I don't know how many Orthodox books y'all have read, but there are a few that I would like to encourage you all to read that I have found to really resonate with my spirit.

1. The Mountian of Silence by Kyriacos Markedes-- This is perhaps my favorite book. Kyriacos Markedes is a Sociology professor from the university of main. This book is about his experience on Mount Athos (the Holy Mountian). He follows around Fr. Maximos (a staretz), and recounts various stories of different spiritual elders of the holy mountian. The book is full of practical theology as well. I never wanted the book to end.

2. Gifts From the Desert by Kyriacos Markedes-- A follow up to the Mountian of Silence.

3. The Law of God by Archpriest Seraphim Slobodskoy-- This is a must have for every Orthodox home. It is a great catechism of the faith (not dry like many books, but exciting). Explains how to live the practical christian life as well as the meaning of the different parts of the Divie liturgy (which can be confusing at times). Orthodox and non-Orthodox Christians could benifit from this book

4. Life After Death by Metropolitan of Nafpaktos HIEROTHEOS-- This is the best book that I have read concerning the Orthodox view of what happens after you die. It is quite sobering. It also has a chapter on the difference between the Roman and Eastern view of purgatory and hell.

5. Orthodox Psychotherapy by Metropolitan of Nafpaktos HIEROTHEOS-- Much of this theology can be learned in "The Mountian of Silence" on a condenced scale. This book explains the basic problem of the human condition and the cure for it's disease (how one goes about getting cured).

6. The Way of a Pilgrim and The Pilgrim Continues His Way-- An Orthodox classic. Spiritually uplifting and an easy read.

7. Becoming Orthodox by Father Peter Gillquist-- A great book for people just begining to learn about the Orthodox faith.

If any of you have read any cool Orthodox books, I would like to hear about it.

-Jake

Jake, thanks for posting this list. I have read the ones I left in your quote. I will add my own selections soon. This is a very good start for most of us. I especially implore all RCC folks to "get to know our brothers and sisters" in the East.

I myself, was a cantor for two orthodox churches in Kansas City KS...way back! I had the wonderful opportunity to get to know the priests and congregants very well. We had our own ecumenical dialogues each Saturday before Vespers.

A small group of us in Saint Louis will be going over to our "Eastern Brothers' (and Sisters') house" tomorrow evening. [sorry about the grammar. I wish this forum had a spell check and grammar check] :unsure:

That sounds cool. What parish in St. Louis are you going to visit?? I live in Springfield (We only have 1 Orthodox church here). I have only been to the Romanian Orthodox church in St. Louis. The priest up there is awesome; he is a hieromonk.

-Jake

PS- I am a cantor too!