What do you think?
Rate this book
A Guide to Orthodox Life: Some Beliefs, Customs, and Traditions of the Church
A popular, lucid, and utterly practical introduction to the Orthodox way of life, this guide covers the whole spectrum of daily living according to the Holy Tradition of Orthodoxy. This is essential reading for all Orthodox, but especially for prospective or recent converts. It supplies detailed information, unavailable for the most part anywhere else in English, on Orthodox piety, fasting, maintaining a regular cycle of prayer in the home, family life, management of money, Church etiquette, preparation for the Mysteries, and proper behavior towards clergy and when visiting monasteries.
124 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
3 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 4, 2019
"For were we to attempt to reject such customs as have no written authority, on the ground that the importance that they posses is small, we should unintentionally injure the Gospel at its very vitals; or, rather, should make our public definition a mere phrase and nothing more. For instance, to take the first and most general example, who is there who has taught us in writing to sign with the cross those who have trusted in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ? [St. Basil the Great, "On the Spirit," in A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, 2nd ser., ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace]" (p. 4)
"In these times, the cult of material gain and self-indulgence has chosen to portray children as a burden. The demands placed on all members of this society to meet some mythical standard of affluence have convinced the majority of couples that both the husband and the wife must seek employment outside the home. Multiple children are more expensive to care for in such circumstance and thus, because of the materialistic focus of the parents, children are viewed as burdensome. In Orthodox families, children are considered a blessing. The children are nurtured within the home, even if that means a lower standard of living for the family." (p. 115)
"The state of the soul is not fixed in the Middle State, but can be influenced and improved-even in Hades- by the prayers and offerings of faithful believers on this earth. This Middle State should not be confused with the Latin innovation of purgatory. The purgatorial flames and torments sometimes described in medieval literature are a complete myth, according to Orthodox teaching. THe souls of the dead are not cleansed or purged of their iniquities by many years of burning torment. Once the soul parts from the body, the ability of the soul to change its own status disappears. Only the prayers of the Faithful can assist the soul after death. The soule experiences torment only in Hades, and then purely as a result of the sins it committed in earthly life. No other torment is permitted or even necessary. Saint Mark of Ephesus said of this: 'For if the remission of sins is accomplished for the sake of prayers, or merely by the Divine love of mankind itself, there is no need for punishment and cleansing (by fire).' [Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose), The Soul After Death (Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 19180), p. 212]" (p. 121)
"In these times, the cult of material gain and self-indulgence has chosen to portray children as a burden. The demands placed on all members of this society to meet some mythical standard of affluence have convinced the majority of couples that both the husband and the wife must seek employment outside the home. Multiple children are more expensive to care for in such circumstance and thus, because of the materialistic focus of the parents, children are viewed as burdensome. In Orthodox families, children are considered a blessing. The children are nurtured within the home, even if that means a lower standard of living for the family." (p. 115)
"The state of the soul is not fixed in the Middle State, but can be influenced and improved-even in Hades- by the prayers and offerings of faithful believers on this earth. This Middle State should not be confused with the Latin innovation of purgatory. The purgatorial flames and torments sometimes described in medieval literature are a complete myth, according to Orthodox teaching. THe souls of the dead are not cleansed or purged of their iniquities by many years of burning torment. Once the soul parts from the body, the ability of the soul to change its own status disappears. Only the prayers of the Faithful can assist the soul after death. The soule experiences torment only in Hades, and then purely as a result of the sins it committed in earthly life. No other torment is permitted or even necessary. Saint Mark of Ephesus said of this: 'For if the remission of sins is accomplished for the sake of prayers, or merely by the Divine love of mankind itself, there is no need for punishment and cleansing (by fire).' [Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose), The Soul After Death (Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 19180), p. 212]" (p. 121)
July 31, 2022
It contains good practical advice on how to go about developing a lifestyle in the Church for beginners.
May 22, 2025
The final chapter "The Orthodox Cycle of Life" was great, especially the section on approaching death.
September 11, 2020
I read the free online version at http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/pr_fou...
This book is very informative, especially the sections on fasting, church etiquette, and building an Orthodox home. Written from the perspective of an American convert to Orthodoxy, the book gives practical advice for living an Orthodox life in the context of western society.
Regarding church etiquette, however, the advice can be so specific that it may not correspond with the way things are done in your parish. Fortunately, the author acknowledges this and exhorts the reader to practice only the points of etiquette that they can and certainly not to feel proud or judgmental if others in his parish do things differently.
I recommend this book for newcomers to Orthodoxy as well as American converts of any experience level for the practical wisdom it affords for living our faith in our peculiar situation. Certainly ask your father-confessor about anything in it that you don't understand, that troubles you, or that might be differ from the tradition in your parish.
This book is very informative, especially the sections on fasting, church etiquette, and building an Orthodox home. Written from the perspective of an American convert to Orthodoxy, the book gives practical advice for living an Orthodox life in the context of western society.
Regarding church etiquette, however, the advice can be so specific that it may not correspond with the way things are done in your parish. Fortunately, the author acknowledges this and exhorts the reader to practice only the points of etiquette that they can and certainly not to feel proud or judgmental if others in his parish do things differently.
I recommend this book for newcomers to Orthodoxy as well as American converts of any experience level for the practical wisdom it affords for living our faith in our peculiar situation. Certainly ask your father-confessor about anything in it that you don't understand, that troubles you, or that might be differ from the tradition in your parish.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews