Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity

There are other introductory books about Orthodoxy. This one comprehensively covers the history, theology, and practice, but with a twist: readers learn by making a series of visits to a fictitious church, and get to know the faith as new Christians did for most of history, by immersion. Mathewes-Green provides commentary and explanations on everything from how to “venerate” an icon, to the Orthodox understanding of the atonement, to the Lenten significance of tofu. It’s the perfect book for inquirers and newcomers, but even readers who have been Orthodox all their lives say they learned things they never knew before. Enjoyable, easy-to-read, and leavened with humor, Welcome to the Orthodox Church is a gracious guide to the ancient faith of the Christian East. Inviting rather than argumentative, this is a book Orthodox Christians will be giving to their friends.