Great Lent: Journey to Pascha

by Alexander Schmemann

Book Overview

This revised edition of Fr Alexander Schmemann's Lenten classic examines the meaning of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, the Prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian, the Canon of St Andrew of Crete,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0913836044
• Release Date: January 1974
• Publisher: St Vladimirs Seminary Pr
• Length: 140 Pages
• Weight: 0.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.5" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

Necessary Read for Great Lent

Highly recommend reading Fr. Schmemann's Great Lent during Lent, a great preparation for Pascha. Fr. Schmemann highlights well the reason for Lent and what it means for us today!

On a scale of 1 to 5 this is a 10++++read

This is the book you want to give your Protestant and Catholic friends. It will detail for them just what Lenten Liturgical Worship is? (page 86, 87) and Looking for the Spiritual behind the formal (page 88) What Lent is & how it works? (Page 88) Along with What Christian Fasting is and is not, How to fast and the different kinds of fasting? (Pages 97, 98, 99)

Must reading every year

Fr. Alexander's exposition of the mindset of Lent is indispensable. He demonstrates clearly how Lent is more than following rules and giving up "the good stuff" until we can indulge oursleves at Pascha. Lent is, rather, a time to rediscover who we are and why we are here. I recommend any serious Christian reread this book every year when Lent approaches.

indispensable

Fr. Alexander knows his triodion (i.e. the liturgical book of Great Lent and Easter in the orthodox church). I fully agree with my co-reviewers that his book is indispensable for people who want to deal with the orthodox practice of great lent. Fr. Alexander as a passionate liturgical theologist takes us by the hand and helps us exploring the beauty and richness of this most wonderful of all liturgical books of the eastern church. lent - the way the tridion tells about it - is less a "what to do when and how" it is a spiritual journey from the acknowlegment of how far from God we live our lives to the mystery of the risen Lord who reaches out to us. When singing the triodion I often have the impression that this book an the journey it takes us to are a microcosmos of the christian religion. Fr. Alexander's unique gift is the way he manages to show us it's beauty and the hope that lies within it.

The appendix is the best part

The appendix concerning the relationship between the Eucharist and Penance is the best part of the book. Fr. Alexander clearly explains the need for frequent Communion and the "modern" connections with Confession.

Indispensible Guide to the Lenten Journey

Father Alexander Schmemann, of blessed memory, the great Orthodox liturgical theologian, presents in this volume a series of brief yet spiritually incisive essays guiding the Orthodox believer through the season of Great Lent -- the period of prayer, fasting and alms-giving thaht precedes Pascha, the Orthodox Easter. Father Alexander explains the spiritual significance of the Lenten calendar, practices and special Lenten services, such as the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, in a fresh and thoughtful manner. This book is required reading for all Orthodox Christians on their Lenten journey.