Ancient Saints

Many centuries ago in the wilds of Africa, a startling and mystical friendship developed between a lion and a saint. St. Gerasim served the lion by removing a thorn from its paw, and in turn, the lion served St. Gerasim and his monastery for the rest of his life. This small gem of a story shows us this extraordinary friendship through the eyes of the lion, and of a baboon he befriends along the way.

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.

As princesses of Crete and daughters of the fearsome King Minos, Ariadne and her sister, Phaedra, grow up hearing the hoofbeats and bellows of the Minotaur echo from the labyrinth beneath the palace. The Minotaur—Minos' greatest shame and Ariadne's brother—demands blood every year. When Theseus, prince of Athens, arrives in Crete as a sacrifice to the beast, Ariadne falls in love with him. But helping Theseus kill the monster means betraying her family and country.

Book of Mormon principles that have changed my life. This book is not a commentary, nor has it been my objective to explain in these pages the "meaning" of Book of Mormon verses. Rather, it contains chapter by chapter truths that I have gleaned as I have read the Book of Mormon and that have affected me literally eternally. Since 1960, the Book of Mormon has been an integral part of my life. I have read it cover-to-cover on the average of more than once a year since then and continue to do so. My impressions included in this book come from extensive notes that I have made in margins of my ...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 US, 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.

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.

“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 ...

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.

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.

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 ...

The idea of a powerful woman in the Middle Ages seems like an oxymoron. Females in this time are imagined to be damsels in distress, trapped in a high tower, and waiting for knights to rescue them, all while wearing traffic-cones for a hat. After rescue, their lives improved little. Their career choices were to be either docile queens, housewives, or be burned at the stake for witchcraft. But what if this image of medieval women is a complete fiction? It turns out that it is. Powerful female rulers fill the Middle Ages.

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.

From the author of American Orthodox: Finding the Ancient Faith in the Modern World and the creator of the upcoming American Orthodox documentary film comes a new and extraordinary journey into the heart of Orthodox Christianity—one filled with modern miracles, sacred icons, and the lives of saints whose stories still unfold in our time. In Light Journey: Saints, Miracles, and Sacred Places, we travel through the hidden spiritual landscape of North America, encountering moments of divine grace that defy explanation. From the holy sites of Alaska and the deserts of Arizona to the bustling ...

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.

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...

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.