Know the Faith: A Handbook for Orthodox Christians and Inquirers
by Fr. Michael Shanbour
Over the centuries since the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches, the two groups have diverged to the point that they often no longer understand each other’s vocabulary, let alone the fundamental concepts on which each faith is built. Know the Faith presents Orthodox Christianity in a way Western Christians can understand, grounding each point in Scripture and patristic theology, with comparisons to what Catholics and Protestants believe. Whether you are an Orthodox Christian seeking to explain your faith to others or an inquirer into this ancient faith, Know the Faith will help you understand and communicate the Orthodox faith as never before.
About the Author: The Rev. Fr. Michael Shanbour is a lifelong Orthodox Christian and pastor of Three Hierarchs Orthodox Mission in Wenatchee, Washington. He received his M.Div. at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in 1989. He has been active in youth, camp, music, and Christian education ministries. Fr. Michael was ordained to the holy priesthood in 2001 and pastored mission parishes in Topeka, Kansas, and Spokane, Washington, before being assigned to Three Hierarchs. He is blessed to live in Wenatchee with his wife, Makrina, and son, Simeon.
Praise for Know the Faith
"I'm always on the lookout for the most helpful book for the many inquirers into Orthodox Christianity that come through my church's door. Fr. Michael's new book is an excellent resource in that it is creative, Biblical, Orthodox, well-argued, and a joy to read. If you take the Bible seriously, are interested in Orthodoxy and how it compares to other Christian groups, you need this book." -Fr. Noah Bushelli, Pastor, St. Philip Orthodox Church, Souderton, PA
"Know the Faith presents the Orthodox faith in a clear and easy-to-understand way, and goes a step further by dealing with the objections other Christians might lodge; yet perhaps it's greatest value comes from the extensive collections of quotations from the Scriptures and the Fathers supporting Orthodox faith and practice. This is the toolkit any Orthodox could use to respond to the questions and critiques of other Christians." -Frederica Mathewes-Green
"The best book of this kind I've ever read. With much confusion in the world about Christianity, this book in a loving way with patristic integrity explains the faith once delivered to the saints. This is a great book for the inquirer, catechumen, pastor or teacher." -Dn. Basil (Vasily) Hinkle, Holy Prophet Elijah Orthodox Church, Ellensburg, WA