Fruit of the Spirit
An Orthodox Anthology

Superb storytelling and sound research offer a fun and fascinating glimpse into the Fruit of the Spirit. What does it look like to live out love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in the rhythms of ordinary life? In Fruit of the Spirit: An Orthodox Anthology, Deacon David Lochbihler brings together twelve carefully researched and vividly written essays that explore the nine fruits described in Galatians 5:22–23 through the lens of Orthodox Christian faith and tradition. Drawing on Scripture, the Church Fathers, and the living experience of Orthodox Christianity, Deacon David illuminates how these timeless virtues are not abstract ideals but active, transformative realities woven into every moment of daily existence. His writing combines the precision of a trained attorney and the warmth of a longtime teacher and coach, making each essay as accessible as it is theologically grounded. Five of the twelve essays were selected for publication in The Word, the official periodical of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America — a recognition of both their scholarly quality and their broad appeal to Orthodox readers. Whether you are new to Orthodoxy or have walked its path for decades, this anthology offers fresh insight into the virtues that define the Christian life and a renewed invitation to bear fruit that lasts.