Journey to the Kingdom: An Insider's Look at the Liturgy and Beliefs of the Eastern Orthodox Church

by Vassilios Papavassiliou

The Orthodox Liturgy is not just an act of worship, but a potentially life-changing journey.

Fr. Papavassiliou takes you through this journey with clarity and passion, exploring the Liturgy as a reflection of heavenly worship, and an invitation to enter the Kingdom of God. The hymns, prayers, creed and actions of the Liturgy are explained, covering subjects such as Communion, Trinity, baptism, sainthood, Resurrection, and much more. The book includes a map to guide you on your journey and 20 illustrations.

Genres: Theology, Christianity, Christian

196 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2012

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever attended a worship service in an Orthodox church, you have been captured by the beauty. Candles, incense, ornate iconography, reverence for sacred symbol, poetic words and acts all draw you into a deep appreciation for the Triune God.  But those new to Orthodox worship may also come away feeling lost, unable to understand the liturgy and symbols.  I remember once early in my marriage, my wife and I attended an Orthodox service during Holy Week. My wife grew up Catholic and neither of us were strangers to liturgy; however we must of looked befuddled because one dear woman sitting behind us, took it upon herself to guide us through the liturgy and help us follow along and take part more fully in the experience.

In  Journey to the Kingdom: An Insider's Look at the Liturgy and Beliefs , Father Vassilios Papavassiliou does what that Orthodox woman did for my wife and I (albeit in a more magisterial fashion) and unlocks for outsiders the significance of the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church.  Papavassiliou speaks of the Divine Liturgy as a journey to the Kingdom. The liturgy begins, "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages." This announces the destination of Orthodox worship. As Papavassiliou says:

It is true, our destination is the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of the Trinity. But our journey really begins the moment we leave the house. Without the sacrificial act of leaving the comfort of our beds and homes and coming to church, there can be no liturgy, and whether we have to travel many miles or just walk a few yards down the street, a sacrificial act of worship has already begun. We come to church not simply to add a religious dimension to our secular lives, nor simply to meet fellow Christians and to socialize, but above all to become the Church, to become the Kingdom of God. (9-10)

And so the Orthodox liturgy leads congregants from the mundane into an encounter with the risen and ascended Christ. Papavassiliou walks us chronologically through the elements of the liturgy, from the Blessing and Litany of the Peace,  to the Great Thanksgiving and Dismissal, pausing to reflect on the various prayers, the veneration of the gospel, the Cherubic hymn, the presentation and litany of the Holy Gifts, the Creed and its meaning, The Holy oblation, the Our Father, Communion and Thanksgiving.  Little sidebars break up the chapters to explain Orthodox practices and theology.  One of the joys of this book is the way Papavassiliou is able to use the liturgy to explain the beliefs and distinctives of the Orthodox in ways which seek to assuage the objections of outsiders.  For example, he describes the Orthodox veneration of Mary (a doctirine which is often looked at critically from those outside the fold) as the outflow of the Orthodox affirmation of the incarnation of Christ (34). According to Papavassiliou, when we remember that the Word became flesh, it makes sense to honor the woman from whom he took flesh and honor her for it.  Likewise he gives brief explanations of the theology behind iconography. He also manages to present the Orthodox liturgy in a way which values it as the truest expression of the Kingdom on earth without being dismissive of other Ecclesial traditions.

My introduction to the Orthodox Liturgy first came from a similar book designed to explain the Orthodox liturgy to new converts  (Archbishop Paul of Finland, The Feast of Faith, trans. by Esther Williams, St. Vladymir's Press, 1988).  What I really like about Papavassiliou's volume is that he isn't content to simply explain Orthodox practice. He also calls the Orthodox to inhabit their best theology.  He acknowledges the disconnect between the rich sacramental heritage of the Orthodox tradition and the fact that it has become common practice among many Orthodox to attend the liturgy without receiving communion (56). Papavassiliou invites his Orthodox readers to participate more fully in worship, being united with Christ in the Eucharist. He tries to remove any obstacles that stand in the way of their participation (79-85). Papavassiliou's sacramental theology owe much to the work of Alaxender Schmemann and Vladymir Lossky and he delves into patristic sources when describing the doctrines of the faith from the Orthodox perspective

And so I recommend this book for two groups of people. Sympathetic outsiders like me who appreciate some of the beauty and poetry they find in Orthodox worship but want a deeper grasp of what is going on in the Liturgy. And insiders who  wish to grow in their own understanding and appreciation of what the liturgy offers and the theological reflection from which the liturgy springs. The journey to the Kingdom leads us to a fresh encounter with Christ, His Church as we await and enact the full coming of His Kingdom.

Thank you to Paraclete Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for this review.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey to the Kingdom is an introductory guide to the worship service of the Orthodox Church, known as the Divine Liturgy. I hesitate to use the term "introductory" here, because I think it undervalues the book. Just because the text simple to read does not take away from its depth or beauty. Beginning with the opening Blessing and ending with the Dismissal, the reader possesses a step-by-step guide, or walkthrough, of what each part of the Divine Liturgy is and means. As Fr. Papavassiliou points out, though, this book is no substitute for actually attending, experiencing, and participating in the Divine Liturgy.

With all the beauty in this book, it was tough to pick a favorite chapter. It is for that very reason that I picked SIX chapters. The six chapters in this book which talk about the Creed are as good a reason as any to buy this book. In them, Fr. Papavassiliou masterfully explains key tenets of the Creed including Trinity, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Church, Baptism, and Resurrection. The chapters also explain interesting pieces of Tradition associated with the Creed. For example, the proclamation, "The doors! The doors!" is still declared before the recitation of the Creed, though it is more symbolic than anything today. In ancient days, this proclamation was given to doorkeepers to shut the doors and keep "spectators" from entering the Church. The Divine Liturgy is not a spectator sport, and only Orthodox Christians are allowed to receive Jesus in Communion.

I have had a great love for Orthodoxy for the past five years, and I am always trying to learn more about my Eastern brethren. I had the great joy of attending Divine Liturgy once, and I admit I was a little lost at points. I wish I had Journey to the Kingdom prior to attending. This is a must-read book for both cradle Orthodox Christians looking to deepen their faith and potential converts who are in the inquiry stage. It's also wonderful for people like me who just want to know more about Orthodoxy, how they celebrate, and what they believe. I love everything about this book, except for the presentation of the illustrations. They are black and white, and I wish they were in color instead.

[Kristian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are an inquirer looking in or an Orthodox person wishing to re-discover or deepen your understanding of your faith, this is the book for you. Written in a brilliantly approachable style, Journey to the Kingdom offers us a comprehensive, insider look at the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Christian Church. True to form, Father Vassilios manages to present the subject in a manner that is simple, but not simplistic, avoiding the patronizing tone and statements of the obvious one so often finds in introductory works. As the title suggests, the book takes us on a journey through the Liturgy, complete with a beautifully drawn map and helpful illustrations, explaining on the way every element of the service, how they're done, when, and why. Drawing from the timeless wealth of Orthodox spiritual wisdom, the book weaves together liturgy, spirituality, and dogma in a way that is fresh and engaging, making it an excellent resource for catechism. The volume itself is handsomely bound and easy to navigate, with a font that is comfortable for the eyes. This is a superb book and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. Highly recommended!

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative book by a humble pen. As a Protestant, I thoroughly enjoyed this introduction to Eastern Orthodox theology and practice. The writer is very engaging, welcoming, and helpful. While I disagree with some of the theology, the author presents EO in a manner which rarely creates distance and keeps the pages turning. Regarding the actual pages themselves, this book is a bit shorter than I had hoped, but it's relative brevity kept it from being intimidating. Also, I loved the cover which is a very sturdy form with inner leaves, providing instant bookmarks: just fold that extra flap into the your page upon closing. I feel a closer kinship to my EO siblings thanks to this engaging little volume and will recommend it to many friends.

[Ted · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a good introduction to the Liturgy and possibly a good book for a discussion group to read and talk about. It would be an easy read and gives basic information about the liturgy and a good way to understand the main service of Orthodox parishes.

[Christopher Brown]

This book made me want to worship. My complete review is available at http://t.co/5GQZa4jU.