox should know about, please comment below.

If you want to read this article’s “sequel”, you can see ten more recommendations that I have listed on this post.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner