This is perhaps the most comprehensive work on the Orthodox Church's divine services currently available in the English language. It was originally translated and printed before the Russian Revolution, but has since been re-edited to reflect current standards of English-language liturgical usage. The author begins with a discussion of the nature and origin of Divine services. He describes the church building, the persons who perform divine services and their vestments, the cycles of public worship, Great Vespers, Matins, Divine Liturgy, festal services, and different ministrations: Baptism and Chrismation, the Coronation Anointing of the Tsar, Consecration of a Church, Confession, Ordination, Matrimony, Unction, Prayer Services, Monastic Tonsure and Burial.
Available in English for the first time, this short book is a powerful introduction to the spiritual wisdom of one of the Church's newest saints: Elizabeth of the Trinity. There was nothing extraordinary in Elizabeth of the Trinity's life. There were no ecstasies. She didn't work miracles. She didn't communicate heavenly messages through visions or words she heard. Instead, she presented a message to modern man through her own life of fidelity, showing us that the true road to contemplative prayer is not an ascent to grasp God, but a descent into the depths of one's heart. She teaches us that only by drawing our souls inward can we move toward bold abandonment and achieve immersion in God, thereby connecting our spiritual lives to the eternal praise of the saints in heaven. In our noisy culture, Elizabeth of the Trinity reminds us of God's power to establish in us a profound and peaceful stillness. She reminds us that that the Trinity is our home, and that God has created us in order to be united to Christ. In these pages, Sister Giovanna della Croce presents a brief and readable introduction to the teachings of Elizabeth of the Trinity, showing us the truth path to contemplative prayer. St. John Paul II considered Elizabeth of the Trinity to be one of the most influential mystics in his spiritual life. Now you, too, can begin incorporating in your own spiritual life the mystical wisdom of Elizabeth of the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit, a great personality with presence in the life of every believer. Full of power and glory, an ever abiding friend. The words Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit baptism, Holy Ghost, et cetera are words that have earned a reputation among the body of Christ as being popular. The name Holy Spirit is everywhere on our lips. Even a 10-year-old can tell you something about the Holy Spirit. This popular personality is no stranger to many of us. Some of us have read Holy Spirit books, we have dug some deeper information on Holy Ghost books, we have had Holy Spirit baptism experience, yet we have not learned one very important thing – how to make the Holy Spirit our friend. We have known the Holy Spirit as mentioned in several preaching and sermons. But it is however sad that our knowledge has not translated into concrete friendship with the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. He is everywhere around us and he longs for our friendship. But the problem has always been with the believer who does not know how to make this third person of the Trinity, the Holy Ghost a good friend. Friends, it doesn’t matter how long you have been saved. It only matters how much you have made the Holy Spirit your friend. The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit is forever going to be present with us from the day we submitted ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and even to eternity. The Holy Spirit is going to be present from the day we were saved and he is also going to be present throughout our life in eternity. It bothers me how we take our time to study in the college for four years or even five years depending on your chosen field. However, the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Ghost who will forever abide with us we do not know how to make him a good friend. It is with such a burden that I write this book to you and it will help you in developing a solid friendship with the Holy Spirit. All through the Bible, believers who have been able to develop a friendship with the Holy Spirit, wielded enormous power of the spirit of God and their generation was never the same. I urge you to read this book with an open mind and when the spirit of God prompts you to drop it for a short prayer, please do as the occasion serves you. I await your testimony after reading this book: “On How the Holy Ghost Became Your Friend.”
Space ads in America, Commonweal, Living Church, Living City; Feature in ASpirit of Books@ catalog (120,000); Feature in Theological Best Books catalog (90,000); Extensive review campaign; Direct mailings to house list (monthly); E-mail marketing to selected consumer and academic lists
