For the Life of the World

By: Alexander Schmemann

Narrated by: Zachariah Mandell

The audiobook version of this book on an approach to the world and life within it stems from the liturgical experience of the Orthodox Church. The author understands issues such as secularism and Christian culture from the perspective of the unbroken experience of the Church, as revealed and communicated in her worship, in her liturgy—the sacrament of the world, the sacrament of the Kingdom. Father Alexander Schmemann (†1983) was a prolific writer, brilliant lecturer, and dedicated pastor. Former dean and professor of liturgical theology at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, his insight into contemporary culture and liturgical celebration left an indelible mark on the Christian community worldwide.

The SVS Press audiobook program is sponsored by The Orthodox Vision Foundation. If you are interested in sponsoring the creation of an SVS Press audiobook, please contact us at [e-mail].

©2018 St Vladimir's Seminary Press (P)2022 St Vladimir's Seminary Press

it's impact

the production of this reading has cut off a few words as he spoke them and there was a section at the end of one of the chapters that gets cut off.

Great Christian classic

Such a powerful book! Definitely recommend to Christians of any denomination. Though there is some criticism of western Christianity, generally it is all Christians who need correction in our view of God, ourselves, and the world.

One disappointment is that part of chapter 3 is missing in the recording, and that may not have been caught if I were just listening. I also had a hard copy of the book, so I caught it.

Transformative presentation of the core of the Christian vision.

This is truly a classic book, of Christian theology, sweeping in a way that lifts up the heart and mind in joyful hope and wonder. Schmemaan helpfully sets a context he returns to of a polarity between "religion" which attempts to discard the world, and secularism, which idolizes it. He compellingly presents the true (orthodox and Orthodox) Christian way as neither of these improper responses to God's fallen creation which is yet still an epiphany of divine presence and in which the restored world that is coming and here now shining through the Church's liturgy (a word which he helpfully frees from any pious bastions that keep it from engaging the world and its modern secular form). The first chapter alone is amazing, as are Schmemaan's insights on the nature of time, sacrament, and symbol (the latter two being dealt with in detail in the appendix in ways that anticipate current movements such as Jonathan Pageau's work) Incredibly helpful for how it shows the right way of relating to our world and the meaning of the cosmos, of humanity, of the kingdom, and how Christ brings all things together as the life of the world, for the life of the world.

Great book. Terrible narrator.

I’ve read this book and it’s fantastic. I recommend you read it as well. Unfortunately the narrator wasn’t very good. But the book is a gem and I highly recommend it.

Path to reverse in Orthodoxy

Beautiful hearing for this story from the Baptismal fountain to the grave!
I find it very useful as a go through it once a year.

Wow. A must read.

Once again, Fr. Schmemann conveys some deep and universal truths that help liberate our thinking from “old ideas” that are actually modernist. This book helped me to see how we need to think as God intends.

distracting reading

Schmemann's work is Schmemann's thoughtful and full hearted work. The reading is sing-songy and over-annunciated, making concentration difficult.