The Age of Paradise: Christendom from Pentecost to the First Millennium

Paradise and Utopia: The Rise and Fall of What the West Once Was, Book 1

By: John Strickland

Narrated by: John Strickland

"Before there was a West, there was Christendom. This book tells the story of how both came to be.” (from the Introduction).

The Age of Paradise is the first of a projected four-volume history of Christendom, a civilization with a supporting culture that gave rise to what we now call the West. At a time of renewed interest in the future of Western culture, author John Strickland—an Orthodox scholar, professor, and priest—offers a vision rooted in the deep past of the first millennium. At the heart of his story is the early Church’s “culture of paradise”, an experience of the world in which the kingdom of heaven was tangible and familiar. Drawing not only on worship and theology but statecraft and the arts, the author reveals the remarkably affirmative character Western culture once had under the influence of Christianity—in particular, of Eastern Christendom, which served the West not only as a cradle but as a tutor and guardian as well.

©2019 John Strickland (P)2022 John Strickland

A beautiful picture making sense of Church History

Easily readable but not lacking depth, this book goes through the entire first century, highlighting the major situations and events that shaped Christendom, ultimately beginning to unravel the questions many of us have about the roots of the great schism and why western culture is dying today

One side of the church abandoned the kingdom of Christ and we continue to experience the the negative results of this history in our lives today,

Only by turning back to 1st century Christianity can the west truly heal

Before the Divorce

I found this fascinating as a Catholic. It was like years later hearing the other side of your parents divorce. I'm aware this is an Eastern bias but felt myself very sympathetic to Eastern Christianity after listening to it. Especially in light of the chaos in The West. As a Catholic most these woes are attributed to The Reformation, The Enlightenment and so forth but this book takes you back further to see how The West planted the seeds for this chaos too. It's a lot to ponder for anyone trying to make sense of how we got to this upside-down world.

crucially well-informed history of the world

It is a history of the 'West'. And with globalisation it is also a history of the world. I am looking forward to reading/listening to the next volume. I hope that more people, especially younger generations take up a serious interest and engaged dialogue with this secret history that remains alive in the orthodox Church/churches that continue to live out the ancient victory of Christ over the illusions and ignorance of materialism and pseudo-secular paganisms.

The Age of Paradise Provides Great Background of the Early Church

The Age of Paradise is a must read! It provides great historical references of the early church and how it evolved over the early centuries. I recommend to any reader interested in an intellectually sound Christian book.

Fascinating history of Christianity and what today we call Europe and European civilization

Fascinating history of Christianity and what today we call Europe and European civilization. Make the other 3 books audiobook too. Now with AI making of audiobook is Easter than ever.