www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Scripture and Patristic Writings What should be priority reading?

Dear Friends,

What could be a solid, well-rounded reading program re: Patristics?

What should one start with first and then slowly progress to next?

Alex

Well, if someone asked me where to start in reading about Orthodoxy, I would say Dostoevsky.

Andrew

Dear Andrew,

I've already read Dostoevsky - his father was Ukrainian, I believe

But what after Dostoevsky?

What is your own reading plan in this regard, if I may ask?

PAX,

Alex

Gogol next of course!

Andrew

Daer Andrew,

I've read his book on the "Divine Liturgy" and also his "Taras Bulba."

The only thing "spiritual" I got out of the latter is how to deal with Orthodox (especially relatives) when they go over to the RC side . . .

Alex

In particular I'm thinking of Dead Souls, both the content of the story and the circumstances of Gogol's life surrounding its composition.

Now, as to your real question, I can't be of much help. In truth I'm really a catechism person when it comes to theology (I am a simple peasant after all). I do better with having the ideas of the Fathers summarized and explained clearly. When I have tried to read patristic texts directly, I have to admit I struggle. Many of the threads on this board, like the created grace one, are way over my head.

One book I did enjoy is called "The Holy Fire: The Story of the Fathers of the Eastern Church", written by Robert Payne with an introduction by Fr. Hopko. It's dated, but I like it.

Andrew

I recommend the following (this list is by no means exhaustive):

The Apostolic Fathers-especially the writings of Ignatius of Antioch

St. Athanasius-On the Incarnation of the Word of God, Against the Arians, Letter to Serapion

St. Basil of Caesarea-all his writings but especially On the Holy Spirit

St. Gregory of Nazianzus-all his writings but especially the Theological Orations

St. Gregory of Nyssa-all his writings

St. Cyril of Jerusalem-the Catechetical and Mystagogical lectures

St. John Chrysostom-On the Priesthood, On Wealth and Poverty, any of his sermons (he is widely regarded as the greatest preacher of the Patristic Age)

St. Cyril of Alexandria-On the Unity of Christ and his Twelve Anathemas against Nestorius-also, reading the replies of Theodoret to the Twelve Anathemas are helpful for understanding the christological controversy

St. Maximus the Confessor-everything, but be warned that his writings can be difficult

St. John of Damascus-On the Orthodox Faith

St. Ambrose of Milan-On the Holy Spirit, On the Mysteries, and On the Sacrament of the Incarnation of Our Lord

This link provides an online source of the Ante-Nicene and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers-it's nice because it's free and gives you lots of important works, but this series is generally considered to be of poor quality with respect to translation-but it does give a good idea about what a lot of the important writings are

http://www.ccel.org/fathers.html

Alex:

Glory be to Jesus Christ!! Glory be to Him forever and ever!!!

What does your spiritual father say?

Seems to me since the Christian life is not a "do-it-yourself" walk one ought to put oneself under the guidnace of an experienced teacher who will recommend the first step, then the next, and tailor where you are going by your personality and your prayer life development.

In Christ,

BOB

Dear Bob,

Right now, my spiritual Father is St Benedict! )

He tells me to read Cassian's Conferences et alia in his Rule and, ideally, for two to three hours a day (one hour, I think, would be fine for this oblate novice with more as time permits).

St Benedict was very "big" on spiritual reading and, at Lent, he intended that the Abbot give every monk a book for him to read from cover to cover.

This experience has already taught me that while I'm good at tearing through books on an intellectual plane, I"m bad at assuming the spiritual goods that are contained in their words on a deeper spiritual plane.

Prayer and reading have all become grist for meditation/contemplation and I've realized that without recollection, thought, consideration and inner spiritual assimilation of the words we pronounce and read - we don't really have the best possible contact with God that we can!

Work has also become transformed for me. Work for me is a daily spiritual exercise that should heighten self-discipline, recollectedness and the spirit of obedience and mortification.

It matters not what we do, whether gardening, kitchen work (yes, I'm a husband too!), and other things. What matters is how we work and how we give ourselves to our work as part of an ongoing effort to bring beauty, order and compassion to the world and our particular part of it.

The Rule of St Benedict pierces one's heart with compassion - compassion for the poor and also for animals!

There is an ever-growing awareness within me to identify fully with the needs of others.

Prayer is also becoming transformed for me - rather than see it selfishly as something "I" do or that is "mine" - I now see it as something that is shared, in common with others, as part of a larger body of committed believers.

Intercessory prayer is now more important than ever. What better way to glorify God than to constantly pray for the needs of others, including one's own, and show affirm our total reliance, vulnerability and dependence on God's Mercy, Love and help?

PAX,

Alex

Dear Alex,

Hi!

I'm biased (perhaps for obvious reasons) towards the "method" used by Fr. John Behr in The Way to Nicaea. If you're able to make it through that book and the writings of the theologians he considers therein, I'd say that's a solid foundation upon which to build, even if one does not immediately afterwards pick up his The Nicene Faith.

(No, I was not paid for the advertisement, although Patristics was, IIRC, my best class.)

Vladimir Lossky The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church (St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1998)

This was suggested by an Orthodox poster on Beliefnet, I think I will try it soon...

Alex (and others),

If you are relying on St. Benedict up in heaven as your spiritual father you are doomed to fail. Our Byzantine Christian spiritual tradition asks that we place ourselves under the direction of a spiritual father or mother to whom we can both receive direction and to whom we can be held accountable.

Find a spiritual father or mother and stick with him. Follow his direction over the long term. If you don�t you will always remain at the starting gate and always be running from one new idea to the next.

Admin

Dear Brother Alexander,

I am not sure how is in English, but a good fountain is The Egyptian Paterikon, Apophtegmata Patrum.

Little sayings, but so rich and so touching for a soul. A good fountain which is also called the ABC of monks.

Brother Alexander, I would tell you also this: ask your Father Confessor what works to read. Read with blessing, in obedience.

Forgive me.

In Risen Christ <><

Marian +

www.sacredromania.com [sacredromania.com]

Dear Marian (and the Administrator),

Yes, I only meant that my Director is on retreat until September 11th so, right NOW, my director is St Benedict!

I will submit to him and his advice with respect to reading - absolutely!

Alex

Alex:

I guess my approach has been different. When my spiritual father would give me direction, I would ask what I should do with a reference to Cassian's work when it was referred to in something I'd been given to read. I wouldn't go off to that other source immediately.

Part of what we are doing is gaining understanding through our study, but part of what is intended is that we learn discipline by how we approach learning. And the discipline is probably more important than the learning because it gives the Holy Spirit a willing, open vessel through which to work.

In Christ,

BOB