Currently Reading List
As a busy mom with 4 kids, it’s a challenge to find pockets of time to read. When I do get a few minutes to sit down with a book, my hope is the pages I am reading are life-giving. I tend to gravitate towards Orthodox spiritual works or “self help” genres, so bear that in mind.
I love Theology and all things Orthodox, but in this season of life I need simplicity. A little nugget to take and slowly digest. I try to carve out a few minutes a day to read, so sometimes I get one or two pages in. I also recently subscribed to Audible and I have enjoyed listening to books while doing chores, or nursing my little one - and I have found that I am actually able to “read” a lot more through that method. So I will share my booklist on Audible as well! Below you will find my current reading list and a brief commentary on my thoughts so far!
So here are my current reads:
Words of the Heart by Gerondissa Makrina Vassopoulou
This book is a GEM. Every woman should own a copy. I initially skipped the intro and biography and jumped straight into her homilies. Every single section is like a warm embrace. I feel her love for God through the pages and it has been an incredibly edifying read. I recently went back to read her bio and I will say, you can’t miss this section. It’s a must read. Her story is one of my favorite saint stories to date! I am currently reading it to my girls who have also been captivated by her. You need this book, just trust me! I have a feeling I’ll be reading and re-reading this one for the rest of my life.
Buy: Ancient Faith, St Anthony Monastery, St John the Forerunner Monastery (Publisher)
2. My Life in Christ by Saint John Krondstadt
If you’re looking for some little nuggets of wisdom to read every day, this is a great collection of thoughts from St John of Kronstadt! Each little paragraph is an individual thought so it’s the perfect amount to read after your daily prayer rule to give you a spiritual word to store in your heart for the day. Keep it near your side table to pick up and read a page or 2. I borrowed this copy from my husband but I am hoping to hang on to this a little longer. It’s a really hefty size book so I can also imagine reading this one for the rest of my life!
Buy: Holy Cross Monastery (Hardbound), Ancient Faith, Amazon
3. Saint Paisios the Athonite Spiritual Counsels IV: Family Life
As a wife and mother, I find this book incredibly helpful and practical. The book is written as a dialogue of letters exchanged between St Paisios and the Nuns at a nearby monastery. St Paisios’ wisdom always strikes as simple yet so profound. Everything I’ve read from him instantly resonates and gives me confidence in the truth. He begins the book with advice for those who are seeking to be married or who are considering the vocation of monasticism and then continues on about marriage, and then marriage with children. Anyone seeking a deeper understanding about these topics would benefit from this book. I am only a 3rd of the way done and I am loving every bit of it!
Buy: Holy Cross Monastery, Amazon
Audible Booklist:
Here is my current reading list on Audible:
Father Arseny: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father
This book has been such a gripping story, I am captivated by every word! This narrative, compiled from accounts of Father Arseny's spiritual children and others whom he brought to God, gives stirring glimpses of his life in prison camp and after his release. It also tells the stories of people whose lives, often during times of almost unimaginable crisis, were touched and transfigured through their connection with Father Arseny.
Buy: Audible
2. The Sweetness of Grace by Constantina R. Palmer
If you want to get a glimpse into the life of an Orthodox Christian convert living in an Orthodox country (Greece) than you will likely love this book as much as I did! This is my 2nd time reading it and I’m enjoying it just as much. Read by the author which is super sweet and I find her voice super comforting and her zeal and love for God rubs off on the reader, at least it did in my experience! Definitely read this one!
Buy: Audible
3. On Marriage and Family Life by St John Chrystostom
If you have never read any of St John Chrysostom previously, then I would HIGHLY recommend you pick up one of his works. I am always astounded by how relevant his writings are. It feels like they were written today! This book is very helpful for anyone seeking to understand Marriage from a Biblical perspective as it is a commentary on the passages on marriage in the Scriptures. This is my second time through it and I am absorbing even more this time than I did through the first read.
Buy: Audible
One of the sweetest ways to help children connect with the lives of the saints is through food, especially when the recipe itself has a connection to the saint’s story. Saint Euphrosynos the Cook was a humble monastic who was granted the ability to dwell in Paradise, where he gave away apples from the garden. These simple “Three Baked Apples from Paradise” are a fun way to bring that story to life for your family as you celebrate the feast day of St. Euphrosynos.
The recipe is intentionally simple enough for children to help make, and with just three apples, it’s perfect for a small family—but it can easily be adjusted to make more servings for a larger family, homeschool group, or parish gathering. As you prepare and enjoy these baked apples together, you can remind your children of St. Euphrosynos, his humility, and the beautiful glimpse of Paradise God allowed him to experience.