Resources

Here are some recommended books for anyone who wants to learn more about the Orthodox Faith, from first introductions to deeper reading on prayer and the spiritual life.

Recommended Reading

Introductory Books on Orthodox Christianity

  • The Orthodox Faith, Worship, and Life: Orthodox Catechism, an Outline, Hieromonk Gregorios (New Rome Press)

  • Know the Faith: A Handbook for Orthodox Christians and Inquirers, Rev. Michael Shanbour (Ancient Faith Publishing)

  • Bible, Church, Tradition: An Eastern Orthodox View, Georges Florovsky (Crux Press, 2023)

The Holy Trinity

  • The Mystagogy of the Holy Spirit, St. Photios the Great, trans. Joseph Farrell (Holy Cross Orthodox Press)

  • The Holy Trinity in the Life of the Church (Holy Cross Studies in Patristic Theology and History), ed. Khaled Anatolios (Holy Cross Orthodox Press)

  • On the Incarnation, St. Athanasius (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press)

  • On the Holy Spirit, St. Basil the Great (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press)

Holy Scripture & Holy Tradition

  • Holy Tradition, Harry Boosalis

  • The Orthodox Faith, Vol. 1: Doctrine & Scripture, Thomas Hopko (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press)

  • Scripture in Tradition: The Bible and Its Interpretation in the Orthodox Church, Fr. John Breck (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press)

Church History

  • The Orthodox Faith, Vol. 3: Church History, Thomas Hopko (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press)

  • The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, Timothy Ware (2015 edition)

  • The Religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First Century, Stephen De Young (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2021)

  • The Historical Road of Eastern Orthodoxy, Alexander Schmemann

  • Rock and Sand: An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings, Fr. Josiah Trenham (New Rome Press)

The Divine Liturgy & the Holy Mysteries

  • The Orthodox Faith, Vol. 2: Worship, Thomas Hopko (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press)

  • The Eucharist, Alexander Schmemann (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press)

  • For the Life of the World, Alexander Schmemann (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press)

  • Let Us Attend: A Journey through the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, Fr. Lawrence Farley (Conciliar Press)

  • Of Water and the Spirit: A Liturgical Study of Baptism, Alexander Schmemann (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press)

  • The Forgotten Medicine: The Mystery of Repentance, Seraphim Aleksiev (St. Xenia Skete Press, 2nd ed. 2006)

  • Repentance & Confession, St. Nektarios (Saint Nektarios Monastery, 2002)

The Mother of God

  • Celebration of Faith, Vol. III: The Virgin Mary, Alexander Schmemann (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2001)

  • The Life of the Virgin Mary, St. Maximus the Confessor, trans. Stephen Shoemaker (Yale University Press)

  • The Feasts of the Mother of God: History & Theology of the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos

  • Mary, Worthy of All Praise: Reflections on the Virgin Mary, Fr. David R. Smith (Conciliar Press)

  • Against Those Who Are Unwilling to Confess that the Holy Virgin Is Theotokos, St. Cyril of Alexandria, Protopresbyter George Dion. (Orthodox Research Institute)

Orthodox Spiritual Life

  • Wounded by Love: The Life and Wisdom of Elder Porphyrios (Denise Harvey, Limni, Evia, Greece, 2005)

  • Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica (St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2009)

  • Sermons on the Spiritual Life, St. Philaret of Moscow (Patristic Nectar Publications, 2020)

  • The Garden of the Holy Spirit, Elder Iakovos of Evia (1999)

  • The Meaning of Suffering and Strife & Reconciliation, Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev (St. Xenia Skete Press, 4th ed. 2005)

  • The Orthodox Faith, Vol. 4: Spirituality, Thomas Hopko (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press)

  • Thinking Orthodox: Understanding and Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind, Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou, Ph.D. (2020)

Prayer

  • Prayer: Encounter with the Living God, Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 2015)

  • The Jesus Prayer and Its Application: The Opinions of Saints, of Elder Paisios and Other Contemporary Elders, Archimandrite Arsenios Katerelos (2016)

  • On Prayer, Archimandrite Sophrony (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1998)

  • On Prayer, St. Paisios the Athonite, Spiritual Counsels, Vol. VI (2022)

  • The Beginnings of a Life of Prayer, Archimandrite Irenei (St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 2012)

  • A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain: Discussion with a Hermit on the Jesus Prayer, Archimandrite Hierotheos Vlachos (1991)

  • St. John Chrysostom and the Jesus Prayer: A Contribution to the Study of the Philokalia, Archimandrite Maximos Constas and Rev. Fr. Peter A. Chamberas (New Rome Press, 2019)

Holy Icons

  • The Art of Seeing: Paradox and Perception in Orthodox Iconography, Fr. Maximos Constas (Sebastian Press)

Websites for Orthodox Books, Articles, Videos and Podcasts

Talks on YouTube

Search YouTube for talks by Fr. Maximos Constas, Fr. Zacharias Zacharou, Fr. John Behr and Fr. Josiah Trenham.

For more suggestions, please contact the church office at (480) 899-3330 or Fr. Timothy at priest@st-katherine.org.

Orthodox Resources

Trusted Orthodox organizations, schools, ministries and monasteries where you can learn more about the faith and get involved.

Orthodox Church Organizations

Orthodox Schools of Theology

Educational & Family Resources

Publications, Bookstores & Online Catalogs

Missions, Outreach & Evangelism

Orthodox Monasteries

Iconography Resources