Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in.

Quantity:

More Buying Choices

47 used & new from $3.99

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Tell the Publisher! I�d like to read this book on Kindle Don�t have a Kindle? Get yours here.

Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith (Paperback)

by Peter E. Gillquist (Author) "Not in your lifetime, not in my lifetime, have we ever witnessed such a mass conversion to holy Orthodoxy," announced Metropolitan Philip Saliba as he..." (more)
Key Phrases: holy tradition, liturgical worship, New Testament, Orthodox Church, Jesus Christ (more...)

3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (53 customer reviews)

List Price:	$15.95
Price:	$10.85 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save:	$5.10 (32%)
	o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Only 4 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).

Want it delivered Tuesday, July 21? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

25 new from $8.00 21 used from $3.99 1 collectible from $17.90

Also Available in:	List Price:	Our Price:	Other Offers:
Paperback (1st)			25 used & new from $1.87

Frequently Bought Together

Price For All Three: $33.42

Show availability and shipping details

This item: Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith by Peter E. Gillquist
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
The Orthodox Church: New Edition by Timothy Ware
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
The Orthodox Way by Kallistos Ware
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Orthodox Way

by Kallistos Ware

4.7 out of 5 stars (34) $11.52

The Orthodox Study Bible: Ancient Christianity Speaks to Today's World

by Thomas Nelson

4.1 out of 5 stars (56) $31.49

Thirsting For God in a Land of Shallow Wells

by Matthew Gallatin

4.7 out of 5 stars (19) $10.17

Coming Home

by P E Gillquist

3.4 out of 5 stars (11) $14.95

Let Us Attend, A Journey Through the Orthodox Divine Liturgy

by Lawrence Farley

4.3 out of 5 stars (3) $8.76

› Explore similar items

Product Details

Paperback: 191 pages
Publisher: Conciliar Press; Revised edition (September 1992)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0962271330
ISBN-13: 978-0962271335
Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (53 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,711 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#4 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Other Denominations & Sects
#18 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Orthodoxy

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
"Not in your lifetime, not in my lifetime, have we ever witnessed such a mass conversion to holy Orthodoxy," announced Metropolitan Philip Saliba as he began his sermon at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Los Angeles that February morning in 1987. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
holy tradition, liturgical worship

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New Testament, Orthodox Church, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, Metropolitan Philip, Campus Crusade, Santa Barbara, New York, Old Testament, Bishop Maximos, Jack Sparks, Jon Braun, Conciliar Press, North America, Roman Church, Gordon Walker, Los Angeles, Mother of God, Orthodox Christianity, Son of God, Orthodox Christians, Saint Paul, Apostle Paul, Divine Liturgy, Roman Catholic

New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 21 books:

The Divine Liturgy by David Drillock on 8 pages
The New Testament by Charles A. Schism on page 48, page 52, and page 143
The Orthodox Church: New Edition by Timothy Ware on page 104, and Back Matter
The Apostolic Fathers by Jack N. Sparks in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
Saint Paul by Michael Grant on page 184

See all 21 books this book cites

5 books cite this book:

The Many Paths of the Independent Sacramental Movement by John P. Plummer in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
Beyond Salvation: Eastern Orthodoxy and Classical Pentecostalism on Becoming Like Christ (Paternoster Theological Monographs) (Paternoster Theological Monographs) by Edmund J. Rybarczyk on page 142, and Back Matter
An Emergent Theology for Emerging Churches by Ray S. Anderson on page 19, and Back Matter
The Orthodox Church (Denominations in America) by Thomas E. FitzGerald on page 177
The Old Religion in a New World: The History of North American Christianity by Mark A. Noll on page 265

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware

Discusses:

Christian Confessions by Campbell

Discusses:

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	50% buy the item featured on this page: Becoming Orthodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith 3.9 out of 5 stars (53) $10.85
	19% buy The Orthodox Church: New Edition 4.5 out of 5 stars (74) $11.05
	18% buy The Orthodox Way 4.7 out of 5 stars (34) $11.52
	10% buy The Orthodox Study Bible: Ancient Christianity Speaks to Today's World 4.1 out of 5 stars (56) $31.49

Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

orthodox christianity(20)

orthodoxy(9)

eastern orthodoxy(8)

christianity(3)

church history(3)

early church history(3)

conversion(2)

orthodox(1)

See all 15 tags...

Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search

No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Reviews

53 Reviews

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

Average Customer Review

3.9 out of 5 stars (53 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Story of a mass conversion of evangelicals to Orthodoxy, July 21, 2003

By	zonaras (Jimbo's House of Pie) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

_Becoming Orthodox_ by Peter Gillquist is a first-person account of the spiritual journey of a group of evangelical Christians over a period of fifteen years to their reception into the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Many of them had been involved in Campus Crusade for Christ during the sixties and had remained in contact with each other during the seventies as they founded churches around the US. They agreed to study Church history to find out what the original New Testament Churches practiced. They noted from early Christian documents such as the writings of the Church Fathers that the Church had Bishops (ordained by the Apostles themselves), a hierarchial structure, Tradition, liturgical worship, communion as the literal Body and Blood of Christ, inscense, icons, the use of "Father" in addressing Priests, the veneration of the Virgin Mary as Theotokos ("God-bearer") and the Sign of the Cross. In examining the Schism of the Church in 1054 between Rome and the East, Gillquist and his fellow pastors acknowledged that Rome had erred in its Papal claims of universal authority over the Church, and the Western alteration of the Creed which originally stated that the Holy Spirit only proceeded from the Father, when now the Roman Catholic Church teaches that the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son (known as the "Filioque"). Gillquist and his affiliated group of churches, which they had labeled the Evangelical Orthodox Church, sought to join one of the Orthodox Churches in America. They were unsuccessful in meeting with the Patriarch of Constantinople, but they were reviewed and accepted by the Patriarch of Antioch and the Antiochian Archdiocese in North America. The style of this book is remarkably easy and engaging, especially when it comes to the discussion of the "Filioque" in the Creed, and appears to be quite popular among both Orthodox and non-Orthodox readers, which is one of this book's strengths.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

61 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Of mixed emotion..., December 30, 1999

By	Matthew C. Steenberg (Oxford England) - See all my reviews

While the enthusiasm expressed in this work is encouraging, as is the energy witnessed in its expression, it is nonetheless wanting in the extent of its content.

Written while the author and his colleagues were new to Orthodoxy, it expresses much more of the 'coming home' sentiment and excitement than it does a detailed description of Orthodox theology or the Church. It is the author's 'conversion experience,' and not so much a discussion of what he was converting to, that is the focus of the work.

Yet this book will still find a strong readership in those who are from a Protestant/Evangelical background and are considering Orthodoxy, or are simply intrigued and interested in it. From that perspective, 'Becoming Orthodox' offers insights that will strike close to home, and address many of the issues that are encountered when viewing Orthodoxy from such a background.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging read, but not much in the way of theology, May 21, 2005

By	Christopher Culver - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

BECOMING ORTHODOX is a personal testimonial by Fr Peter Guilquist written to track the conversion of nearly a thousand Evangelical Protestants to Orthodox Christianity in 1987. This mass conversion was one of the biggest events in modern American Orthodoxy, and Fr Guilquist's book paints a vivid picture of the theological wrestling and jurisdictional complications which ended in the reception of the converts in the Antiochian Orthodox Church.

Fr Guilquist and many other leaders of this movement started their Christian occupations in the 1950s and 1960s as activists for Campus Crusade for Christ. They travelled widely, trying to organise rallies at such universities as the uber-liberal Berkeley and Roman Catholic Notre Dame. Their focus was entirely on bringing young people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not on building community, which they saw as denominationalism. Over time, however, they became jaded by their work, because many converts fell away after the initial dedication. They understand the need for a Church which would provide lasting support. Yet, they had no idea what such a church should look like.

In the early 1970s these former CCC leaders came together to begin a study of what the Church looked like in the decades after Pentacost, using only the Bible and early Fathers, so that they might form a community mirroring it entirely. They found that the early Church was liturgical, retaining a Judaic structure of worship after the expulsion from the synagogues, and that it was built around the Eucharist, which was seen as no mere commemoration but as a true mystery of faith. They discovered that the Church had a three-tiered division of authority, with bishops defending the faith, and priests and deacons serving the flocks of faithful. In the end, they felt that the only place today that this ancient Church was continued and contained fully was the Orthodox Church. Over time, they discovered that many of the exotic qualities of Orthodox Christianity, such as veneration of Mary and icons, and the liturgical use of incense, were entirely in keeping with the Gospel that gave them strength.

However, they had no personal experience with the Orthodox Church, which in the North America of the time was still seen as an ethnic conclave, in spite of a steady stream on individual conversions. They attended various offerings at Orthodox churches, met with Orthodox apologists such as the famed Fr Alexander Schmemann, and tried themselves to follow Orthodox traditions in their own worship. For a long time they were unsure of how to enter the Church which seemed to fulfill the discoveries of their investigations, and the division of Orthodoxy in North America along numerous ethnic lines was a sad complication. The Greek Orthodox Church was disapproving of their entering the Church, afraid that so many Americans would "dilute Greek traditions", a shameful blot of nationalism on the Church. Their attempt to meet the Patriarch of Constantinople for guidance was shrugged off. In the end, many of them were losing hope that Orthodoxy could provide a lasting home for them. Then, the Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in America invited them to enter under his guidance, and wished that they would all come in within only a few months. The book ends with a recounting of the mass charismations and ordinations which brought these travellers home after a journey of over a decade. A new afterword written in 1992 talks about the victories made by these converts and their fellow Orthodox in the years since.

Fr Guilquist's writing is entertaining and smooth-flowing. Theological arguments are not very deep, but friendly to Evangelical Protestants without much formal training. I am reluctant to criticise a work of such admirable zeal and which is so spiritually uplifting. I wish, however, that the book could have enjoyed some tighter editing and academic typesetting. There is a profusion of exclamation points and italics, and the formatting of the text is not up to professional standards. As it is, the work looks unfortunately amateurish.

If you are curious about the Orthodox Church, an academic work like Kallistos Ware's THE ORTHODOX CHURCH (a modern classic) is a must. However, personal testimonials like BECOMING ORTHODOX are also worth reading, and many readers will Fr Peter Guilquist's story quite inspiring.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 53 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Introduction to the Orthodox Faith
Being an Evangelical who has become tired of the games that are played in today's modern church Peter Gillquist's book came at the right time. Read more

Published 2 months ago by P. E. Fisher

5.0 out of 5 stars Becoming Orthodox
In 1987, concluding a search which lasted more than a decade, some 2000 "evangelicals" joined Eastern Orthodoxy. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Gerard Reed

4.0 out of 5 stars One man's journey
I was hoping for more of a "how to guide" for protestants to enter the Orthodox church, but this is more of a questioning and exploration into the Orthodox church which most of us... Read more

Published 4 months ago by J. Henzel

5.0 out of 5 stars Water for the Thirsty
Becoming Othodox: A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith - is like water for the thirsty - for those who are frustrated with the continuation of splintering in the present day... Read more

Published 5 months ago by L. Gouge

4.0 out of 5 stars Successful story of a group journey
Protestant denominations and the Orthodox churches have a lot in common in terms of ecclesiastical organization, and a respect for how cultural differences can coexist within the... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Arthur Digbee

4.0 out of 5 stars Moderately satisfying
This book is divided into three parts: (1) Looking for the true church, (2) Orthodox doctrines usually unpalatable to Evangelicals, (3) merging a Protestant-originated variety of... Read more

Published 11 months ago by Paul Stevenson

4.0 out of 5 stars A journal, not a reference book
This journal of the path to Orthodoxy taken by some non-denominational Evangelical Christians (with roots in the "Jesus Movement" of the 1960's and Campus Crusade for Christ) is a... Read more

Published 15 months ago by G. E. Thomas

4.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating journey to an ancient faith
Peter Guilquist's Becoming Orthodox is a fascinating journey to discovering an ancient faith by a group of modern day evangelical Christians. Read more

Published 17 months ago by D. Mark

1.0 out of 5 stars Not a book I would recommend
In this book, written as an autobiography, Gilquist explains to the reader why he converted to the "true" church. Read more

Published 19 months ago by Edmond Henry

5.0 out of 5 stars A manifesto for "introducing North America to the riches of this [Eastern Orthodox] historic faith"
The quotes are the last words in the book. This 'manifesto' (imho) is not another 'conversion' story but rather the true story of a spiritual journey; a journey embarked by a... Read more

Published on October 6, 2006 by Gabriel E. Borlean

› See all 53 customer reviews...

Customer Discussions

Beta (What's this?)

New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.

This product's forum (0 discussions)

	Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
	No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Topic:

First post:

Receive e-mail when new posts are made

Prompts for sign-in

[Cancel]

Guidelines

Active discussions in related forums

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
christianity Acts 2:38...is THIS the gospel we preach for salvation today?	40	5 minutes ago
religion Athiests, Naturalists, Materialists and Evil	43	5 minutes ago
christianity The Red Letters are NOT where we find Gods Words to us today....whaaaat???? Gasp...	20	6 minutes ago
religion What religious freedoms will be taken away if gay marriage is allowed?	1769	6 minutes ago
christianity Have YOU made the mistake of "anticipating revelation?" Lets see what this means...	17	9 minutes ago
religion Explain Hell to me	349	11 minutes ago
christianity W/out being judgmental, please answer why JESUS never addressed bisexuality/homosexuality if it is so 'wrong' according to Christianity?	310	12 minutes ago

The Orthodox Christianity community

Latest activity 3 hours ago

484 customers have contributed 554 products, 40 lists & guides and more...

› Explore the community

The Christianity community

Latest activity 20 minutes ago

21,282 customers have contributed 24,155 products, 1,023 discussions and more...

› Explore the community

The Church History community

Latest activity 21 hours ago

1,159 customers have contributed 1,081 products, 91 lists & guides and more...

› Explore the community

Explore more

› See all Customer Communities

› Your communities

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

Be the first person to add an article about this item at Amapedia.com.

› See featured Amapedia.com articles

Listmania!

Every Christian Disciple's Library: A list by Matthew V. Brown "Soulfyre"
Eastern Orthodox Books for Western Readers: A list by Volkert Volkersz
Renewal of Orthodoxy: Greek Nouvelle Theologie: A list by Didaskalex "Eusebius Alexandrinus"

Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...

investigate The (Eastern) Orthodox Church: A guide by Ian K. Hughes
follow RasTafari: A guide by Yohanes Fikre-Selassie
Partake of the Divine Nature?: A guide by Didaskalex "Eusebius Alexandrinus"

Create a guide

Look for Similar Items by Category

Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Church History
Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Orthodoxy
Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Other Denominations & Sects

Perfect Programming

Install a programmable thermostat to help reduce heating costs by ensuring your home is heated optimally. Shop for name-brand thermostats, including Honeywell and Lux, in Home Improvement.

›Shop all programmable thermostats

Big Savings in Books

Find great titles at fantastic prices in our Bargain Books Store.

Dive into Summer Reading

Don't even think about hitting the beach without browsing the books in our Summer Reading Store. Discover bestsellers, paperback picks, beach reads, and more terrific titles all summer long.