Bibliography

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Original Sources

The Holy Bible

The Apostolic Fathers - a collection of first and second century writings excluded from the New Testament but held in high regard. New Testament books were required to be attributed to one of the apostles, many of these letters are not.
Versions:
Greek/English Loeb Standard Edition (two volumes) Apostolic Fathers: Volume I. I Clement. II Clement. Ignatius. Polycarp. Didache. Barnabas (Loeb Classical Library No. 24)
Apostolic Fathers: Volume II. Epistle of Barnabas. Papias and Quadratus. Epistle to Diognetus. The Shepherd of Hermas (Loeb Classical Library No. 25N)
English translation by Father Jack N. Sparks The Apostolic Fathers

Ante-Nicene & Post-Nicene Fathers - The definitive 38 volume collection of the Patristic writings from the early council period in English. A. Cleveland Cox, DD, Hendrickson Publishers inc.
Also available on the web at
The Ecole Initiative: www.evansville.edu/~ecoleweb/index.html.
The Christian Classics Ethereal Library http://ccel.org/fathers.html

Philokalia - The four volume collection of later Patristic writers. This is mostly writings on the spiritual life.
The Philokalia, Volume 1: The Complete Text; Compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain & St. Markarios of Corinth (Philokalia Vol. I)
The Philokalia : The Complete Text (Philokalia Ser., Volume One, Volume Two, Volume Three and Volume Four)
The Philokalia, Volume 3 The Complete Text; Compiled by St. Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain & St. Markarios of Corinth
Philokalia: Vol 4
Writings from the Philokalia: On Prayer of the Heart

The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha - The collection of literature that was not included in the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament). The documents were composed in various styles and places from the return from the Babylonian exile till the first century BCE. Many of the stories we know about the devil, the life of Moses and other famous people are found here. James H. Charlesworth, Doubleday.

The Dead Sea Scrolls - English translation and commentary on some of the most important religious literature contemporaneous with Christ Until the discovery of the scrolls very little was known about this major Jewish sect. G. Vermes, Penguin books.

Philo of Alexandria - A first century Jewish theologian and historian whose works were preserved by Christians. His work in allegorical interpretations from the Hebrew scripture was of the same model used by Patristic writers. C. D. Yonge, Hendrickson Publishers.

Josephus - First century Jewish Historian whose works were preserved by Christians. He was a military leader during the Jewish revolt that ended with the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE. His "Antiquities of the Jews" contain many detailed stories of the political intrigues as Israel developed. Four volume set-William Wiston, Baker Book House.

Bible Reference

The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible - A five volume set that is a mini-encyclopedia on biblical and church themes. George Arthur Buttrick, Abingdon Press.

The Face of Christ in the Old Testament - A look at Old Testament themes and stories that Patristic writers have traditionally associated with Jesus. Georges A. Barrois, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.

Reading the New Testament - General introduction to the New Testament books. Pheme Perkins, Paulist Press.

Jewish & Old Testament History

The Book of J- a comentary on the "J" source that was used as part of the basis for the book of Genesis, Exodus and Numbers. J is shorthand for early Judean. These sections of the Torah distinquished by the use of Yahweh as the name for God. J is the earliest section of the written bible,David Rosenberg, Random House.

The Essential Talmud- An introduction to the history content and method of interpretation of Jewish law,Adin Steinsaltz, Bantam books.

From Ezra to the Last of the Maccabees: Foundations of Post biblical Judaism-A brief history of post-exhilic Judaism and the emergence of the major parties at the time of Christ. Elias Bickerman, Schoken Books.

The Old Testament A Byzantine Perspective-- A look at how the Eastern Churches use the Old Testament in liturgy and teaching. Short history of Old Testament as used by the Byzantine Catholic Church suitable for introductory adult education classes. See Old Testament Class on this web site. John S. Custer God With Us Publications.

The Religious World of Jesus - A look at the religious history of Israel and how it affected religious thought during Jesus' earthly life. Frederick Murphy, Abingdon Press.

Church History

Byzantine Rite Rusins in Carpatho-Ruthenia and America - A comprehensive look at the religious history of the Union of Uzhorod and the immigration to America. Walter Warzeski, Byzantine Seminary Press.

To the Ends of the Earth: Aspects of Eastern Catholic Church History--Short history of the Eastern Catholic Churches suitable for introductory adult education classes. See Church History Class on this web site. God With Us Publications.

The Christian Tradition - A four volume set of Church history with Volume One covering 100-600 and Volume Two devoted to the eastern Christian development. Jaroslav Pelikan, University of Chicago Press.

The Churches the Apostles Left Behind - A careful examination of the period between the death of the Apostles and the beginning of the mainstream church in the second century based, on scriptural evidence. Raymond Brown, Paulist Press.

The World of the New Testament - A look at the major cultural influences during the time that the New Testament was written. Sean Freyne, Michael Glazier, Inc.

The Bible as History - An examination of the archeological evidence for events in the Bible. This is very helpful for placing bible stories in their cultural context. Werner Keller, Bantam Books.

Saints and Sisterhood - Brief biographies of four women saints for each month of the year from the Eastern Church Calendar. Eva Catafygiotue Topping, Light & Life Publishing.

Spirituality & Theology

With Eyes of Faith - A brief introduction to the major dogmatic themes in the Eastern Church and their development over the years. God with Us Publications.

Light For Life: Part One The Mystery Believed - Part one of the Eastern response to the Roman Catholic Catechism. An introduction to Eastern theology and spirituality. God with Us Publications.

The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church - This is a more in-depth study of the theology outlined in "With Eyes of Faith". Vladimir Lossky, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.

The Face of God - An overview of the major spirituality themes in the Eastern Church in a straightforward, easy to read style. Like a living room chat with a spiritual director. Archbishop Joseph Raya, God with Us Publications.

Theology of the Icon - A history of the development of the icon and church architecture in the east. Leonid Ouspensky, St. Vladimir's Seminary Press.

The Primacy of Peter - Four short essays by leading Orthodox theologians on their understanding of Roman primacy. The Faith Press.

Liturgy

Life and worship: the mystery of Christ among us. An introduction to Eastern Theology. Pittsburgh, PA: God With Us Publications, 1986.
An overview of the worship cycle, structure and development in the Eastern Church.

The Mystery Celebrated. Vol. 2. 3 vols. Light for Life. Pittsburgh, PA: God With Us Publications, 1996.
Eastern conference of catechetical directors response to the Catholic Catechism. An introduction to worship cycles and their connection with the theology and life of the church.

Barrois, George A. Scripture readings in Orthodox worship. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1977.
A brief commentary on the scope and selection of liturgical scripture readings organized by season of the year.

Bradshaw, Paul F. Ordination rites of the ancient churches of East and West. New York: Pueblo Publishing Company, 1990.
An excellent overview of the development of ordination prayers. The book opens with an overview of the prayers of ordination for each office. Bradshaw then examines the earliest sources in all the major traditions and documents the changes in the content of the prayers of ordination.

Congregation for the Eastern Churches, Vatican. The order for the celebration of vespers, matins and the Divine Liturgy according to the Ruthenian recension. Translated by Matthew Berko. Washington DC, 1958.
Unofficial English translation (but with the imprimatur Archbishop Constantine) of Ordo Celebrationis vesperarum, matutini et Divinae Liturgiae lixta recensionem Ruthenorum, Rome, 1944. These are the official rubrics for services in force for the Byzantine Catholic jurisdiction in the USA. There have been specific requests and grants for adjustments since the original Latin publication in 1944, but by and large this is the offical book. The book "Instructions" by the Congregation for the Eastern Churches from 1996 is the first major follow-up to this document.

Congregation for the Eastern Churches, Vatican. Instruction for applying the liturgical prescriptions of the code of canons of the Eastern Churches. ed. Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Fairfax, VA: Eastern Christian Publications, 1996.
This at times terse and dry listing of over 100 instructions on how to practice the faith in our church is issued by the Vatican to help us recover our traditions. While written primarily for the religious it makes for an interesting commentary on the state of the liturgical life of our church.

Farrow, Michael G. Psalm verses of the Orthodox liturgy. Torrance, CA: Oakwood Publications, 1997.
Includes a ten page introduction on the use of Psalms as the Antiphons, Entrance Hymns, Prokeimena & Alleluia, and Communion Hymns. The bulk of the text is a complete compilation of these elements for the entire liturgical year. There are notes on where the Slavic and Greek usages are different for the feasts. The indexes provide a cross reference by Psalm order for where they are used in the liturgical year and an index of Psalm phrases.

Gardner, Johann von. Russian church singing. Translated by Vladimir Morosan. Vol. 1. Crestwood, N.Y.: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1980.
Gardner, Johann von. Russian church singing: history from the origins to the mid-seventeenth century. Translated by Vladimir Morosan. Vol. 2. Crestwood, N.Y.: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2000.
These is the first two of the three volume work by Gardner on the history of chant in Slavic territories (The third is still not available in English). Gardner toured the areas and documented what he found in both the old chant books and the living tradition.

Kovalchuk, Feodor S. Abridged Typicon. 2nd ed. South Canaan, PA: St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, 1985.
Despite the name, this is not a translation of the typicon. This is an English translation and compilation of the Moscow Patriarchate "Church Kalendar" and "Liturgical Directives" published for priests. These provide the order of how to celebrate services and many relevant notes on liturgical topics. This also includes a glossary of slavonic liturgical terms.

Meyendorff, John. Marriage : an Orthodox perspective. 2d expanded ed. Crestwood, N.Y.: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1975.
A brief history of the marriage ritual in the Byzantine tradition. An examination of the Jewish roots and developments necessitated by the legalization of marriage in the Byzantine empire. Some discussion of moral issues related to marriage.

Meyendorff, Paul. Russia, ritual, and reform : the liturgical reforms of Nikon in the 17th century. Crestwood, NY: St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1991.
The reforms of Patriarch Nikon had a profound effect on liturgical celebration throughout Slavic lands. This reform was aimed at bringing Russian practice in line with Greek, but in practice created a new ordo instead. This resulted in the split of the Old Believers from the Russian Orthodox fold.

Riley, Hugh M. Christian initiation; a comparative study of the interpretation of the baptismal liturgy in the mystagogical writings of Cyril of Jerusalem, John Chrysostom, Theodore of Mopsuestia, and Ambrose of Milan. Washington DC: Catholic University of America Press, 1974.
This is an extensive (nearly 500 page) look at baptismal liturgy and theology from the perspective of these most important Greek fathers. The union of the mystery of liturgy with the call to a moral life is foundational to eastern spirituality.

Schmemann, Alexander. Great Lent: Journey to Pascha. Rev ed. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir Seminary Press, 1974.
This book has become the classic explanation of the liturgical experience of the Great Fast. Father Alexander clearly explains the change in our attitude in prayer that needs to accompany the change in liturgical practice during the Great Fast. He briefly covers the development of liturgical practice, the readings encountered and the rational for these in our preparation for Pascha. The appendix of this volume is his call for renewal in our approach to communion as a church.

Schmemann, Alexander. Introduction to liturgical theology. 3rd ed. Crestwood, N.Y.: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1986.
An in-depth look at the development of the Divine services and what they mean for the life of the church; designed for a first class in Liturgy at the seminary.

Shereghy, Basil. The Divine Liturgy of St. John Crysostom. Pittsburgh, PA: Byzantine Seminary Press, 1970.
A section-by-section commentary on the Divine Liturgy.

Shereghy, Basil. The liturgical year of the Byzantine-Slavonic rite. Pittsburgh, PA: Byzantine Seminary Press, 1968.
A brief history of all the major holy days and their organization on the Calendar.

Taft, Robert F. The liturgy of the hours in East and West: the origins of the Divine Office and its meaning for today. Collegeville, Minn: Liturgical Press, 1986.
An excellent overview of the development of liturgy. Taft examines the earliest sources in all the major traditions and documents the changes in the structure of the divine office.

Uspensky, Nicholas. Evening worship in the Orthodox Church. Translated by Paul Lazor. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1985.
This is an edited compilation of three articles originally published in Russian in the Journal "Theological Studies" published by the Moscow Patriachate. The articles cover vespers, presanctified liturgy and the Nikonian liturgical reform.

World Wide Web Links

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Early Church Documents

Early Church Fathers

Ecole Initiative Early Church Documents

Jewish Orthodox Union

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