SummaryThis book by popular Russian Orthodox writer Archpriest Alexander Torik was written by the author in 1994 for beginners to church life.Back cover pageFather Alexander, what do you see as the chief obstacle to contemporary people becoming churched?The inner condition of the soul. The majority of human souls today are so full of self-love and self-pleasure that there is no room left for God and neighbor! And the Lord in His love for perishing people is sometimes obliged to permit them to experience the destructive consequences of this state of soul first-hand. Otherwise, "the river past and God forgotten," as the old saying goes. Another obstacle is the environment in the parish churches a person first encounters: either they facilitate his churching, or else they leave a person with no desire to come anywhere near those buildings with crosses on their domes.Father Alexander, who is responsible for removing these obstacles?We priests! Well, and the people being churched, of course ..."Today, many people who have realized intellectually or felt in their hearts that God exists, who recognize - albeit somewhat vaguely - their membership in the Orthodox Church and wish to draw closer to her, are encountering the issue of "churching" - coming into the Church as a full-fledged, legitimate member."It is this issue - the "churching" of those returning to the Church - that Father Alexander"s book addresses.Since its first publication, Churching has been reprinted more than ten times, and has been translated into English and Chinese. It has been published in both print and electronic formats by various dioceses and seminaries, and has been in constant demand as one of the most effective handbooks for Christians beginning church life.