The Lenten Spring: Readings for Great Lent [Perfect Paperback]

Thomas Hopko (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998

The Church welcomes the Lenten spring with a spirit of exultation...with the enthusiasm of a child... The tone of the church services is one of brightness and light.

Thus the author begins the first of forty meditation on Great Lent, casting out the gloom and darkness with which many Christians approach this holy season and revealing, in a simple, clear and beautiful manner, its true meaning.

In his meditations, Fr Hopko draws on his long experience as a pastor and teacher, working with young and old throughout the country, to present to the modern reader the relevance of the Church's two-thousand-year-old tradition of preparing to greet our Lord's Resurrection. But in so doing he also makes extensive use of all facets of church tradition from all times'inspiring scriptural and liturgical passages from the Lenten services, the spiritual wisdom of the ancient saints and fathers, as well as the teachings of modern guides to the Christian life.

All Christians who undertake the yearly journey to the blessed Pascha of our Lord will find inspiration and guidance in these meditations. All can enjoy reading and rereading them and share in the profound thoughts of the author as they make their own spiritual way through this holy season.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Dr. Thomas Hopko, the dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary, professor of dogmatic theology, & author of many books about the Christian Orthodox faith & practice, writes a must read for Great Lent.

These days very few people in America practice or understand Great Lent. Most see it as a time of hardship, unnecessary discipline, old fashion, from the old world, or many other negative views. Another semi-unknown factor are the different pratices of the Western Church (Roman Catholic or some early Protestant) from the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Dr. Thomas Hopko does an excellent job in clarifying what Great Lent is all about for the Eastern Orthodox Church. That this season is a time of spiritual joy to act out the life, death, & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the book, Dr. Thomas Hopko uses the church's historical tradition from Biblical, Liturgical, & Patristic writings with modern teachings to give a well rounded guide to uplift & strength ones spiritual vision.

The book is designed with 40 short chapters to match the Lenten period to help the reader to meditate on a chapter a day. I don't know of any other book that is as well thought out with this in mind. Take the 40 day path to your own resurrection with the wisdom of the Ancient Christian Church by reading this book. --A customer

The Lenten Spring wonderfully brings out the basic themes of prayer, fasting, repentance and almsgiving in several concise, yet thorough chapters.

Fr. Hopko does an excellent job of relating each of these themes both within the context of Christ's Passion, Descent into Hades, and Resurrection that we commemorate in the Lenten season, as well as in the everyday life of the Christian. --A customer

Dr. Thomas Hopko, the dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary, professor of dogmatic theology, & author of many books about the Christian Orthodox faith & practice, writes a must read for Great Lent.

These days very few people in America practice or understand Great Lent. Most see it as a time of hardship, unnecessary discipline, old fashion, from the old world, or many other negative views. Another semi-unknown factor are the different pratices of the Western Church (Roman Catholic or some early Protestant) from the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Dr. Thomas Hopko does an excellent job in clarifying what Great Lent is all about for the Eastern Orthodox Church. That this season is a time of spiritual joy to act out the life, death, & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the book, Dr. Thomas Hopko uses the church's historical tradition from Biblical, Liturgical, & Patristic writings with modern teachings to give a well rounded guide to uplift & strength ones spiritual vision.

The book is designed with 40 short chapters to match the Lenten period to help the reader to meditate on a chapter a day. I don't know of any other book that is as well thought out with this in mind. Take the 40 day path to your own resurrection with the wisdom of the Ancient Christian Church by reading this book. --A customer

Dr. Thomas Hopko, the dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary, professor of dogmatic theology, & author of many books about the Christian Orthodox faith & practice, writes a must read for Great Lent.

These days very few people in America practice or understand Great Lent. Most see it as a time of hardship, unnecessary discipline, old fashion, from the old world, or many other negative views. Another semi-unknown factor are the different pratices of the Western Church (Roman Catholic or some early Protestant) from the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Dr. Thomas Hopko does an excellent job in clarifying what Great Lent is all about for the Eastern Orthodox Church. That this season is a time of spiritual joy to act out the life, death, & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the book, Dr. Thomas Hopko uses the church's historical tradition from Biblical, Liturgical, & Patristic writings with modern teachings to give a well rounded guide to uplift & strength ones spiritual vision.

The book is designed with 40 short chapters to match the Lenten period to help the reader to meditate on a chapter a day. I don't know of any other book that is as well thought out with this in mind. Take the 40 day path to your own resurrection with the wisdom of the Ancient Christian Church by reading this book. --A customer

About the Author

Fr Thomas Hopko is the former dean of St Vladimir's Seminary and professor emeritus of dogmatic theology. He has authored numerous works on all aspects of the Orthodox Church's faith and practice.

Product Details

• Perfect Paperback: 229 pages
• Publisher: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881410144
• ISBN-13: 978-0881410143
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Orthodoxy
  • #47 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Holidays > Easter
  • #55 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Holidays > Lent

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An invaluable companion along the Lenten journey., May 5, 1998

By 

Carmen A. Fragapane (Williamsburg, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lenten Spring: Readings for Great Lent (Perfect Paperback)

The Lenten Spring wonderfully brings out the basic themes of prayer, fasting, repentance and almsgiving in several concise, yet thorough chapters.

Fr. Hopko does an excellent job of relating each of these themes both within the context of Christ's Passion, Descent into Hades, and Resurrection that we commemorate in the Lenten season, as well as in the everyday life of the Christian.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "In all truth I tell you, unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies...", December 22, 2009

By 

Edward M. Freeman "Fr. Ioannis" (Agion Oros) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lenten Spring: Readings for Great Lent (Perfect Paperback)

"In all truth I tell you, unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it yields a rich harvest" [24]. "Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life" [25]. [John 12, NJB translation, 1985]. Christ portends a morbid trek for Himself and anyone to follow, but only if you put stock in the way that many people outside the Church consider themes of sacrifice and death. Among us Christians, Hopko suggests, Christ promises both a transformed experience of suffering and an exalted final word about life unending [34 passim].

Father Thomas Hopko introduces repentance on the very first page, because repentance is a critical experience of Christian faith as well as holds a central place throughout the 40 days of Great Lent. However, Hopko dismisses any hint of doom and romantic piety, and discards ideas of "psychosomatic benefits" that others mistakenly associate with abstinence [10]. Abstinence from certain foods and social occasions prevails during Great Lent to stoke enthusiasm among Christians to run the race of faith harder and obtain the joy of union with the Holy Trinity.

The book's first sentences set a joyful tone for the journey in the lenten spring: "The Church welcomes the lenten [sic] spring with a spirit of exultation. She greets the time of repentance with the expectancy and enthusiasm of a child entering into a new and exciting experience" [9].

In fact, Hopko makes it clear that Christ having already accomplished the plan of salvation draws the faithful to the lenten spring in order to correct, purify, and enlighten the "...total person through the fulfillment of the commandments of the crucified God" [11]. In that way, Hopko saves readers from wasted pious charades in a common liturgical trap of medieval passion plays, which whip up a fine show of horrified tears without substance in faith.

Approaches to worship during Lent outside of Orthodoxy reward emotive displays in response to macabre "real life" reenactments of the Passion as necessary pathways to repentance. Hopko warns that histrionic displays in liturgical settings confuse and mislead worshipers who seek a fix or adrenalin rush by observing and/or participating in Christ dying year after year. To what end a frenzy as this? So that we might imitate Christ's agony? Instead, the sole imitation of the drama embedded in the Orthodox cycle of services is an honest and repeated acknowledgment that we sin just as Adam and Eve sinned before us [30].

Lest I fail to make Hopko's point as clearly as he, Hopko admits to an increase in mystical joy in annual repetitions of lenten-season hymns and chants. Even though joy might include emotion when sung or recited in Orthodox rubrics, just the same emotion is kept in its limited place of importance. The joy of Orthodox lenten services transforms the entire community, which is the overall focus of the lenten spring.

Communal transformation happens by way of words and graphic images grander than emotion and without requisite interaction with emotions to wit. Nevertheless, as Orthodox Christians intone rubrics of Lent in solemnity from the Typikon, they do not abstain from liturgical drama unfolding in the divine services of the lenten spring. Rather, the ancient verses and hymns are dramatic vessels that cover, protect and unite the faithful within. Together they head toward Pascha.

To state it in brief, "the lenten spring is welcomed by Christians in the Church not as the time for self-inflicted agony or self-improving therapy" [11].

Redoubling the joyous news, Hopko samples from the "Kanonion" (lectionary), liturgical responses, intervening Feasts of the Holy Theotokos, Apostles and Saints of the Church to portray how the Church introduces select themes early in Great Lent. Doubling back on these same themes several times more, worshipers are consoled and motivated to continue their observances. For example, midway through the road to Pascha, readings from the great Prophets, such as Isaiah, ask worshipers why they fast [118 passim]. The Prophet's questions are rhetorical and serve the purpose of provoking the mind's assent to not only abstain from certain foods, but also to rend the heart in true repentance.

Father Thomas' book is fitting to introduce in late teens as well as adults of any age. It is my recommendation to begin group preparation for Great Lent four weeks before the start of Great Lent. In fact, employing Hopko's book in Christian education before the start of Great Lent prepares individuals to devote one day to digest in prayer the meditation for each of 40 days contained herein, starting with the first day of Great Lent and concluding with the last meditation just prior to Pascha.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Great Lent, March 19, 2005

By 

John D. Dooley "PhiloX" (Southern California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lenten Spring: Readings for Great Lent (Perfect Paperback)

Dr. Thomas Hopko, the dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary, professor of dogmatic theology, & author of many books about the Christian Orthodox faith & practice, writes a must read for Great Lent.

These days very few people in America practice or understand Great Lent. Most see it as a time of hardship, unnecessary discipline, old fashion, from the old world, or many other negative views. Another semi-unknown factor are the different pratices of the Western Church (Roman Catholic or some early Protestant) from the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Dr. Thomas Hopko does an excellent job in clarifying what Great Lent is all about for the Eastern Orthodox Church. That this season is a time of spiritual joy to act out the life, death, & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Throughout the book, Dr. Thomas Hopko uses the church's historical tradition from Biblical, Liturgical, & Patristic writings with modern teachings to give a well rounded guide to uplift & strength ones spiritual vision.

The book is designed with 40 short chapters to match the Lenten period to help the reader to meditate on a chapter a day. I don't know of any other book that is as well thought out with this in mind. Take the 40 day path to your own resurrection with the wisdom of the Ancient Christian Church by reading this book.