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Dear Parish Faithful,
I
thought to compile a list of more-or-less Orthodox "lenten classics"
that you may want to draw from as this year's Great Lent approaches. I
have read and re-read these books through the years and they have all
had an impact on my spiritual formation.
Each
book here is quite accessible. No dry theology, but a lively approach
to God and the spiritual struggles that we all face; as well as
deeply-pondered wisdom to guide us in our journey toward not only our
annual Pascha celebration, but in our life-long journey to the Kingdom
of God.
As
we pray, fast and practice charity during this season, a good book that
deepens our understanding of God so that we can build our relationship
with God is one more important component to a holistic lenten effort.
I
have kept my personal list to an Orthodox Top Ten. Some of the
suggested titles are specifically lent-oriented; while some are more
general in appeal, but would be excellent choices during Great Lent, I
believe.
Of
course, any such list of good books presupposes that our primary
reading source is always the Holy Scriptures. We begin with the Word of
God - the prescribed Old Testament books perhaps, together with the
Psalter. During Great Lent we also read from the remarkable Epistle to
the Hebrews and the austere Gospel According to St. Mark.
However,
the books on the attached list are certainly more than mere
supplementary reading. They are books written by teachers and guides who
love God and who desire to awaken that same love of God in our own
minds and hearts.
* The books with an asterisk can be found in our parish library.
If you have already read all of these books and are looking for something new, feel free to contact me for further suggestions.
Fr. Steven
Lenten Reading List
+ Great Lent by Fr. Alexander Schmemann
* — Recommended by Arch. Kallistos Ware as the best single volume about
Lent in English, this book has become a “classic” that should be read
by one and all. After reading this book, you will never approach the
Lenten services in exactly the same way. In fact, you just may want to
come to church more often during Great Lent. This book includes the
great appendix chapter, “Taking Lent Seriously” which you will do after
reading this book!
+ The Lenten Spring by Fr. Thomas Hopko
* — Also already something of a “classic.” This is a series of forty
three-four page meditations on a variety of lenten themes. A wonderful
use of the Scriptures and the Church’s Lenten hymnography, together with
Fr. Hopko’s endless stream of great insights.
+ The Way of the Ascetics
* by Tito Colliander, a Finnish Orthodox lay theologian, and another
“classic”(!). — Short insightful chapters that are very challenging in
today’s world about an “applied Orthodoxy” in our daily living. Also
available as an eBook.
+ Prayer: An Encounter With the Living God
by Metropolitan Ilarion Alfeyev. — A relatively new book by one of
today’s most prolific and gifted theologians/spiritual directors. Short
straightforward chapters that yield many insights into the practice of
serious and effective prayer. Very practical and quite helpful for that
very reason.
+ The Passion of Christ by Veselin Kesich.
— This was my New Testament professor at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. A
compact and clearly-written account of the Lord’s death on the Cross.
Prof. Kesich walks you through the Lord’s earthly ministry and all of
the factors that led to the Lord’s Passion. In only about a hundred
pages, this book will illuminate a great deal for you as we move toward
Holy Week during Great Lent.
+ The Power of the Name: The Jesus Prayer in Orthodox Spirituality
by Archbishop Kallistos Ware. — Certainly the best short introduction
to the Jesus Prayer by a lifelong student and practitioner of the great
“prayer of the heart.” Arch. Ware distills years of study and practice
into an unforgettable forty-page treatise. Yes – another classic!
+ The Place of the Heart* by Elizabeth Behr-Sigel.
— The author has been described as the “grandmother” of 20th c.
Orthodox writers. A European lay theologian, Behr-Sigel’s book is
subtitled “An Introduction to Orthodox Spirituality.” This is a
far-ranging description of how our immensely rich spiritual tradition
developed from the Scriptures to the present day. A very rich
presentation. Actually, Arch. Ware’s essay on The Power of the Name is
included here as an Appendix.
+ Becoming Human by Fr. John Behr
— A marvelous and profound meditation – accompanied by iconographic
images – on the Person of Christ and how Christ is the link toward our
own true humanity. Many great new insights here that Fr. John has put
into a short meditative form based on his other scholarly studies of the
early Christian tradition. A profound link is made between Christ –
the one true human being – and our own emerging humanity after His
image.
+ God’s Many-Splendored Image by Nonna Verna Harrison
* — Verna Harrison is an Orthodox nun, known as Sister Nonna. She is
also a highly-respected patristic scholar and theologian. This book
explores “theological anthropology for Christian formation.” That
sounds rather intimidating, but prominent readers have said that
“clarity, simplicity, beauty, and depth” characterize the content and
style of this book. A truly wonderful exploration of what it means to
be, as a human being, “God’s many-splendored image.” Insightful
observations are made in this book about figures ranging from desert
fathers to Albert Einstein. Sister Nonna dedicated the book “to all
people whom other people have thrown away. It shows that God does not
throw away people.” Who would not want to read a book with a dedication
like that?
+ The Sayings of the Desert Fathers – The Alphabetical Collection,
Benedicta Ward (editor and translator). — Here are the multitude of
aphorisms, anecdotes and wisdom sayings of the great desert fathers
arranged alphabetically (the Gk. alphabet, that is) from the letters
Alpha to Omega, and everything in between. These are the words of life
from the great pioneers of Christian asceticism and the spiritual life.
We read the words of Sts. Anthony the Great, Arsenius, and Macarius the
Great and a host of other spiritual guides. An endless source of
wisdom that can be read through the years.
