An aid to catechetical instruction
When thinking about religion, for the first time or as a developing interest, having more questions than answers is to be expected. A catechism, or structured set of questions and answers to help a curious person along the path of theological learning, does not necessarily account for the thoughts and concerns of the modern person. This small book began life as an attempt to help those thinking about becoming Orthodox Christians, by tackling the questions and issues they have today. Written by a lifelong teacher, academic, and Orthodox priest, it begins by questioning an ever-present quest for God, before exploring the classic topics central to Orthodox life and faith. It aims to remain both faithful and grounded throughout.
About the authors
Fr Jacob Siemens is an Orthodox priest of the Archdiocese of Russian Orthodox Churches in Western Europe. In 2008, he earned his Ph.D. in Historical Theology, and a post-doctoral licence in 2011, both from the University of Wales. In 2012, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He continues to write both academically and pastorally from his home in Cardiff, Wales. He is married with eight children.
Aidan Hart, a member of the Greek Orthodox Church living in Britain, has been a full-time liturgical artist for over thirty-five years. His passion is to create works and church interiors that reflect something of the beauty of life in Christ, and help people experience that union of heaven and earth that is the ultimate purpose of liturgical art.
Our Story
St Sergius Press (SSP) is an Orthodox Christian press based in Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 2023 by Fr. Jacob Siemens and Dr. Joshua Matthan Brown. SSP is dedicated to edifying the Church through the publication of trust-worthy catechetical works, popular level books on Orthodox spirituality, and rigorously peer-reviewed academic monographs on theology, philosophy, aesthetics, and history. Our mission is to provide readers with doctrinally sound and thought-provoking literature that deepens their understanding of the Orthodox faith and its traditions.
Critical Acclaim
for the first word series
"Father Jacob and the St Sergius Press have provided a much needed and brilliantly clear set of introductions to Eastern Orthodox life and doctrine. The scholarship here is deftly given through lucid imagery and elegant writing - the hallmarks of fine teaching."
Archpriest John A. McGuckin
