Books published by publisher Paidea Classics

Finally! Church history presented in an easilyunderstandable ‘living book’ form appropriate for young people!“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)John Mason Neale beautifully captures the struggle of the early Church: from her humble beginnings in Jerusalem, through her rapid spread throughout the ancient world as the apostles scattered far and wide to proclaim the Word of God, to her challenges of preserving the Faith in spite of the many temptations that flooded the Church after its legalization. Included in this volume are stories of some of her greatest saints,—martyrs glorifying God under intense persecution, and defenders of the Faith fighting for Truth against a wide assortment of heretical teachings. Using an immensely engaging style of narration, this work is truly a classic, offering great historical detail in a story form that captures both the mind and heart of a child.This edition includes many added illustrations, biblical, patristic and historical references, as well as an extensive appendix, increasing its educational value for readers of all ages.From a Chalcedon Orthodox Christian point-of-view.

“Our Young Folks’ Josephus” is a simplified retelling of the great historian Flavius Josephus’ two famous epic narratives, “Antiquities of the Jews” and “The Jewish Wars.” It covers the history of Israel from the time of Abraham until the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, following the Septuagint chronology. This work is an invaluable supplement to the study of Old Testament history, covering a broad period of time in detail, yet at a manageable pace suitable for the mid-elementary level up through middle school. Black and white illustrations throughout.

“And the Gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”~Matthew 16:18 Withstanding outside persecutions, and fighting heresies from within, the Church has continued to struggle to survive and transform the world around her. A selection of short stories of the major people and events from the time of the Apostles on, are retold here in an engaging style that will inspire as well as inform. Writings from reknowned authors of the 19th century, who especially loved to excite their younger audience with stories of faith, struggle and triumph, are gathered together, arranged in chronological order. Volume 2 covers A.D. 312-475.

“And the Gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”~Matthew 16:18Withstanding outside persecutions, and fighting heresies from within, the Church has continued to struggle to survive and transform the world around her. A selection of short stories of the major people and events from the time of the Apostles on, are retold here in an engaging style that will inspire as well as inform. Writings from reknowned authors of the 19th century, who especially loved to excite their younger audience with stories of faith, struggle and triumph, are gathered together, arranged in chronological order.

The "Story of the Last Days of Jerusalem" is an adaptation of Josephus' dramatic first-hand account of the fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 in his famous historical work, "The Jewish Wars." It captures in detail one of the greatest tragedies of all time, often overlooked in more contemporary histories. Some of the scenes are particularly graphic and are not suitable for younger or more sensitive readers. But this volume is an invaluable addition for the more mature student who is interested in studying the final history of Ancient Israel, yet does not have the time to read Josephus' original but very lengthy work. Includes New Testament quotations prophesying the events.

A Story for Children of the Great Tenth PersecutionA"Why should I speak of the multitude of them that wandered in deserts and mountains, and perished by hunger, and thirst, and cold, and diseases, and robbers, and wild beasts?—of whose victory those among them that were survivors are witnesses. But I will produce one of these occurrences as an example.” –Eusebius Ecclesiastical History vi. 42."The following story is based on that passage of Eusebius, which I have quoted as its motto: 'That during the fury of the persecution the Egyptian Deserts were filled with confessors, most of whom perished there, is abundantly testified by that historian, who had himself visited Alexandria while the remembrance of their sufferings was yet fresh. The anecdotes occasionally introduced are with one exception, taken from the early ecclesiastical historians, or from the Martyrologies."~John Mason Neale, Sackville College, March 16, 1854This story begins at the library of St. Catherine's Monastery in Sinai, where the narrator finds an ancient tattered volume telling of one family's struggle of faith as they flee into the Egyptian wilderness during the tenth great persecution of Rome. An adventure story to be remembered and captivating read-aloud. Gently edited for the modern reader.

In this story of Russian life, one sees broad fields of grain and flax, herds of sheep and cattle grazing on the grassy steppes, slow rivers creeping for hundreds of miles across the vast plains; and one feels the deep religious fervor of the people and grasps the nation’s wonderful opportunity for power and progress. In contrast to the humble home of the peasant, with its bare furnishing and meager fare, there is the magnificent splendor of the cathedral with its ceremonies, its jeweled icons, its thousands of flickering candles,—tiny flames symbolic of the flame of desire which, once kindled, burns forever in the human heart.Boris Antonovitch, the young peasant of the story, typifies the Russia which feels a stir of might and looks for a place among the great nations of the world. Born in a country village on the Volga River, he grows to be a sturdy, active lad, doing his share of the work in the fields, and taking his part in the fun of the village festivals. But he longs to see the world, and with his father’s permission he goes to the great fair at Nizhni Novgorod, which has been held annually for over five hundred years. Later he goes to Moscow where he sees the snowfall over the city, just as it fell in 1812, driving Napoleon and his French army out of Russia in disastrous defeat. He is in St. Petersburg for the blessing of the waters of the Neva, and for the joyous celebration of Pascha; and it is here that he decides to find his place in the work of progress for his people.

The fate of a humble orphan in a closed boarding school for aristocrats. A disturbing process of adjustment. The cult of friendship. Contempt and hospitality. Remorse and forgiveness. Shame and honor. Misunderstandings and feuds. Dreams and superstitions. Visions and nocturnal adventures.If you like Louisa May Alcott, Frances Hodgson Burnett, or John Green, you will love the series of the most famous classicvRussian writer for young readers.

(Annotated & Unabridged & Uncensored Edition) Determined to make her heroine "as poor and plain as myself," Charlotte Brontë made a daring choice for her 1847 novel. Jane Eyre possesses neither the great beauty nor entrancing charm that her fictional predecessors used to make their way in the world. Instead, Jane relies upon her powers of diligence and perception, conducting herself with dignity animated by passion. The instant and lasting success of Jane Eyre proved Brontë's instincts correct. Readers of her era and ever after have taken the impoverished orphan girl into their hearts, following her from the custody of cruel relatives to a dangerously oppressive boarding school and onward through a troubled career as a governess. Jane's first assignment at Thorn field, where the proud and cynical master of the house harbors a scandalous secret, draws readers ever deeper into a compelling exploration of the mysteries of the human heart. A banquet of food for thought, this many-faceted tale invites a splendid variety of interpretations. The heroine's insistence upon emotional equality with her lover suggests a feminist viewpoint, while her solitary status invokes a consideration of the problems of growing up as a social outsider. Some regard Jane's attempts to reconcile her need for love with her search for moral rectitude as the story's primary message, and lovers of gothic romance find the tale's social and religious aspects secondary to its gripping elements of mystery and horror. This classic of English literature truly features something for every reader.

Annotated & Unabridged & Uncensored. Moby Dick, a novel by Herman Melville, published in London in October 1851 as The Whale and a month later in New York City as Moby-Dick; or, The Whale. It is dedicated to Nathaniel Hawthorne. Moby Dick is generally regarded as Melville's magnum opus and one of the greatest American novels. Moby Dick famously begins with the narratorial invocation "Call me Ishmael." The narrator, like his biblical counterpart, is an outcast. Ishmael, who turns to the sea for meaning, relays to the audience the final voyage of the Pequod, a whaling vessel. Amid a story of tribulation, beauty, and madness, the reader is introduced to a number of characters, many of whom have names with religious resonance. The ship's captain is Ahab, who Ishmael and his friend Queequeg soon learn is losing his mind. Starbuck, Ahab's first-mate, recognizes this problem too, and is the only one throughout the novel to voice his disapproval of Ahab's increasingly obsessive behavior. This nature of Ahab's obsession is first revealed to Ishmael and Queequeg after the Pequod's owners, Peleg and Bildad, explain to them that Ahab is still recovering from an encounter with a large whale that resulted in the loss of his leg. That whale's name is Moby Dick. The Pequod sets sail, and the crew is soon informed that this journey will be unlike their other whaling missions: this time, despite the reluctance of Starbuck, Ahab intends to hunt and kill the beastly Moby Dick no matter the cost.