4 - Book Review: "Beloved Sufferer - The Life and Mystical Revelations of a Russian Eldress: Schemanun Macaria" by Gennady Durasov

Blessed Schemanun Macaria (May 29, 1926 - June 6, 1993)

On June 6, 2009 I noticed in my calendar of Saints and Feast Days published by St. Herman Monastery that we celebrate the memory of a crippled woman who lived in extreme suffering yet endured her suffering with great patience and humility, and in return bore great spiritual powers in our days - Blessed Schemanun Macaria of Russia (+1993). I first came across her life story through the book published by St. Xenia Skete titled Beloved Sufferer - The Life and Mystical Revelations of a Russian Eldress: Schemanun Macaria. This biography was first written in Russian by one of her spiritual children, Gennady Durasov. Soon after her death in 1993, in the Christmas issue of the Russian magazine Russky Palomnik (Russian Pilgrim), her story was first made public to the world. It was this original manuscript that was sent to Saint Herman Brotherhood in California and distributed by them in Russian until an expanded copy was sent by Durasov to be translated into English. It is this expanded copy that was published by St. Xenia Skete which is affiliated with Saint Herman Monastery.

3 - Book Review: "Greek Orthodox Patrology" by Panagiotes K. Chrestou

For those who are not familiar with the late Dr. Panagiotes Chrestou, he is without a doubt the greatest patristics scholar of the twentieth century and has yet to be surpassed. A foretaste of his genius is presented in this volume which introduces the reader to the study of the Church Fathers. One should keep in mind that this volume, translated by another patristics scholar Fr. George Dragas, consists of only about half of the first volume introduction to Professor Chrestou's 5-volume magnum opus. The second half of the introduction is forthcoming.

2 - Book Review: "The Struggle for Virtue: Asceticism in a Modern Secular Society" by Archbishop Averky (Taushev)

The Struggle for Virtue: Asceticism in a Modern Secular Society consists of thirteen lectures by Archbishop Averky (Taushev), former Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville. They were delivered shortly after the end of World War II in Western Europe to help introduce the Orthodox method of asceticism as a means of healing and transformation of the human person to the modern world not acquainted with it. It accomplishes its goal and is an excellent book of introduction for those who desire to root out evil and the passions within us in order to live a life of virtue in Christ.

1 - Book Review: "The Disaster Artist" by Greg Sestero

I thought I would conveniently write my first review for the last book I read since the launch of this website, which was The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made, a 2013 non-fiction book written by Greg Sestero and Tom Bissell. This is a book I have been wanting to read since it came out, but only just got to reading it after acquiring a copy from the author himself just a few weeks ago.