New Book - The Cambridge Companion to Orthodox Christian Theology

"Orthodox Christian theology is often presented as the direct inheritor of the doctrine and tradition of the early Church. But continuity with the past is only part of the truth; it would be false to conclude that the eastern section of the Christian Church is in any way static. Orthodoxy, building on its patristic foundations, has blossomed in the modern period. This volume focuses on the way Orthodox theological tradition is understood and lived today. It explores the Orthodox understanding of what theology is: an expression of the Church’s life of prayer, both corporate and personal, from which it can never be separated. Besides discussing aspects of doctrine, the book portrays the main figures, themes and developments that have shaped Orthodox thought. There is particular focus on the Russian and Greek traditions, as well as the dynamic but less well-known Antiochian tradition and the Orthodox presence in the West.

All contributors are Orthodox from various traditions and countries giving a sense of both the diversity and the coherence of the Church • Includes chapters on the contemporary theological scene in Greece, Russia and Antioch – introducing traditions little known to the English-speaking public. The chapter on Arab Christian tradition presents a perspective on Christian-Muslim relations new to most Christians in the West."

For additional information see:

http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521683388

The Epistles of St Symeon the New Theologian by H. J. M. Turner

"St Symeon the New Theologian (949-1022) is regarded as one of the most significant figures in Byzantine mysticism. Though a very controversial figure in his own lifetime, he is now revered both in Orthodox and other Christian traditions. After beginning his monastic life while still comparatively young, he became hegumen of the monastery of St Mamas, and held that position for several years. Many of his writings, including the Discourses and Hymns , have appeared in print, but his four epistles have not been published in their entirety until now. In these four letters, besides criticising those contending against him, Symeon writes as a pastor, concerned to give practical moral guidance. He focuses on confession, repentence, and the role of the spiritual father. H. J. M. Turner details the biographic and textual context of this scholarly annotated edition. He uses the previously unpublished Greek text established by Joseph Paramelle to provide an authoritative basis for his translation. Clearly and accessibly presented, these letters serve to reinforce our understanding of Symeon's life and work." Estimated publication date: February 2009.

For additional details see: http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780199546633#authors

The Gospel in Dostoyevsky

"Dostoyevsky was a God-possessed man if ever there was one, as is clear in everything he wrote and in every character he created. All his life he was questing for God, and found Him only at the end of his days after passing through what he called 'the hell-fire of doubt." Freedom to choose between Good and Evil he saw as the very essence of earthly existence. 'Accept suffering and be redeemed by it.' This was Dostoyevsky's message to a world hurrying frenziedly in the opposite direction; seeking to abolish suffering and find happiness." (From the Foreword by Malcolm Muggerridge)

See: http://www.maryknollmall.org/description.cfm?ISBN=978-1-57075-509-5

SLOVO: Towards a Digital Library of South Slavic Manuscripts

The project corresponds with the 7th framework priority concerning digital libraries of cultural heritage. It promotes the integration of Slavic cultural objects into EU by means of information technologies. The project is based on the comprehension of the common European heritage of the South East and Central European Slavs. This common platform will serve as a base for future collaborations (initiatives) aiming at the preservation (description and encoding) of medieval manuscripts and archival documents in electronic form.
See: http://slovo-aso.cl.bas.bg/index.html

Digitizing Serbian Orthodox Manuscripts in Hungary

"Hill Museum & Manuscript Library has undertaken the digitizing of Serbian Orthodox Manuscripts in Hungary. This month, HMML will begin a new manuscript digitization project at the Serbian Orthodox Diocesan Library in Szentendre, Hungary. A respected enclave of Orthodoxy in predominantly Catholic Hungary, Serbs first settled Hungary in large numbers following their defeat by the Turks at the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. The 27,000 volume-library has a manuscript collection of 100 to 125 codices collected from the libraries of the Monastery of Grabovac, from Bishops Dionosije Popovic and Arsenije Stojkovic and the parish of Szentendre. The manuscripts are mainly in Serbian, Old Church Slavonic and Church Slavonic, with some in Greek. The oldest manuscripts date from the 13th and 14th centuries, while the majority are from the 16th through 18th centuries. HMML's access to manuscripts belonging to the Serbian Othodox Diocesan Library was made possible by our principal partner in the Indian project, Hungarian scholar Dr. István Perczel, with permission from Szentendre's Bishop Vladika Lukian, and the Library's director, Mr. Koszta Vukovics. Financial support for the project is from the German Research Foundation, with cooperation from the University of Tübingen in Germany."

For more information see: http://www.hmml.org/happenings06/happenings.htm

The Evergetinos

"The Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies will be issuing the first complete text in the English language of The Evergetinos, a classical Orthodox collection of the sayings and aphorisms of the Desert Fathers (as well as other Hesychastic writings) in a four-book library set, corresponding to the original Greek publication. These four volumes will be available in an attractive hardbound edition, in two-color printing (red and black), with Byzantine-style line drawings, and replete with the original Prologue of St. Nicodemos the Hagiorite, an historical introduction by Archbishop Chrysostomos of Etna, a Preface by Hieromonk Dr. Gorazd, Director of the Institute of Eastern Christianity at the Charles University in Prague, and footnotes and indices. Each volume will be approximately 400 pages in length.

This monumental Patristic translation, twenty years in preparation, is the most important publication yet undertaken by the Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies. The Evergetinos, compiled by St. Makarios of Corinth and first published by St. Nicodemos in 1783, is a companion volume of The Philokalia—indeed a precursor, of sorts, to that work—, and together with it an essential and classical spiritual guide for Orthodox Christians seeking the inner life of spiritual transformation. The project, a collaborative effort, was initiated by Archbishop Chrysostomos while he was a Visiting Scholar at Oxford University in 1988 and continued to completion under his direction and editorship, and that of Hieromonk Patapios, with the collaboration of Bishop Ambrose of Methone, Bishop Auxentios of Photike, Monk Chrysostomos, Dr. Constantine Kokenes, Nun Lydia, Professor John V. Petropoulos, the late Professor John V. Rexine, and Reverend Gregory Telepneff. "

For more information see: http://www.ctosonline.org/forth/EvCT.html

Message of the Primates of the Orthodox Churches

In the Phanar, 12th October 2008.

+ Bartholomew of Constantinople+ Theodore of Alexandria+ Ignatius of Antioch+ Theophilos of Jerusalem+ Alexey of Moscow+ Amphilochios of Montenegro (representing the Church of Serbia)+ Laurentiu of Transylvania (representing the Church of Romania)+ Dometiyan of Vidin (representing the Church of Bulgaria)+ Gerasime of Zugdidi (representing the Church of Georgia)+ Chrysostomos of Cyprus+ Ieronymos of Athens+ Jeremiasz of Wrocław (representing of the Church of Poland)+ Anastasios of Tirana+ Christopher of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

See: http://orthodoxeurope.org/#19-2-586

A Spiritual Psalter of St. Ephraim the Syrian

"Excerpted by Bishop Theophan the Recluse from the works of our Holy Father Ephraim the Syrian and arranged in the manner of the Psalms of David, which includes a Life of St. Ephraim translated by Br. Isaac E. Lambertsen. This publication includes selected prayers that St. Ephraim the Syrian offered up to God. It is called a Psalter because the Psalter is a book of praises of God; they both contain prayers offered up to God. St. Ephraim was filled with the grace of God and, moved by it, he poured out his heartfelt prayers to God. [...] The number of psalms contained in the God-inspired Psalter served as a guide for choosing the works included here and the list of their contents reflects the contents of the Psalms. In addition to prayers the psalms contain dogma, history, and moral teachings. Works of this nature have been included in the selection of prayers by St. Ephraim.” This book, which long constituted one of the favorite sources of reading for monastics in prerevolutianary Russia, has become a best-seller today! In its second printing and published by St. John of Kronstadt Press at: http://www.sjkp.org/search.php

New Book on St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco Released in Moscow

"The presentation of three new books took place on Monday, September 22, at the International Foundation of Slavic Culture in Moscow. Among the books was a new title about St. John, the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco: "Vladika John – the Hierarch of the Russian Diaspora." The new book, compiled by Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, is the most comprehensive work on the great archpastor, man of prayer, ascetic and wonderworker of the XX century. In the course of 25 years Father Peter collected articles, letters, memoirs, sermons, photographs (the new book has over 800 pages and 200 photographs) and documents relating to Archbishop John. The heart of the book is a new biography of St. John written by Bernard Le Caro (Switzerland) and translated from French to Russian by Juliana Rahnovskaya (Moscow). "

"This book is also historical in that it is the first book published after the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the two parts of the Russian Church and with the blessing of its First Hierarchs: His Holiness Patriarch Aleksey and the Most Reverend Metropolitan Laurus. I dedicate this book to the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus who fell asleep in the Lord at the beginning of the year" – said Father Peter during his presentation."

See: http://www.wadiocese.com/enews_comments.php?id=548_0_14_0_C