New books

A Quest for Reform of the Orthodox Church- The 1923 Pan-Orthodox Congress: An Analysis and Translation of its Acts and Decisions

Author: Fr. Patrick Viscuso
Publisher: Sebastian Press

It is with pleasure that we welcome the publication in an English translation of the acts and decisions of the 1923 Congress, prepared by the Reverend Dr. Patrick Viscuso, an expert in canon law. In his substantial and excellently researched introduction, Father Viscuso provides the background to that Congress, discussing the difficult international climate of the times, the uncertainties and dangers that the Church faced following World War I, the Russian Revolution, the rise of Turkish nationalism, European politics and national aspirations, all of which affected the lives of millions of Orthodox Christians in Europe and the Near East. Orthodox Christians should be grateful to Father Viscuso for giving them the opportunity not only to read important decisions of the Church, but also to reflect on the problems the Church faced in the early twentieth century, and its willingness to adopt reforms for the benefit of the Church’s pleroma. Renewing the Church is not antithetical to the experience of the Church in history. The Reverend Dr. Patrick Viscuso is a Professor of Canon Law at the Antiochian House of Studies and the Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-Atlantic, an Orthodox canonist, and a priest of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. His doctorate in historical theology from the Catholic University of America concentrated on Byzantine and Oriental canon law, patristic studies, and church history. He also holds a Master of Divinity from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and five books.

A new edition: Dialogue between Orthodox Christians and Muslims

Three scientific books written by Deacon Dr. Alexander Prascevic were published under the title Dialogue between Orthodox Christians and Muslims in three books:

1. Contribution of the Serbian Patriarch German to the dialogue with the Muslims (1958-1990); 2. Patriarch Pavle on Islam and Muslims (1990-1997); 3 Contribution of the Serbian Patriarch Pavle to the dialogue with the Muslims (1998-2009). The book were published by the Diocese of Raska-Prizren, and under the financial support of the Office for Cooperation with Churches and Religious Communities of the Government of the Republic of Serbia.

Theology As a Surprise: Patristic and Pastoral Insights

In this book, His Grace Bishop Maxim (Vasiljevi) offers us a breath of fresh air.

This is not a book of theology in the form we have become accustomed to expect: a systematic examination of the usual topics of theological reflection; it is much more than that. Bishop Maxim draws upon Scripture, the Fathers, and Liturgy to address perennial and yet very contemporary questions: our experience of time and history, our existence as human persons and the complexities of sexuality and gender, our life in the polis and the ekklesia, and the relational presence of an icon in a world saturated with digital images.

You can purchase this book here.

Source: Western American Diocese

The Thunderbolt of Ever-Living Fire

With the book in your hand, Sebastian Press once again attempts at an Orthodox participating in the "yeasting" that is underway in the Americas. The book is an offering from Elder Vasileios to us and from us to Elder Vasileious. He visited Western America and Chicago and delivered numerous talks, presentations, video and audio interviews during September of 2011, to a variety of gatherings (clergy and lay people in California, Arizona and Illinois). The following pages are Elder Vasileios' advices to the Christians who live in North America. His thoughts are expressed in a revolutionary theological style previously unknown in the Orthodox world, reflecting the immediacy of real experience. Elder Vasileios speaks directly to modern man without any deliberate "modernism".

Isha's Voice

Author: Dcn. Stephen Muse; Illustrated by: Dimitra Psychogiou; Published by: Sebastian Press

Isha loved to sing and her daddy loved to listen. What happens when Isha loses her voice? Will her father be able to bring singing and joy back to their lives? What path will the journey take?

An adventurous story about how we lost everything, and, above all, how we are able to recover it. 

Fr. Dn. Stephen Muse, PhD, is a deacon in the Orthodox Church, a pastoral councelor, and marriage and family therapist. He and his wife Claudia have been married for 37 years and have four children. They have lived in Columbus, Georgia for the past 27 years, where Fr. Stephen conducts pastoral psychotherapy and directs the Clergy-in-Kairos program for clergy and spouses at the Pastoral Institute. Is work has been translated into Serbia, Russian, Greek, Swedish and Rom.

Theology As a Surprise: Patristic and Pastoral Insights

In this book, His Grace Bishop Maxim (Vasiljevic) offers us a breath of fresh air. This is not a book of theology in the form we have become accustomed to expect: a systematic examination of the usual topics of theological reflection; it is much more than that.

Bishop Maxim draws upon Scripture, the Fathers, and Liturgy to address perennial and yet very contemporary questions: our experience of time and history, our existence as human persons and the complexities of sexuality and gender, our life in the polis and the ekklesia, and the relational presence of an icon in a world saturated with digital images.

You can purchase it on this link.

Source: Diocese of Western America