Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity

by Frederica Mathewes-Green

Welcome to the Orthodox Church—its history, theology, worship, spirituality, and daily life. This friendly guide provides a comprehensive introduction to Orthodoxy, but with a readers learn by making a series of visits to a fictitious church, and get to know the faith as new Christians did for most of history, by immersion. Mathews-Green provides commentary and explanations on everything from how to “venerate” an icon, the Orthodox understanding of the atonement, to the Lenten significance of tofu. It’s the perfect book for inquirers and newcomers, but even readers who have been Orthodox all their lives say they learned things they never knew before. Enjoyable, easy-to-read, and leavened with humor, Welcome to the Orthodox Church is a gracious guide to the ancient faith of the Christian East. 

Genres: Christianity, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, Christian, Faith, Spirituality

384 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2013

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic guide to the ancient faith of the Christian East, whether you are an inquiring newcomer or a long-time Orthodox person. The ultimate goal of Christians is to know the Lord Jesus Christ better. In her generous way Frederica explains that the resources of the early Christian Way are for all Christians, an ancient treasury. You can use only the parts you like and there will surely be some benefits, but if you use it all, intact in its fullness, growth in Christ really happens and transforms you. To select only the beautiful or meaningful parts that one understands automatically makes modern Christians editors and marketers of the faith. She suggests that we embrace the authenticity and time-tested faith as it was given to us and let it go to work in us as it was intended, unedited and unchanged.

[Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

After my second time through - I can't express my personal gratitude enough to Frederica for this very lucid a beautifully written book that can be confidently shared to non Orthodox friends and inquirers.

***

Welcome to the Orthodox Church exceeded my expectations as an inquirers introduction to the life and faith of the Eastern Orthodox church. This book could easily serve as a resource for deepening the understanding of the Orthodox faithful as to the roots and reasons of Orthodox faith and practice as well. I thought this was a very lovingly and beautifully presented picture, or icon, of the lived Orthodox faith and life which also isn’t afraid, where necessary, to delve into the history of the Church and the reasons for particular practices and beliefs of the Faith.

[Jenna Engelkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

very thoughtful book regarding Eastern Christianity (the book is aptly named;)); I listened to the audiobook version, and it was very good

[Marcas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frederica's warm Welcome to The Orthodox Church is a wonderful sojourn through the thought and practices of The Ancient Faith.
The outline of the book as someone exploring an imaginary Church allows her to articulate in refreshing ways the Liturgical mind and heart of The Faith- from the veneration of Icons to the use of incense, to the Theology of Synergy and The Energies, to The Jesus Prayer and Mystery of Marriage.
Each one she brings to life beautifully and with charmingly academic acuity.
A few times, moreso in the first half of the book, I think she played it safe and defended 'conservative' views, which aren't actually Orthodox and warned that we can't neatly differentiate between traditions and Tradition. Whilst broadly true; I think The Faith today still should place more impetus on that very point- to destroy the idols of heterodox traditions.
Overall though, my appreciation of The Faith, and sense of where the treasure is, aligns not infrequently with hers.

This would serve as a fine introduction to The Orthodox Way alongside Metropolitan Ware's classic works and/or Fr Schmemann's.

[Pat Rolston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of the author’s I have read with, ‘Facing East,’ being the first. Effective writers are able to take complex subjects and as one of her subtitles suggests: illuminate the mystery. In this book Ms Mathewes-Green clearly and simply explains foundational principles of Eastern Orthodoxy from liturgical nuances to the symbolism of the Orthodox icons. Her straight forward style combined with fundamental explanation makes for wonderful reading for all seekers from novice to expert. Orthodoxy has contemporary giants of theology such as Drs Schmemann , Lossky, and Ware who all provide academic perspective with intellectual rigor commensurate with the richness of the faith for those delving deeper.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written book about a religious tradition with which many Westerners likely have little or no knowledge. Some aspects will seem familiar, some strange. It may be easier to visualize for those who have the courage to attend a service as there are no pictures in this book. I especially loved the way she qualified her statements about Christians and forgiveness with protections for those in abusive situations…a rare and refreshing note. There is much for Christians to appreciate in this title.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. My only complaint is that it doesn’t feel well organized, but at the same time I think it’s intentional as Frederica really seemed to try to tell this as a bit more of a story.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful introduction to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Highly recommended if you're interested in learning more about the Orthodox Christian faith.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, friendly introduction to the Eastern Orthodox Church told through the lens of parish life.

[Scipio Africanus · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good intro to Orthodoxy. Very thorough, but not really my style of writing. Each chapter is written sort of like a story which walks you through a different aspect of the faith from what different things in the physical building mean to what aspects of the divine liturgy mean.

[Steve Bedford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction. I appreciated the narrative elements interspersed. I felt like the latter half of the book dragged on a bit though. The idea of walking someone through the space of the church was novel and interesting, but I felt like once Kh Fredrica moved into describing the services, you'd be better off attending one yourself than simply relying on the book.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to Orthodox Christianity. Very readable.

[LeeWee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not just a book about the Orthodox Church but a book on the church of Christ. It gives you a guide on how to be close to Jesus. I would recommend that if you purchase the book through amazon, add to your purchase the audible version. Reading and listening to the narration will definitely enhance your reading experience. Be careful... this book will change your thinking... hopefully your life.

[Alex of Yoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably one of the best introductions to Eastern Orthodoxy for Western readers that I've read so far. Her explanation of the different doctrines and the theology behind the liturgy was both simple and deep, and I appreciated how she drew from her Western roots to build bridges of understanding for readers who may know nothing about either Eastern culture or Eastern Christianity. I would have liked a little more theological explanations in the third part of her book, but I understand too that she was trying to cover a lot of ground in a small amount of space and that this book was meant to be a simple introduction and not exhaustive of all Orthodox practices. I would highly recommend it to anyone considering Eastern Orthodoxy or curious about Eastern Christianity in general, but I would also highly advise the reader to takes the author's advice and read the book in conjunction with visiting an Orthodox church, especially for a Divine Liturgy. Some ideas and practices are just so foreign to our Western minds and culture that having a real-life example really helps in understanding what the author is trying to explain.

[Heinz Reinhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable, oft times witty, introduction to what to expect when one starts down the path of becoming Orthodox. The section on the liturgy is most useful as, formerly having grown up evangelical, I had little clue as to what was going on most of the time.
No real gripes with the book, personally I would have liked a little more on the history of the Church, but for newcomers this book is basically perfection.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frederica is like your own personal guide to an Orthodox Church and through the orthodox faith. This book was a pleasure to read, and informative, as it informs the reader through "doing".

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Every element you meet has the same purpose: to help you be filled more completely with the life and presence of Christ. There is an undercurrent of dynamism, liveliness, and a frank expectation of action and growth.”

Frederica Matthews-Green writes probably the best accessible book on the Orthodox church for Western, protestants I’ve ever read. It is welcoming and accessible covering much of the theology and doctrine through the lens of liturgy. She’s so cheerful I felt like Polyanna is giving the tour, which was both a positive and negative. The positive is displayed in her enthusiasm and liturgical flare (as a fellow liturgy geek I ate this up and my highlights are a testament). The negative is … well too much Pollyanna creates this Lala land to some theological and even doctrinal practices that are glaringly obvious (least I hope) to any non-Orthodox Christian. For the most part, it doesn’t happen often. Additionally, Frederica is such a marvelous host, shining a light into the practices of the Orthodox church, that one can overlook the saccharined Kool-Aid. The welcome definitely lights the way to Christ.

“what you choose out of this treasury will inevitably be things you like. The things you already like are not going to change you. They’ll confirm you in your comfortable places, and reinforce things you already understand. But the things that will actually change you may not be things you understand, at first. They may seem perplexing or unattractive. You come to understand them by doing them hopefully, in the company of others who are on the same path, some of whom are further along and can guide you and answer your questions.���

**this was a review copy**

[David Friedman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mathewes-Green, a graduate of the Virginia Theological Seminary, converted to Orthodoxy from the Episcopal Church following her husband, now an Orthodox priest.

She describes life in a composite American Orthodox parish, describing in elaborate but personal and appealing detail everything from the character of the faithful; the appearance of the building; the form and nature of liturgy through a church year, weekly services, a communion, Pascha, baptisms, a marriage and a funeral, hospitality hour; a midnight telephone call to the priest from a spiritually distressed parishioner; to a house blessing (and a brief window into Orthodox worship at home). She describes the music, the role of icons, the written sources of wisdom, and something of the meaning of praying continuously. Above all, she describes how the entirety makes up the ancient spiritual Way that Orthodoxy offers for drawing ever nearer to God and Jesus. In a delicate afterward she invites us to take any part of Orthodoxy we may find appealing, but to understand that it is the combination of elements accumulated and refined over millennia that make Orthodoxy a resolute, difficult, and effective Way.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, this was very informative and exactly the information I’ve been looking for. Since I have a Protestant background, I liked that this took some viewpoints that Protestants have and gave a thorough explanation for them. It really clarified some points that I’ve always heard incorrect information about.

This book is definitely a guide for a novice in Orthodoxy, and explains it in a very interesting way. It takes you through the front doors, like you were walking in to a church and experiencing it step by step. I loved how easy it was to read and it felt very friendly. Plus, our author had a sense of humor that I enjoyed.

There is a blurb on the back, written by Rev. Dr. Christopher Metropulos that says, “This is more like a friend than a book. It’s the voice you hope to hear beside you in church, murmuring explanations and encouragement as you make your journey.” Honestly, it’s the most honest blurb I’ve ever seen. If you’re curious about the Orthodox Church, this was an excellent starting point. Highly recommend!

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book, very thought provoking… probably need to read it a few times to truly absorb all of its wisdom. Took me awhile to get through, this is a thorough but dense book for those exploring Orthodoxy. I’ve been attending a church as an inquirer for about five months. If you’re just starting out I’d recommend something shorter like Eve Tibb’s Introduction to Orthodox Theology, or even something less theological like Gordon Walker’s book, Led By His Love, but if you’re wanting something more in depth that walks you through just about everything you’ll see and experience in an Orthodox Church, this is it. If you’ve been to an Orthodox Church, you’ll likely know a lot of information in here, but you’ll also get a ton of interesting and fun tidbits that the author adds too, which can inspire many rabbit trails. Would 100% recommend, happy reading!

[Ali M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great introduction to all the ins-and-outs of the Orthodox faith. Mathewes-Green walks the reader through the faith with attention to all the details that will be new or even strange to someone who has not attended an Orthodox service before. She does so with a great good humor and with a gentleness that makes it okay to be new and unsure and ignorant. Her book perfectly reflects my own experience in attending an Orthodox Church. The congregation at the church I now attend have been so welcoming, warm, kind and reassuring. No question is silly. They are a fun bunch too! Exploring the “original” church can be daunting with thousands of years of traditions and teachings before you, but Mathewes-Green makes you want to dive in and begin.

[John Weathers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many Orthodox Christians will tell you that Orthodox Christianity is very much an experiential faith and that the best way to learn about it is through visiting a parish and attending one of the services. Inspired by that ideal, this delightful book by the warm, engaging and wise Frederica Mathewes-Green adopts the creative approach of taking the reader on a series of imaginary visits to an imaginary typical Orthodox Christian parish. During the course of these visits, she naturally conveys history, theology, and practice in a way that is accessible, welcoming, and approachable. I thoroughly enjoyed the result, finding it filled with rich insights that I constantly paused to highlight for future reference.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I want to note that the Author is a woman. It was refreshing to get such a rich experiential introduction to an old faith from the female perspective. The book is not a historical account, but rather an introduction to the faith as if you were to experience it in person; as if you just showed up to see for yourself. You'll be fascinated to learn that both the Latin Church and the Orthodox Church are both catholic. That they are almost identical theologically yet different ecclesiastically and liturgically. Kind of like how the twelve apostles were all apostles learning the same lessons from Christ, yet each a apostle was a distinctly different individual person. I also think you'll love the depth and richness of the Orthodox customs and their fidelity to persistence.

[Nick Rolston · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has something for everyone—whether you are just curious about the Orthodox doctrine or are a lifelong Orthodox Christian—because of the author's didactic style and inventive story-telling by describing a simulated Orthodox church and discussing each of the components of the structure and the services. I appreciated the level of detail that she shared with regard to the deep symbology evident in Orthodox liturgies, although this would admittedly be less compelling to non-Orthodox. A short read that describes the church's tradition without any frills or advanced theology, I found this to be a real treat.

[Nate Bate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book version of this on Audible. Frederica was the one doing the reading, and my only negative of the book was that she was a little soft spoken. This was my first thorough look at Eastern Christianity. The author comes from Protestantism and her explanations reflect that she knows how someone from Protestantism might might react to elements of the Orthodox Church. She is definitely an apologist for her views, but I found them tastefully done. She takes you through most of the major elements of an Orthodox Church using a fictitious church, people, and situations.

[Christopher Matis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Through doctrinal explanation, deep description of tradition & relics, and comparative commentary between eastern & western church viewpoints, this book is a very comprehensive immersion into the Eastern Orthodox faith that uses a fictional parish "St. Felicity" to illustrate the experience of this ancient denomination of Christianity. While it does leave some questions unanswered, specifically for those seeking a one-stop-shop for all things Eastern Orthodox doctrine, the book does much to show the reader what it's really like to be a part of the Eastern Orthodox church.

[Terri Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very informative. It's not written as a textbook with a lot of jargon. All terminology is explained as you go and the book is written almost as a story, so that the reader can experience the church and how things work. I found it much simpler to understand than a lot of other books on the subject that I have read.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This book was an excellent introduction to Eastern Orthodoxy. It was really quite honest, and I never felt like someone was selling me something (how books of this type typically come across). There’s plenty of rather deep theological parsing, but also plenty of human stories and humor to make that theology come alive. Well done.

[DJ Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nicely written introduction to early Christianity and the Eastern Orthodox Church. Many fascinating elements such as liturgy, sacraments, basic theology, and even orthodox culture are briefly, but with detail, discussed throughout the book. I’d recommend this book to anyone desiring to broaden their knowledge of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to the Orthodox Church, very accessible for any reader. For anyone from the West, the Orthodox Church is a bit of a mystery. Mathewes-Green does a great job breaking it all down, helping readers understand the human element along with the context of the beliefs and practices of this ancient form of Christianity.