This book is a general account of the doctrine, worship and life of Orthodox Christians by the author of the now classic The Orthodox Church. It raises the basic issues of theology: God is hidden yet revealed; the problem with evil; the nature of salvation; the meaning of faith; prayer; death and what lies beyond. In so doing, it helps to fill the need for modern Orthodox catechism. Yet this book is not a mere manual, a dry-as-dust repository of information. Throughout the book, Bishop Kallistos Ware shows the meaning of Orthodox doctrine for the life of the individual Christian. Doctrinal issues are seen not as abstract propositions for theological debate but as affecting the whole of life.

Founded in 1968, St Vladimir’s Seminary Press is the largest and most active publisher of Orthodox Christian books in the English language, with more than 400 titles in print. SVS Press has achieved a reputation for permitting a free expression of ideas within the breadth of the Orthodox faith, tradition, and history, while insisting on works of theological excellence. Combing commentaries, sermons, and ancient texts, this collection consists of classic works and new publications to enrich your study of Orthodox theology.

The Orthodox Silver Library makes Bible study simple and fast by connecting your entire library of books to a robust set of study tools. It comes with over 145 books, with advanced reference works for understanding the biblical context of Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture Complete Set | ACCS (29 vols.).

Our largest package, the 2025 Ultimate Library, provides an incredible library for biblical research and theological reflection. Whether focused on Church history or biblical exegesis, the vast collection of resources and titles at your fingertips cover the gamut—from most devotionals to practical discussions of pastoral ministry to the most rigorous scholarly and academic research. This package has everything you need to engage in the serious study of Scripture and its world, with respected resources like the Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies | LHBOTS (382 vols.) and top-tier exegetical commentaries like the New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament | NIC (51 vols.).

The Orthodox Gold Library makes your study of the Bible easier by connecting your entire library of books to a robust set of study tools. The Orthodox Gold Library provides a comprehensive Bible study library. Contained are hundreds of resources including Fathers of the Church: Greek Fathers of the Nicene Era (35 vols.), Popular Patristics Series Collection (58 vols.), Early Church Fathers Catholic Edition (37 vols.), alongside other resources ideal for sermon prep or more advanced Bible study.

The Orthodox Portfolio library makes your study of the Bible easier by connecting your entire library of books to a robust set of study tools. The Orthodox Portfolio Library takes everything in the Orthodox Diamond Library and adds even more to your library. The Orthodox Portfolio LIbrary contains key sets including Fathers of the Church: A New Translation (148 vols.), Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament | TDOT (17 vols.), T&T Clark Jewish and Christian Texts Series (13 vols.), Berit Olam: Studies in Hebrew Narrative & Poetry (15 vols.), and many more. The Orthodox Portfolio Library is excellent for academic research or advanced exegesis.

The Orthodox Platinum Library makes your study of the Bible easier by connecting your entire library of books to a robust set of study tools. The Orthodox Platinum Library is a great entry point for academic study or more advanced exegesis and sermon prep. With over 900 resources, the Orthodox Platinum Library includes fantastic resources such as The Oxford Handbooks Early Christian Studies Collection (5 vols.), Apostolic Fathers Commentary Series | AFCS (3 vols.), The Church's Bible | CB (6 vols.), and many more.

The Orthodox Diamond Library makes your study of the Bible easier by connecting your entire library of books to a robust set of study tools. The Orthodox Diamond Library takes everything in the Orthodox Platinum Library and adds even more to your library, with scholarly series like Ancient Faith Biblical And Theological Studies Collection (64 Vols.), Septuaginta with Apparatus and Alternate Texts (Rahlfs-Hanhart)Septuaginta with Apparatus and Alternate Texts (Rahlfs-Hanhart), Dictionary of Classical Hebrew | DCH (9 vols.), and Carta Biblical Background Collection (9 vols.). With over 1600 volumes of advanced biblical reference works, this is an ideal package for anyone doing academic research or advanced exegesis.