Orthodox Patristic Books

"You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day" (Gen. 2:16-17). Adam ate and (spiritually) died. "We are what we eat" (L. Feuerbach). Food, whatever it is, affects our spirituality.  We will see in this book how this mysterious thing happens. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1. Belly & Heart 2. Cuisine And The Banquet SECTION I MAN & ANIMAL 1. The Difference (....) B oth man and animal have the same bodily instincts: Hungry, thirst, sleep and sexual reproduction, which are all, for the same purpose: the survival and the propagation of the species (...).  However, the instincts of man are under the control of his mind. In other words, logic intervenes between the personality of man and his instincts. On the contrary, animals are identified by their instincts. This difference makes man a man and the animal an animal.  For m...

We may know every detail about the life of a Saint, but we have minimal knowledge about the life of Christ. We mostly know just the essentials of His life. As if everything else is not worth mentioning. Nevertheless, even a “minute” detail about His life, is worth more than the whole story of a Saint!    In this book, we are bringing to light some “details” from His life that are hidden in the Gospels, which we usually pass by as unimportant, ultimately not knowing everything we should know about Christ.     I hope this book can bring us even a millimeter closer to our Saviour, Jesus Christ. CONTENTS PART I UNTIL HIS PUBLIC LIFE 1. His Birth 2. In Egypt  (.. .) As elderly Joseph was rejoicing his new home and his new environment suddenly an Angel said to him: “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him” (Mt. 2:13). (...) The trip would last at least one week...

( ...) We have collected the relevant “information” that our Holy Fathers and hymnographers of our Church gave us on the Mother of the Lord, and we present them in this book, for the benefit of our brothers and sisters in Christ. CONTENTS Preface PART UP TO THE ANNUNCIATION 1. Her Parents 2. Her Βirth 3. At the Temple 4. Her Life at the Temple 5. The Way Out of the Temple PΑΡΤ 2 UP TO THE TIME OF JESUS’ PUBLIC LIFE 1. The Annunciation 2. The Visitation to Elizabeth 3. Joseph’s Trial 4. The Birth οf Jesus 5. Ιn Egypt 6. From Egypt to Nazaret PART 3 AT THE TIME OF JESUS’ PUBLIC LIFE & LATER ON 1. Following Her Son 2. “A Sword Will Pierce...” 3. “Woman, Behold Your Son” 4. The Hatred of the Jews     After the Resurrection of Her Son, Mariam, lived in Jerusalem. She stayed in Jerusalem for about thirty years.    But those years were when Christians suffered martyrdom living in Jerusalem. Above all Christians, the Mother of Jesus experienced emotional pain. (...). Bei...

O n coming near to communicate we say to ourselves: "Behold, I approach the Divine Communion. O Creator, let me not be burnt by communicating: For Thou art Fire, consuming the unworthy. But, rather, purify me of all impurity". Our book deals with this “holy” issue with St John Chrysostom as our guide. May his words help us so that our participation in Holy Communion shall be for “the remission of sins and eternal life”. Amen. CONTENTS PROLOGUE INTRODUCTION 1. Major sins & Holy Communion in the early Church 2. Summary of St. John's teaching (...) I n order that we may understand precisely what he meant about this specific matter, we would need to read all his relevant teachings. Otherwise we would do him injustice and slander him. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” He would say to faithful: “When you are about to take Holy Communion, you need to thoroughly cleanse yourself for several days beforehand.” (P.G. 62:29). Should we conclude that St John was not in fa...

Christ was to be born in “The Promised Land” (Canaan), from the descendants of Abraham, who had "moved" to Egypt. And now the Lord had to "send" them back, and He did. Their forty year journey in the wilderness to Canaan is one of the most fascinating events to ever take place. It is truly a unique event unparalleled in world history. It surpasses all levels of human imagination, the reason being that God himself was the “author” of this “story”. This divine story provides contemporary man with hope. Hopefully, you will find it interesting and enlightening.

Even the “Angels desire to look into” (1 Pet. 1:12), they want to deeply delve, theologize upon the salvation work of our Lord: His Birth, Baptism, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension, etc. These divine events are so great, unprecedented and unresearched! And this is precisely the “objective” of this book. May this become cause for us to glorify the Lord and exclaim from the depths of our hearts: “Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders” (Ps. 77:13-14). Published by  archangelsbooks.com Wholesale orders:  archangelspublications@gmail.com Retail orders:  amazon.com Price: retail: $22.95   wholesale:  $ 13.77

“Τhe heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:10). “Nevertheless we, according to His (Jesus) promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Pet. 3:13). In fact, humankind will be expecting unique and unprecedented things.

(...) It is imperative to understand that the devil is a reality. He has power. He is mankind’s worst adversary. Αnd he uses many “methods” to harm humanity. This publication examines all of the above and it also looks at how we can defend ourselves from οur worst enemy. Ι pray this book will strengthen our faith in Christ our savior. Amen.

Apostle James: “My brethren, every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison! (3:7-9). Let’s pray this book makes us a lion tamer...!

APOSTLE PAUL “But you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice...” (Col. 3:8) (...) Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of sal-vation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6:14-17) CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PART I ANGER 1. “Whoever Is Angry...” 2. “Be Angry, and Do Not Sin” 3. The Sinful Anger 4. Anger: the Mirror of the Soul 5. Anger: Temporary Madness 6. When the Other Person Is Angry 7. When You Are Angry Too 8. “Do Not Let the Sun Go down” 9. How Is Anger Controlled? PART II HATRED 1. Hatred Against Evil 2. “The Devious Person” 3. “Murderer” 4. Who Is the Loser? 5. The ‘Eye’ of a Hater 6. “You Take No Notice?” 7. The Way to Hell 8. Hatred and Holy Communion 9. How Is Hatred Beat...

Our life is beautiful, but it is corrupted by passions. The greatest damage (destruction), is done by the king of passions; selfishness. In this book we will see how this passion works in our soul, but also how we will overcome it, so that we can transform our lives, by truly living with the humble Jesus, being heirs of His Kingdom. Amen.

St. Symeon’s life was unique-even when compared to other saints. Truly “God is wondrous in His saints” (Ps. 67:36). He was born in 1486, in one of the worst periods of Greek history. It was the beginning of the Ottoman occupation, and shortly after the fall of the Constantinople in 1453. Ηis presence was a divine gift to the enslaved Church. Let us now take a closer look into this holy drama. CONTENTS Preface Introduction PART I 1. “I will become a Monk” 2. Insistence for marriage 3. Paedomazoma...! 4. Stormy Party 5. Ιf God wants to PART IΙ 1. Monasticism 2. Symeon the monk 3. On the Holy Mountain and Mt. Pelion 4. A National Missionary 5. At Constantinople PART IΙΙ 1. At the enchanting Chapel 2. News from Bathyrema 3. “I want to see Symeon!” 4. Back to Mother earth 5. Symeon’s Death. His Miracles (...) In early April of 1594 he was once again in Constantinople. His skeletal body could not endure any longer and a few days later (April 19th) he peacefully g...

The French politician and writer André Malraux attended a Congress of the Communist Party of France. A comrade enthusiastically presented the program of the Party; “we will do this, we will do the other, we will... we will... we will.. ”. At that moment a colleague of his jumped up (probably very elderly) and asked him: “Comrade! And what will happen with death?!” André Malraux tells us that this question remained without any reply. What could they say? That everything ends here?! “Death is bitter without hope”. Our book gives an answer to this burning issue, based on the teaching of our Church, which is full of hope and light. May it give meaning to our lives! CONTENTS PROLOGUE INTRODUCTION PART I CONCERNING DEATH 1. The “Creator” of Death 2. “Τhe Fiery Revolving Sword” 3. “By Death Trampling Upon Death" 4. Ιn front of Death 5. The Tomb 6. The Soul is Alive PART ΙΙ AFTER DEATH 1. The Journey from Earth to Heaven 2 Τhe Behavior of Souls in Paradise 3.Τhe Behavior of Souls in Hell ...

Troubles and illnesses are the result of Adam’s sin (Gen. 3:16-19). However, God doesn’t allow them to be wasted. He “uses” them for our salvation. His mercy is truly great. Τhis is the “subject” of this book. CONTENTS Prologue PART ONE THE GOOD FRUITS OF SUFFERING 1. “I Suffer, Therefore I Exist” 2. Τearful Eyes 3. “I am Paying for my Sins” 4. Sinful Man and Happiness 5. Forgiveness of Sins and a Tragic Death 6. Tribulations and Devout People 7. Mental Pain PART TWO CONFRONTING SUFFERINGS 1. Ιn front of Pain 2. Job 3. Following Christ 4. Sufferings and Salvation 5. Sufferings and Hope 6. “Come to me” 7. The Right Prayer PART THREE SUFFERINGS & DIVINE JUSTICE 1. God and Evil 2. The “Cruel” God of the Old Testament 3. God is not Vindictive     We are not angels, we are passionate, and that is why we seek vengeance. Thus, we think that God does the same. We equate ourselves to God!    Who commits evil? People who are wicked within. So, people who are not wicked str...

Prayer is a Christian’s ultimate privilege which has the power to perform miracles. However, in order for us to understand its miraculous power, we must pray. We learn how to pray by praying. A change for the better, with prayer in our life is this book’s purpose. May God bless you.

Father Andreas K. Papakonstandinou (1875-1960) my grandfather on my  mother’s side, lived in a remote mountainous village in central Greece called Stavrohori, in the district of Evritania. Whenever a hailstorm threatened to destroy his fellow villagers’ harvest, he used to put on his priestly vestment, open the window of his home, and pray spontaneously. The hailstorm would change direction and “vanish” into the mountains! (Eye-witnesses have related this event to me). He had the Faith of a child. He was “Simply Faithful” as the holy and renowned (Greek) Elders Porphyrios and Paisios would have said. In this book there are many interesting examples that show how this simple, unpretentious, and straightforward Faith works, and how much God is pleased by it. May our own Faith be augmented and strenghtened after reading it.