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Title: For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy by Alexander Schmemann ISBN: 0-913836-08-7 Publisher: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr Pub. Date: March, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.86 (14 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Theology and Poetry Come Together
Comment: A subtitle of 'Sacraments and Orthodoxy' likely draws a disinterested note in the minds of many, yet the true magic of Fr. Schmemann's writing is its ability to broach such intricate and essential subjects with all the magnetism of a brilliant poet. His words speak almost like a song, and draw the reader into a heartfelt and meaningful discussion of the very centre of Orthodox Christian life.
One of Fr. Schmemann's great legacies to Orthodoxy in America --and indeed, the world-- was the energy he put into revitalizing the sacramental spirit of its people. 'For the Life of the World' is a book which seeks just that goal: to remind Christians of their Eucharistic centre, and open their eyes to a way of living life 'sacramentally.' It is a book that discusses the heart of Orthodox theology, yet it is a simple book. It is a book that discusses the greatest mysteries of creation, yet in the most personal of manners.
There are few books which, in so few pages, can make so great an impact on their readers. So strong was its spiritual impact when first published as a paper, that this book was hand-translated into common Russian and smuggled into that country to serve as a help for the persecuted faithful.
'For the Life of the World' is one book that, truly, no heartfelt Christian person should be without.
Rating: 4
Summary: Good Introduction to the Orthodox Sacramental Theology
Comment: This book provides a very good theological discussion of the liturgical traditions of the Orthodox Church. The author has meant it to be an outline of Christian world view, stemming from the liturgical experience of the sacraments in the Orthodox Church. Late Alexander Schmemann proves himself a good teacher as well as a reputed theologian through this book.
The author feels and expresses in the forward that if he were to rewrite the book it would be different. The appendices need to become the integral part of the book. I felt that the sacrament of penance was not given the due importance. Yet a student of Sacramental Theology is sure to find this book enlightening.
Rating: 5
Summary: Sacrament as Life
Comment: Occasionally one will stumble upon a book so filled with simple Christian wisdom as to take one's breath away. Such is the case with For the Life of the World by the late Orthodox writer Alexander Schmemann. Originally written as a study guide on the Sacraments for a conference, the impact was so great it was decided to make the study more widely available in book form. The decision to publish has certainly been vindicated - the book has been influential not just with the Orthodox but throughout the Christian world and has profoundly affected (for the better) the Christian understanding of the Sacraments.
From the first sentence we are taken into a view of the Sacraments immersed in the historic liturgy of the Church. For Schmemann, the Western Church commits a fundamental error in attempting to analyze the Sacraments as "objects" in isolation from the liturgical context that gives them meaning. Instead, the Sacraments are the act of the Church within its liturgy to transform the world through Christ by offering the world and ourselves to the Father.
Each of the recognized Sacraments of the Orthodox Church are considered within the liturgical life of the Church. This incarnational understanding of the Christian Faith presents the world itself - created by God and declared good - as something to be redeemed through Christ. Rejecting both the semi-gnostic anti-Sacramentalism of some Protestants as well as the view of medieval Roman Catholicism that bordered on "magic", Schmemann returns to a patristic view of the Sacramental life. This is no Eastern Orthodox polemic - Schmemann criticizes his own Church for abandoning the true understanding of the Sacraments for alien concepts - but a plea for the followers of Christ to appropriate a truly Christian understanding of life.
Among the many insights in this marvelous book is Schmemann's view of secularism as a Christian heresy. Secularism, he claims, is possible only in a culture already Christian. Christianity is not another "religion" but the death of all earthly religions. When Christendom mutates the true faith of Christianity into just another religion, the culture will recognize it as dead and reject it - not for another religion - but in a movement opposed to all religion. Religion is now dead and secularism recognizes this death. Only in Christianity is a life of faith possible.
This outlook blends powerfully into the section in the book on death. Rejecting both the "religious" view of earthly life as a preparation or trial ground for the next life and the secular view of death as a natural part of life, Schmemann steers toward a truly Christian understanding of death. The religious view defines life in terms of death; the secular view defines death in terms of life. Either raises death to the status of being part of God's plan for our existence. The Church of the Apostles and Fathers has always taught death is the enemy and in Christ the power death has upon us has been vanquished. This is fulfilled in Christ's resurrection and will be demonstrated in the general resurrection at the end of the age.
Those who have little experience with liturgy may have their world shaken by For the Life of the World. Even those who have long encountered the beauty and wonder of the historic liturgy and sacraments of the Church will be enriched by the depth of faith presented. This book is a classic work of the Christian Faith and should be read by all who seek to follow the Lord.
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Title: The Orthodox Way by Kallistos Ware ISBN: 0913836583 Publisher: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr Pub. Date: 01 September, 1995 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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Title: The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware, Kallistos Ware ISBN: 0140146563 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: June, 1993 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church by Vladimir Lossky ISBN: 0913836311 Publisher: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr Pub. Date: 01 March, 1997 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: Great Lent: Journey to Pascha by Alexander Schmemann, Alexander Schememann ISBN: 0913836044 Publisher: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr Pub. Date: 01 January, 1969 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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Title: A Manual of Eastern Orthodox Prayers by Orthodox Eastern Church, Alexander Schmemann ISBN: 0881410128 Publisher: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr Pub. Date: July, 1997 List Price(USD): $6.95 |
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