Customer Reviews

The Illumined Heart: Capture the Vibrant Faith of the Ancient Christians

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When I began to explore the mysteries of Eastern Christianity in 1997, as well as to look more closely at some of the documents of the early Church, I encountered terms and concepts that were foreign to my thinking. I also saw familiar biblical and theological terms used in similar, yet different, ways.

In my puzzlement I wondered, how could I--someone who had read a fair amount of Church history and Christian classics--be in such foreign territory? Was this yet another way of viewing the Christian faith (like the many theological streams I'd encountered in Protestant writings)? Or were these writings espousing not merely different, but erroneous, views of Christianity? Or was there something missing (or even erroneous) in my Western view of the faith that needed clarification?

Many of the growing number Eastern Christian books available to Western readers (some of which I have recommended elsewhere here at Amazon), might cause the reader the same kind of puzzlement mentioned above.

Along comes this wonderfully simple gem, "The Illumined Heart," by renowned author and commentator Frederica Mathewes-Green, who gently invites the reader to explore "the ancient Christian path of transformation" in an unthreatening manner. Here Frederica introduces us to a fictitious "Christian of another era, perhaps from the fifth or sixth century, living in the Middle East," called Anna.

By introducing us to Anna, and her family, we catch a glimpse of how Christians of another time and place lived out their faith on a daily basis. While I was a bit leery of how this fictional approach would work, I felt that this woman and her family accurately resembled the historical non-fiction accounts I've read of this era.

This is not a "religious" book in the sense of comparing one tradition or theological viewpoint with another. Instead, the reader begins to see how we in the West have lost contact with our spiritual ancestors, what they believed, and how they lived their daily lives. Here Frederica calls us back to that earlier "Christian worldview," and shows how it worked for them and how it could work for us today.

Many of the terms and concepts that puzzled me years ago are introduced here within the fabric of Anna's daily life, and consequently, they not only make biblical and theological sense, they become appealing. Fortunately, Frederica provides an excellent bibliography for those who wish to pursue more. I have added as many titles from this bibliography that are currently available at Amazon to a list that you should be able to access here, to make your search for them easier.

Frederica also lists some helpful sources on the web, such as the St. Pachomius list of early church documents, and the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.

Here's wishing you the best as you explore your own path toward transformation.

-- THIS is the book that every Christian should be reading! Ms. Mathewes-Green does an excellent job of distilling the timeless wisdom of the early Church into a wonderful introduction to traditional Christian life and spirituality. This approach to the Christian life has stood the test of time for centuries, and is a welcome corrective to the faddish pop-spirituality that fills the shelves at Christian bookstores. But be warned! Despite being an easy read (about 100 pages; I read it in an hour and a half) it presents some very challenging concepts. Not in terms of understanding them, but in terms of living them out. When was the last time you heard a sermon on "praying without ceasing?" How about "loving your enemies?" The early Christians took Biblical concepts like these at face value, and so does Mathewes-Green.

So be prepared to be confronted with the greatest challenge of the Christian life: to be transformed into the image of Christ. But the greatest challenge is also the greatest joy!

Buy this book, read it, and pass it on. You won't be sorry.

This is a small book. I thought I could knock it off in one setting. Two months later...

I did not expect it to become a book I'd have to slam down every other sentence for the richness of what I read. This is one of those books. Once again, I'm rearranging my "Top Ten Most Influential" book list. I heard this woman, who should be feted and bedecked with Mallowcups, speak at a conference; I remember thinking she was a soft-spoken woman I would not want to meet in an alley for the tough truth she owned. This book confirms that thought.

This book took me back to some hallowed basics of Christianity. It took me back to a simplicity I have long looked for without knowing. Here's a few things it did: 1. It reminded me that my other enemy is the devil (the first being myself.) That's not popular, Frederica, to own the devil as an enemy. Mallowcups for speaking truth. 2. It reminded me of fasting. Thanks a WHOLE LOT for that one--even my hair shrieks at the thought of missing a meal. But the truth of fasting, the realization that it is a sacrament and that I've been missing out, is louder than the shrieking. 3. It reminded me that I am a sinner. The tacit understanding is that we are NOT sinners. We are saved by grace, skip the sinner part. We think the grace part erases the sinner part. Owning the sinner part again is...huge. And, last, #4: The Jesus Prayer.

The idea of chanting a prayer over and over is anathema to many believers. It's too fearfully close to vain repetition. But there is something about "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner." It's aligning. Frederica says, "Do not be deceived into thinking that the words have magic of their own...that is the kind of thing Jesus meant by "vain repetition."...you do it in vain if you don't mean it."

So for those four things, plus the reprint of the prayer of Nikolai Velimirovic (where did you dig that up? another thing that had me slamming the book down...)...Mallowcups, Frederica.

This is a wonderful book! It reminds us modern, Western Christians that we focus too much on "debt paid" theology. There is so much more to following Jesus Christ than simply being forgiven. You can live in Him and be transformed into His likeness. The book may be hard for those not at least familiar with some elements of Eastern Orthodoxy and at times implies at a certain superiority of Orthodoxy. However, the author's true purpose and heart are to present the wonderful and COMPLETE message of Christ in our time.

This wonderful little book is eminently accessible yet also manages to be quite profound. Mathewes-Green has several important things to say to Christians unfamiliar with the Eastern Orthodox tradition and relates many excellent thoughts about the difference, in basic points of theology, between the early church and modern, western Christianity. For western Christians, Mathewes-Green offers a startlingly fresh perspective on issues such as the transformative act of conversion, authority within the church, the meaning of repentance and forgiveness, and the purpose of prayer. The chapter on "The Jesus Prayer" is reason enough for reading the book. The later chapters, "Dealing with Others : The Smaller Circle" and "Dealing with Others : The Larger Circle" make for important and humbling reading and could be taken together, for great benefit, with C.S. Lewis' sermon "The Weight of Glory"; however, the second of these chapters should be read and carefully weighed in balance with I Corinthians 5--an often neglected passage dealing with the ideas of "judgment" and of forgiveness within the church.

For the Western thinking Christian, who through no fault of his/her own, knows nothing of ancient Eastern thought and understanding, this book is an eye opener. I especially recommend it to Christians, who are wondering what is missing in their walk, to Christians who are searching for the New Testament Church, and to Christians who are seeking to understand the concept of being a "true worshiper."

This is a well written, yet compact primer for one who is seeking a new Christian life in Orthodox Christianity. Frederica's writing style is easy to understand. She simply explains the facets of Orthodox Christianity in a way that allows the seeker to grasp the concepts of orthodox faith.

I would definitely place this wonderful book on any reading list of a one who is trying to find a new Christian home in a church that has not changed in nearly 1000 years.

I must say I was impressed with this little book on spiritual formation. The author has a very engaging writing style and wrapped her information in a loose story to keep it flowing and locate it in history. This is a wonderful introduction for anyone seeking to learn more about the ancient art of spiritual formation and how it might/should be applied today. It's a quick and informative read. The only real issue I had with it was that towards the end, the author sort of throws the baby out with the bathwater in regards to the use of sarcasm. With that one small critique, I recommend this book. It will bless you and make you think.

Despite its small size, this book is packed with so much spiritual food, presented in an easy-to-read, understandable manner. I read it through four times in a row, and sent copies to friends who I thought would gain a lot from reading it. Some of those, in turn have bought multiple copies to give to others. Anyone who is interested in the spirituality that Christianity held from the beginning should have this book!

This was my first real taste of Orthodoxy, and although I will probably never become Orthodox, Frederica is one of my favorite writers. She has the ability to make this ancient and current tradition come alive and be incredibly attractive. I have since read and learned much more about Orthodoxy, but I thank Frederica and this little gift of a book for getting me started. I particularly liked the section on the Jesus Prayer, something I had heard about and even practiced a bit before but had never understood. This is a pocket book of practical, daily Christian living.