Orthodox Family

BOOK REVIEW: Introduction Orthodox Family This booklet is intended for parents to get a glimpse of what the Church offers families. According to the foreword by Archbishop Makarios, it “concisely” yet “elegantly” explains “the fundamental values that constitute family life as experienced and lived within our Orthodox Christian faith.” It begins with a brief explanation of the important services that a child and its family experiences during the first year of its life: the Eighth day blessing, the Forty Day Blessing (Saranta), and the Baptism service. It then briefly covers the major physical and emotional changes of parenthood, particularly motherhood, within those same first twelve months. It is a guide on when things are going well, and how to seek support for when things are not going so well! The book explains the fundamental values that constitute family life as experienced and lived within our Orthodox Christian faith. However, it is not only for first time parents. It also provides important commentary on the lived experience of parents, going through the daily demands of life with children, including discipline, resilience and education. A very significant aspect of this booklet is its ability to combine the practical and the spiritual. For instance, it features both practical tips on bringing the Church into our home through the practices of the icon corner, vigil lamp, and the routine of daily family prayers, and also provides some prayers that every parent will need at different points in their new journey: prayer for a sick child, prayer of the parent, and prayer for the child.

Introduction to Orthodox Family Life to Life Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia The section on bringing children to Church beautifully illustrates the combination of practical tips for “making it happen”, and a higher spiritual goal for the parents to consider. Lastly, there is an extended Reference section with further reading on any of the introductory points mentioned in the booklet, for those who wish to explore faith in family life further. ORTHODOX MISSION BOOKSTORE The book may be purchased in store or online via the QR code: orthodoxbookstore.org.au BOOK REVIEW | 11 217 Sydney Bexley NSW Rd, 2208 Kingsgrove, | (02) 9787 9779