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The Life of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos
The most complete text on the life of the Mother of God from her Conception to her Dormition, and much more. 640 pp., 300 icons & photos, & 4 maps.
640 pages, Hardcover
First published December 31, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 1, 2019
Wow...the most exhaustive treatise on the Theotokos that I have ever read. I feel like I finally know her and can approach her without any doubts or misgivings. This book really helped me overcome a lot of lingering Protestant assumptions and attitudes.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
January 16, 2020
This is a wonderful and fascinating text that pulls together all of the respected resources out there that are about the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary) and her life, from Scripture to early Church Fathers, as well as those more recent, along with ancient non-canonical texts. But it also has numerous hymns, troparion, kontakion, and various other texts that we as Orthodox chant, especially during feast days honoring the Theotokos.
And, as if that were not enough, it also includes many icons of the Theotokos, albeit only in black and white. This volume includes an overwhelming number of icons of the Theotokos with which we are all familiar, as well as other saints. But many of the icons are those one does not usually see, which makes this volume a special treasury of her.
The most fascinating parts, for me, were the explanations for all the types or prefigurings of the Theotokos in the Old Testament that were discussed. I think this will be an enormous help to me in my iconography and my studying of iconography. Indeed, one of the reasons I purchased this book was as a help to me in my iconography. I have yet to write an icon of the Theotokos, finding that somewhat intimidating. Yet, after having read this book, I now see her in many icons, including one I wrote while unaware of a symbol of the Theotokos (praise God!).
Also quite interesting is all the material about her later life, what happened after the Resurrection of her Son, the Christ Jesus. I was surprised to learn about all her travels, the genesis of certain monasteries especially.
There are two things that made the book somewhat disappointing, although not enough for me to rate it less than the highest possible number of stars. One, which I already touched on, is that all the reproductions of icons were in black and white. The use of color in iconography has great significance. So the lack of it truly is unfortunate. There are numerous icons presented within. I know it would increase the cost of the book, perhaps prohibitively, to make a new edition with all color photographs of the icons. But I think that there is a market for such a volume. I know I would buy one, even though I already have this copy and it was not inexpensive purchased brand new. At the very least, the book could have a portion of the icons in color, collected in the middle of the book, or perhaps in a couple of places. And if a hardcover with color icons were cost-prohibitive, then a softcover edition should be affordable--and many iconography books are printed in softcover today, making them accessible to a broader public.
The other aspect that made the book disappointing is simply the book's interior design. There is not enough white space. The publisher would be well-served to consult with a book designer to make the interior more professional looking, or at least study book design some more. I know churches and monasteries have a divine focus first, as it should be. But when embarking on a ministry such as publishing works for the faithful, they would better serve the purchasers (both clergy/monastics as well as Orthodox laypeople and seekers) by having a better-quality product, which includes interior layout. The faux-leather binding is nice, but the inside design quality is a bit lacking. Yet this is not a reason to avoid this book.
In sum, this is a most welcome addition to my growing library of Orthodox texts. Anyone interested in learning more about the Theotokos would be well served to invest in this book or read it at a library. And our priests would do well to acquire copies for church libraries so that the faithful have access to it.
And, as if that were not enough, it also includes many icons of the Theotokos, albeit only in black and white. This volume includes an overwhelming number of icons of the Theotokos with which we are all familiar, as well as other saints. But many of the icons are those one does not usually see, which makes this volume a special treasury of her.
The most fascinating parts, for me, were the explanations for all the types or prefigurings of the Theotokos in the Old Testament that were discussed. I think this will be an enormous help to me in my iconography and my studying of iconography. Indeed, one of the reasons I purchased this book was as a help to me in my iconography. I have yet to write an icon of the Theotokos, finding that somewhat intimidating. Yet, after having read this book, I now see her in many icons, including one I wrote while unaware of a symbol of the Theotokos (praise God!).
Also quite interesting is all the material about her later life, what happened after the Resurrection of her Son, the Christ Jesus. I was surprised to learn about all her travels, the genesis of certain monasteries especially.
There are two things that made the book somewhat disappointing, although not enough for me to rate it less than the highest possible number of stars. One, which I already touched on, is that all the reproductions of icons were in black and white. The use of color in iconography has great significance. So the lack of it truly is unfortunate. There are numerous icons presented within. I know it would increase the cost of the book, perhaps prohibitively, to make a new edition with all color photographs of the icons. But I think that there is a market for such a volume. I know I would buy one, even though I already have this copy and it was not inexpensive purchased brand new. At the very least, the book could have a portion of the icons in color, collected in the middle of the book, or perhaps in a couple of places. And if a hardcover with color icons were cost-prohibitive, then a softcover edition should be affordable--and many iconography books are printed in softcover today, making them accessible to a broader public.
The other aspect that made the book disappointing is simply the book's interior design. There is not enough white space. The publisher would be well-served to consult with a book designer to make the interior more professional looking, or at least study book design some more. I know churches and monasteries have a divine focus first, as it should be. But when embarking on a ministry such as publishing works for the faithful, they would better serve the purchasers (both clergy/monastics as well as Orthodox laypeople and seekers) by having a better-quality product, which includes interior layout. The faux-leather binding is nice, but the inside design quality is a bit lacking. Yet this is not a reason to avoid this book.
In sum, this is a most welcome addition to my growing library of Orthodox texts. Anyone interested in learning more about the Theotokos would be well served to invest in this book or read it at a library. And our priests would do well to acquire copies for church libraries so that the faithful have access to it.
January 18, 2017
Took me a while but this is a great informative read. It gives full documentation of the Theotokos' Life and also gives some other information that some may not know about in regards to events that took place before and after Christ's birth, crucifixion, and resurrection.
April 16, 2013
Excellent and beautifully bound. Complete and footnoted. It only needs an index.
December 28, 2024
What an amazing book on the Theotokos Mother of God and ever virgin Mary. She is the throne of God, Jacob's ladder, the burning bush, the East gate that remains sealed, the stone cut from the mountain without hands, Gideon's fleece, the tongues that put the burning coal in the Prophet Isaiah's mouth, Queen of the world and of Heaven, Mother to all those in the Church, She is the Church, the first Christian, Apostle to the Apostles, the highest human, mankind's gift to God, the bridge from the Old and New Testaments, the new Eve.
As a former Protestant this book really helped me feel closer to our most Holy Mother. She really does surpass all in humility, holiness and all the virtues. I really liked how they complied this book. Starting with her parents having her when they were barren from old age to her being raised in the Temple to her life as the Mother of God and after His Ascension. The symbolism and Old Testament references along with the writing of the Saints was very helpful as well. I can't imagine any book being more thorough then this.
To those who doubt this all I can say is the more one contemplates the Theotokos the more obvious it all is.
As a former Protestant this book really helped me feel closer to our most Holy Mother. She really does surpass all in humility, holiness and all the virtues. I really liked how they complied this book. Starting with her parents having her when they were barren from old age to her being raised in the Temple to her life as the Mother of God and after His Ascension. The symbolism and Old Testament references along with the writing of the Saints was very helpful as well. I can't imagine any book being more thorough then this.
To those who doubt this all I can say is the more one contemplates the Theotokos the more obvious it all is.
April 2, 2016
For those seeking a fuller understanding of the Virgin Mary's place in the spiritual and historical life of the church there is no better source. This volume reveals the complete life of the Theotokos by including many apocryphal and traditional stories passed down by the church. An ideal source of informative hymns and iconography.
January 8, 2017
Great reference..a must to have
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews