Churchly Joy : Orthodox Devotions For The Church Year

The orations in Sergius Bulgakov’s “Churchly Joy” are rooted firmly in the Orthodox tradition of preaching. Here the preacher is, like John the Divine, a seer of mysteries and a mystical visionary. Bulgakov strives to place before us the great mysteries of the Orthodox Church as reflected in her major feasts – celebrations of the Annunciation, the Birth of Christ, the Epiphany, the Transfiguration, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and Easter – and a few more general topics.

These orations – especially those on the use of liturgy and prayer – function very much as building blocks for Bulgakov’s theological doctrines. Indeed, scholars and ministers familiar with his theological works of the Paris period will find here a foundation for understanding his theology more clearly. Yet lay readers will also find much to enrich their own spiritual journey.

One of the very few works of Orthodox spirituality and devotional theology available in English, “Churchly Joy” reflects Bulgakov’s own transcendent visions for the church.