Ways of Seeing

Orthodox Christianity has long captivated Western Christians, often through the beauty of its icons and the quiet power of the Jesus Prayer. But Orthodoxy offers far more than ancient rituals and aesthetics—it presents a rich, living tradition with transformative insights for today's spiritual journey. Originally delivered as a series of retreat addresses, Ways of Seeing invites readers into the vibrant and lived experience of Orthodox spirituality. Through thoughtful chapters that explore key elements of the tradition, readers will encounter fresh perspectives on God, self, and the world. Moving beyond superficial exoticism to reveal the deep wisdom Orthodoxy offers for contemporary faith and practice, it will be an ideal resource for anyone seeking to engage with the enduring beauty and relevance of Orthodox spirituality.

About the Author :
Nevsky Everett is the Chaplain of the Anglican Church of the Resurrection, Bucharest (Romania) and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Apokrisarios to the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate. He has a long-held interest in Orthodoxy and has been involved with a number of ecumenical bodies since his ordination in 2013. His doctorate was on the Syriac tradition, exploring St Issac of Nineveh’s homily on the Cross.

Review :
"This timely and significant volume is poised to become an essential resource across Orthodox parishes. It offers a lucid and penetrating account of the manifold ways in which the eternal presence of the Lord becomes perceptible within the Church’s liturgical life—above all in her icons, hymnography, and sacramental rites—with particular attention to the richness of the Eastern Orthodox tradition." "Father Nevsky Everett's book 'Ways of Seeing: Orthodox Spirituality for our Modern World' is something of a gem. Over five neat chapters, it offers a series of profound and beautifully articulated reflections that capture the heart of Orthodox spirituality and practice in the 21st century. The book’s central premise is that Orthodox spirituality is not merely about different rituals, but about a fundamental shift in perception - learning to see God, ourselves, and the world in a new light. Thus, the book invites the reader, whether themselves Orthodox or belonging to another Christian tradition, to critically and formatively reconsider the way they participate in or examine Orthodox spirituality. Father Nevsky writes from the perspective of the 'participant observer' standing at the intersection of two spiritual worlds, Anglican and Orthodox. He writes with the discipline and clarity of an Oxbridge academic while at the same time transmitting to the reader the feelings of someone immersed in the lived experience of Romanian Orthodoxy. This results in a book that is intellectually rigorous yet deeply personal, serving as a warm invitation to Western Christians to open their eyes to the spiritual treasures of the East. In that sense, personally, I found Fr Nevsky's perspective and writing style comfortingly reminiscent of that of the late Metropolitan Kallistos Ware (of Diokleia). I would wholeheartedly recommend Fr Nevsky’s book to anyone interested in learning more about Orthodox Christianity, either sitting within the tradition or outside it. As Archimandrite Dr Augustin Coman notes in his foreword, this book is an "ecumenical gift" indeed, as Father Nevsky navigates the often perceived as exotic, archaic, or downright impenetrable habitat of the Orthodox Church, with ecumenical generosity and tradition-specific authenticity. "