Orthodox Christian Parenting - Cultivating God's Creation

by Marie L. Eliades M.A. (Editor)

Gardeners know that in order for a tree to be healthy and develop strong roots, it must be watered deeply and fed well while young. Later, when the inevitable storms come, the strong roots will be deep enough to prevent the tree from blowing over. If the roots are shallow, the tree will be lost. In the sacrament of holy marriage we hear: Your children will be like olive shoots around your table (Psalm 128:3). A verdant and fruit-bearing olive tree requires cultivation, and all the more does the raising of our children. If we teach them all we can about their faith as early as possible, giving them spiritual roots that are strong and run deep, then when they face the world their faith will not blow away like seedlings in a storm. This book is especially designed for busy Orthodox Christian parents. It is the fruit of the labors of many pooled resources: Scripture, holy fathers, clergy, clergy families, monastics, and Orthodox parents. In the end, our children are the fruit of God's grace and our labors. If we spiritually tend to them in their youth, we will have nurtured their potential to grow into amazing, faithful, fruitful, even holy Orthodox Christians. Let us work diligently when they are young and the harvest will be plentiful.

296 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Mikal Lambdin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this so much more than Parenting Toward the Kingdom, which is the perspective of one Orthodox individual. Orthodox Christian Parenting is a wealth of information and wisdom from saints, monks, nuns, priests, and many Orthodox parents, and the difference shows.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift from a dear friend and I found it to be so refreshing and encouraging!

I read the review by another reader saying that the book is fundamentalist, etc. I have to say that I did not find it to be fundamentalist or fear mongering in the least, and I hardly think that being cautious and careful about how one raises one's children necessarily means that one is afraid of the world.

The book provides much good food for thought and can be read in short amounts of time here and there, as one finds the time. I highly, highly recommend it.

[Ted · Rating 1 out of 5]

The style of writing - a collection of various texts by different authors - is one I usually appreciate. I honestly think for busy parents this would take a lot more time to read and digest than they probably have. They will need to be parenting rather than reading about it. I would say the perspective of the book takes a particularly sectarian view of Orthodoxy - the world is evil and we must withdraw from it. It is far more putting the light under the bushel or keeping the salt in the salt shaker than being a light to the world or the salt of the earth. It idealizes the sayings of the fathers as if they can be taken out of their 4th Century context and applied without discernment in the 21st Century. If one is looking for Orthodox fundamentalism, read this book. It is not that the book is all wrong, but it is not a prescription for all. It is for those who fear the 21st Century and think the best way to deal with the world is to avoid it. Jesus commanded us to go into all the world, not to denounce it and withdraw from it.

[Crystal Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic resource! Should be a requirement before conceiving children for all Christian parents. The guidelines set forth in this book challenge and convict the reader to be a better parent and a better Christian. I will be revisiting this book often in the course of my parenting journey.

[Helena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for the faint of heart but edifying