Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
2nd out of 51 books
—
10 voters
Facing East: A Pilgrim's Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy
The Classic Story of a Family's Pilgrimage into the Orthodox Church: Veiled in the smoke of incense, the Eastern Orthodox Church has long been an enigma to the Western world. Yet, as Frederica Mathewes-Green discovered, it is a vital, living faith, rich in ritual beauty and steadfast in integrity. Utilizing the framework of the Orthodox calendar, Mathewes-Green chronicles...more
Paperback, 272 pages
Published
February 28th 2006
by HarperOne
(first published January 2nd 1997)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
330)
This was a great book about Orthodoxy from the perspective of someone coming in from Protestantism. Frederica Mathewes-Green and her husband were "born again" into the charismatic church from agnosticism, and after following a longing for history and liturgy, he became a priest in the Episcopalian church. After struggling with the Episcopalian church's increasing doctrinal slide away from conservatism, they moved into Eastern Orthodoxy.
After this rather striking journey is detailed in Green's p...more
After this rather striking journey is detailed in Green's p...more
I think I have read too many of Frederica's books in too short a time, because it is getting blurry what she wrote where. I read somewhere a comparison of Frederica Mathewes-Green with Kathleen Norris, who started writing about her Christian faith and her times of retreat in a monastery in Minnesota. I think that the comparison falls flat, Norris is a better writer, and is not so formulaic.
This book is based on the same formula as her other book, "At the Corner of East and Now". She writes in th...more
This book is based on the same formula as her other book, "At the Corner of East and Now". She writes in th...more
Feb 29, 2008
Michael
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
catechumens, converts, Orthodox Christians
Read this about a year before I converted to Orthodox Christianity. Frederica is basically a former hippie who, with her husband, converted to Episcopalianism; her husband became an Episcopal priest, and they eventually converted to Orthodoxy after they became disenchanted with the direction of the Episcopal Church.
The Mathewes-Greens were part of an interesting phenomenon which began in the mid- to late 1980s, where Protestant ministers, their families, and sometimes their entire congregations...more
The Mathewes-Greens were part of an interesting phenomenon which began in the mid- to late 1980s, where Protestant ministers, their families, and sometimes their entire congregations...more
In 1992 the husband of Frederica Mathewes-Green decided to leave the Episcopal Church for the fullness of Orthodoxy, a move which she approached with nervousness but ultimately embraced. Mrs Mathewes-Green has since become one of the foremost writers on Orthodoxy in America. FACING EAST introduces Orthodoxy by following the activities of her small parish Holy Cross Orthodox Mission in Maryland.
I enjoy the small pieces that often appear from Mrs Mathewes-Green, but I find that her style becomes r...more
I enjoy the small pieces that often appear from Mrs Mathewes-Green, but I find that her style becomes r...more
This book contains one of my favorite quotes of all times. I can't recall the exact setup of the quote, so forgive me, but I sure can relate to the sentiment.
"But, oh, how sweet is anger. When I'm angry, I'm not in the wrong. Somebody else is in the wrong, and for once I have peace. A delicious peace that gnaws over the wrong like a lion with a ragged bone. It is delicious and compelling enough that it urges me to accumulate other wrongs and hold them greedily close. I love to be wronged; only t...more
"But, oh, how sweet is anger. When I'm angry, I'm not in the wrong. Somebody else is in the wrong, and for once I have peace. A delicious peace that gnaws over the wrong like a lion with a ragged bone. It is delicious and compelling enough that it urges me to accumulate other wrongs and hold them greedily close. I love to be wronged; only t...more
I read this book seeking explanations about Orthodox beliefs, music, fasting rules, iconography, and views on other Christian traditions. However, this book is a continuous flow of Frederica's disjointed thoughts and feelings rather than a commentary on what real Orthodox do and why they do it. I wanted more substance, but Frederica only offers shallow personal vignettes that were surprisingly flippant. Overall, this is a disappointing book written by someone who regards herself much too highly.
i've read this several times, and the fact that the author de-mystified much of Orthodoxy for me helped in my conversion. perhaps this is why many people i've encountered aren't that fond of the book (it's folksy manner), but it allowed me to see that Orthodoxy wasn't just something for Greeks and Russians, etc, but for anyone searching for the Original Church. even us Southerners.
This is an excellent book for converts to the Orthodox faith. Khouria Frederica writes well and has wonderful insights into the faith. I recommend it as a great read along with the Orthodox Church by Met. Kallistos (Timothy Ware).
Yes, this is an NPR commentator’s memoir of the “personal journey” sort, but there’s nothing typical in Frederica’s approach–-no awkward exhibitionism, no sense that life is being filtered and processed, turned into a cultural commodity. In fact, the book reads like a wagon-train tale of a couple packing up their children and their future and driving off into an untamed frontier. And that frontier just happens to be–-to American eyes, at least–-the most mysterious and most radically traditional...more
1 like · like · see review
This is a more folksy than cerebral account of conversion. A nice, superficial introduction to Orthodoxy, and an easy read.
This book is Mathewes-Green's memoir of a year in the early stages of their Orthodox parish. She has a fantastic voice -- she strikes me as the type of person you'd want to sip tea with in your living room while having a rich conversation. I took my time with this one because I found Mathewes-Green a helpful resource in refining my understanding of many Orthodox practices. Ordered her next one to continue that journey.
I read this book over a period of 3 months, every morning as I walked from my car to my office and back again. (It's about 1/2 mile.)
Definitely more memoir than authoritative theological tome (which is exactly what the book claims to be), the author's honest and personal tone were comforting to me and her prose is very enthralling and enjoyable to read. The struggles and feeling she expressed are universal to the Christian walk and could happen in any small church, not just Orthodox -- making it...more
Definitely more memoir than authoritative theological tome (which is exactly what the book claims to be), the author's honest and personal tone were comforting to me and her prose is very enthralling and enjoyable to read. The struggles and feeling she expressed are universal to the Christian walk and could happen in any small church, not just Orthodox -- making it...more
Good introduction to the church through a personal journey, very entertaining.
beautiful, relatable, real.
One of the first books I began reading on Orthodoxy back in '99-2000. This could easily be subtitled "Diary of an Orthodox Priest's Wife and their Mission Parish". Khouria Frederica takes the reader through the liturgical year in their new mission parish soon after her Episcopalian priest husband converted to Orthodoxy. Its a nice look into the life of a priest's family and their new parish as it struggles to get its bearings.
A very enjoyable reflection on the author's conversion to Orthodoxy and its traditions. Her tone was perfect; she gently and cheerfully explained how and why she treasures the Eastern Orthodox tradition. A helpful perspective.
Apr 21, 2011
Allison Rockwell
marked it as to-read
Lovely glimpses into Orthodox life at different times of the church year, but I think it's better read in small chunks than in one go, perhaps by reading the sections written for each part of the church calendar during that part of the year. Doesn't make it very good for checking out of the library.
This was a wonderful tale of a Orthodox Priests wife as they journey through a year in the Church. She and her husband are converts, so she is able to tell the story from new eyes with humor and inspirtation. It was a wonderful book that I know I will read again, and I will look for her other book as well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
This is one of my favorite books, and I pulled it out to loan to a friend, thought I'd read "just a bit" and re-read it yet again yesterday. A wonderful look into a year in the life of a Mission Parish through the eyes of their priest's wife.
For the fourth year running, will begin my Lent 'fast' from novels with this thought provoking and moving account of moving to the Orthodox church and of celebrating Lent and Easter from that perspective.
An excellent anecdotal picture of Eastern Orthodoxy in the United States. Also, a great companion read to Ware's The Orthodox Church. Highly recommend it!
I've really enjoyed every book that she has written that I have read. This is not the most theologically deep of those, but I always learn from her.
Jan 03, 2012
Henrietta H
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Everyone, especially those interested in the Eastern Orthodox religion.
Shelves:
finished
As always, Frederica Matthews-Green explains Eastern Orthodoxy with detail and love. It was a really good read!
I loved this look at the Orthodox year. It was just what I needed to read at the end of Lent. [March 2010]
Beautifully written exploration of the Orthodox faith. One of my all-time favorite books.
Apr 24, 2008
Andrew Watson
added it
Feminism meets Orthodoxy and it works, kinda.
A beautiful, moving book, whether one is Orthodox or not.
It was wonderful to see another journey similar to my own.
May 14, 2013
Katrina Anderson
marked it as to-read
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Oct 02, 2011 07:04pm