In all our undertakings in life we should begin with a reading of the Gospel. Christians who want to show obedience to the word of God should read regularly and study carefully, word for word, the Law of the Gospel, endeavoring to understand it fully, dwelling more on those words which are of essential import.
-Spiritual Counsels of Saint Raphael, Modern Orthodox Saints

The acquisition of Christian books is necessary for those who can use them. For the mere sight of these books renders us less inclined to sin, and incites us to believe more firmly in righteousness.
-Abba Epiphanius, Bishop of Cyprus

You follow the events of the external world, reading secular compositions, magazines and newspapers. Do not lose sight of your internal world, your soul; it is both nearer and dearer to you [than is the external world]. From henceforth, read the Holy Gospels and

You follow the events of the external world, reading secular compositions, magazines and newspapers. Do not lose sight of your internal world, your soul; it is both nearer and dearer to you [than is the external world]. From henceforth, read the Holy Gospels and the writings of the Holy Fathers ever more often; it is sinful for a Christian not to read Divinely-inspired works. -Saint John of Kronstadt Pray that you may be granted the grace to read the Fathers with the right understanding, the grace to live up to the standards they put before you, and the grace to clearly see your own frailty. You will not long be left wanting and waiting. God will give you help. -Saint Macarius of Optina

The Orthodox Faith is rich and profound, and the amount of information that can be presented on a web site can barely scratch its surface. To learn more about the Faith, and to grow in the spiritual life, it is essential to read books.

The Bible is the most profitable and important of all books; Orthodox Tradition exhorts all Christians to read it daily. In addition to the Bible, to appreciate Orthodox Tradition in its fullness, one should read the writings of the early Fathers of the Church, who laid the foundations of Orthodox doctrine and practice. To learn the path of spiritual transformation and to be inspired with zeal for the struggle, one should study both the lives and the writings of the saints throughout the ages. And in order to understand what it means to be Orthodox in our modern world, one should read the works of eminent contemporary theologians and spiritual directors.

As the quotations above point out, however, reading alone is not enough; one must understand and put into practice what is read. Also, please keep in mind, if you are exploring Orthodoxy from the outside, that while you can learn about the Faith from reading, you will never truly know the Faith until you have experienced it within a worshipping body of Orthodox believers. As Philip said to Nathanael, "Come and see!" (John 1:46). That said, here are a few recommendations of books that may be helpful to read. (There are many other valuable books that are not included here, due to either lack of space or the author's ignorance and forgetfulness.) Many of these books and other books of value may be found in the St. Lawrence Library.

Basic Orthodoxy
Writings of the Fathers (Patristics)
Lives of the Saints
Spirituality
Worship, Liturgy, Seasons & Sacraments
Theology
Christian Biography
Iconography