When did you last open a Bible without feeling you had to finish a chapter? Many of us carry a quiet guilt about Scripture: we mean to read, we buy the book, and it waits on the shelf. Here is a gentler way to begin.
The Fathers did not ask the faithful to read the whole Bible at once. They asked us to read a little, every day, and to let it settle. Five minutes in the morning or at night is enough: a short passage from the Gospel, a Psalm, a moment of silence, and the sign of the cross.
The Psalms were the prayer book of Christ Himself and of the Church ever since. In the Orthodox Psalter, numbered as in the Septuagint, we read: "He who dwells in the help of the Most High shall abide in the shelter of the God of heaven" (Psalm 90:1). Even one verse, said slowly, can carry you through a hard day.
Not every English New Testament is the same. Our Orthodox New Testament, translated into English from the original Greek, follows the text the Church has read in worship, so what you read at home matches what you hear in church. It is a book you can trust to place on the prayer-corner shelf beside the icons.
It also comes in a pocket size, which is a great gift. Keep one in a coat or a bag and a waiting room, a bus ride or a lunch break becomes a quiet moment with the Lord.
When the day feels heavy, return to the words of the Lord: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
We also carry the New Testament, Psalms and prayer books in Georgian, including a small pocket prayer book. ახალი აღთქმა, ფსალმუნები და სალოცავები ქართულადაც ხელმისაწვდომია.
Where should I begin reading?
Start with the Gospel of John or Matthew, one short passage a day, alongside a Psalm.
Can I keep the book near my icons?
Yes. Many families keep the Gospel in the prayer corner, treated with reverence.
Is it a good gift?
It is one of the most lasting gifts for a baptism, a name day or a new catechumen.
If you are ready to begin, find the Orthodox New Testament here. May the Lord bless your reading.
— Father Thomas
