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Hi,

I am a Catholic of Roman Rite, lately I have been attending the devine liturgy from a Byzantine rite Catholic Church closed by and was drawn to it. I am happy to know about this forum and has been reading and learning from the posting. It helps me to know more about the Eastern Church. Thanks to all of you who writes here.

I would like to know more about teaching of the Eastern Church. Can someone tell me where can I some of the good spiritual books from writers of the Eastern Catholic church and if you can suggest some of the titles, it will help me a lot. Thanks.

Peace be will you all.

Mir.

Hi there. Speaking as a fellow Roman rite Catholic -- who loves the East and worships there when he can -- there are of course a broad variety of areas you could look at: theology, liturgy, spirituality, etc.

Speaking from experience, here's what I've personally found the most helpful:

Theology: Vladimir Lossky, The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church

Iconography: Ouspensky, The Theology of the Icon
(His book with Lossky called "The Meaning of Icons" is also very good.)

Prayer: "The Way of a Pilgrim" and "The Art of Prayer: An Orthodox Anthology"

There are many others of course.

Shlomo Lkhoolkhoon,

Just a FYI for you Romans there are multiple Eastern Churches not just those of the Byzantine Tradition. Stretch a little and find out about us also.

Poosh BaShlomo Lkhoolkhoon,
Yuhannon

We know. But keep in mind that the non-Byzantine Eastern churches aren't as prevalent, and also seem to have less available in terms of books available in English.

I haven't found such resources very readily available.

Hi Mir !

I�m a Roman Catholic as well, but I have been studying Eastern Christianity for the last two years or so. Here are some titles of books and other resources for your consideration. While I list where to buy these books, you can often get them for free to read through your local library and inter-library loans.


First, you should get yourself a copy of the Divine Liturgy by St. John Chrysostom and study it. That is because the Divine Liturgy is the living core of Eastern Catholicism. The copy you get should give the prayers of the people/choir, the prayers of the priests, and the most common hymns that are used (the troparions, kontakions and prokimenons.) If you read music, try to find a copy that also gives the music for the hymns; that will help *a lot* when you attend Divine Liturgy and try to sing along.

There are many translations into English. Perhaps the best one is the one that is used at the local Eastern Catholic parish that you might be attending.

In the meantime, you can find a copy of the Divine Liturgy here: http://www.byzantines.net/liturgy/liturgy.htm. You can find an explanation of the Divine Liturgy, step by step, at http://www.byzantines.net/liturgy/Liturgy%20Explanation.htm You can find a video of an actual Divine Liturgy (with sound !) at http://www.byzantines.net/realaudio/index.htm ; click the link for �A Guided Journey of Faith.�


Second, here are some Eastern Catholic titles:


�Light of the East�
by Fr. George Appleyard.
published in 2000
ISBN 0-923635-02-1.
This is a good primer on Eastern Catholicism.
It is available through the Byzantine Seminary Press. See http://www.byzantines.net/byzantinepress/theology.htm .


�Light for Life�
by the Eastern Catholic Churches in America (ECDD),
through �God with Us Publications�

This is a catechism of Eastern Catholicism. It is in three slim but mighty volumes. Do not underestimate the richness of the content, which is both concise and concentrated. It is written for everybody, but is it *packed* with wisdom and truth.

Volume 1: �The Mystery Believed.�
1994 ISBN 1-887158-07-3 (the basics of the faith)
Volume 2: �The Mystery Celebrated.�
1996 ISBN 1-887158-09-X (basic theology of liturgy)
Volume 3: �The Mystery Lived.�
2001 ISBN 1-887158-12-X (the basics of holiness / theosis)

These three books are available through two sources (that I know of): the Byzantine Seminary Press at http://www.byzantines.net/byzantinepress/theology.htm and Theological Book Service at http://www.theobooks.org/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=159


�A Guide for the Domestic Church�
by the Eparchy of Newton, Massachusetts, US
published in 1986
(no ISBN, at least that I can find)
This is a very good, easy-to-read book about how to live Eastern Catholicism in day-to-day life: everything about how to prepare for weekly Divine Liturgy to weddings, funerals and how to set up an icon-corner in your home. This is the practical side to living the Gospel, and it is well worth reading. It is available through Theological Book Service at http://www.theobooks.org/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=809 .


I also heartily recommend Pope John Paul the Great�s encyclical to the Eastern Catholics (and Orthodox?), entitled �Orientale Lumen� (�Light of the East�) and published in 1995. A copy of the English translation can be found at the Vatican�s website at http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/j...-ii_apl_02051995_orientale-lumen_en.html .


For online reading, I recommend this website (https://www.byzcath.org) and the sites it links to through its front page. A good FAQ about Eastern Catholicism is at http://www.assumptionbvm.net/FAQs.html . A good parish website is from St. Elias Ukrainian Catholic parish (near Toronto, Canada) at http://www.saintelias.com . See �The Eastern Christian Churches -- A Brief Survey� which is a book online (for free) by the CNEWA; see http://www.cnewa.org/ecc-bodypg.aspx?eccpageID=3&IndexView=toc . Finally, see �The Byzantine Catholic Daily Prayer and Lectionary� for a host of links to prayers, liturgical texts and recordings, and discussions of Byzantine Catholic and Orthodox spirituality at http://www.catholic-forum.com/members/popestleo/dailyprayer.html . There are many more resources online, but that should get you started.


Third, here are some resources from the Orthodox Church. Many of the Eastern Catholic Churches were once parts of the Orthodox Church. Later, they united with the Catholic Church. Many of the writings of the Orthodox Church are therefore used and respected by Eastern Catholics. Keep in mind, however, that the eastern Catholics and the Orthodox disagree on some points (the role of the papacy, the filioque, the right of the Eastern Catholics to exist, etc.). Here are some of the basic titles that are widely recommended by the Orthodox Church to inquirers and which Eastern Catholics often use too. Unless otherwise noted, these books are widely available; I suggest going through Light and Life Publishers at http://www.light-n-life.com , which is one of the main suppliers of Orthodox materials.

�The Orthodox Church�
by Bishop Kallistos (Timothy) Ware
This is the standard introduction to Orthodoxy. It covers the history as well as the main beliefs of the Orthodox Church.

�The Orthodox Way�
by Bishop Kallistos (Timothy) Ware
This is a very good, very rich introduction to Orthodox spirituality and theology.

�The Mountain of Silence�
by Kyriacos Markides
This is a good introduction on Orthodox spirituality. It is a true account of the dialogue between a Western secular seeker (the author) and a holy Orthodox monk (Fr. Maximos).

�The Way of a Pilgrim� (and �a Pilgrim Continues His Way�)
the anonymous pilgrim
This is a *classic* discussion of Orthodox prayer of the heart, to pray without ceasing, and thus to be perpetually in loving communion with God. And it is all through a little prayer, the Jesus Prayer: �Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.� To get a sense of it, see excerpts and brief commentary by Fr. Smith at http://landru.i-link-2.net/shnyves/Prayer_without_Ceasing.html#prayer Then, buy your own copy and treasure it and read it. I recommend the edition by New Sarov Press for its genuinely holy preface; it is available through Light and Life Publishers (http://www.light-n-life.com).

�Daily Readings in Orthodox Spirituality�
edited by Peter Bouteneff
This is a small, slim book of treasured passages by Orthodox writers. You may read many books once, but this you might read many times. It�s good for the bed-side and the briefcase.

�The Illness and Cure of the Soul in the Orthodox Tradition.�
by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos.
This is a powerful, concentrated book on how to become holy (theosis). The basic idea is that the human soul is ill and only God�s grace will cure it: through the process of becoming holy (theosis). Warning: the author clearly refers to non-Orthodox Christians as heretics. However, those jibes can be easily skipped to get at his penetrating discussion of theosis. It is written in the form of a dialogue. It is challenging, but it is not too technical.

�The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church�
by Vladimir Lossky
This is very challenging book, but it is supremely worth the effort. It is a superb summary and exposition of Orthodox theology. It is so powerful, you may well find yourself needing to put it down --for a few days, for a few weeks or even a few months-- to allow the material to sink into your heart and your soul. Although it is well written intellectually, it is not merely an intellectual book. This is a book for the mind, heart and spirit.

Online, there is a plethora of Orthodox materials. Perhaps the best place to start is the website for the Orthodox Church in America at http://www.oca.org . It is information-rich.


I hope this helps! Be well, and talk to a Catholic priest about all of this so he can guide you !

-- John

Shlomo Shawn,

Actually if you go to our websites you will see that there are many books in English listed for people who are interested. We Maronites have over 30 available. The Chaldeans have about 50 done, etc. My point is that no you will not kind these in most Catholic Bookstores, but if you do try you can find them.

Poosh BaShlomo,
Yuhannon

Yuhannon,

Many thanks.

Wow, the response is overwhelming. It's excited to see all the treasures that you all have put forward to help me.

Somehow, Vladimir Lossky, The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church and The Mountain of Silence� by Kyriacos Markides caught my eyes. I think I am going to start with these two.

Thanks for showing me the website that I can go on for books too. I will also remember the different Eastern Church exists, each with special gifts that God has given. Will explore them one by one.

My sincere thanks to all of you.

God bless and Peace.

Your choices are fine. The suggestions so far have been great. I would suggest that if these two books are your first choice you should read the Mountain of Silence first.

That is because it is an interesting read and not technical, it could stimulate your interest further. The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church is a more technical work which can bog one down, although I absolutely agree that it is well worth the effort.

I would put a vote in for The Orthodox Way as a backup starting option, and it is available at many libraries in my area, so it may be easy to pick up where you are.

Similarly, I always recommend The Face of God by Archbishop Joseph Raya of blessed memory. It would make a reasonable equivalent for The Orthodox Way.

And yes, it would be good to read some materials on the other traditions, the more the better in fact. And if you are ready to learn more about Theosis you should be able to glean information from across jurisdictional lines as all of the eastern churches seem to have these understandings in common.

+T+
Michael