1st Millennium: Middle & High School

We welcome suggestions regarding additions or changes to this list. If a book listed here is out of print and cannot be found online, please let us know. We will consider scanning and posting out-of-print content with a "fair use" statement if there are enough requests (keeping within the parameters of copyright law). Email us at stkosmashomeschoolcommunity@gmail.com with "1st Millennium Book List" in the subject line. Thank you! 

Also view "1st Millennium: Middle & High School Advanced"


Essential Reading & Resources (1st Millennium: Middle & High School)

*The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints
author: St. Demetrius of Rostov
publisher: Chrysostom Press

*Let the Little Children Come to Me: Stories of Children Martyrs
publisher: St. John Chyrsostomos Monastery (2002)

*The Life of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos
publisher: Holy Apostles Convent (1989)

*The Lives of the Holy Apostles
publisher: Holy Apostles Convent (1988)

*The Lives of the Three Great Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom
publisher: Holy Apostles Convent (1998)

*The Lives of the Holy Women Martyrs
publisher: Holy Apostles Convent (1992)

*The Lives of the Spiritual Mothers
publisher: Holy Apostles Convent (1991)

The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church
publisher: Holy Apostles Convent (1998)

*A Timeline of Eastern Church History
author: Kathryn Tsai
publisher: Divine Ascent Press; 1st edition (2004)
     buy the book


Primary Sources and Historical Biographies Written During the 1st Millennium
(1st Millennium: Middle & High School)  

*The Life of St. Anthony the Great
author: St. Athanasios the Great (written in the 4th century)
publisher: St. Anthony's Greek Orthodox Monastery (2014)
notes: This is the first biography of a saint who was not a martyr, and is considered to be one of the finest of Saint Athanasius’ writings. Saint John Chrysostom recommends that this Life be read by every Christian.

*Saint Paisios the Great
author: his disciple St. John the Dwarf of Egypt (written in the 4th century)
publisher: Holy Trinity Monastery (1998)

*Four Great Saints: St. Paisius the Great, St. Pachomius the Great, Euthymius the Great, and St. Theodosius (4th - 5th centuries)
publisher: Holy Trinity Monastery (2007)

*An Ascetic Bishop: Stories, Sermons, and Prayers of St. Nephon (4th century)
author: St. Nephon (written in the 4th century)
publisher: St. Anthony's Monastery (2013)

*The Life of our Holy Mother Mary of Egypt (5th-6th century)
author: St. Sophronius (written in the 7th century)
publisher: St. Nectarios Press (2003)

*The Life of Our Holy Father Maximus the Confessor (7th century)
author: his disciple Anastasius the Aposcrisiarios of Rome (7th century)
publisher: Holy Transfiguration Monastery (1982)

*The Precious Pearl: The Lives of Saints Barlaam and Ioasaph
author: St. John Damascene (written in the 8th century)
publisher: Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies (1997)
notes: The story is set in India at the time "when the monasteries were being formed in Egypt."

Holy Fire: The Miracle of the Light of the Resurrection At the Tomb of Jesus. Seventy Historical Accounts (4th - 16th C.)
author: Haris Skarlakidis
publisher:  (2015)
note: First hand accounts of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem from 4th - 16th centuries. Included are photographed samples of accounts of the miracle written in ancient Greek, which would be of interest to children studying the ancient Greek language. 
     buy the book

In the Footsteps of Egeria to Sinai and the Holy Land: A Fourth Century Travel Journal, A Twenty-First Century Pictorial Odyssey
author: a 4th century pilgrim to the Holy Land
publisher: Paidea Classics (2018)
note: a portion of the profits go to the Sinai monasteries
     buy the book


Additional Historical Biographies (1st Millennium: Middle & High School)

*The Life and Sufferings of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr
author: Holy Apostles Convent
publisher: St. Nectarios Press (2007)

*St. Spyridon of Tremithus: Boast of the Orthodox (4th century)
author: Sotos Chondropoulos
publisher: "Kainourgia Ge" Publications (2008)

*Justinian the Great: the Emperor and Saint (6th century)
author: Asterios Gerostergios
publisher: Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies (1982)

*St. Photios the Great (9th century)
author: Asterios Gerostergios
publisher: Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies (1980)

The Life of the Holy Prince Vladimir the Great of Kiev
publisher: St. John of Kronstadt Press (1985)

Saints of England's Golden Age: A Collection of the Lives of Holy Men and Women Who Flourished in Orthodox Christian Britain
publisher: Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies (1997)

The Lives of the Georgian Saints
author: Archpriest Zakaria Machitadze
publisher: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood (2006)

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Summaries of History (1st Millennium: Middle & High School)

*Door to Paradise: Jesus Christ in Ancient Orthodoxy
author and publisher: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood

*The Law of God: An Introduction to Orthodox Christianity
Part VII: "The New Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ" (pages 327-429)
Part VIII: "The New Testament Church" (pages 430-535)
author: Priest Daniel Sysoev
publisher: Daniel Sysoev Inc. (2016)

*The Ecumenical Synods of the Orthodox Church: A Concise History
author: Fr. James Thornton
publisher: Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies (2007)

*Victories of Orthodoxy
author: Constantine Cavarnos
publisher: Institute for Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies (1997)

The Orthodox Church a Well-Kept Secret: A Journey Through Church History
author: Fr. George Nicozisin
publisher: Light & Life Publishing (1997)

The Orthodox Christian Church Through the Ages
Volume 1: Heros for Truth
Volume 2: New Frontiers
author: Sophie Koulomzin
publisher: OCA Religious Ed. Dept. (1968)

A Children's History of the Church: From the day of Pentecost to the Council of Chalcedon (A.D. 29-A.D 451)
author: John Mason Neal (1800's)
publisher: Paidea Classics (2017)
     buy the book only
     buy the pdf only
     buy the book + pdf

Stories from Church History: Inspiring Stories of Faith, Struggle, and Triumph, Volume 1: A.D. 34-312
author: John Mason Neal (1800's)
publisher: Paidea Classics (2017)
     buy the book

Stories from Church History: Inspiring Stories of Faith, Struggle, and Triumph, Volume 2: A.D. 312-450
author: John Mason Neal (1800's)
publisher: Paidea Classics (2018)
     buy the book

Story of the Last Days of Jerusalem from Josephus
author: Alfred Church (1800's)
publisher: Paidea Classics (2004)
     buy the book

The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child
Volume 1: Ancient Times (From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor)
Volume 2: The Middle Ages (From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance)
author: Susan Wise Bauer
publisher: Peace Hill Press (2003)
review: This series is not recommended for grades 1-4 as it reflects a Protestant worldview. Suggested for use after the child has established an Orthodox worldview.


Historical Fiction (1st Millennium: Middle & High School)

*Saint Eustathios Placidas: His Life, Longsuffering, and Martyrdom
author: the sisters of St. John the Forerunner Monastery
publisher: St. John the Forerunner Monastery (2007)

Out of the African Lands: The Story of St. Perpetua and Her Companions
author: Constantina Palmer
publisher: Lumination Press (2016)r
     buy the book

Voyage to the Rock
author: Fr. Matthew Penney
publisher: Lumination Press (2014)
notes: relates to the history of the Vikings in America and St. Bredan the Navigator
     buy the book

The Purple Mantle
author: Aliki Kafetzopoulou
publisher: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood (2001)
notes: set during the reign of Diocletian
     buy the book

A Trace in the Sand: A Tale of the Early Martyrs
publisher: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood (2007)
     buy the book

Diamonds on the Bosphorus
author: Aliki Kafetzopoulou
publisher: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood (2011)
     buy the book

The Exiles of the Cebenna
author: John Mason Neale (1800's)
publisher: Paidea Classics (2002)
     buy the book

Egyptian Wanderers
author: John Mason Neale (1800's)
publisher: Paidea Classics (2017)
     buy the book

Constantine the Great
author: Frieda Upson
publisher: Holy Cross Orthodox Press (1986)

The Bronze Bow
author: Elizabeth Speare (first published in 1961)
publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
notes: Winner of the 1962 Newbery Medal