Protecting Veil

Do you live in LA? Do you like chant? Are you looking for a way to support Orthodox higher education? If so, then the Eikona concert in Pasadena this weekend may be just what you’ve been looking for! (If you end up going, please let me know how it goes!)

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If you’ve never heard of Road to Emmaus Journal, you should head over to their website right now to learn more about their fine work!

I first met Mother Nectaria McLees (one of the journal’s main editors) about ten years ago, on one of her visits through Greece. She interviewed me and two other foreign students of theology regarding our experiences as students living in Greece (you can read the interview in the Winter 2003 issue). She interviewed me again a number of years later regarding my doctoral research on C.S. Lewis (Winter 2007 issue). Most recently, I interviewed Dr. Anestis Keselopoulos (author of Greece’s Dostoevsky: The Theological Vision of Alexandros Papadiamandis) for the journal (Summer 2008 issue).

What is the focus of the journal? It’s essentially a chronicle of the vibrancy of contemporary Orthodox faith around the world, written for Orthodox faithful who don’t have the opportunity to travel and experience these things first hand. On their About Us page, they describe themselves thusly:

Road to Emmaus’ first issue was published in the Spring of 2000, in response to a letter from a new American Orthodox convert from Wisconsin to Richard Betts and Mother Nectaria McLees, who, for a decade, had been living in and visiting countries with a heritage of traditional Orthodoxy:

“I feel as if I am living on a huge desert island. I am hungry to learn from traditional pious Orthodox Christians in countries where Orthodoxy is a part of their heritage – how they pray, how they raise their families, how they face ethical problems, how their thinking differs from mine, and how they live out Orthodoxy in their own homes and native countries. I cannot go on pilgrimage because I have small children, but my soul is hungry for contact. I’ve read dozens of books on Orthodox spirituality and history, but I’m looking for something more personal and contemporary – I want to KNOW Orthodox people around the world…”

The journal is a true labor of love, with most of its workers giving of their time and talents without compensation. The articles are very well written and researched, and aesthetically, the journal is a real work of art…the design and photography (archival or otherwise) is excellent. Road to Emmaus is a gem of a publication, and if you haven’t yet checked it out, I’d encourage you to do so!

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Book Launched

It’s with great joy that I’m able to officially announce that Greece’s Dostoevsky: The Theological Vision of Alexandros Papadiamandis is now available! We’ve been hard at work promoting the book, and will continue to do so in the coming weeks. (Please tell everyone you know about it!)

Book Launch Sale

As you’ll notice on the book’s page, you can order the book for up to 50% off during the Book Launch Sale, which will last until October 17th.

The sale prices are as follows: retail: $18.70/book, bulk rate: $11/book (for 5 or more copies, mix & match if you’d like).

Blog Posts Launched

I have written a series of four blog posts regarding Greece’s Dostoevsky, which will be posted on other blogs over the coming weeks, according to the following schedule:

Blog Post #1: September 30^th, Byzantine, TX

Blog Post #2: October 4th, Eighth Day Books Blog

Blog Post #3: October 6^th, Bombaxo

Blog Post #4: October 11^th, Mystagogy

If you are interested in learning more about Alexandros Papadiamandis, and about the book, this is a good place to start!

Papadiamandis Conference

For those of you who are already fans of Greece’s Dostoevsky, you’ll be interested to learn that the Third National Alexandros Papadiamandis Conference began yesterday on the island of Skiathos. This is a particularly important year for the conference, since it’s the centenary of the writer’s repose.

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