A collection of articles on prayer and the spiritual life, together with some of the author's own prayers. A moving testimony to the relevance of Christ, who, for Archimandrite Sophrony, is "all, and in all, the beginning and the ending" of all things.

A saint and Equal of the Apostles of our own modern times, St. Nikolai personifies the ethos of Orthodox Christian evangelism.  Many are familiar with his Grace-filled and  tremendously fruitful mission in Japan, but little has been available in English until now.

This publication of Divine Ascent Press presents for the first time a collection of writings in English introducing the reader to St. Nikolai and the culture he encountered in Japan just as it was opening its doors to the world around it.

Articles written by several scholars and believers in Japan give new insight into his life and the struggles he faced as he tirelessly sought to fulfill the  call of the  Gospel.  We see St. Nikolai mirrored in his diaries, as well as in the  lives of his disciples, who were forever changed by their discovery of Orthodox Christianity through his  unique mission.

The Christological Controversy describes the turmoil of fifth-century Christianity seeking to articulate its beliefs on the person of Christ. The policies of the Theodosian dynasty and the conflicting interests of the patriarchal sees are the context of the controversy between Nestorius of Constantinople and Cyril of Alexandria, a bitter dispute that racked the entire oecumene. The historical analysis expounds on the arguments of both sides, particularly the Christology of Cyril, which was adopted as a standard.

There is a relatively small, but determined group of people who call themselves true Orthodox, or the Church in Resistance. Having separated themselves from the large body of Orthodox Churches, they accuse the leaders of Orthodoxy of steering the Church away from the Faith of the Fathers. These self-proclaimed defenders of Orthodoxy charge that the adoption of the Gregorian Calendar, more modern clerical attire in public, efforts to develop relations with non-Orthodox and other minor changes from nineteenth century forms of Orthodoxy have compromised the essential dogma of the Church. The author, a priest of the Antiochian Archdiocese, with the blessing of Metropolitan Philip, and valuable input from several Orthodox clergy, refutes these charges and presents the truth of Orthodoxy.

Not until now has the ancient wisdom of Lao Tzu been presented alongside the otherworldly revelation of Jesus Christ in a way that encompasses the full significance of both. Avoiding the common pitfalls of religious syncretism, CHRIST THE ETERNAL TAO shows Lao Tzu’s Tao Teh Ching as a foreshadowing of what would be revealed by Christ, and Lao Tzu himself as a Far-Eastern “prophet” of the Incarnate God. Inspired by Fr. Seraphim Rose’s early studies of the Tao Teh Ching, this book draws from the unpublished translations and teachings of Fr. Seraphim’s Chinese philosophy teacher, Gi-ming Shien, in order to uncover the esoteric core of the Tao Teh Ching. Then, through the transmission of mystics of the ancient Christian East, Lao Tzu’s teaching is brought into a new dimension, exploding with new meanings. Part I contains a “New Testament” of the Tao Teh Ching, which looks at Christ through the eyes of Lao Tzu and presents the Gospel in Lao Tzu’s own intriguing way. Part II unfolds the history of the revelation of God, from the creation of man, through the fall, primordial civilization, Lao Tzu, Confucius, and the ancient Hebrews, and finally to God’s Incarnation in Jesus Christ and His ultimate revelation of His Being as Three Persons. Part III offers practical advice from Eastern Orthodox teachers on how to unite oneself to Christ the Incarnate Tao/Logos and acquire His Divine Grace (in Chinese, Teh). Much more than a mere study in comparative religion, CHRIST THE ETERNAL TAO uses Lao Tzu’s intuitive realizations as a springboard by which to catapult the spiritual seekers of our day all the way into the mystical depths of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

From Metropolitan Philip, Primate, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America:The History of Orthodoxy in the New World can, we believe, be divided into three the first is the era of the second is the era of organization and the third is the present era of spiritual renewal and maturation. Father Theodore's present work, Christ in Our Midst, eloquently addresses the concerns of this present era.... It deserves the widest possible circulation.

St. John Chrysostom delivered nine homilies on repentance in Antioch of Syria sometime between 386 and 387. With conviction and certitude, he preached that repentance was a necessity for both the sinner and the righteous man. This volume presents Chrysostom's homilies on repentance and includes a sermon on almsgiving that he preached in Antioch during the winter months in 387.

Chrysostom's work reveals that repentance is an indestructible pillar of the All-Holy, Universal and Immutable Church of Christ. He believed that repentance is the liturgical tool that rejuvenates sinners and admits them into the life-giving Eucharist where they experience fully and dynamically the concrete presence of God.

The powers of repentance have rich biblical roots, and Chrysostom masterfully weaves his teaching with a plethora of Old and New Testament citings. From Scripture, the reader learns that repentance is never confined to the eucharistic context―it becomes a way of life for the believer. The daily applications of repentance, such as almsgiving, fasting, remorse over personal sins, humility, prayer, and attending Church, suggest that a person's entire life has an ecclesial character. Chrysostom preached that the whole experience of a true life in Christ is repentance that culminates in metanoia―the total change and renewal from the heart and mind of sin to "the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16).

In his introduction to the homilies, Fr. Gus Christo includes a succinct biography of Chrysostom within which he sets the homilies in their chronological context. He also provides an overview of repentance and discusses the ecclesiological nature of Chrysostom's theology.

Gus George Christo is a priest of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, under the spiritual direction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and is currently a pastor of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in Lansing, Michigan. He received his B.A. in religious studies from the University of Virginia and his M.A. and Ph.D. in theology from the University of Durham, England. This volume is part of Fr. Christo's ongoing research and translation of the works of early Church Fathers, especially the works of St. John Chrysostom.

"This volume successfully draws readers' attention to the importance of 'repentance' in Greek theology and ecclesiology. It also sheds new light on 'preaching' as an important activity in the life of the Early Church. . . . The precise and concise sketch of the life of Chrysostom in Father Christo's Introduction helps set his sermons in their historical context. . . . This volume is a rich source of spiritual nourishment. Moreover, it is highly recommended for those who are interested in the different ways by which the Church Fathers approached and interpreted the Scripture."―Koinonia―Princeton Theological Seminary Graduate Forum

This is the definitive biography in English of one of the most famous and best-loved saints of the Orthodox Christian church. Russian by birth, St. Seraphim, (c. 1759-1833) has often been compared with St. Francis of Asissi in the West, both being known largely for their unique relationships to animals and their palpable love of all people. Beyond granting us a rich telling of this man s luminous life, Fr. Lazarus Moore additionally opens the door to the eastern Christian spirituality of the Orthodox church, often still unknown in English-speaking countries. From firsthand accounts of mystical and miraculous experiences, to deep discussions of spiritual practices and theology, the very detailed account of St. Seraphim s life is a must-read for any student of spiritualilty or person of faith. Clearly, this is not a biography in the ordinary sense. Fr. Lazarus interaction with the flame of Sarov is felt on every page. It is as though he were at St. Seraphim s side, learning from his Elder s acts and words. St. Seraphim is not only set before our eyes, but is brought into our very hearts. Fr. Lazarus leads us to an invocation of the Saint himself; we feel his presence and receive a taste of that extraordinary peace, sweetness and joy for which he is known and loved by so many. The body of this book is identical to that published in 1994 by New Sarov Press (now defunct) under the title: St. Seraphim of Sarov: A Spiritual Biography; However, this present edition has an entirely new design and offers a number of new features: a foreword by Bishop Hilarion of the ROCOR diocese; original artwork; added footnotes and editorial notes; a reflection on Fr. Lazarus Moore by his caregiver at the end of his life; a history and technical notes on the manuscript; a collection of St. Seraphim's Prayer Rules given to his spiritual children; and an Akathist Hymn to St. Seraphim translated by Fr. Lazarus.

The Correspondence between the Tubingen Theologians and Patriarch Jeremias II of Constantinople on the Augsburg Confession.

Augsburg and Constantinople was the crowning achievement of the late Very Reverend Father George Mastrantonis, a distinguished Orthodox clergyman and prolific author. First published in 1982, this book remains a work of vital interest to scholars of all faiths. The correspondence between the Lutheran theologians of Tubingen and Orthodox Patriarch Jeremiah II may be seen as the first substantive ecumenical dialogue of the post Reformation era. More than four hundred years later, these exchanges continue to have value well beyond the purely historical. In preparing this translation and commentary, Father Mastrantonis believed that these documents are "especially important today when a movement toward better understanding among churches is taking place."

Since the early days of the Church, Christians have struggled to