ON SALE!!!!  Reg $10.00

THE ST. HERMAN CALENDAR features dates according to the Church (Julian) Calendar alongside the civil (Gregorian) calendar. Scriptural references are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    The Orthodox (Julian or "Old") Calendar, with corresponding civil dates. A complete Calendar of Orthodox saints, Scripture readings, and fasting guidelines for every day of the year, together with a listing of uncanonized righteous ones of recent centuries. Numerous saints and righteous ones have been added to this year’s Calendar.

 The 2013 St. Herman Calendar is dedicated to the Orthodox Saints of Palestine. It includes a feature article on the Saints of Palestine, which also discusses the history of the Holy Land and the challenges faced by present-day Orthodox Christian Palestinians. Also included are brief biographies and icons of some Saints of the Holy Land.

112 pages, Journal format, paperback, illustrated, full-color cover, $10.00

Archpastor, apostle, ascetic, miracle-worker, theologian, man of prayer... Archbishop John Maximovitch (1896-1966) was a spiritual phenomenon. Those who knew him have described him as "a living source of God's wonders," "the embodiment of all Christian virtues," "a miracle of ascetic firmness," "a model archpastor," who had the gift of being able "to see into the human heart and draw it to Christ." His was a life of total surrender to God, a life that offers a glimpse into the mystery of holiness.

As a hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, the newly-glorified Saint John was a devoted shepherd, accessible to the least among his flock and keenly aware of the problems of modern life. At the same time, his wisdom and his ways belonged not to this world but to the timeless reality of the heavenly realm. And it is from this realm that he reaches down even today with his extraordinary power of prayer, healing the sick, guiding the lost, and igniting tired and discouraged hearts with the miracle of renewed faith and love. The reminiscences, sermons and testimonies of miracles compiled in this volume reflect a spiritual vitality so refreshingly different from the pallid experience of today's Christianity. Here, truly, is a man of God.

The reminiscences, sermons and testimonies of miracles compiled in this volume reflect a spiritual vitality so refreshingly different from the pallid experience of today's Christianity. Here, truly, is a man of God.

Nikodemus Orthodox Publication Society – paperback 250 pgs, 20 pgs photos, 2nd edition.

The beginnings of prayer arise from the longing of the heart to know God, to rest in Him Who showed His love upon the precious Cross, to abide in the fullness of communion with Him. In the present book—a primer on prayer—Archimandrite Irenei first prepares the ground by helping us to count the cost (Luke 14:28) of our lives as Christians, to take stock of the spiritual struggle we must undertake if we are to ascend toward God in prayer. Then, based on a sober appraisal of our lowly condition and of the worldly and demonic influences that assail us, he helps us to adorn our inward beings as temples of prayer.

With an eye ever on the practical application of Orthodox Christian teaching to the spiritual life, the author raises our minds and hearts to a greater awareness of the holiness and majesty of God, and at the same time of the potential for us—unworthy though we be—to enter into intimate communion with Him. This awareness inspires us to explore with the author the depths of prayer, and to strive more fervently toward eternal life in Christ—the end for which we have been created.

Archimandrite Irenei (M. C. Steenberg) received his doctorate in Theology from the University of Oxford. He has served as Professor of Theology and Head of Theology & Religious Studies at Leeds Trinity and All Saints College, England, and as the Principal of the St. John of San Francisco Orthodox Academy in San Francisco, California. He is currently the priest of the St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Church in San Francisco (where St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco lived during his last years), as well as the Director of the Saints Cyril and Athanasius Institute for Orthodox Studies. His books include Irenaeus on Creation: The Cosmic Christ and the Saga of Redemption and Of God and Man: Theology and Anthropology from Irenaeus to Athanasius. He is the creator of www.monachos.net, an online compendium of Orthodox patristic theology.

Softcover, 128 pages

The Venerable Cyril and Maria, the parents of St. Sergius of Radonezh, present a model of pious living which is instructive and inspiring for monastics and laypeople alike. Here is their Life, Service, and Akathist, together with a history of the Hotkovo Monastery where they labored in old age. Published in 2008 by the Hermitage of the Holy Cross in commemoration of the 700th anniversary of Hotkovo Monastery.

This epic biography of Hieromonk Seraphim Rose tells the unique story of a man who, having grown up in a typical American home in southern California, became one of the greatest teachers of Orthodox Christianity in our times, loved and revered throughout Russia and Eastern Europe.

    Quoting at length from his letters, journals, manuscripts, recorded lectures and published writings, this book traces Fr. Seraphim’s intense search for truth and his philosophical development, setting forth his message and offering a glimpse into the soul of a man who lived, even while on this earth, in the otherworldly Kingdom of God.

    “We who are given the fullness of true Christianity are obliged to be working on ourselves, to be watching the signs of the times, and to be extremely joyful, as St. Paul is constantly saying: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say: Rejoice!’ (Phil. 4:4). We rejoice because we have something which all the death and corruption of this world cannot take away, that is, the eternal Kingdom of Jesus Christ.”

—Fr. Seraphim Rose, 1979, from the new book

    A greatly revised version of Not of This World, this new Life of Fr. Seraphim incorporates years of new research and includes much additional material. Because it deals closely with events in the recent history of Orthodoxy in America, the book has been reviewed prior to publication by clergy, monastics and laypeople from most of the Orthodox jurisdictions represented in this country.

• New, previously unpublished material by Fr. Seraphim.
• New reminiscences by those who knew Fr. Seraphim.
• 63 new photographs.
• Expanded and updated bibliography and source notes.

1160 pages, 234 illustrations, paperback,
Smyth-sewn binding for greater durability

    "THIS is the Fr. Seraphim I remember, and how wonderful it was to read this biography and relive it all. Fr. Damascene’s work is a fine reconstruction of the Platina Years’ that affected so many of us in a positive way. But most important of all, Fr. Seraphim lives again in these pages—just as I recall him—a warm, clear-thinking advocate of that which we need so badly these days: a suffering Orthodoxy of the heart.… This is a truly exceptional book, worthy of the noble and righteous Fr. Seraphim!”

—Hieromonk Ambrose (formerly Fr. Alexey Young), author of Letters from Father Seraphim

    "The Light of Christ, shining through Fr. Seraphim, illumines the path of faith and encourages us who attempt to follow in the way. Hieromonk Damascene presents this light-filled life in words so clear and inviting that the reader eagerly follows, page after page.”

—Frederica Mathewes-Green, National Public Radio commentator, author of At the Corner of East and Now and The Illumined Heart

    "This new biography of Fr. Seraphim Rose is an outstanding portrait of an American convert to Orthodoxy, who, having found the fulfillment of his life in the Orthodox Church, paved the way for thousands of others to follow him. This excellent book is both a challenge and an inspiration to all who are searching for intellectual and spiritual integrity, not only in word and thought, but as a whole way of life.”

—Hieromonk Jonah, Abbot of the Monastery of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, editor of Divine Ascent

    "In this new account of the life of Fr. Seraphim, Fr. Damascene has given a great gift to the Church—he has revealed to us the true life and ministry of an American-born saint. Here Fr. Seraphim speaks as an authentic witness, a true ‘martyrios’ and ‘confessor.’ To those who are afflicted with doubt, out of his own doubt he bears witness to the Truth. To those who are wrestling with passion, out of his own struggle he bears witness to Dispassion. And to those who are suffering, out of his own intense pain he bears witness to joy.”

—Fr. John Mack, author of Ascending the Heights and Preserve Them, O Lord

    "Fr. Seraphim Rose was a lover of tradition who was also far ahead of his time. His inspiring life and thought deserve to be more widely appreciated.”

—Phillip E. Johnson, author of Darwin on Trial and The Wedge of Truth

“When conversion takes place, the process of revelation occurs in a very simple way—a person is in need, he suffers, and then somehow the other world opens up. The more you are in suffering and difficulties and are ‘desperate’ for God, the more He is going to come to your aid, reveal Who He is and show you the way out.…”

—Fr. Seraphim Rose

What does man seek in religion, and what should he seek in it? How does God reveal Himself in order to bring man to a knowledge of the Truth? How does suffering help this revelation to occur? Fr. Seraphim Rose addressed these and other issues during a lecture at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1981. GOD’S REVELATION TO THE HUMAN HEART is a transcription of that lecture, together with the question-and-answer session that followed between Fr. Seraphim and the university students.

“Why is the truth, it would seem, revealed to some and not to others? Is there a special organ for receiving revelation from God? Yes, though usually we close it and do not let it open up: God’s revelation is given to something called a loving heart.”

—excerpt from GOD’S REVELATION TO THE HUMAN HEART

Drawing upon a wealth of sources—the Holy Scriptures, patristic writings, the Lives of ancient and modern saints, and accounts of persecuted Christians in today’s world—Fr. Seraphim leads the audience to the core of all Christian life: the conversion of the heart of man, which begins to burn with love for Christ and transforms one into a new being.

48 pages, illustrated, full-color cover, paperback

From the 12-year correspondence of
Hieromonk Seraphim (Rose) with Father Alexey Young

Hieromonk Seraphim Rose is well known to many as an Orthodox Christian writer. He edited The Orthodox Word and authored numerous articles and several books-including the best-selling Orthodoxy and the Religion of the Future and The Soul After Death—before his tragically early death, in 1982, at the age of 48.

More personal and spontaneous than his formal writings, these letters reveal the development of many ideas that came to form the core of his teachings. There is the call for "less head, more heart"-"Do not trust your mind too much; thinking must be refined by suffering, or it will not stand the test of these cruel times"—and his increasing emphasis on the "royal path," the need to steer between the dangers of modernism and ecumenism to the left and the more subtle dangers of phariseeism—what Fr. Seraphim called "the correctness disease"—to the right. The letters are instructive, engaging, and strikingly relevant.

This correspondence is particularly valuable in revealing for the first time Fr. Seraphim as a spiritual father: unpretentious, never overbearing, guiding, never dictating, always bringing into focus the very essence of Christianity. Here is Fr. Seraphim in the mission fields, and in the daily struggle of monastic life in the northern California wilderness. From these letters there emerges a truthful portrait of Fr. Seraphim in his spiritual maturity, compelling by virtue of who he was as much as by what he wrote. His own unstinting devotion to Christ, after a restless search for truth in his youth, gives weight to his counsel, bluntly expressed in his conviction that today "one cannot be a half-hearted Christian, but only entirely or not at all."

   The psychic phenomena of today are symptoms of the emergence of a new spirituality that is molding the world religion of the future—phenomena such as Yoga, Zen, Tantra, Transcendental Meditation, Guru Maharaj-ji, Hare Krishna, UFO’s, the Charismatic Movement, and Jonestown.

    “None of these by itself … has a crucial significance in the spiritual makeup of contemporary man; but each one in its own way typifies the striving of men today to find a new spiritual path, distinct from the Christianity of yesterday, and the sum of them together reveals a frightening unity of purpose whose final end seems just now to be looming above the horizon.”

–Fr. Seraphim Rose

    This work is a concise and unequivocal Orthodox statement on contemporary trends; its urgent message rings loud and clear. Viewed from the foundation of patristic teaching, many of the spiritual movements of today are seen to be spiritual deceptions which have existed since the beginning of the Church—and not achievements of a “new religious consciousness.” Addressing soberly and directly the trends of pseudo-spirituality which appear enticing today, ORTHODOXY AND THE RELIGION OF THE FUTURE provides a beacon of discernment in these times of widespread deception.

    ORTHODOXY AND THE RELIGION OF THE FUTURE examines a broad spectrum of issues facing modern Christians—each from the perspective of the early Church Fathers. As the “New Age” is becoming a household concept and is moving into wider acceptance by mainstream society, the “new religious consciousness” can be seen progressing precisely along the lines described by the late Fr. Seraphim. Included in this edition is an epilogue that chronicles the signs of the religion of the future that have made their appearance since this book was first published.

252 pages, full-color cover, paperback

THE FIRST-CREATED MAN is a collection of seven homilies which deal with Adam’s fall and our redemption by Jesus Christ.

When Fr. Seraphim learned that the early Western Father, Blessed Augustine of Hippo, was being attacked in contemporary Eastern Orthodox circles, then he—himself a Western convert to Orthodoxy—rose in his defense. This book is the outcome. Fr. Seraphim said he wrote it in the hope that it would help remove Augustine as a scapegoat for today’s academic theologians, and thus “help free us all to see his and our own weaknesses in a little closer light—for his weaknesses, to a surprising degree, are indeed close to our own.”

    “Narrow is the mansion of my soul; enlarge Thou it, that Thou mayest enter in … for without Thee what am I to myself except a guide to my own downfall?”

—Blessed Augustine of Hippo

    After discussing Blessed Augustine’s strengths and weaknesses, Fr. Seraphim examines the views of other Holy Fathers concerning him. “His main benefit to us today,” he writes, “is probably precisely as a Father of Orthodox piety—something with which he was filled to overflowing.… Here he is one with the simple Orthodox faithful, as well as with all the Holy Fathers of East and West who, whatever their various failings and differences in theoretical points of doctrine, had a single deeply Christian heart and soul. It is this that makes him unquestionably an Orthodox Father.”

    This new edition of THE PLACE OF BLESSED AUGUSTINE IN THE ORTHODOX CHURCH contains letters written by Fr. Seraphim concerning Augustine, passages from Augustine’s Confessions which Fr. Seraphim found especially moving, and an Orthodox service to Blessed Augustine, commissioned by St. John Maximovitch.

144 pages, illustrated, full-color cover, paperback

The spiritual realm after death defies observation, yet mankind persists in its desire to peer beyond this threshold—a threshold through which we all must pass.

“You will not die. Your body will die, but you will go over into a different world, being alive, remembering yourself and recognizing the whole world that surrounds you.”—St. Theophan the Recluse, 19th Century

THE SOUL AFTER DEATH is a comprehensive presentation of the 2,000-year-old experience of Orthodox Christianity regarding the existence of the other world, addressing contemporary “after-death” and “out-of-body” experiences, the teachings of traditional Oriental religions and those of more recent occult societies.

Although the mystery of what lies beyond the veil of death is not fully visible to us in this life, nonetheless, writings and teachings of ancient Christianity dating from the first century have proven timeless and straightforward, yielding sound insights into the spiritual world beyond death. From the firm foundation of Orthodox patristic teaching, Fr. Seraphim Rose offers an interpretation of the meaning of the contemporary experiences which have been publicized by Drs. Kubler-Ross, Moody, Osis and Haraldsson, and other researchers.

“He who has the memory of death as his constant companion, painfully seeks to learn what awaits him after departure from this life.”—St. Symeon the New Theologian, 11th Century

Principal teachings of Orthodox Christianity concerning the properties of the soul after death are presented in a clear concise manner, as taught by Church fathers and teachers of the early centuries. THE SOUL AFTER DEATH offers an undiluted draught of pristine, mystical Christianity as it has existed since the time of Christ. 296 pages, full-color cover, paperback

Not until now has the ancient wisdom of Lao Tzu been presented alongside the otherworldly revelation of Jesus Christ in a way that encompasses the full significance of both. Avoiding the common pitfalls of religious syncretism, Christ the Eternal Tao shows Lao Tzu’s Tao Teh Ching as a foreshadowing of what would be revealed by Christ, and Lao Tzu himself as a Far-Eastern “prophet” of the Incarnate God.

Inspired by Fr. Seraphim Rose’s early studies of the Tao Teh Ching, this book draws from the unpublished translations and teachings of Fr. Seraphim’s Chinese philosophy teacher, Gi-ming Shien, in order to uncover the esoteric core of the Tao Teh Ching. Then, through the transmission of mystics of the ancient Christian East, Lao Tzu’s teaching is brought into a new dimension, exploding with new meanings.

Part I contains a “New Testament” of the Tao Teh Ching, which looks at Christ through the eyes of Lao Tzu and presents the Gospel in Lao Tzu’s own intriguing way. Part II unfolds the history of the revelation of God, from the creation of man, through the fall, primordial civilization, Lao Tzu, Confucius, and the ancient Hebrews, and finally to God’s Incarnation in Jesus Christ and His ultimate revelation of His Being as Three Persons. Part III offers practical advice from Eastern Orthodox teachers on how to unite oneself to Christ the Incarnate Tao/Logos and acquire His Divine Grace (in Chinese, Teh).

Much more than a mere study in comparative religion, Christ the Eternal Tao uses Lao Tzu’s intuitive realizations as a springboard by which to catapult the spiritual seekers of our day all the way into the mystical depths of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

An excellent work of St. Nektarios showing the identifying characteristics of Jesus Christ as the Savior and the brilliance of the Christian Faith. Christianity is a mystery since the content of the Christian faith is the incarnate God, our Lord Jesus Christ. As such, it is impossible to be grasped by the human intellect. How then can we be assured that the Christian faith is the only source of all truth? How can we know that Jesus Christ is the incarnate God? How can we be certain that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and the Giver of eternal life? The identifying characteristics of the Savior—which are outlined with brilliant clarity in this book—are so many in multitude and such in quality, that the sincere reader will find it difficult not to confess with enthusiasm that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the perfect God Who became perfect man.

Archpastor, apostle, ascetic, miracle-worker, theologian, man of prayer... Archbishop John Maximovitch (1896-1966) was a spiritual phenomenon. Those who knew him have described him as "a living source of God's wonders," "the embodiment of all Christian virtues," "a miracle of ascetic firmness," "a model archpastor," who had the gift of being able "to see into the human heart and draw it to Christ." His was a life of total surrender to God, a life that offers a glimpse into the mystery of holiness.

As a hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, the newly-glorified Saint John was a devoted shepherd, accessible to the least among his flock and keenly aware of the problems of modern life. At the same time, his wisdom and his ways belonged not to this world but to the timeless reality of the heavenly realm. And it is from this realm that he reaches down even today with his extraordinary power of prayer, healing the sick, guiding the lost, and igniting tired and discouraged hearts with the miracle of renewed faith and love. The reminiscences, sermons and testimonies of miracles compiled in this volume reflect a spiritual vitality so refreshingly different from the pallid experience of today's Christianity. Here, truly, is a man of God.

The reminiscences, sermons and testimonies of miracles compiled in this volume reflect a spiritual vitality so refreshingly different from the pallid experience of today's Christianity. Here, truly, is a man of God.

Nikodemus Orthodox Publication Society – paperback 250 pgs, 20 pgs photos, 2nd edition.

A fifteenth-century text on the spiritual life - adapted and translated into Russian by Archimandrite Ambrose Pogodin, English translation by Mary Mansur

When entreated for words of wisdom, the author of this text, an unknown "elder of blessed memory," begins by declaring, "There is nothing eternal under the sun except the human soul." He goes on to elucidate with penetrating simplicity the central facts of human existence: the creation and fall of man and his restoration in the God-Man Jesus Christ. Speaking with rare authority born of experience in the authentic Christian life, the elder urges his listener towards spiritual vigilance: "Heed the signs, and do not relax your trust in God." His own profound love for God and neighbor suffuses these reflections with warmth and joy, evidence of "what blessedness it is to be a slave of Christ."

"Earthly life," the elder reminds us, "is short, insecure, mutable. O Man, seek what is everlasting, eternal, and trustworthy. And what is eternal and trustworthy can be found only in God." Here is a brief work of enduring value, a text that speaks directly and convincingly to those seeking not only to know but to attain that which is eternal.

By St. Paul Florensky: SALT OF THE EARTH is the heartwarming biography of Hieromonk Isidore (1814–1908), the great Elder of Gethsemane Hermitage in Russia.

    Radiant with Christ-like love and childlike simplicity, Elder Isidore lived in another world, yet kept both feet firmly planted on the ground. He was one of those whom Christ called the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13)—a repository of the rare otherworldly savor of ancient Christianity.

    “One glance of his could destroy all human conventions, because he was above the world and enjoyed the highest spiritual freedom. It seemed as if he didn’t walk upon the earth, but was rather suspended by invisible threads to some other land. All of this filled him with an inner lightness. All those who came to him heavily burdened would lose their heaviness. With a light smile, as if playing, he could, with impunity, turn any human conditions of common life into joy.”

—excerpt from SALT OF THE EARTH

    In SALT OF THE EARTH, both the life and personality of Elder Isidore have been captured with remarkable clarity by the Elder’s spiritual son, New Martyr Paul Florensky (†1937). He takes the reader directly into Fr. Isidore’s world, so that by the time the book is finished, the Elder is already a dear friend.

    “…It is impossible to distinguish his simplicity and love from his detachment to all worldly things. He turned everything upside down and in such a way that it was impossible to find one ounce of self-will or anything ostentatious. His simplicity was an irony and his irony was simplicity itself. He could change all existing conditions in order to allow them to be seen through the window of eternity; and—amazingly enough—he would do this without offending anyone. He would uproot everything in his guests; he would push each one off his pedestal of self-complacency and bring him back down to earth….”

—excerpt from SALT OF THE EARTH

This revised second edition contains additional material on the Elder by Metropolitan Benjamin (Fedchenkov).

North America has not been left without the consolation of its own pilgrimage sites— Spruce Island, Alaska being the first. In the early nineteenth century, St. Herman, America’s first saint, made Spruce Island his home. There, he lived the ascetic life while serving as a father to the local native population. Through his prayers and miracles, St. Herman sanctified the island, leaving his grace-filled legacy for future generations.

Hundreds of pilgrims come to Spruce Island each year to visit the saint’s grave, drink from his holy spring, and ask his intercession before the Lord. Spruce Island, Alaska: A Pilgrim’s Guide is the first full-color guide to St. Herman’s beloved isle. It includes pictures and descriptions of all the holy sites on Spruce Island, a brief history of the Russian Mission to Alaska, and a brief Life of St. Herman. It is an indispensable guide for those planning a trip to Spruce Island or for those who just want to know more about America’s first saint. Softcover, 48 pages, full color

St. Ignatius was a great 19th century Russian hierarch, monastic leader, and teacher of the Church, who wrote this book initially for monks and nuns. An austere call to a more ascetic life.

by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov
276 pp, paperback

A new book on the life of St. Nikolai Velimirovic by Bishop Artemije! "Thirty years have passed since Bishop Nikolaj departed from this world to a much better one, to God's eternal world. Long before, however, this great man from Lelich, the Bishop of Ohrid and Zhicha of blessed repose, was rightfully known as our New Chrysostom"

"On this thirtieth anniversary of his repose, it is my pleasure to reveal some more facts about his than are generally known by the people or Lelich in particular, the Serbian people in general, and by the Orthodox and Christian world at large. I am aware of my modest means in contrast to the complexities and greatness of the person and works of Bishop Nikolaj. However, as his closest compatriot and neighbor, I will attempt to present his evangelical life and his varied and prolific pastoral work, beginning with his birth in Lelich in 1880 and ending with his blessed repose in America in 1956" Bishop Artemije

Softcover, 150 pgs.

By St John Maximovitch, translated by Fr Seraphim Rose

“For He hath looked upon the lowliness of His handmaiden; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”

—(Luke 1:48)

    A right understanding of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is not possible without a right understanding of Mary, the Birthgiver of God. When her image is distorted, the image of her Son also becomes distorted.

    This concise work is a classic exposition of how the Church has venerated the Mother of God throughout the ages, and the chief errors that have attacked this veneration: both ancient heresies and the modern deviations of Western heterodoxy. It clearly tells why the Virgin Mary should be honored by all generations, but not considered a co-redemptress along with Jesus Christ, the only Savior of the world.

    This book is of special value in that it was written by a saint and miracle-worker of modern times who had direct spiritual contact with the Mother of God. The sources of St. John’s theology are the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Fathers (especially the great Fathers of the 4th and 5th centuries), and the divine services of the Orthodox Church.

    From apostolic times, all who truly love Christ give veneration to her who gave birth to Him, raised Him and protected Him in the days of His youth. In THE ORTHODOX VENERATION OF MARY THE BIRTHGIVER OF GOD, St. John traces her veneration from the time of the Apostles to the present.

88 pages, illustrated, full-color cover, paperback

A nourishing collection of select chapters from St. Nikodemos' classic work, "Spiritual Exercises," this beautiful translation is available for the first time in the English language.  Ranging from topics such as: "On the Greatness of the Divine Eucharist" & "The Denial of Peter" to, "Our Sins and Ingratitude towards God" & "The War that Christ Began," both the clergy and laity alike will find all 18 chapters easily accessible and soul-profiting.

95 pages softcover Holy Trinity Monastery