Back in February of this year, 2024, I fully read “Fount of Heaven,” edited by Robert Elmer, a book of assembled prayers from the Early Church. First published in 2022 by Lexam, these prayers originated from the writings of individuals within the patristic era and were written as correspondence to God for centuries. These writings extend from the first and second centuries AD to hundreds of years later. The prayers of these historical figures transcended hardships as the growth and spread of the church continued to grow across geographies of immense distance.
So, the purpose of this book is to bring into view the written prayers of people who had a lot to say to God as acts of adoration, confession, gratitude, and intercession. As I read this book over months to learn more about prayer and the thoughts of people I admire, I’ve had a growing desire to develop a better prayer life with greater depth and range. This book was one of the ways personal development in this area became more achievable. This meant reading through people’s thoughts as their prayers were translated into English. To learn their thoughts about their convictions, concerns, confessions, and life struggles since they spoke and wrote to God authentically and reverently.
While the saints and influential leaders of the patristic era were literate and well-educated enough to produce writings that conveyed their personal prayer lives, today, we have their perspectives through the lens of accountability since they offered their voices and pens before God. What they said revealed true beliefs and methods of prayer that record for all time interaction with the Spirit and the Word that helps people to witness and agree to the offerings given. These prayers serve as a model of communication reminiscent of our Lord’s prayer that Jesus taught the apostles.
Topically, the prayers are categorized to fit life circumstances that were upon the early church fathers. Those circumstances often match what the reader encounters today. In a spiritual sense, the adoration, worship, and pleas for guidance, mercy, or presence often resonate to build a larger range of prayer language of readers immersed in the writers’ thoughts. A walkthrough on the topics of interest includes praise, remembrance, restoration, peace, healing, grace, protection, guidance, truth, freedom, strength, perspective, and church life. Moreover, patristic forms of morning and evening prayers are examples for readers to incorporate into their prayer lives.
Finally, this text shouldn’t be read and then go back on the shelf and remain there indefinitely. This book is an actual prayer book of credibility and brings into your own life in agreement with the saints of long ago. Letting their words permeate your mind to offer common and personal prayers spoken and written to God is an effective way of learning how to pray and what to pray in a structured and more substantive form.
The ancient early church fathers and writings appear within this book as follows:
A synaxarion of the Orthodox Church is a liturgical text that compiles the lives of saints, feast days, and significant events commemorated throughout the Orthodox Christian liturgical year. Derived from the Greek word “synaxis,” which means gathering or assembly, the synaxarion serves as a collection of hagiographies, providing both historical accounts and spiritual reflections on the saints and martyrs who have helped shape the faith. Each entry typically corresponds to a specific day of the year, aligning with the Church’s calendar, thereby integrating the remembrance of saints into the daily worship and devotional practices of the Orthodox faithful.
Archpriest Lawrence Farley’s Synaxarion offers readers a profound and meticulously researched account of the lives of saints celebrated within the Orthodox Christian tradition. This collection, encompassing the rich tapestry of hagiographical narratives, serves not only as a spiritual guide but also as a historical and cultural treasure trove. Farley’s work stands out for its depth, accessibility, and ability to connect contemporary readers with the timeless virtues and struggles of these holy figures.
The primary purpose of a synaxarion is to educate and edify the faithful by presenting the exemplary lives of the saints as models of Christian virtue and piety. Through these narratives, believers are offered insights into the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of those who have steadfastly followed Christ. The stories often highlight themes of sacrifice, faith, and divine intervention, aiming to inspire readers to emulate these virtues in their own spiritual journeys. By venerating the saints and reflecting on their lives, Orthodox Christians are reminded of the enduring presence and guidance of the saints within the life of the Church.
In addition to its educational role, the synaxarion holds a significant place in the liturgical life of the Orthodox Church. During services, especially the Matins (Orthros) service, readings from the synaxarion are incorporated to commemorate the saint of the day or the particular feast being celebrated. These readings serve to connect the liturgical assembly with the historical and spiritual heritage of the Church, fostering a sense of continuity and communion with the saints. This practice underscores the belief in the “communion of saints,” a fundamental aspect of Orthodox ecclesiology, wherein the faithful on earth and the saints in heaven are united in worship and intercession.
The structure of a synaxarion is typically chronological, following the order of the ecclesiastical calendar from September 1 (the beginning of the Orthodox liturgical year) to August 31. Each entry includes a concise biography of the saint or a description of the feast, accompanied by theological reflections and, often, hymns or prayers related to the commemoration. Some synaxarions are more extensive, providing detailed historical contexts and elaborate accounts of the saints’ miracles and martyrdoms, while others offer brief summaries suitable for daily liturgical use.
Overall, the synaxarion of the Orthodox Church is a vital spiritual and liturgical resource that serves to instruct, inspire, and unify the faithful. By chronicling the lives of saints and significant events in the Church’s history, it fosters a deep sense of continuity with the past and encourages a living connection with the holy men and women who have exemplified the Christian faith. Through the synaxarion, Orthodox Christians are invited to draw strength from the witness of the saints, to deepen their own spiritual lives, and to participate more fully in the liturgical and communal life of the Church.
Content & Insights
The Synaxarion is organized according to the Orthodox liturgical calendar, presenting the lives of saints in a chronological sequence that aligns with their feast days. This structure allows readers to engage with the saints’ stories in a manner that complements their spiritual journey through the year. Each entry provides a detailed biography, contextual historical background, and reflections on the saint’s enduring significance within the Church.
One of the strengths of Farley’s Synaxarion is its rich historical and cultural context. Farley delves into the historical circumstances surrounding each saint, offering insights into the societal and political environments that shaped their lives and ministries. This contextualization helps readers appreciate the saints not just as isolated figures of piety but as individuals who navigated and influenced their worlds in profound ways.
Farley’s Synaxarion is not merely a collection of biographies; it is a source of spiritual nourishment. Each entry is accompanied by reflections that highlight the saint’s spiritual journey and the virtues they embodied. These reflections serve to inspire and challenge readers to emulate the saints’ faith, perseverance, and commitment to Christ in their own lives. Farley’s ability to draw spiritual lessons from historical narratives is both insightful and deeply moving.
Liturgical Integration
Despite the depth of the Synaxarion, Farley’s writing remains accessible and engaging. He avoids overly technical language and instead adopts a narrative style that invites readers into the stories of the saints. This approach makes the Synaxarion suitable for a broad audience, from academics and theologians to lay readers seeking spiritual enrichment.
Farley’s work is deeply integrated with the practices and rhythms of Orthodox worship. The chronological arrangement of the saints’ lives according to the liturgical calendar fosters a sense of connection with the Church’s cycle of feasts and fasts. This integration helps readers to not only learn about the saints but also to participate more fully in the liturgical life of the Orthodox Church.
Illustrative Value
Farley’s Synaxarion also offers comparative insights, occasionally highlighting the differences and similarities between Eastern and Western Christian traditions regarding particular saints. This comparative approach enriches the reader’s understanding of the broader Christian tradition and fosters a sense of unity and diversity within the universal Church.
The Synaxarion is enhanced by illustrative material, including icons and historical maps, which provide visual context and aid in the readers’ engagement with the text. These visuals serve as a bridge between the written word and the rich iconographic tradition of the Orthodox Church, deepening the reader’s appreciation for the saints’ stories.
This work is an invaluable educational resource for anyone interested in hagiography, church history, or Orthodox spirituality. Farley’s meticulous research and thoughtful presentation make the Synaxarion an excellent text for both personal study and academic use. It serves as a comprehensive introduction to the lives of the saints and their enduring impact on the Orthodox Christian faith.
Conclusion
Lawrence Farley’s Synaxarion is a devotional work that brings the lives of the saints to life in a way that is both historically informative and spiritually enriching. Its combination of rigor, accessible prose, and spiritual depth makes it an essential addition to any library. Whether you are a catechumen, a devout practitioner, or someone seeking to deepen your understanding of the Christian faith, Farley’s Synaxarion offers a bountiful collection of wisdom and inspiration.
Set apart and called for a purpose isolated, narrow, and exceedingly difficult to live. To press and to strive, to be willing to go and do. To produce and make certain the miracle of obedience born within.
Having just finished a slow-walk study of Acts where the ancient manuscript ends with the Apostle Paul in Rome, I have again undertaken a careful effort to go through the book of Romans. To retrace steps earlier taken. On the hope that the words will bring life and they are life and echo well beyond where we are.
I am newly awakened that the next 16 chapters are loaded with deep meaning from the Eternal and Most High. Far beyond my ability to absorb too much at once, I find myself going in reverse quite a bit. A rewind and retake of sorts to ponder, “Father what did you just say?” or “what was that again?” Numerous times anew to push me back in my seat and just mumble ‘wow’. Revealed are the words falling afresh. To newly accept what is accomplished as reality from a perspective that is not my own.
Out of my isolation, I am made aware and informed. Of a truth that I have seen before but have not recognized.
These are the words:
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
For some reason, especially certain and assured that these words will have the greatest bearing in the afterlife.
“Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Rom 1:7
Called to Be Saints
“We are very apt to regard the apostolic saints as if they were “saints” in a more especial manner than the other children of God. All are “saints” whom God has called by His grace, and sanctified by His Spirit; but we are apt to look upon the apostles as extraordinary beings, scarcely subject to the same weaknesses and temptations as ourselves.
Yet in so doing we are forgetful of this truth, that the nearer a man lives to God the more intensely has he to mourn over his own evil heart; and the more his Master honours him in his service, the more also doth the evil of the flesh vex and tease him day by day. The fact is, if we had seen the apostle Paul, we should have thought him remarkably like the rest of the chosen family: and if we had talked with him, we should have said, “We find that his experience and ours are much the same.
Believers & Saints
He is more faithful, more holy, and more deeply taught than we are, but he has the selfsame trials to endure. Nay, in some respects he is more sorely tried than ourselves.” Do not, then, look upon the ancient saints as being exempt either from infirmities or sins; and do not regard them with that mystic reverence which will almost make us idolaters. Their holiness is attainable even by us.
We are “called to be saints” by that same voice which constrained them to their high vocation. It is a Christian’s duty to force his way into the inner circle of saintship; and if these saints were superior to us in their attainments, as they certainly were, let us follow them; let us emulate their ardour and holiness. We have the same light that they had, the same grace is accessible to us, and why should we rest satisfied until we have equalled them in heavenly character? They lived with Jesus, they lived for Jesus, therefore they grew like Jesus. Let us live by the same Spirit as they did, “looking unto Jesus,” and our saintship will soon be apparent.”
Spurgeon, C. H. (1896). Morning and evening: Daily readings. London: Passmore & Alabaster.
