Q&A with Bishop Kallistos Ware
In 1960, Penguin Books asked the 26-year-old Timothy Ware to write a book on his newfound Eastern Orthodox faith. His first reaction was to say no; he had been Orthodox for only two years. But a friend urged him to try and so he set his pen to paper. Now nearly 50 years old, The Orthodox Church remains the go-to book for people who want an introduction to Orthodoxy. Since that first book, Ware became a monk, took the name Kallistos, became a lecturer at Oxford University, and was made Metropolitan Bishop of Diokleia for Greek Orthodoxy in Britain.
Earlier this year, Ware lectured at North Park University and Wheaton College about what evangelicals could learn from the Orthodox and what the Orthodox could learn from evangelicals. Christianity Today editor in chief David Neff interviewed him during that visit.
Read it here.
About Fr Stephen Smuts
Timothy Ware’s book is a historical gem, but I have learned myself that this is more because of Ware himself, an English Orthodox convert (when he first wrote the book), with his rare and gifted breed of writing, and if you will he breathes that spirit of the broad church English mind! But, the EO of itself? That is another question.
Yes, it’s a stretch… and very foreign to a Western mind.
AS you know I was drawn that way, perhaps more because of Ware’s book itself? And the grave problems in Anglicanism. But my fellowship with the EO was hardly “Orthodox”; save some aspects of Christology and the Trinity. Thankfully, I am just too “biblicist”.. and even Protestant!
I have read several books edited by Kallistos Ware, The Art of Prayer, Writings from the Philokalia on the Prayer of the Heart, and his 4 volume set of the Philokalia it self. I am a 68 y/ Roman Catholic who converted from Protestantism at 27 y/o.
The books I have read so far have enriched my life immeasurably and have been a big help in my life of prayer and Spiritual Life. The Desert Fathers were such Holy people and so close to God because of their frugal life style and their rich prayer life.
I am indebted to Father Ware and if he reads this; Thank you so much. I am eager to read the 2 books by Ware that are listed here.