Books

If you’re unfamiliar with the Orthodox Church, don’t feel overwhelmed! With God's grace, many resources can help you explore the profound teachings of our Church.  

To begin your reading in the Scriptures, it is highly recommended to use the Orthodox Study Bible, which provides quotations and commentaries from the Early Church Fathers. 

New to Christianity 

1. Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells, by Matthew Gallatin

Catechism 

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH, by Fr. Tadros Malaty

2. Orthodox Thought and Instruction: In the Orthodox Church, by Fr. Tadros Malaty

3. THE ORTHODOX CONCEPT: TRADITION AND ORTHODOXY, by Fr. Tadros Malaty

4. THE SEVEN SACRAMENTS: The Catechism of the Coptic Orthodox Church - Book III, by Fr. Tadros Malaty

5. COPTIC CHRISTOLOGY PAST AND PRESENT, by Fr. Tadros Malaty

6. GOD: The Coptic Orthodox Church & The Dogmas, by Fr. Tadros Malaty

7. THE COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH & THE DOGMAS: ALEXANDRIA AND CHRISTIAN DOGMAS, by Fr. Tadros Malaty

Understanding Orthodoxy

1. Theology Series (Free PDFs)

2. The Orthodox Faith (Free PDF) - compilation of writings by the SUS Diocese. Topics include Holy Tradition, Theology, Christology, and other topics

3. Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith, by Fr. Peter Gillquist

4. Two Thousand Years of Coptic Christianity, by Otto F.A. Meinardus

5. For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy, by Alexander Schmemann

6. The Inner Kingdom, by Bishop Kallistos Ware

7. The Faith: Understanding Orthodox Christianity, by Clark Carlton

8. The Orthodox Church, by Timothy Ware 

Spiritual Growth

1. Guidelines for Prayer, Fr. Matthew the Poor

2. Words for Our Lives, Fr. Matthew the Poor

3. Beginning to Pray, by Anthony Bloom

4. Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: The Life and Teachings of Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica

5. Orthodox Prayer Life: The Interior Way, by Matthew the Poor 

Marriage and Family Life

1. Preserve them, O Lord, by Father John Mack

2. Two Become One: An Orthodox Christian Guide to Engagement and Marriage, by Father Antonios Kaldas

3. Parenting Toward the Kingdom, Orthodox Principles of Child-Rearing, by Philip Mamalakis

4. Blueprints for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home, by Elissa Bjeletich and Caleb Shoemaker

5. Bringing Up Girls, by James Dobson

6. Bringing Up Boys, by James Dobson

Additional Resources

Articles and Homilies

Discovering Orthodoxy (Fr. Peter Farrington) 

• Spiritual Journey to Orthodoxy

• Orthodox Catechesis

• Why do I need to be baptized?

• Orthodox Way of Prayer

  • Orthodox Way of Prayer – Silence

  • Developing a Prayer Rule

• What about icons?

• An Introduction to Orthodoxy – Bishops

• The Virgin Mary and Orthodoxy 

• Liturgical Worship and Orthodoxy (Part 1 | Part 2)

• Hyper-grace is no Grace

Early Church Documents

• Guide to Early Church Documents

• Early Church Fathers

• The Church Fathers

• St. Pachomius Library

• Apostolic Canons