www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall What are you reading this Fast?

Friends,

I think in the past we have discussed what we are currently reading, and during the Great Fast, I try to read as much as I can on spiritual topics.

I also have a little tradition of reading the Way of the Pilgrim every year during Lent.

I just wanted to see if others could share what they are reading, if anything during this Great Fast.

I have read:
They Way of the Pilgrim

For the Life of the World by Alexander Schmemann

Gifts of the Desert: The Forgotten Path of Christian Spirituality by Dr. Kyriacos C. Markides

The book by Dr. Markides is a wonderful and detailed look into the spirituality of the Athonite Fathers and their modern contemporaries. I would highly suggest this book to anyone. I have found it really enlightening and has energized my prayerlife over a hundred fold. Definately a gread read for the Great Fast because it deals with dying to yourself, and making your life into a spiritual desert in order to obtain Theosis.

So, with all that said, what are you reading? What can you suggest for others?

-uc

1. Archbishop Raya's, The Face of God.

2. Joseph Loya's, The Tao of Jesus

3. Selections from the Philokalia

I think I'll follow your lead and reread The Way of the Pilgrim.

CDL

Thomas Merton - New Seeds of Contemplation

St. John of the Cross - Dark Night of the Soul

Great idea for a topic !

I just got done reading "Father Arseny: 1893-1973 -- Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father". The subtitle pretty much summarizes the book. What a saint this man was ! What a starets! He had many mystical gifts. But the most impressive gift was how he simply and steadfastly carried out the Gospel by doing good to all: for almost 20 years in a Soviet prison camp and then for 15 years after his release. His motto was a quote from Galatians 6:2. "Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." He taught this in words and especially by example. He helped ordinary people uncover this truth in their lives -- even under the most trying circumstances. This is not just a series of accounts about a saint. This is a series of lessons about how each of us can become a saint. I enthusiastically recommend this book.

-- John

What about The Ladder of Divine Ascent? I thought Easterners were supposed to read a rung per day throughout March, ending on the 30th, the Feast of St. John Climacus (Klimakos.)

Westerners celebrate his feast that day too!

I am reading the Little Russian Philokalia, Vol I by St. Seraphim of Sarov.

Oh, I forget to mention that other Book I have been reading, which is always first on my list:

The Bible



-uc

I only read two books no matter what time of year it is:

(1) The Bible, especially the Gospel of St. John; and

(2) Story of a Soul, the Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux.

JP

P.S. Father Niemann told me tonight that a friend of his is the pastor of an Eastern Catholic or Orthodox Church in Siberia. His congregation developed a great devotion to St. Therese when they learned of her great love for Russia. This little French nun, who died when she was only 24 years old, sure has a lot of devotees across the world.

I'm also reading "Gifts of the Desert" by Kyriacos Markides... great, isn't it?

And I also just bought "For the Life of the World" by Alexander Schmemann and "The Lenten Spring" by Fr. Thomas Hopko. I haven't read these yet, though...

Hi,

I seem to have run across a lot of Orthodox who have a devotion to the Little Flower. :-)

Of course, I know Catholics who have a devotion to the late Orthodox bishop St. Nektarios.