This week I will be resuming my temporary time away from regularly posting here at Mystagogy in hopes of returning soon when all things are settled in my personal life. Till then I will only be issuing updates and links to previous posts among other things via my Facebook and Twitter pages, so if you are not yet linked I hope you will be soon. Just click on the buttons at the top of this page to connect.
Below I am again posting the books available through my bookstore for those who may be interested in some summer reading and helping out with the future of this ministry. All those who have already placed orders by today will be receiving their books either this week or the next. Those who order today or after are asked to allow about two weeks to receive their order.
Shipping and handling fees for 1-5 items are $3.00, and anything more than 5 items is $6.00. International orders are doubled for shipping and handling. For those who would like to make a $250 donation, you can receive all the items listed below at this discount price by indicating in your order that you would like to receive all the items.
Orders can be made by credit or debit card by clicking on the DONATE button at the top of this page via Paypal, or you can email me at jexilem@aol.com for questions or the info if you wish to send a check, money order or cash. Please include the titles of the items you would like to receive in your order.
- The Sacred Catechism of the Eastern Orthodox Church,
I.E. Of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church
By St. Nektarios of Pentapolis
This book is a short easy to understand introduction to the Orthodox Christian faith in a question and answer format written by one of the great Orthodox Saints of the 20th century. (Price: $8.00)
- The Agony of the Church
By St. Nikolai Velimirovich
The contents of this book was originally given in the form of lectures at St Margaret's, Westminster in 1917. This is an Orthodox message on the Church for the West. (Price: $15.00)
- The Divine Comforter and Orthodox Theology According To Saint Nikodemos the Hagiorite
A short summary of the patristic teaching on the Holy Spirit as taught by St. Nikodemos the Hagiorite. (Price: 5.00)
- The Death of God and the Resurrection of Man
By Panagiotes Nellas
An Orthodox response to the existentialist declaration of the “death of God”, which is the Gospel of the Resurrection of Man. (Price: $15.00)
- Orthodox Christian Clerical Attire and Appearance
By John Sanidopoulos
Examines and clarifies the history and meaning behind the appearance of Orthodox Christian clergy and the controversies on clerical appearance in the contemporary world. (Price: $18.00)
- Old Calendar - New Calendar: The Facts
By Archimandrite Joel Yiannakopoulos
The “Calendar Issue” has been the cause of much turbulence in the Church. It has been turned into a focal point for controversy. This book succeeds in shedding abundant light on this controversial issue of the Calendar and renders inexcusable all those who condemn the act of the Church in correcting the Calendar, and also enlightens those who so desire to make peace with their conscience. (Price: $13.00)
- The Holy Snakes of the Virgin Mary: Examining the Mysterious Annual Appearance of Snakes in Kefallonia
By John Sanidopoulos
This study examines the strange phenomenon of snakes which visit a tiny mountain village in southern Kefallonia called Markopoulo. They appear every year some time during the Dormition fast of the Theotokos after the feast of the Holy Transfiguration (between August 6-15) in a chapel built on the ruins of an old convent. This chapel is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and enshrines one of her miraculous icons. These snakes, with distinctly small naturally formed crosses on their head and tongue, make their appearance during the services conducted during the fast, venerate the icons and Gospel book, and are handled without bringing any harm to the handler. When the feast is over on August 15th, they disappear until their reappearance the following year. (Price: $13.00)
- Newly-Revealed Saints of the Orthodox Church
By John Sanidopoulos
Throughout the history of the Church, and especially in modern times, we have had many unknown and forgotten Saints which have come to light often centuries later by a revelation of God for the benefit of the Church. Some of these Saints have become well-known throughout the world, like Sts. Raphel, Nicholas and Irene of Lesvos, while others are more well-known at a more local level like St. Evdokimos of Vatopaidi. Some of these stories have never before been translated into English. (Price: $13.00)
- Saint Joachim of Ithaki, Otherwise Known As "Papoulakis" (1786-1868)
By Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi
Saint Joachim of Ithaki, later known as Papoulakis, was from Ithaki, and initially lived an ascetic life for twenty years in the Holy Monastery of Vatopaidi on the Holy Mountain, in which he received the Great Schema, and which later sent him forth on a mission to bolster the afflicted flock of the Greek mainland. For forty years afterward he developed a special mission on his home island of Ithaki. He lived a blessed and holy life, being a model of citizenship in Christ and a living image of virtue, and showed himself to be an instructor and protector of the harried Christian Greek people. This book compiles his life and miracles. (Price: $13.00)
- Saint Dionysios of Zakynthos
By Theoharis Provatakis
Saint Dionysios of Zakynthos was born in 1547 on the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea. He excelled in theology, and became a monk in 1568 where he served in Zakynthos and Strofades. In 1577 he was raised to Archbishop of Aegina and Poros and after a year abdicated from this dignity and settled in Zakynthos as an abbot of a monastery. On December 17, 1622 he fell asleep in the Lord. Today he is known throughout the world for his many miracles and his incorrupt relics which can still be venerated in Zakynthos. (Price: $12.00)
- The History and Miracles of Panagia Prousiotissa
By Abbot Kyrillos Kastanofyllis
A popular pilgrimage site located just before the village of Prousos in Greece is the Holy Monastery of Panagia Prousiotissa, named after the miracle-working icon contained within. This book contains the translation of an old codex written by a former abbot Kyrillos during the Turkish occupation which describes the history of this icon and monastery as well as many miracles he recorded. (Price: 12.00)
- The Synaxarion of the Triodion and Pentecostarion
By Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos
Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos lived in the 14th century. Though primarily known as a historian, he also wrote liturgical texts such as these Synaxaria which describe all the major commemorations from the preparatory Triodion period, through Great Lent and Holy Week, all the way to the conclusion of the Bright Pascha celebrations on the Sunday of All Saints. These writings are a treasure for those who wish to participate deeper in these most solemn and festive days of the ecclesiastical year. (Price: $12.00)
- The Monastery of Mega Spelaion: A Brief History
By Metropolitan Agathonikos of Kalavryta
Near Kalavryta, inside the gorge of Vouraikou, encrusted in a rock, is the Great Cave Monastery, otherwise known in Greek as Mega Spelaion. Founded in the fourth century over the spot said to be where St. Luke the Evangelist celebrated the Divine Liturgy, wrote his Gospel and painted icons, today it holds one of his miraculous images of the Virgin Mary. This book describes the history of this monastery and icon in a very simple style that benefits the soul. (Price: $12.00)
- The Morbid and Macabre of 1893
By Anonymous
This is a copy of an old morbid scrapbook discovered at a farmhouse auction in Middletown, Connecticut back in 1995. No one knows who put this scrapbook together, but it was done in the late 19th century and they used a child's math book to paste the clippings in! This fascinating and macabre scrapbook is jam packed with authentic newspaper articles about deaths, murders, supernatural spirits, witches, horrible fatal accidents, an over-filled cemetery, poisonings, shootings, suicides, lynchings, and so on. There are even original clippings from the Lizzie Borden trial and President Hayes' death. These clippings not only cover events from various cities and towns in America, but from throughout the world. Having acquired this rare and fascinating historical text, I am now making copies of it available. (Price: $20.00)
- Ten Reasons I Believe the Holy Light Is A Miracle
By John Sanidopoulos
For nearly seventeen centuries an annual event has taken place at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Holy Saturday that is today reported by media outlets around the world and hailed by tens of millions as one of Christianity's greatest miracles. The event is known to non-Orthodox as the ceremony of the "Holy Fire", while Orthodox prefer to call it "Holy Light" because they claim without hesitation it has a divine origin and supernatural qualities. This study outlines ten reasons why I believe the Holy Light phenomenon gives a higher probability of having a supernatural rather than natural origin and is a reply to skeptics of this miracle. (Price: $10.00)
- The Iconography of the Akathist Hymn
By John Sanidopoulos
This booklet provides the text of the Salutations from Akathist Hymn with the icons depicting what is written in the text. (Price: $10.00)
- Saint Theodora of Vasta
By John Sanidopoulos
This study separates the facts from the fiction behind the life of St. Theodora and her miraculous chapel at the place of her martyrdom in southern Peloponnesos. (Price: $10.00)
- Saint Luke the Evangelist As the First Iconographer
By John Sanidopoulos
Ancient tradition holds St. Luke the Evangelist to be the first iconographer. Shrines throughout the world claim to have icons painted by St. Luke. Is there a factual case behind this tradition? In this study the issue is examined. (Price: $10.00)
- Essays In Honor of Protopresbyter John Romanides (1927-2001)
Translated by John Sanidopoulos
Fr. John Romanides was a progressive and traditional theologian, pervasive and discerning, sharp and therapeutic, patristic and Orthodox. In the Greek journal Parembasis (Nov. 2001, Issue 70) a tribute was made to Fr. John Romanides upon his repose in 2001 that is here translated. Furthermore, His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos and Agiou Vlasiou recently published a book titled "Empirical Dogmatics of the Orthodox Catholic Church According To The Oral Traditions of Father John Romanides" in Greek. A Symposium was held in Athens on 19 January 2011 upon its release in honor of the ten year anniversary since his repose. These talks are also translated here. (Price: $10.00)
- The Church of the Dormition in Kalambaka
By Reverand Ioannis S. Pispas
Everyone who travels to Kalambaka, Greece becomes immediately fascinated by the holy rocks and monasteries of Meteora. Yet at the foot of these rocks is a church often passed by visitors that is as fascinating as the monasteries of Meteora known as the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos. This booklet examines the history, architecture and iconography of this church and contains many photos. (Price: $10.00)
- Sainthood In The Old Testament
By John Sanidopoulos
Recently I was interviewed for a podcast on the topic of sainthood in the Old Testament. Due to requests for a transcript and the length of this discussion, it is offered here for one's sudy. (Price: $5.00)
ORTHODOX DVD MOVIES (Price: $10 each)
- The Drama of a Nightingale
Directed by Christopher Murray
Starring Dana Behan
1986
English (with Greek subtitles)
Read more here.
- Saint Theodora of Vasta
Directed by Christopher Murray
Starring Dana Behan
1986
English (with Greek subtitles)
- Saint Mary of Egypt
Directed by George Kypriotakis
1987
Greek
- The Two Fugitives
Directed by Mario Retsilas
1987
Greek
