Ancient Saints

Unlock the rich history and profound faith of the Syriac Orthodox Church—the ancient Christian tradition that continues to thrive in today’s world. For centuries, the Syriac Orthodox Church has preserved the teachings of early Christianity, tracing its roots to the city of Antioch where the apostles first spread the Gospel. This book takes you on a journey through this fascinating heritage, offering an insightful and accessible guide for anyone seeking to understand this ancient faith. Discover the deep theological foundations that distinguish the Syriac Orthodox Church, from its ...

“This book is a brilliant recollection of lives lived in the past. It will make you think and possibly even trigger those memories that are stored within your own subconscious. That’s what it did for me!” - Annmarie Martin “Kelvin’s calm, empirical, and even skeptical approach to spiritual matters has always impressed me. And in his new book he shares with us memories of dozens of lifetimes using that same rational approach. More importantly, he shares how knowing these past lives makes a difference in the here and now. The stories are entertaining. And you will come away with a ...

In 410 CE, arrogant 16-year-old Magonus Sucatus Patricius denounces Christianity as a religion for cowards when the Roman legions withdraw, leaving Britain vulnerable to raiders from the west. Determined to wield a sword despite being the grandson of a priest, the affluent young man is taken captive by barbarians and sold into slavery to a cruel Irish king. On a mountaintop in Eire, a shepherd strips him of his grand Roman name and calls him Padraic, marking him a man of no consequence.

The House of Atreus is cursed. A bloodline tainted by a generational cycle of violence and vengeance. This is the story of three women, their fates inextricably tied to this curse, and the fickle nature of men and gods.

Where in the contemporary world can Christians find counsel based on the teachings of the early Church? This book provides instructions from some of the greatest saints of the Orthodox Church, including St. Seraphim of Sarov, St, John of Kronstadt, and St. John Climacus, among others. The teachings focus on prayer, acquiring the Holy Spirit, struggling with sin, and controlling the tongue, to name a few. Each chapter gives a brief account of the saint’s life, followed by his teachings on a particular topic. The chapters can be read in one sitting, making it an ideal devotional book.

A New Spirituality of Holiness This book explores the rich traditions of the Celtic saints and their kinship with animals. The accounts of these individuals’ lives constitute the largest body of stories (hagiographies) of any group in Christian history—so to have so many creature stories included in them reveals the deep love early and medieval Celts had for animals, with their saints sharing this quality to the full. As we read these stories, we discover that they not only record what the Celtic saints did for animals but also what the animals did for the saints. This pattern of ...

When the wife of Simon Peter returns to Galilee, she brings nothing but her faith in an enigmatic carpenter named Jesus, who has an extraordinary gift of healing the sick. But as she spends time in the presence of this divine leader, she discovers the gift of healing comes at a devastating cost. A terrible burden Jesus bears for the sake of his love for humanity. In her quest to alleviate Jesus’s eternal suffering, the wife of Simon Peter befriends a pagan magician named Helen. Helen possesses a wisdom and healing power exceeded only by Jesus himself, but bears an unsavory reputation. Can...

This collection of classic Irish wisdom—in the form of stories, prayers, and proverbs—reveals the creator in the natural world and highlights the importance of the Celtic spiritual heritage.

In this groundbreaking new biography of Justinian, Peter Sarris gives us an intimate insight into both the Emperor and the man. We meet a man who from the humblest beginnings, rose to become ruler of much of the known world achieving an almost god-like status. An emperor who infused even the most mundane tasks with spiritual and religious significance. A gifted administrator obsessed with detail. A middle aged lover who fell for a dancing girl and changed the law so he could marry her, ruling with Empress Theodora by his side for over twenty years.

Saint Patrick was, by his own admission, a controversial figure. Convicted in a trial by his elders in Britain and hounded by rumors that he settled in Ireland for financial gain, the man who was to become Ireland’s patron saint battled against great odds before succeeding as a missionary. Saint Patrick Retold draws on recent research to offer a fresh assessment of Patrick’s travails and achievements. This is the first biography in nearly 50 years to explore Patrick’s career against the background of historical events in late antique Britain and Ireland.

Infertility ranks among the hardest griefs a couple can face. Yet this painful issue is all too often neglected in both church and society. Under the Laurel Tree traces one God-fearing couple's journey through the emotional turmoil of childlessness. By following the story of Saints Joachim and Anna, this book helps individuals and couples navigate the loss inherent in infertility amid the pain of shame, separation, anger, bargaining, and blamelessness.

Además de Jesús, no hay otro personaje trazado más vívidamente en los evangelios que Pedro. Es en los momentos decisivos, donde se requiere una acción rápida y categórica, donde el líder de los apóstoles brilla; ahí Pedro no tiene rival en el círculo interno de personas que seguían a Jesús de Nazareth.

Christmas is the most important holiday of the year. After the corresponding days that exalt the national pride of each country, such as Independence Day in the United States, Victory Day in Russia, or Bastille Day in France, it's December 25 that articulates the life, the work, and the economy in much of the world, including many non-Christian countries. Since ancient times, the beginning of winter has been the occasion for most people to eat, drink, dance, and get together to beat the drum and take a break.

This engaging and accessible guide offers readers an in-depth exploration of one of history's most influential philosophers. The book vividly brings to life Augustine's profound insights on faith and reason, human nature, knowledge, time, society, and more. Each chapter delves into a key aspect of his philosophy, blending historical context, insightful analysis, and contemporary relevance. Whether you're a seasoned scholar or a curious beginner, this book invites you into a fascinating dialogue with Augustine's ideas, challenges you to grapple with his thought, and inspires you to embark on...

Told against the fourth-century backdrop of the fall of the Roman Empire and the rise of Christianity, The Saint's Mistress breathes life into the previously untold story of Saint Augustine and his mistress. Defying social norms and traditions, Roman aristocrat Aurelius Augustinus falls in love with Leona, a North African peasant.

Ariadne, Tochter von König Minos und Schwester des Minotaurus, ist so ganz anders als ihre Geschwister. Aufgewachsen mit den griechischen Heldensagen, schwört sie sich, ihr Schicksal selbst in die Hand zu nehmen und es nicht den Göttern zu überlassen. Jedes Jahr beobachtet sie, wie das unterworfene Athen als Tribut 14 Jugendliche nach Kreta schickt, um den Hunger des Minotaurus zu stillen.

In Athens, crowds flock to witness the most shocking trial of the ancient world. The royal family is mired in scandal. Phaedra, young bride of King Theseus, has accused her stepson, Hippolytus of rape. He's a prince, a talented horseman, a promising noble with his whole life ahead of him. She's a young and neglected wife, the youngest in a long line of Cretan women with less than savoury reputations. The men of Athens must determine the truth. Who is guilty, and who is innocent? But the women know truth is a slippery thing. After all, this is the age of heroes and the age of monsters.

The Eve of St. Agnes was first published in 1820 in a collection containing many of Keat's best-known poems. Several of these were retellings of stories that were popular in the Middle Ages and earlier times.

In an Ancient Rome that never was, Empress Beatriz is surrounded by loyal subjects and the emperor, who cherishes her above all else. Due to one man’s lust and greed, she must fight, alone, for her dignity—and her life. The primeval tale of the valiant empress has been adapted from Cantiga 5 of the thirteenth-century Spanish Cantigas de Santa Maria. Though this volume stands alone, it is also a companion to the ten short stories in Our Lady’s Troubadour (Encircle Publications, 2021). Between fantasy and history, this thrilling novella takes us on an imaginary tour of the ancient ...

Gifted playwright George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan is based on the life and trials of Joan of Arc whose canonisation occurred shortly before he wrote this play. Based on both substantial information of her life in Medieval France and records of her trial, Shaw characterizes this unique woman caught between the forces of the Church and law in this classic production with a strong cast supporting Siobhan McKenna's fine interpretation of this tragic heroine.