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Title: At the Corner of East and Now: A Modern Life in Ancient Christian Orthodoxy by Frederica Mathewes-Green ISBN: 1-58542-044-1 Publisher: Putnam Pub Group (Paper) Pub. Date: September, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.2 (15 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A touching, exciting, educational, & very entertaining story
Comment: One of the back-cover blurbs for 'At the Corner of East and Now' describes Frederica Mathewes-Green as 'the Orthodox Erma Bombeck,' but I don't remember Erma Bombeck having anywhere near the spiritual insights, the writing style (both folksy and lyrical), or, frankly, the humor Presbytera Frederica displays in this book.
For most Americans, even Christians, Orthodox Christianity is *terra incognita.* Mrs Mathewes-Green does an excellent job charting a path for us, leading us back and forth between the elements of the liturgy and the intersection of ancient Christianity and modern 'post-Christian' America. Along the way, we rediscover her parish family (many of whom we met in 'Facing East'), go into a women's prison with a group of post-abortion counselors, discover the perplexing world of 'Christian death metal,' and much more. It's an awful cliché to say, 'You'll laugh, you'll cry,' but there is a lot in this book that's very funny, and a lot that's profoundly moving (see, for example, the chapter titled 'My Father').
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about Orthodox Christianity. While not a definitive survey of Orthodox theology and practice (as no doubt Mrs Mathewes-Green would be the first to tell you), it is a grand portrait of how one individual's, and one family's, life is embraced by Eastern Christianity.
I especially liked some of the incidental touches, quick little portraits of her family's three teenaged children, who have been raised much of their lives in Orthodoxy: the high school-aged son on the bus, reading a biography of St Theophan the Recluse; the oldest child defending Orthodoxy online and at her Roman Catholic college; and the youngest thinking a stranger must be Orthodox because he has a bumper sticker reading The Doors (the joke, actually pretty funny, is explained in the book).
More than that, though, I would also recommend this book -- if I weren't libertarian I might even try to force the book -- to people, especially Protestant Christians, who don't know, or maybe aren't interested in knowing, that there is another, very different and yet strangely familiar and comforting, way to worship Christ, just on the other side of the 'denominational' divide.
This, of course, is where many readers may become very uncomfortable with this book. America's dominant religious paradigm, of course, is Protestant, and perhaps its most visible religious 'subculture' is Evangelical Protestants. Mrs Mathewes-Green pulls no punches in comparing Evangelicalism and Orthodoxy -- for example, when she contrasts an Orthodox hymn ('Of the Father before the morning star thou wast begotten from the belly without mother before all ages, even though Arius did believe thee to be created, not God, classing thee in ignorance and impudence with creatures...') with the nursery-rhyme music and lyrics of the Evangelical 'P&W' songs 'Mighty is our God!' and 'Celebrate Jesus!'
She notes that a popular Evangelical hymn ends with the refrain '... and I long to worship Thee.' Quoting her husband, an Orthodox priest, Mrs Mathewes-Green notes that back when they were Protestants, they, too, longed to worship God. The truth was, they didn't know how, though they suspected it had something to do with emotion. But now, the longing has subsided, replaced by 'something that feels just right, like a key in a lock. ... I was made for this.'
Even if this exciting, touching, educational book doesn't convert you to Orthodoxy, it's an encounter you're not likely to forget for a long time.
Rating: 5
Summary: A great way to communicate Orthodoxy
Comment: As an enquirer into Orthodoxy myself, I really enjoyed reading Mrs. Mathewes-Green's book. She finds a way to blend the ancient and mystical side of Orthodoxy with the contemporary and modern culture of our time and have it all make sense. There are so many little aspects to this book that make it so great to read. Green educates you about the finer points of the Liturgy and Orthodox worship, but she doesn't beat you over the head with it. She discusses her family's pilgramage into the Orthodox Church, but she does so within the confines of personal stories that deal with a specific topic.
Some of the more memorable chapters in this book include the one where she discusses her experience at a Christian rock concert. The Orthodox Church believes that her worship is ancient, apostolic and should not be altered to suit the cultural climate of the times, yet at this event Green experienced a wilder and somewhat darker side to Christian worship that is very different that what Orthodoxy has to offer. I also liked the chapter where she describes her Christmas shopping venture with her daughter. Furthermore, I like the chapters discussing the Divine Liturgy ceremony of their particular parish, and the descriptions of all the different Church members. Since their parish is mostly a convert parish with few cradle Orthodox, it sounds like their worship is more lively and involves more participation than most Churhes that have mostly cradle Orthodox.
This is a great book to give to someone who doesn't understand what the Orthodox Church is, and how they approach worship and devotion. Green makes the material accessible, understandable, but also makes it educational and informative.
Rating: 5
Summary: Better than her first book about her pilgrimage
Comment: I really like 'At the Corner' FMG really gives the reader insight and a sense of personal struggle, triumph and fulfillment in her second installment of her story of going into the ancient Church of Christ. With a wry sense of preception she tells us all the great and little details of an ex-hippie struggling with TRUE spirituality as she and her husband establish a Orthodox mission in small town America.
You will benefit from this book in your spiritual quest, whether Orthodox, Catholic or Protestant. It is simply a wonderful read, in fact I read it in 3 days, it was so interesting. Well worth it!
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Title: Facing East: A Pilgrim's Journey into the Mysteries of Orthodoxy by Frederica Mathewes-Gre ISBN: 0060654988 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: 23 January, 1997 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
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Title: The Open Door: Entering the Sanctuary of Icons and Prayer (Pocket Faith Series, 4) by Frederica Mathewes-Green ISBN: 1557253412 Publisher: Paraclete Press Pub. Date: September, 2003 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: The Illumined Heart: The Ancient Christian Path of Transformation by Frederica Mathewes-Green ISBN: 1557252866 Publisher: Paraclete Press Pub. Date: October, 2001 List Price(USD): $13.95 |
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Title: The Orthodox Church by Timothy Ware, Kallistos Ware ISBN: 0140146563 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: June, 1993 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
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Title: The Orthodox Way by Kallistos Ware ISBN: 0913836583 Publisher: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr Pub. Date: 01 September, 1995 List Price(USD): $10.95 |
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