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Acquiring the Mind of Christ: Embracing the Vision of the Orthodox Church
St. Paul clearly states Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. (Phil 2:5.) How do we acquire this Mind of Christ and where is it to be found? For the Orthodox Christian, salvation is the acquisition of this Mind of Christ which is to be found in the Church. This acquisition moves us from the image of God to the likeness of God; through our obedience to this call we begin to know God and this knowledge is eternal life (John 17:3). This small book hopes to begin to answer how acquiring the Mind of Christ is possible and why it is necessary in our lives today.
165 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 10, 2016
I was told that this is Archimandrite Sergius's spirituality class in book form. The first line is "Our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ is the proto-archetypal man."
Needless to say, I was hooked from the first. Very recommended.
Needless to say, I was hooked from the first. Very recommended.
August 8, 2025
This book is a gem. Inspirational and practical.
August 4, 2017
Archimandrite Sergius's book has been an absolute blessing to read and now graces my list of favorite books. In this small work, applicable to both monastic and layman, he tackles many of the remedies for challenges facing Christians in the modern West by presenting the Orthodox view, keeping to the patristic mind of the Church. He stresses the importance of prayer, liturgical beauty, hesychia, and the Orthodox conception of the person (both anthropological and Christological), something that has been long degraded in the post-enlightenment West. In all of this, he exhorts us to pick up our crosses and follow Christ.
Most beneficial was his criticism at Anselm of Canterbury's faulty Atonement theology, as well as his address of the problems, inconsistencies, and the general "reprehensiveness" of Saint Augustine's theology, both of which have contributed to the developments that occurred in the 1400 and 1500s. In both of these critiques, he is more focused on how the Church and the Fathers teach these doctrines which Anselm and the blessed Augustine have a distorted view of, so his overall presentation is a positive one. I found his explanation of the "Saint Augustine Question" to be succinct, yet more than sufficient for those of us who wonder the proper treatment of the holy saint who, nevertheless, preached a neo-platonically derived form of theology. For Western Orthodox Christians, his book is thus a useful tool to responding in truth and love to much of developed Western theology all the while exhorting us to pursue Christ with every breath.
Most beneficial was his criticism at Anselm of Canterbury's faulty Atonement theology, as well as his address of the problems, inconsistencies, and the general "reprehensiveness" of Saint Augustine's theology, both of which have contributed to the developments that occurred in the 1400 and 1500s. In both of these critiques, he is more focused on how the Church and the Fathers teach these doctrines which Anselm and the blessed Augustine have a distorted view of, so his overall presentation is a positive one. I found his explanation of the "Saint Augustine Question" to be succinct, yet more than sufficient for those of us who wonder the proper treatment of the holy saint who, nevertheless, preached a neo-platonically derived form of theology. For Western Orthodox Christians, his book is thus a useful tool to responding in truth and love to much of developed Western theology all the while exhorting us to pursue Christ with every breath.
November 29, 2017
I would have given it a 4.5 if I could. Archimandrite Sergius' theological worldview, I find, to be thoroughly and wholeheartedly Orthodox. One perspective I appreciated very much that was quietly embedded within a much broader topic - a chapter titled: Adam, the First-Created Man - was his insistence on Adam being a historic and literal person rather than an allegorical figure. Another perspective that I appreciated, which was much more overt, was his treatment of the writings of Saint Augustine of Hippo - a critique that I found was done with great charity and kindness. A great little book by a seasoned Orthodox monastic of our day!
June 30, 2020
I’d give this book 6 stars if I could. Fr. Sergius is an excellent communicator and is able to explain different theological concepts in an understandable way. I particularly loved his short and sweet sermons. I’ll have to reread this book again to understand more deeply some issues that I simply couldn’t grasp the first time around, but only because breastfeeding while reading these kinds of books don’t always mix! Anyway, this book gets my highest recommendation.
November 26, 2019
Väst: grekisk filosofi är riktigt bra kolla bara på förnuftets framgång och ajdå Gud finns inte längre
Öst: hjärtat och erfarenheten är den ände i vilken teologin bör starta kolla bara på fäderna och helgonen det funkade för dem och förnuftet är fortfarande Nice men nu finns Gud dessutom
Öst: hjärtat och erfarenheten är den ände i vilken teologin bör starta kolla bara på fäderna och helgonen det funkade för dem och förnuftet är fortfarande Nice men nu finns Gud dessutom
July 21, 2025
This book started off pretty good, but the middle 50% was not great. Aside from the strong introduction, the author spent much of the book using Catholicism to explain Orthodoxy. In my opinion, that’s not the way to approach evangelization. I’d prefer the Bishop Robert Barron approach of leading with everything that is beautiful about your faith.
Many of the author’s arguments were straw men arguments. And, several times he made criticisms against ideas that were not Catholic teaching. The chapter on Saint Augustine was strange. The author made many arguments against what he felt Saint Augustine implied. I had an open mind for his explanation of the differences between Catholic and Orthodox views of the Trinity, but he seemed to just keep repeating “they emphasize divine nature while we emphasize the three persons”. In Catholicism, there is absolutely a focus on the three persons. Is it “emphasized” as much as in Orthodoxy? I don’t know, and honestly I think most Catholics and Orthodox Christians could benefit from more pertinent discussions related to their salvation.
All that being said, I don’t regret reading the book. I enjoyed it actually. It was interesting, but a little bit unnecessarily tedious and drifted away from its purpose I think.
Many of the author’s arguments were straw men arguments. And, several times he made criticisms against ideas that were not Catholic teaching. The chapter on Saint Augustine was strange. The author made many arguments against what he felt Saint Augustine implied. I had an open mind for his explanation of the differences between Catholic and Orthodox views of the Trinity, but he seemed to just keep repeating “they emphasize divine nature while we emphasize the three persons”. In Catholicism, there is absolutely a focus on the three persons. Is it “emphasized” as much as in Orthodoxy? I don’t know, and honestly I think most Catholics and Orthodox Christians could benefit from more pertinent discussions related to their salvation.
All that being said, I don’t regret reading the book. I enjoyed it actually. It was interesting, but a little bit unnecessarily tedious and drifted away from its purpose I think.
June 5, 2025
This is a short book by Archimandrite Sergius Bowyer, abbot of St Tikhon's monastery. The book is a quick read and mostly focused on apologetics around issues such as St Augustine and Original Sin as interpreted in the West.
It also includes very helpful prayer advice and several homilies around major feast days in the orthodox tradition.
I found the book to be a helpful reminder of important elements of the Orthodox faith. I think it would be good for the refresher for faithful Orthodox or a nice brief overview for inquirers. The book is better for the former than the latter.
My biggest criticism is that Archimandrite Sergius doesn't engage with dissenting Orthodox views of topics like St Augustine. Echoing similar positions to Abbot Sergius, I have been accused of slavophilism that disregards these or those orthodox writers or saints. I have heard this criticism from both rigorists and ecumenicists so it is a serious enough tendency that it should be engaged a little more directly with then blaming it all on the West.
Overall, I read it in two days and enjoyed it and I felt more equipped as an Orthodox Christian having read it.
It also includes very helpful prayer advice and several homilies around major feast days in the orthodox tradition.
I found the book to be a helpful reminder of important elements of the Orthodox faith. I think it would be good for the refresher for faithful Orthodox or a nice brief overview for inquirers. The book is better for the former than the latter.
My biggest criticism is that Archimandrite Sergius doesn't engage with dissenting Orthodox views of topics like St Augustine. Echoing similar positions to Abbot Sergius, I have been accused of slavophilism that disregards these or those orthodox writers or saints. I have heard this criticism from both rigorists and ecumenicists so it is a serious enough tendency that it should be engaged a little more directly with then blaming it all on the West.
Overall, I read it in two days and enjoyed it and I felt more equipped as an Orthodox Christian having read it.
August 26, 2025
Archimandrite Sergius emphasizes the importance of coming back to ourselves to obtain a prayerful mind. The book teaches readers that sometimes Gods answer to our prayer may be met with silence, not as a punishment for our sins but rather as a test of our patience and obedience. Additionally, we must first learn to descend with humility so that we might ascend (salvation) just as He did, thus acquiring the mind of Christ. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is searching for guidance in their spiritual life.
November 27, 2017
This is basically Archimandrite Sergius's spirituality class in book form and it is a wonderful little series of essays and sermons on the spiritual life. It is one of the most applicable works of eastern orthodoxy theology I've come across (for lay and monastic) in a while. He provides and explains the importance of a prayer rule quite clearly. I highly recommend this book to all orthodox christians.
April 19, 2020
Perfect for Great Lent
This book was very informative and easy to get through! I read it with book group for every week of Lent per chapter. The Chapters highlighted every week that we entered. It is great for those that are new to the Faith and looking to gain a greater understanding during Pascha!
This book was very informative and easy to get through! I read it with book group for every week of Lent per chapter. The Chapters highlighted every week that we entered. It is great for those that are new to the Faith and looking to gain a greater understanding during Pascha!
May 9, 2018
Deep yet accessible
This book is great for both the beginner or one who has been on the path for many years. The instruction is both clear and profound. Highly recommend to any Orthodox Christian or to anyone who may be looking for a deeper experience of Christ.
This book is great for both the beginner or one who has been on the path for many years. The instruction is both clear and profound. Highly recommend to any Orthodox Christian or to anyone who may be looking for a deeper experience of Christ.
October 8, 2018
I cannot praise this short book enough. It shakes you from complacency, reminds you of the centrality and absolutely necessity of the cross, and with brevity encompasses the spirit of true Christian faith and practise. By the end of the book you are left saying only 'Have mercy on me, a sinner'.
September 16, 2019
Wow! So helpful for a convert
The chapter on Augustine is worth the price of the book. The author so helpfully explains what a life looks like that is on three road of acquiring the Mind of Christ.
The chapter on Augustine is worth the price of the book. The author so helpfully explains what a life looks like that is on three road of acquiring the Mind of Christ.
January 16, 2020
Excellent primer on Orthodoxy
Very approachable without watering anything down. A lot of really good material here both for the inquirer or for someone seeking to deepen the understanding of their own Orthodox faith.
Very approachable without watering anything down. A lot of really good material here both for the inquirer or for someone seeking to deepen the understanding of their own Orthodox faith.
May 28, 2025
One of the best pieces of theological literature I have ever picked up! Archimandrite Sergius does NOT pull any punches here. He is very direct and well stated, while also providing citations from the Holy Scriptures and the Fathers for every claim that is made. This is a must read!!!
February 20, 2019
I feel holier just reading these words. So much to learn, from the Orthodox church.
May 26, 2020
The chapter on beauty is good.
December 7, 2020
An interesting book that presents the Eastern mindset surrounding the doctrines of atonement and sanctification.
December 13, 2021
An important spiritual book to better understand Christianity
September 3, 2022
Very filling I def recommend for any beginners in search of God
October 21, 2022
Great quick book for the basics of Orthodox spirituality and how to immediately start connecting with God on a deeper level. Would be a wonderful book for a catechumen class.
January 9, 2023
4 1/2 stars
September 21, 2023
Fantastic overview of some very important theological questions.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews