A Suggested Reading List for Inquirers
Compiled by Patrick Barnes
This list is geared towards doctrine and church history. I
want it known up front that, as Bishop Kallistos has often stated, "Orthodoxy is not
a system of ideas, but a way of life." When asked about recommended reading on the
Orthodox Faith, Bishop Kallistos says that people should focus on the lives of the saints.
The saints exemplify the fullness of Orthodoxy, which is not a "religion," but a
therapeutic method—a way of cure—undertaken within the Church and involving
purification, illumination, and glorification (theosis). Orthodoxy cannot be
understood simply by reading articles and books, and thus I do not want to give that
impression.
However, as is often the case,
inquirers into the Orthodox Faith often have some doctrinal and historical issues
to work through. This was certainly the case in my own journey towards Orthodoxy.
That is why I have included this Suggested Reading List on my site. It is not
comprehensive, but only suggests certain key books to help one work through
issues that Western Christian inquirers often face. Also, I was an Anglican
for some time and have another Addendum
to address issues from that tradition. I have not listed lives of Orthodox Saints
here because they are too numerous. I recommend picking up any of the
lives of Orthodox Saints, which can be found through the bookstores
listed on my Bookstore Resources page, or elsewhere on the Internet.
Furthermore, as I said on this site's Statement of Purpose page (which I truly hope you will read),
one cannot comprehend Orthodox Christianity without experiencing it, especially
the richness of the Church's liturgical life. Though this reading list may help you become
intellectually convinced of the Truth preserved in the Orthodox Church, a
transformation will ultimately have to occur in your heart as well. This comes through
worship, prayer, and ascetic struggle—i.e., an active participation in the Church's
mysteriological life. It is the saints' lives that best exemplify the depths, riches, and
transforming power of Orthodoxy. To get a better understanding of what I am getting at,
read What is Orthodoxy?, by Archbishop Averky.
Finally, probably the best overall introduction to
Orthodoxy is The Orthodox Church by Bishop
Kallistos Ware. However, one should be well aware of the numerous problems with this book
(see the superb lengthy review by Hieromonk Patapios).
The earlier editions of this book are best. Try to find a used copy of the 1963 or 64
editions. For those interested in a more comprehensive
and general understanding of Orthodox Theology I highly recommend
the following two works:
Orthodox
Dogmatic Theology by Fr. Michael Pomazansky. It is indispensable. For a highly
favourable and scholarly review of this exceptional work see The Greek Orthodox
Theological Review, 32, 1-2, 1986.
Eastern Patristic Thought and Orthodox Theology. By Constantine
Tsirpanlis. Collegeville MN: The Liturgical Press, 1991. Pp. 214 + Appendices, Notes, and
Indices. $16.95, paper. Read an excellent book review.
Finally, if you have not already visited the "Articles for Inquirers" page you will want to do so. There are
many articles there which complement the books listed below.
I. Initial Exposure to "Catholic Thinking" for Evangelical Protestants
By "Catholic" I do not mean Roman
Catholic, but rather "according to the whole [the fullness of
Christianity]." These books are easy to read and all less than 150 pages. They
provide a good basic introduction to "things ancient and catholic," and were
helpful to me in getting started down the path which eventually led to the Orthodox
Church.
Bercot, David, Will the Real Heretics Please Stand
Up?, Tyler, TX: Scroll Publishing Company, 1989. Available directly from
them at P.O. Box 6175, Tyler, TX, 75711. This is a short, popularly written look at the
views of the early Church. I am reluctant to recommend it because it has many flaws from
the Orthodox perspective. However, because it has been helpful to many Evangelicals
awakening to an understanding of Christianity beyond the modern American and Protestant
expression of it, I include it here. I wrote the author a letter and
critiqued the book from an Orthodox perspective.
Gillquist, Peter, Becoming Orthodox. Ben Lomond:
Conciliar Press. Though there are a number of things the author says in
this book which are either inaccurate or stated in a decidedly un-Orthodox tone, this
popular account of the conversion of approximately two thousand evangelical Protestants to
the Orthodox Church has helped many embrace the True Faith. I recommend it cautiously,
though without in any way wishing to impugn the author's zeal or sincere intentions to
lead others to the Church.
Howard, Thomas, Evangelical is Not Enough: Worship of God
in Liturgy and Sacrament. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1984. Brother of
Elizabeth Elliot. Evangelical- fundamentalist background, Anglican for 25 years, then
converted to Rome. Written in evangelical "testimony language" similar to C. S.
Lewis' style. A delight to read. Destined to become a classic for people "on the
trail."
Schmemann, Alexander, For the Life of the World:
Sacraments and Orthodoxy. Crestwood, N.Y.: St. Vladimir's Press, 1988. A good
short introduction to the Orthodox mysteriological (sacramental) worldview. This book has
been a real "paradigm-shifter" for many Western Christians.
II. Introductions to Orthodoxy
Bajis, Jordan, Common Ground: An Introduction to Eastern
Christianity for the American Christian. Minneapolis, MN: Light and Life, 1991.
Geared specifically for the typical modern American evangelical Christian. It is divided
into four sections: 1. Western and Eastern Outlooks Compared (Ch.1-3); 2. Tradition,
Bible, and Authority (Ch. 4-8); 3. The Church (Ch. 9-11); 4. Sacraments and Salvation (Ch.
12-17). Fantastic footnotes and bibliography for further reading.
The Roman West and
the Byzantine East, by Archbishop Chrysostomos and
Bishop Auxentios. Available from The Center
for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies. This is a superb, short treatment
of general differences between East and West. "This little book takes
us back to the quest for truth and tells us why we Orthodox believe that
our Church is true to the Church established by the Apostles, why she
has historical and spiritual primacy. It does so by pointing out differences
and by the bold proclamation of Orthodoxy's uniqueness." [from the
back cover]. Also, I cannot resist including this excerpt from p. 10:
"All history, one might say, is artificial... The Western view of
the Christian past, however, is particularly artificial—it
is a rather a "whopping lie," as the modern idiom would have
it, if only because it ignores the historical experience of more than
half of the Christian world, the Christian East, from which Western Christianity
itself derives! Yet, it has gained such ascendancy that one is hesitant
to challenge it. It is so ubiquitous that even Eastern Christians, especially
those living in the West, often embrace it themselves. And if they do
not, in fact, embrace it as their personal view, they often feel compelled
to speak within its framework in trying to present their own perspectives
on the Christian past. The Western view has, indeed, become triumphant,
despite its inadequacies in accounting, as we shall see, for a vast part
of Christian history."
Clendenin, Daniel B., Eastern Orthodox Christianity: A
Western Perspective. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1994. A very lucid and helpful
introduction to the Orthodox Church for a Westerner. Written by a fairly well-informed
evangelical protestant. It contains very good footnotes and an extensive bibliography. The
only drawback is that he does not deal with the two major areas of ecclesiology and
sacraments. Read
an excerpt from the book. See also his Eastern Orthodox Theology: A
Contemporary Reader. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1995, which is a good
supplement to his first book. It contains a collection of hard to find classic articles and chapters from books by Orthodox theologians.
Ware, Timothy, The Orthodox Church. Baltimore: Penguin,
1996 (1963). A very popular standard introduction to the Orthodox Church written by a
former Anglican (now Orthodox Bishop). This book provides a helpful overview of the
history and dogma of the Orthodox Church. Unfortunately, later additions of this book have
been marred by some increasingly un-Orthodox ideas (most likely flowing from ecumenism). It has come under a fair amount of
criticism in circles holding faithfully to Holy Tradition. (See the excellent review of this book by Hieromonk
Patapios.)
Schaeffer, Frank, Dancing Alone: The Quest for Orthodox Faith in the Age of False
Religions. Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Press, 1994. Frank Schaeffer is the son of
the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer. The first half is a jolting polemic concerning the
problems in Western Christianity, followed by a thorough treatise of the author's
solution: Eastern Orthodoxy. Though often unfair and sweeping in some of his criticisms of
the West, Frank has done an excellent job of stirring people up to consider the
"western dilemma" and to seriously consider a discovery of the riches of the
east. Worthwhile reading, but beware of polemic overgeneralizations and attitudes that are
often not accepted by many seasoned Orthodox Christians. Read an
excerpt from the book.
III. Bible, Church (Ecclesiology), and Tradition
If you haven't already, you will soon discover when reading the works listed
below that it is impossible to separate the Bible, Tradition, and the Church from one
another. They comprise one Sacred Tapestry woven by the Holy Spirit. This important
concept—encapsulated in St. Paul's statement that "the Church is the pillar and ground of the Truth" (1
Timothy 3:15), not the Bible—was
truly the pivotal discovery in my own journey to the Orthodox Church. Thus, the question
"What is the Church?" is—to my mind—the most important question a Christian can ask. All other issues
are "downstream" of this one; for the Church, guided by
the Holy Spirit, inerrantly preserves the Truth for all ages. Find
the Church and you find the Truth. Orthodoxy is the authentic
criterion of Christianity.
Archimandrite [now Archbishop] Chrysostomos and Archimandrite
[now Bishop] Auxentios, Scripture and Tradition. Etna, CA: The Center for
Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, 1994. This is arguably the best book on this subject
available in the English language (perhaps in any language). Read the comments on the back
cover by Fr. George florovsky: "The thoughts presented...[in several essays appearing
in the present book]...are clear expositions of classical Patristic reasoning. They should
certainly appear in print, and without a doubt they will be received as important
contributions to the body of Orthodox literature."
Congar, Yves M.-J., Tradition and Traditions: An Historical Essay and a Theological
Essay. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1967. [out-of-print]. I recommend
this book with caution as it is by a Roman Catholic author, though one who was
thoroughly versed in the Holy Fathers. It is very scholarly, and, if one can
plow through it (it is over 500 pages, loaded with footnotes) the book is invaluable.
Until I discovered the works by the Center for
Traditionalist Orthodox Studies I would have said that this was the most
important book I had read besides the Bible. The reason is because through Congar's
masterful presentation I was able to see the inescapable relationship between
the Bible, Tradition, and the Church. I intellectually ceased being a Protestant
after reading this. However, having said all that, I would not recommend this
to someone who was not thoroughly familiar with the Orthodox understanding of
Holy Tradition, specifically as laid out by Fr. George Florovsky and the writers
at the Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies.
Hierodeacon Gregory, The Church, Tradition,
Scripture, Truth, and Christian Life: Some Heresies of Evangelicalism and an
Orthodox Response. Etna, CA: Center for Traditionalist
Orthodox Studies, 1995. This is a must read for all Evangelical Protestants.
Read the book review.
Florovsky, Georges, Collected Works. vol. 1, Bible,
Church, Tradition. Belmont, MA: Nordland, 1972-79. [out-of-print, but still
available]. This little gem is under 100 pages and a superb treatment of the Eastern
Orthodox perspective on Tradition.
Khomiakov, Alexey, The Church is One. Seattle,
WA: St. Nectarios Press, 1979. This is another very important treatise on the
Church, from the preeminent 19th century Russian lay-theologian. For interaction with his
essay consult Vladimir Lossky's Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church. This is
also now available on line: click here.
Meyendorff, John, ed., The Primacy of Peter: Essays in Ecclesiology and the Early
Church. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1992. Outstanding articles
by a number of scholars. A very important book.
Rogers, Gregory, Apostolic Succession. Ben Lomond, CA:
Conciliar Press, 1989. 40 pages. Clearly lays out the Biblical and patristic evidence
for apostolic succession. Excellent bibliography.
Troitsky, Archbishop Ilarion, Christianity or the
Church?. Jordanville, NY: Holy Trinity Monastery, 1985. A classic that
should be read by all. This Holy Martyr under the Communist Yoke clearly shows from
innumerable Scriptural and Patristic sources that one cannot have Christianity without the
Church. They are inseparable. Full text available
now on the Internet or from St. John of
Krondstadt bookstore (615-536-5945).
________________, The Unity of the Church and the World Conference of
Christian Communities. Montreal: Monastery Press, 1975. 72pp. The best
overview on the issue of canonical economy, boundaries of the Church, etc. Archbishop
Ilarion is incredibly lucid and patristic. Available from same sources as above.
IV. General Critiques of Western Christianity
[Arch]bishop Chrysostomos of Etna, Humility, Vol
I in the Themes in Orthodox Patristic Psychology series. Etna, CA: The Center for
Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, 1986. This is an important short book on the
theme of humility according to the consensus of the Holy Fathers. Although the entire four
volume series is outstanding, of special interest to Protestants will be Repentance,
Vol. III. Throughout these books the author interacts with and critiques the Western
understanding of each virtue.
Bishop [now Archbishop] Chrysostomos of Oreoi [now of Etna]
and Hieromonk[now Bishop] Auxentios, The Roman West and the Byzantine East. Etna,
CA: The Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies, 1988. See comments above in the
"Introductions to Orthodoxy" section.
Bajis, Jordan, Common Ground: An Introduction to Eastern
Christianity for the American Christian. Minneapolis, MN: Light and Life, 1991.
Geared specifically for the typical modern American evangelical Christian. It is divided
into four sections: 1. Western and Eastern Outlooks Compared (Ch. 1-3); 2. Tradition,
Bible, and Authority (Ch4-8); 3. The Church (Ch. 9-11); 4. Sacraments and Salvation (Ch.
12-17). Fantastic footnotes and bibliography for further reading.
Bercot, David, Will the Real Heretics Please Stand
Up?, Tyler, TX: Scroll Publishing Company, 1989. Available directly from
them at P.O. Box 6175, Tyler, TX, 75711. See previous comments on this book, above. I wish
to highlight here the chapter on Predestination and the early church.
Bouyer, Louis, The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism. Westminster,
MD: The Newman Press, 1961. [out-of-print]. A sympathetic yet critical analysis
of the Protestant Reformation by a former Lutheran who converted to Roman Catholicism. In
the first half he praises the first principles of the Reformation, ironically identifying
them with true Catholicism. In Part II he shows how those same first principles decayed
and protestantism fell apart due to its failure to properly critique and throw off the
nominalistic framework of the late medieval period. The "good" of protestantism
can only be sustained and flourish within catholicism (of course, he argues for the Roman
Church).
Bruce, Steve, A House Divided: Protestantism, Schism, and
Secularization. London and New York: Rutledge, 1990. [very expensive—better go to a library for this one!] A broad
historical and sociological exploration of the key elements of Protestantism in the modern
world. He argues that division, schism, and fragmentation are inherent in the nature of
Protestantism.
Florovsky, Georges, Collected Works. vol. XIII, Ecumenism
I: A Doctrinal Approach. Vaduz, Europa: Bchervertriebsanstalt, 1989. [out-of-print]
I cannot too highly recommend this book or it's companion, vol. XIV, Ecumenism II:
A Historical Approach. Practically every chapter is loaded with insights that are
applicable to the Reformation, Church, and the East. Volume XIII has a lengthy critique of
Reformed theology in the context of a survey of the New Testament (pp. 102-133). This
section in particular is one of the most important things I have ever read. It is also
duplicated in Volume X (pp. 17-59).
Hierodeacon Gregory, The Church, Tradition,
Scripture, Truth, and Christian Life: Some Heresies of Evangelicalism and an
Orthodox Response. Etna, CA: Center for Traditionalist
Orthodox Studies, 1995. This is a masterful and succinct treatment of Protestant
errors. A must read. Read the book review.
Lee, Philip J, Against the Protestant Gnostics. New
York: Oxford University Press, 1987. This incredibly important work by a
Protestant pastor "traces gnostic motifs to the very roots of American
Protestantism." It is profoundly insightful. I count it as one of the more important
books in my intellectual pilgrimage.
Mascall, E. L., The Recovery of Unity: A Theological
Approach. London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1958. This is another one of the most
important books I've ever read. The entire work is fabulous. His main thesis is similar,
yet broader, than Bouyer's (below)—
that the divisions in the West are due to "our common inheritance of uncriticised
assumptions," mainly centered around the medieval bequest of nominalism. In Ch. 4,
"Protestantism: A Critical Analysis", Mascall reviews Bouyer's Spirit and
Forms of Protestantism. A must read!!
Mastrantonis, George, Augsburg and Constantinople.
Brookline, MA: Holy Cross Press, 1982. This is a fabulous book documenting the
dialogue between Patriarch Jeremiah II and the Lutheran scholars at Tubingen in the 16th
century. Many points of doctrine are discussed. One comes away with a clear understanding
of both the Lutheran and Orthodox position, and how they both approach their differences.
Indispensable reading about Orthodoxy and Protestantism. Read some excerpts . . .
Meyendorff, John, Catholicity and the Church.
Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1983. The entire book is well worth
reading but see esp. his chapter entitled "The Significance of the Reformation in the
History of Christendom," pp. 65-82 (Orthodox perspective).
_______________, Byzantine Theology: Historical Trends and
Doctrinal Themes. New York: Fordham Univ. Press, 1979. Detailed and scholarly. Not
an easy read but for many Western Christians it has been on of the key theological books
in their journey. Father John interacts with Western views throughout this work.
_______________, and Robert Tobias, Salvation in Christ: A
Lutheran-Orthodox Dialogue. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press, 1992. Many
topics under the umbrella of "salvation" are treated in this compilation of
ecumenical studies. A most useful comparison of the differences between Orthodox dogma and
those that emerged from the Reformation. If unavailable through sources listed below order
directly from the publisher: (800) 531-5461.
Pelikan, Jaroslav, "Orthodox Theology in the West:
The Reformation," in The Legacy of St. Vladimir. Crestwood, NY: St.
Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1990. See also my paper entitled "The Church is Visible and One", in which I quote
heavily from volume 5 of Pelikan's masterful Christian Tradition series. This
would be a must read for those interested in a critique of the Reformation.
Rose, Seraphim, The Place of Blessed Augustine in the
Orthodox Church. Platina, CA: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 1983. A short,
balanced treatment of this Saint whose theology is at the core of Western Christianity.
Schmemann, Alexander, ed., Ultimate Questions: An Anthology
of Modern Russian Religious Thought. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Press, 1977.
See Khomyakov's important, albeit triumphalistic essay entitled "On the Western
Confessions of Faith."
Ware, Bishop KALLISTOS, How Are We Saved?: The Understanding of Salvation
in the Orthodox Tradition. Minneapolis, MN: Light
and Life, 1996. This little book (80+ pages) covers seemingly every aspect of
salvation, with great lucidity and economy. He offers continual comparisons with the
Western views on this, both Roman Catholic and Protestant. It is the best short treatment
of the subject I've read. Every sentence seems carefully chosen and loaded with meaning.
Where Can I Find These Great Materials?
Most of these books, except those listed as out-of-print, can be purchased through one of the bookstores listed on my General
Information page. Or try the Advanced Book Exchange.
Finally, an excellent companion for one's library while searching these
things out is William Jurgens' The Faith of the Early Fathers (three volumes;
Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 1979). It is an extremely helpful compilation
of all the patristic writings arranged topically for quick and easy reference.
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