Open Door (Paraclete Pocket Faith) [Hardcover]

Frederica Mathewes-Green (Author)

Book Description

Series: Paraclete Pocket Faith | Publication Date: September 2003

Unlike many books of meditations on icons, this book presents a unique opportunity for readers to visit an imaginary church and see icons "in action" throughout the year---to stand alongside worshipers for whom the use of icons is a natural part of their devotional lives. Reproductions of icons on the book jacket and in the inside text allow the reader to view the icons that would be found in a typical contemporary Orthodox church, as Frederica Mathewes-Green explains their history and theology. Stories of saints and texts of the prayers appointed for the day enhance the devotional quality of the book. Anyone interested in understanding and "praying with" icons will benefit from this warmhearted, practical guide.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When traveling in a foreign country, it is nice to have a guide who has visited your own land and can offer keen observation, appropriate context and lively translation. Orthodox Christian convert Mathewes-Green, one of America's foremost apologists for the faith, has in previous works (At the Corner of East and Now; Facing East) shown herself to be such an escort, making her denomination's ancient faith and practice-which can seem austere and demanding-both accessible and sympathetic. Framed as a visit to an imaginary Orthodox church, this series of meditations on icons-depictions of biblical and church history figures in paint, mosaic and other media-serves not only as an art history lesson but an examination of their role in public devotion and private prayer. Mathewes-Green pulls the reader right into the sanctuary with her, which gives the book immediacy and perspective. Theological conundrums and historical explanations that might seem turgid and dry become compelling and vivid in her skilled hands. For the Orthodox, as Mathewes-Green explains, icons are objects of veneration because they can transport believers closer to the presence of God. Redolent with the drama of liturgy, soaked in church history and laced with quotations from the Bible and Orthodox hymns, this slight volume offers rewards for both the intellectually curious and the religious seeker.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Perhaps most think of icons as examples of Christian art, powerful and often mysterious--indeed, intimidating somehow. Yet, whether painted or in mosaic, they are more than beautiful works of art, more than representations of persons and events in the Bible and in the history of the church. Mathewes-Green's contribution to Paraclete's Pocket Faith series invites readers to look at icons as companions to faith and prayer. She chooses 12 of the most significant icons, reproduced and distributed throughout Orthodox Christendom, to examine at length: the Resurrection, the Virgin of Vladimir, the Christ of Sinai, St. John the Baptist, the Angel with the Golden Hair, the Annunciation, the Nativity, Theophany, the Transfiguration, the Crucifixion, the Epitaphios, and the Old Testament Trinity. She discusses the special days associated with each and their corresponding seasons of the church year. Anyone wishing an enhanced understanding of the meaning and significance of icons and their place in daily worship will find here much counsel in little space. June Sawyers
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Paraclete Press (MA) (September 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557253412
• ISBN-13: 978-1557253415
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,245 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #77 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Orthodoxy

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prayer in visual form, September 2, 2005

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Open Door (Paraclete Pocket Faith) (Hardcover)

Praying with icons has a long (and not always untroubled) history in Christian practice; even the Western Protestant tradition that has come to eschew iconographic elements in worship to varying degrees still recognises the history and artistic value of images in some contexts. Author Frederica Mathewes-Green is writing primarily to this group in her text, with careful explanations and good descriptions that show the spiritual value of icons in a worshipful and prayerful setting.

Mathewes-Green writes, 'Unelss you're a member of an Orthodox church, you probably haven't encountered icons in their natural setting.' In this text, she constructs an imaginary church for the reader to visit, with various icons in their typical Orthodox positions. The first part, Iconostasis, looks at the icons that would been on the screen at the altar area. Pictures of the icons are included as colour plates at the centre of the book - these include The Christ of Sinai, The Virgin of Vladimir, The Resurrection, and St. John the Baptist. The second part of the book looks at other icons that might be present in a church, including images of saints, images from scriptural stories of both Old and New Testaments, and other gospel/traditional images of Christ. These are included as black-and-white images in the centre of the book.

Mathewes-Green describes the images both in terms of artistry as well as spiritual connection. Some icons are stylised to a high degree, and others are more realistic. By realistic, however, icons are not meant to be portrayals of people in natural settings - icons are meant to connect the one pondering and meditating upon them with the object of worship, that is, with God, in ways that reach the soul beyond what mere words could achieve. Icons often have a 'penetrating effect', with a play at elements of perspective, colour, materials, size and other aspects that draw the eye in particular directions, and place the viewer in otherworldly positions.

Icons are meant to be more than interesting pictures. As Mathewes-Green concedes, some icons aren't even 'good art' in many technical senses. 'Icons have their fullest impact on those who are saturated in prayer and Scripture, and who participate in the full life of the Church, with all her mysteries, hymns and worship.'

Mathewes-Green describes liturgies and services as well as times of private prayer and devotion during her trips to the imaginary Orthodox church. Her book ends with one of my favourite images, the Old Testament Trinity done by Rublev in 1411. (Archbishop Rowan Williams writes about this in one of his books on icons, too.) The icon is known to me more frequently by the name The Hospitality of Abraham, and this feature is made more prominent by the fact that in some versions of this icon, the figures of Abraham and Sarah are not present, even in the background.

Mathewes-Green invites the reader on a dozen imaginative trips to gaze upon the 'windows into heaven', to meditate upon their stories and be enriched. There is a glossary of terms that might be unfamiliar, particularly to those whose background is not from a liturgical tradition, but such terminology is kept to a minimum throughout the text. Mathewes-Green concludes with some suggestions for further readings, and some website resources for finding out more about icons, including where to purchase them.

This is a wonderful, spirit-filled book.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Little Pocket Book on Orthodox Icons and Prayer, December 30, 2003

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K.H. - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Open Door (Paraclete Pocket Faith) (Hardcover)

Frederica Mathewes-Green's little book is a quick and easy read that is reflective and revealing. She does a magnificent job in describing the layout of Orthodox Church buildings, the use and place of icons, and "feasts and icons" (a section I found particularily helpful). This book is intended, I think, for non-orthodox and Orthodox Christians alike who want an introductory type book, either as material to learn more about the place icons and sancuaries have in Orthodox worship or for just a nice quick refreshing read.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent contemplative reading for Orthodox Christians, December 4, 2005

By 

Nicholas Dujmovic (Vienna, Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Open Door (Paraclete Pocket Faith) (Hardcover)

Frederica Mathewes-Green, in this gem of a book, avoids the typical problem of much Orthodox literature written by converts: it's too often for potential converts and therefore in its tone and approach is unsuitable for those who have long been Orthodox. I would recommend this book as a useful and even inspirational text, on the nightstand, for reflection during Advent or another of the periods set aside by the Church for contemplation. FMG has a way of taking timeless truths and crystallizing them, often in a unique way. I especially liked her description of the Sinai icon of our Lord--I had never thought about it before in the way she describes.

The only jarring note occurs in her description of the Lamentations service on Holy Friday. She says the faithful are "acting out" the events of Christ's death and burial, processing around the Church "as if it were a funeral procession." As Frederica must surely know, we are not "acting out" anything, but really participating, through faith, in the events of our Lord's Passion, so it really IS a funeral procession. A minor mistake (because we know what she meant to say) that does not overshadow the book's great strengths.