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I am a Byzantine Catholic attending a Latin Rite Parish. My spiritual reading consists of such Latin Rite saints as Teresa of Avila and Thomas a Kempis. My Latin Rite priest, who is also my spiritual director, suggested I find some Eastern Rite spiritual readings along the same lines so I do not neglect my Eastern Rite heritage, but he couldn't offer any suggestions because he is not familiar with Eastern Rite literature. I have 2 of the 3 volumes of the Byzantine Rite catechism, but he said no, I should get something SPIRITUAL, not DOCTRINAL. Any suggestions?

Dear Tammy, consider "The Face of God" by Archbishop Joseph Raya, available from Theological Book Service. This is a nice collection of essays dealing with a wide range of topics.

Also I would consider "Jesus, a Dialogue with the Savior" available from Icon and Book Service, www.iconbook.org [iconbook.org] and from the same author (Monk of the Eastern Church/Lev Gillet) "Year of Grace of our Lord" which is a wonderful set of spiritual reflections of the Byzantine liturgical year.

Another good book explaining the spirituality of the Byzantine tradition is Bishop Kallistos Ware's "The Orthodox Way".

And you can always read "The Way of the Pilgrim" which is available in most Barnes and Noble/Borders stores. This book in a very readable way ties in such essential Byzantine spiritual influences as the Jesus Prayer, the Philokalia, and Scripture.

Needless to say there are so many others, but that is a good start. Nicholas Cabisilas' "Life in Christ" and a collection of the larger Philokalia such as "Writings from the Philokalia on Prayer of the Heart" are a great next step after reading some of the stuff mentioned previously.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Hello Tammy, I appreciate the question because I also am on the hunt for good spiritual writing of the East!

I second the motion, the Orthodox Way is great. You WILL get doctrine as you read, no way to separate it.

I am glad Diak mentioned Lev Gilletts writings because I had not considered them before and I think that's a pick for me!

Paulist Press has some very good books that can be ordered through the website or from a bookstore. I would read "Ladder of Divine Ascent" by John Climacus or "Nil Sorsky, the complete writings" or "Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain". This last one has the writings of a compiler/editor of the Philokalia.

On another note one might like to read the "Sayings if the Desert Fathers" by Benedicta Ward, published by Cistercian Press or "Drinking from the Hidden Fountain" by Thomas Spidlik (also Cistercian Press). These can be taken in as bite-sized pieces, perfect for people in a busy world.

Happy hunting!

Michael

One book I love and a Saint I read for spiritual guidance is put out by the Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies,Belmont Mass.It is Vol. 5 of Modern Orthodox Saints,St Seraphim of Sarov by Constantine Cavarnos and Mary-Barbare Zeldin.I love his writings and His icon is in my Icon corner.He is a Russian saint and is said to be Like a St Francis Of the Roman Church,.Worth reading, in this sinners opinion.That is his Icon I use on my profile.Greg PS Welcome to the forum,I'm fairly new myself

Thanks, guys! I ordered The Way of the Pilgrim and The Ladder of Divine Ascent from amazon.com based on your recommendations. Would definitely like to get a hold of some of Bishop Raya's books, but amazon doesn't carry them new and I've been burned by ordering through their used clearinghouse... I have the Byzantine Book of Prayer and the intro is written by Bishop Raya. I found him fascinating.

Tammy,

Most of Archbishop Raya's books can be ordered from the following site which has direct links to the publishers.

http://www.mliles.com/melkite/bisjosephraya.shtml


In Christ,
Subdeacon Lance

Thanks! Added it to my Favorites! :p

One book that I'm reading now that I find very accessible to the average reader (like me), but at the same time very full of Eastern spirituality is The Mountain of Silence by Kyriacos Markides. I recommend it.

Does anyone have any thoughts on [Standing in God's Holy Fire: The Byzantine Tradition by John Anthony McGuckin? I found it on amazon.com, but it only had one reader review, no comments from the publisher, and it didn't have the "Look Inside This Book" option to read an except... I didn't find it in the local bookstore, either. I really don't want to buy it sight unseen with only one recommendation.

I think a better introductory book is Eastern Christianity: The Byzantine Tradition by Fr. Lawrence Cross. He is a priest of the Russian Catholic Church living in Australia. It is a good and fair overview of Byzantine Christianity in general and discusses specifically the history of Greek Catholics and their place in the work of unity.

And I almost forgot a favorite which is a wonderful collection of both Byzantine and Roman spirituality, Olivier Clement's "The Roots of Christian Mysticism".

Tammy!

Archbishop +Joseph IS fascinating and a most holy man.

I once had the blessing of being part of a congregation when he celebrated a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at the Ruthenian Parish in San Diego back in the late 80's. He celebrated with such reverence and his homily was indeed a passionate mini-catechesis of Byzantine Spirituality. Truly an Orthodox Hierarch in all senses of that term!!

Archbishop Raya's books on the Incarnation and marriage are also wonderful.

His Byzantine Daily Worship carries the blessings of both Patriarchs Athenogoras of Constantinople and Maximos IV of Antioch.

Unfortunately, Amazon.com shows that one as out of print, though available used... Will check into it. Thanks for the suggestion!

I downloaded a PDF "catalog" of Archbishop Raya's books, but I didn't see one on marriage. What is it called? I already have the one on the Incarnation on my wish list!

What about The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church by Vladimir Lossky? I looked at the excerpt of Chapter 1 on amazon.com, and it seemed a little analytical, but Chapter 1 is only the introduction. I liked what I read, but I don't know that it's quite what my priest had in mind for me. Does it get more mystical as you get further into it?