Christ the Conqueror of Hell: The Descent into Hades from an Orthodox Perspective — Archbishop Hilarion Alfeyev
December 3, 2009 by Editor
Filed under 2009, By Publisher, New and Notable, Recently Published, SVS - Theology
This in-depth study on the realm of death presents a message of hope held by the first generation of Christians and the early church. Using Scripture, patristic tradition, early Christian poetry, and liturgical texts, Archbishop Hilarion explores the mysterious and enigmatic event of Christ’s descent into Hades and its consequences for the human race. Insisting that Christ entered Sheol as Conqueror and not as victim, the author depicts the Lord’s descent as an event of cosmic significance opening the path to universal salvation. He also reveals Hades as a place of divine presence, a place where the spiritual fate of a person may still change. Reminding readers that self-will remains the only hindrance to life in Christ, he presents the gospel message anew, even in the shadow of death.
Christ’s descent into Hades is a most mysterious event in the New Testament history. The book includes texts from the New Testament, apocrypha, and early Christian poetry dealing with the theme, a review of the relevant works by the Holy Fathers and a short discourse into the Western theological tradition. Hymns by St. Ephraem the Syrian and St. Romanus the Melodist that have formed the basis of other liturgical texts and are still used in the Orthodox Church are reviewed, as well as the liturgical texts from the Octoechos, the Lenten Triodion, and the Festal Triodion telling about Christ’s descent into Hell and His victory over death. The author’s studies into the dogmatic contents of the texts are very important to the comprehension of the Orthodox faith, as the dogmas become an object of contemplation in prayer for Christians rather than abstract speculative truths.
There are many Greek, Syrian, and Latin texts never translated into Russian in the book. Some of them have not been used by the authors working on the theme of Christ’s descent into Hell.
The book was first published in Russian in 2001and reprinted in 2005. It has been translated into Italian and Romanian.
About the Author
Archbishop Hilarion (Alfeyev), Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, is well known throughout the Orthodox Church as a leading theologian, writer, and musical composer. He holds a doctorate in Philosophy from Oxford University and a doctorate in theology from St Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris.
The Woman and the Wheat — Jane G. Meyer
November 20, 2009 by Editor
Filed under 2009, All Publishers, All Publishers - Children's Books, New and Notable, Recently Published, SVS, SVS-Children
There once was a woman who planted some wheat…
So begins this rhythmical, festive children’s book about the joy of a farmer as she works to grow the wheat and bake that bread that she will offer back to her Creator in Eucharistic celebration. The vibrant images — reminiscent of fields in the American mid-west — sparkle in light-saturated, warm jewel-tones and provide the perfect backdrop for the story of a woman in love with the earth, and her labor, and equally in love with her God.
Jane G. Meyer is a contributing editor and columnist for a journal for Orthodox Christian women, The Handmaiden , and is currently finishing her second young adult novel. Ned Gannon lived in New York for seven years, illustrating and painting for galleries, before taking a teaching position at the University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. He has had work exhibited at the Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, and the Society of Illustrators Gallery in New York.
A truly significant contribution to Christian children’s literature. In a style reminiscent of that of a ballad, Jane tells the central story of Christianity. It is the story of a grain of wheat, dead in the soil, rising with the first rays of the spring sun, bringing an abundant harvest to us, and becoming the bread that gives us life… Ned Gannon’s paintings provide a perfect illustration to this beautiful story. Together with its companion book,The Man and the Vine, The Woman and the Wheat will make a wonderful first introduction for children to the mystery of the Divine Liturgy.
Fr Sergei Sveshnikov, author of Break the Holy Bread, Master: A Theology of Communion Bread.
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr (November 20, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0881410594
ISBN-13: 978-0881410594
On Social Justice: St. Basil the Great — C. Paul Schroeder
November 9, 2009 by Editor
Filed under 2009, New and Notable, Popular Patristics, Recently Published
St Basil’s homilies on the subject of wealth and poverty, although delivered in the fourth century, remain utterly fresh and contemporary. Whether you possess great wealth or have modest means, at the heart of Basil’s message stands the maxim: Simplify your life, so you have something to share with others. While some patristic texts relate to obscure and highly philosophical questions, Basil’s teachings on social issues are immediately understood and
applicable. At a time when vast income disparity and overuse of limited environmental resources are becoming matters of increasing concern, Basil’s message is more relevant now than ever before.
There is no way to describe the power, simplicity, wisdom, and freedom of his words…you will think they were written yesterday—not 1600 years ago! … precisely he describes our modern struggle with material wealth, our responsibility to our fellow man, and how to live a life in balance.
—Gregory P. Yova, from the Foreword
Father Paul Schroeder is an independent scholar and translator of early patristic texts. He resides in Portland, Oregon and is the Proistamenos of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Portland Oregon.
Contents
Foreword
Preface
Introduction
To the Rich
I Will Tear Down My Barns
In Time of Famine and Drought
Against Those Who Lend at Interest
Appendix: The Pseudo-Basilian Homily On Mercy and Justice
Bibliography
Excerpt: [St Basil] describes these lenders as predators in the truest sense, “rushing like a hound to the hunt,” while the debtors “quail like quarry at the pursuit”; he urges the prospective borrower, “do not allow yourself to be tracked and hunted down like some kind of prey.” Basil warns the poor to live within their constrained means so as not to become trapped in the downward spiral of debt, vividly describing the miserable life of the debtor who lives in terror of meeting the creditor. But he concludes with stern words for the lenders who oppress them: “Listen, you rich, to the kind of counsel I am giving to the poor on account of your inhumanity: to remain in dreadful circumstances, rather than accepting the assistance oUered by loans at interest.” He urges these lenders to convert their loans into giTs, entrusting to the poor the portion of their money that lies idle and unused, in confidence that God will serve as guarantor on these “loans,” providing a rich return on their investment.
Orthodox and Wesleyan Ecclesiology — S. T., Jr. Kimbrough (ed)
November 30, 2007 by Editor
Filed under 2007, All Publishers - Ecumenicism, SVS - Ecumenicism
This volume gives an account of the Church in the period from the end of the Sixth Ecumenical Synod in 681 to the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Although ‘Greek East’ and ‘Latin West’ are becoming distinct entities during this expanse of time, the author treats them in parallel, observing the points at which their destinies coincide or conflict and noting developments within the whole of the Church rather than striving simply, or even primarily, to explain the eventual schism between Eastern and Western Christendom. Covering events both unique to each part (the Iconoclastic controversy in the East and the rise of the Carolingian Empire in the West) and common to each part (monastic reform, renaissance, and mission) the author skillfully portrays two Christian civilizations that share much in common yet become increasingly incomprehensible to one another. Despite curious synchronisms between East and West, the author demonstrates how two paths diverged from a once common route, and how eventually Byzantine Orthodoxy defined the Greek East over against the Latin West in theological, religious, cultural, and political terms. –This text refers to the Paperback edition.
About the Author
Rev. Dr Andrew Louth is the general editor of The Church in History series and has authored several books in his discipline. Father Louth also is professor of patristic and Byzantine studies at Durham University.
Greek East and Latin West: The Church AD 681 – 1071 — Andrew Louth
November 15, 2007 by Editor
Filed under All Publishers - History, SVS - History
This volume gives an account of the Church in the period from the end of the Sixth Ecumenical Synod in 681 to the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Although “Greek East” and “Latin West” are becoming distinct entities during this expanse of time, the author treats them in parallel, observing the points at which their destinies coincide or conflict and noting developments within the whole of the Church rather than striving simply, or even primarily, to explain the eventual schism between Eastern and Western Christendom.
Covering events both unique to each part (the Iconoclastic controversy in the East and the rise of the Carolingian Empire in the West) and common to each part (monastic reform, renaissance, and mission) the author skillfully portrays two Christian civilizations that share much in common yet become increasingly incomprehensible to one another. Despite curious synchronisms between East and West, the author demonstrates how two paths diverged from a once common route, and how eventually Byzantine Orthodoxy defined the Greek East over against the Latin West in theological, religious, cultural, and political terms.
Rev. Dr Andrew Louth is the general editor of The Church in History series and has authored several books in his discipline. Father Louth also is professor of patristic and Byzantine studies at Durham University.
THE CHURCH IN HISTORY SERIES of St Vladimir’s Seminary Press balances the approaches of the abundance of church histories written from a Western Christian point of view. Series authors are in the unique position of being Orthodox scholars conversant with Western scholarship and have taken on the task of analyzing complicated primary sources and thoroughly critiquing modern scholarly literature to guide readers through the maze of centuries of church formation and life.
Formation And Struggles: The Church Ad 33-450: the Birth of the Church Ad 33-200 — Veselin Kesich
November 15, 2007 by Editor
Filed under All Publishers - History, SVS - History
Part I: The Birth of the Church AD 33 — 200
This study of the formation of the Church begins with the earliest Christian community in Jerusalem, led by Jesus’ disciples, and ends with the expansion of Christianity into various regions of the Roman Empire. Tracing the growing pains of the Church from its birth through its separation from Judaism to its struggle against Gnostic and pagan influences, the author demonstrates how early Christians deepened their loyalty to the apostolic tradition by wrestling with internal and external challenges.
The author appeals to the general reader as well as the scholar by answering perennially popular questions: Did Jesus marry? Who was responsible for the crucifixion? What is the relationship between philosophy and theology? and How were the Scriptures compiled?
The volume concludes with teachings of the church father Irenaeus of Lyons, who presents an image of a Church shaped by ministry, canon, creed, and openness to the world, a Church that, by method and model, offers a solid base for growth in the following centuries.
Dr Veselin Kesich, professor of New Testament emeritus, St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, has also authored: The First Day of the New Creation, The Gospel Image of Christ, and The Passion of Christ (SVS Press).
Silent as a Stone: Mother Maria of Paris and the Trash Can Rescue —
June 15, 2007 by Editor
Filed under 2007, SVS-Children
Silent as a Stone memorializes the life of Mother Maria Skobtsova, an unconventional nun who aided the persecuted Jewish people in occupied France during WWII.
Confronting the horror of Nazi brutality, Mother Maria devised an ingenious plan to save Jewish children destined for extermination camps: Paris garbage collectors, upon her urging, hid the children in trash cans and whisked them to safe havens outside the city.
Mother Maria, for her selfless rescue activities, perished in a gas chamber in Ravensbrück camp in Germany in 1945. Today, she is among the “righteous gentiles” honored in Israel and a canonized saint in the Orthodox Christian Church.
“In the spirit of Allen Say’s Grandfather’s Journey and Patricia Polacco’s The Keeping Quilt, Silent as a Stone conveys the hope and heartbreak of life in a bite-size form that children can manage. Stunningly illustrated and tenderly told, Silent as a Stone tells the story of three unforgettable lives and the countless lives they touched. Mother Maria, Yuri, and Fr Dimitri serve as examples to us all-and especially to our children-who must find the path of love through our broken world.” -Jenny Schroedel, author of The Blackbird’s Nest: Saint Kevin of Ireland and The Everything Saints Book
“Silent as a Stone is an incredible resource for the Orthodox Christian community to learn about the heroic and courageous deeds of Mother Maria. Saint Vladimir’s Seminary Press should be commended for bringing this story to light and honoring Mother Maria with such a beautifully illustrated and inspiring book.” -Rachel Kamin, Director, Temple Israel Libraries & Media Center
“Mother Maria is a saint of our day and for our day; a woman of flesh and blood possessed by the love of God, who stood face to face with the problems of this century.” +Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
About the Author
Journalism and peace work have been major ingredients in author Jim Forest’s life. He is secretary of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship and editor of its journal, In Communion. He is a recipient of the Peacemaker Award from Notre Dame University’s Institute for International Peace Studies. He is a prolific writer of inspirational, historical, and bio-graphical books, most recently of The Wormwood File: E-Mail from Hell. Jim makes his home in Alkmaar, Holland, near Amsterdam. He is father to six children and grandfather to four. Silent as a Stone is his third children’s book.
The Man and the Vine — Jane G. Meyer
June 21, 2006 by Editor
Filed under SVS-Children
With 16 colored illustrations “There once was a man who planted a vine…” So begins this rhythmical, festive children’s book about the joy of a farmer and his little daughter as they work their vineyard and offer the fruit of the vine back to their Creator in Eucharistic celebration. The vibrant images — reminiscent of vineyards in the American west — sparkle in light-saturated, warm jewel-tones and provide the perfect backdrop for the story of a man in love with the earth and his labor, and equally in love with his God. The reader takes in the mystery of grapes becoming the wine of the Holy Communion as the illustrations and the text lead from field to wine cellar to church, where, finally: “With the ‘Amen’ he said, the heavens swooshed to earth and a sweet, sweet voice rang true. And the angels flew and the saints sang too and the holy bells rang and a holy wind rushed through the room.” Author Jane G. Meyer tells the story of the Eucharistic offering in lyrical language that naturally links the fruit of the vine with the wine of the heavenly banquet. Ned Gannon, through his jubilant illustrations, recreates Paradise on earth, fixing our eyes on the Kingdom of God that daily appears in our midst.
Orthodox and Wesleyan Scriptural Understanding and Practice — S. T. Kimbrough (ed)
January 28, 2006 by Editor
Filed under All Publishers - Ecumenicism, SVS - Ecumenicism
These essays from the “Second Consultation on Orthodox and Wesleyan Spirituality” address scriptural authority and interpretation in the Orthodox and Wesleyan traditions. Rooted within their respective faith communities, the authors avoid false convergences but acknowledge viable commonalities, thus setting an innovative tone for ecumenical study and dialogue.
The four main sections-Orthodox Scriptural Understanding and Practice,Mutual Learning between Orthodox and Methodists,Wesleyan Scriptural Understanding and Practice, and Liturgy and Scriptural Interpretation-represent selected presentations from the “Second Consultation on Orthodox and Wesleyan Spirituality” held at Trinity College, June 16-20, 2000, in Bristol, UK, and from the “Third Consultation” convened at the Orthodox Spiritual Academy in Crete, Greece, August 1-7, 2002, under the sponsorship of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church and the faculty of St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.
The Contributors: Outstanding scholars from the Orthodox tradition, such as John McGuckin, Thomas Hopko, Elizabeth Theokritoff, Petros Vassiliadis, Theodore Stylianopoulos, Dimitar Kirov, Tamara Grdzelidze, and Nicholas Lossky engage their peers from the Wesleyan tradition, Geoffrey Wainwright, Grant Sperry White, Frances Young, Karen Westerfield Tucker, James Charlesworth, Ted Campbell, Kenneth Carveley, George Mulrain, Maxine Walker, and Timothy L. Bryan. The result is ecumenical dialogue at its finest.
When You Fast: Recipes For Lenten Seasons — Catherine Mandell
April 18, 2005 by Editor
Filed under All Publishers - Cookbooks, SVS - Cookbooks
A unique and enthusiastically recommended collection of specialized recipes, When You Fast: Recipes For Lenten Seasons by Catherine Mandell draws upon the culinary traditions of traditional Orthodox Christianity by featuring two hundred recipes that will provide observants of the Lenten season with a diversity of healthy, nourishing, delicious meals. Enhanced throughout with sayings from the Mothers and Fathers of the early Orthodox Christian Church about how the body and soul are affected and influenced by eating habits, When You Fast additionally features sage advice on stocking a Lenten pantry and offers guidelines for fasting in accordance with the Orthodox Christian tradition. From Onion Flatbread; Vegetarian Borscht; Transfiguration Monastery Lenten Hash; and Baked Penne with Vegetables; to Greek Tomato Rice Pilaf; Crabmeat Stuffed Mushroom Caps; String Bean and Pepper Stew; and Lenten Oatmeal Cookies, When You Fast offers recipes for breads, spreads, sandwiches, soups, salads, main dishes, fish, shellfish, and desserts, including dairy-free recipes, dishes with and without oil, and dozens of variations for core recipes.
This Lenten cookbook is excellent for all times of the year as many of the recipes have oil or no oil options. Mostly Orthodox Christians will find this cookbook useful but anyone who is into a vegetarian diet will make good use of this book. This cookbook was quite popular in the parish bookstore I manage so I can attest to its universal appeal. You won’t be disappointed in this book.
