Monastery of St John the Baptist

Thank you for continuing to release Fr. Zacharias’s writings. They are incredibly encouraging personally and very helpful for pastoring. As a mission-planting priest, these books have enabled me to connect the hard work we are doing here with God’s desire for our salvation. I hope Fr. Zacharias is able to continue publishing for a long time.

The spiritual inheritance passed down from St. Silouan to St. Sophrony to Fr. Zacharias is invaluable as it speaks with such clarity to the needs of our time. That has been my experience – first as a seminarian, and now as a young priest. I routinely draw on the publications of the work of St. Silouan, St. Sophrony, Archim. Zacharias, & Archim. Peter – both for myself and for my pastoral work in the parish. The way these publications speak of the Gospel and the fulness of the life in Christ has been uniquely helpful to me personally and in my work as a priest.

I would also like to offer my thanks for the physical quality and overall appearance/aesthetic of the books themselves. The clothbound hardback with stamped text & logo makes for a superior look and feel for the books. The high-quality paper, uncrowded pages, and even the font, all contribute to the unparalleled reading experience. I appreciate that the books available in hardback will lay flat. Additionally, I have greatly appreciated recent publications – such as At the Doors of Holy Lent – that included two-color text and a ribbon bookmark.

The books published by the monastery are tremendous blessings. The quality and content are a feast in the wilderness for which, I know as the manager of our church bookstore, many are grateful and growing in faith and faithful knowledge and awareness.

In addition, thanks to you, Father Peter, Father Zacharias, the translators, and all at the monastery involved with the Sunday talks and the decision to make the recordings available for those unable to listen in real time.

The quiet considerations and careful attention to grace filled details manifest in the ministries and outreach of the monastery reveal the inspiring obedience to Saint Silouan and Saint Sophrony present in your midst.

I have read everything available from Archimandrite Zacharias, and yet every time I embark on reading his latest work, it’s like I’m clinging to a tiny but precious thread that leads all the way to eternity. I am forever grateful for his wisdom and utterly penetrating insights into the nature of Orthodoxy and God’s infinite love for His children, even when they turn away or don’t realize His presence. More than ever, the world needs a voice like Archimandrite Zacharia’s.

I have recently purchased Christ, Our Way and Our Life from you and I am so very glad that I have. As an Anglican it is one of the most powerful works that I have ever read. Although I am only part way through, it has illuminated my thought with a clarity that I have not felt outside of Holy Scripture. I give my genuine thanks.

Thank you for the beautiful books you offer. They are always among my favorites to read. When I first came across Saint Sophrony’s writings I was fairly new to Orthodoxy and was astounded by how beautiful and precise were his descriptions which helped me immensely to understand what I was going through. The further distillation of his teaching by Father Zacharias is even more beautifully accessible to people searching for much needed inspiration living in a tired, worn down world.

I received the parcel last week and I was extremely glad! Thank You for all the little bookmark presents, that I will pass on to others, to “disseminate” my joy also 🙂 But more, I want to thank Fr Zacharias for his new book, The Otherness of Love, which is a real inspiration even for us, those who are living in the world with families and children. I found many answers to some questions I have been tormented with for years, such as the question of the authority in education, and I never found the way until now. This book is so “other” than any other book I’ve read! I thank Fr Zacharias again and again for his kenosis which enriches us all!

Truly, these books are hidden treasure. I have a good amount of them already and Lord willing will try to purchase the rest of them. They will be books that can be read over and over and are filled with much spiritual guidance and theology. Truly underrated and not talked enough about! I pray that this monastery gets more recognition so their books may be read by many in here America!

I am always amazed and happy at how quickly the books arrive and the packaging is absolutely perfect. Thank you very much for the icon bookmarks that accompany the books, they come along with me through the text and prayers. These books are holy words for me. Reading these books brings peace and grace. Often, when I am in difficult situations, I read one or a few sentences and I am comforted and find answers. It’s like the fathers are speaking directly to me. Thank you all for your work and for bringing such great help into the world.

Just received today the wonderful book Hesychasm by Father Zacharias. I was waiting for it to arrive, it was a joy to discover the parcel.

Such a beautiful book and such precious contents. Please thank Father Zacharias for his writings. I also have his Remember Thy First Love book, in French translation, it was a Christmas gift in 2020 from my Godmother who is a nun. I have books by Saint Sophrony in excellent French translation and look forward to reading more in the English versions.

Thank you for the lovely packaging and Saint Sophrony bookmark, lovely surprise, the book is so beautifully printed and presented it is a joy and blessing to receive and read it. It will be a joy to order other books from you when possible.

Again thank you, and gratitude for the Zoom conferences of Father Peter and Father Zacharias.

I have really enjoyed all the books I have received from your bookshop. Working through the website was easy, and I was surprised at the speed of delivery since I am in the US. I received the package a while back, but remember no defects, and the books all are in great condition. Having been a bookstore manager for 17 years, this is a sign that the packaging was well done. No bent corners is always a plus. Thank you for your excellent offerings and service. I do appreciate the email updates as well, especially because they are not overwhelming in number.

The content of these books is the breath of life! All of us readers are grateful for the clear exposition of spiritual truth. The effort to produce these books and capture these talks is a priceless ministry from the monastery to those of us “in the world.” May God continue to bless you in this ministry.
Shipments from Essex to us here in the US have been without damage or loss and for the most part arrive in short time.
As for the online bookstore ministry, it is a valuable means of outreach and, to me, the value lies in the easier access to the books and materials produced by the monastery. The website is the one place to go to find all that is available from the monastery press. Thank you!

The writings of St. Silouan, St. Sophrony and Fr. Zacharias touch me so deeply in my heart and soul they bring tears to my eyes, especially St. Sophrony’s books. The depth of their spiritual understanding comes from knowing our Loving God and experiencing the struggle we each have as human beings, to stay on the narrow path in this life that leads us to our true spiritual home. At times, I am astounded at their ability to put in to words the divine wisdom that they have been given and hold in their hearts, that I just sit and stare in to space hands clasped to my heart, tears pouring down my face in gratitude for their bearing of their souls for the benefit of all who read their books and their own personal unending pursuit of surrendering their will to our Loving Jesus. They are truly blessed and serve as a blessing to all humanity. God bless all of us. 🙏🏼

Archimandrite Zacharias books are like a good movie- I cannot stop reading them!!!!

I was born in Christ throughout the writings of Saint Silouan and Saint Sophrony, when I was 17 years old and when I knew nothing about what means to be a christian. After that, my life completely changed. I want to thank you all, to the entire community from Essex monastery who make possible the Sunday talks and special thanks to Father Zacharias and Peter for whom I feel very grateful because through their writings and talks they really help me to learn such profound and useful things about how to consolidate my spiritual life. From no one have I heard such a high teaching about life in Christ as from them.
With deep and profound gratitude,
Sister Ecaterina

Exceptional books come from Essex Monastery! Saint Sophrony’s and Saint Silouan’s writings are a true testament of humbleness and love. This Monastery is a true treasure to Great Britain. May the prayers of Our Most Holy Theotokos reach everyone at Saint John’s the Baptist Monastery. God bless!