Author of …
“The Pearl of Great Price: The Spiritual Journey of a New Age Seeker to the Light of Christ and the Eastern Orthodox Church”
by Veronica Hughes
West Bow Press: A Division of Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-1-4497-0660-9
171 pgs + notes
Fr. Joseph Bittle comments:
“A truly fascinating read. Veronica Hughes keeps the story moving at a good pace, while still managing to share the basic details of her far-ranging spiritual path, the path, as the subtitle explains, “of a new age seeker to the Light of Christ and the Eastern Orthodox Church.” As a pastor in need of awareness of what those who approach me may have experienced in their own pasts, I marveled at the mish-mash world of New Age practices that are so often melded with historical Far Eastern/Oriental religious practices. Hughes reveals much that I was only vaguely aware of before, but, thankfully, without so much detail that the reader might fall prey to an unhealthy fascination with that which she herself left behind. Indeed, she does a remarkable job being kind-hearted toward her past while steadily drawing the reader forward the true Light she eventually found in Christ through Orthodoxy.”
Interesting, February 10, 2013Mesmerized by the story, enjoyable and easy to read, good for seekers (must read) especially for New Age, and also an eye opener.
Engrossing, well-written, thoughtful, helpful, January 1, 2013First, this is a story well-told. I disagree with another reviewer who stated that some of the writing was awkward in the beginning of the book. I did not find it so. I was sufficiently engrossed in the story to finish the entire book within two days of purchasing it. There are many, many people whose childhood did not provide them with a satisfying religious experience within
Christianity and it is not surprising that such people search for truth in other traditions. I think this author’s experience would be invaluable for people attracted to Hinduism, New Age and the occult. The author spent many years involved in New Age and Hindu spiritualism and can speak with the authority of substantial experience. Excellent read, i would recommend it to anyone interested in the interface between Eastern Religions, New Age and Christianity.
I would also recommend The Gurus, The Young Man and Elder Paisios and Klaus Kenneth’s Born to Hate, Reborn to Love. In all three of these books a young person explores Hindu mysticism (as well as the occult and Buddhism in the case of Klaus Kenneth) in great depth before returning to Christian Orthodoxy. Very different people but there are some overarching similarities in their experiences. Each is worth a read.
Everyday Saints and Other Stories is one of the best books I have ever read. It has sold over a million copies in Russia. The author is a hieromonk, (priest/monk) in the Eastern Orthodox Church in Russia. His book is a collection of stories about the remarkable people/everyday saints he has had the opportunity to meet on his monastic journey starting with his early years as a film student, his conversion and call to the monastic life in Communist Russia. His stories and encounters are remarkably candid, lovingly humorous and profoundly moving. You will not be able to put this book down and shed a few tears along with way.
The author: “ In this book I want to tell you about this beautiful new world of mine, where we live by laws completely different from those in “normal” worldly life—a world of light and love, full of wondrous discoveries, hope, happiness, trials and triumphs, where even our defeats acquire profound significance: a world in which, above all, we can always sense powerful manifestations of divine strength and comfort.”
Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov). Everyday Saints and Other Stories. Translation by Julian Henry Lowenfeld.
Pokrov Publications, 2012. $23. 504 pages, illustrated. ISBN 978-0-9842848-3-2, 978-0-9842848-4-9.
I have read several of the books written by Kyriacos Markides. What I love the most about his books are his conversations with Fr. Maximos, an Athonite monk, now a bishop. Fr. Maximos is able to summarize matters of faith with the wisdom of an Athonite elder in a manner modern seekers can hear. He incorporates the wisdom of the Holy Elders and Fathers of the Orthodox Church with compassion and humor completely compelling and disarming the listener at the same time. One can easily relate to the spiritual adventures and struggles of the author, Kyriacos, as well.
In his latest book, Inner River, Fr. Maximos walks us through the fruits of the Holy Spirit, “Starting with self-control and climbing the ladder all the way up to love.” My words fall short of the sweet flowing manner in which Fr. Maximos relates these virtues to our everyday life. It was said by St. Seraphim of Sarov that the acquisition of the Holy Spirit is the goal of Chrisitian life. Well, Fr. Maximos takes us through those fruitful steps essential to the acquiring of the Spirit and the grace-filled transformation of the soul experiences in Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
A book well worth reading, though I confess, I skipped many of the personal sharings by Kyriacos at the advice of my husband. “The heart of the book lies in the words of Fr. Maximos for those who are already Orthodox.” For those folks not yet Orthodox, the personal aspect of Inner River shared by Kyraicos on his pilgrimages in this book may be of interest, as he himself is actively engaged in the process of discovering the hidden treasures of Eastern Orthodox Christianity and brings a few friends with him along the way.
Veronica Hughes
Inner River by Kyriacos C. Markides, Image Books, New York
The Pearl of Great Price describes Veronica’s journey from her childhood disenchantment with her guilt-laden experiences as a young Roman Catholic through hypnosis, out-of-body experiences, yoga, the channeling of spirit guides and ascended masters, Buddhism, and finally to the Orthodox Church, which she finally comes to consider her home. I read this book in less than two days. It brought me to the verge of tears at several points. I think it will be helpful to many people, especially to women. I especially appreciate the heroic level of honesty with which she openly shares all of her fears, pains, and insecurities along her journey; this brings a level of genuineness to her work not easily found elsewhere. I also very much appreciate that even though she eventually concluded that much of what she had engaged in before her conversion was wrong, and some of it even demonic, that she nevertheless presented these experiences as stepping stones on her journey to Orthodoxy and showed a real appreciation for the ways in which God had reached out to her through those experiences. I think that is very important to the ability of her story to reach out to others who have had similar experiences and would be turned off by blanket accusations devoid of any nuance that such experiences were completely evil. Instead, she presents them without any judgment, and we experience each chapter of her life as she had experienced it at the time, rather than through the lens of her later judgments, except that she occasionally marvels within these early chapters at how these experiences ultimately led her on her path to a more intimate connection with God. Her approach produces what ultimately is a beautiful and inspiring memoir.
Bubba and Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos
Our little dog, Bubba, loves to sit on the stairs in our cabin in process in Platina, CA, right above the icon of Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos.
If you would like to read a remarkable book related to Orthodoxy and Eastern Religions and Gurus – in addition to my book – look no further!
My experiences were quite tame in comparison – thank goodness!
Veronica Hughes
| The Gurus, the Young Man and Elder Paisius by Dionysius |
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This powerful memoir tells the story of a Greek youth who, out of a desire to know the truth empirically, began to experiment in yoga, hypnotism, and various occult techniques. Eventually drawn back to the Faith of his forefathers—Orthodox Christianity—he visited the ancient monastic republic of Mount Athos in his native Greece, where he was brought to a knowledge of the Truth of Jesus Christ by the saintly Elder Paisios (1924–1994). Nevertheless, believing he had only found “part of the truth” on the Holy Mountain, he chose to give the “same opportunity” to Hindu yogis that he had given to Elder Paisios and other Orthodox monks. Thus, at the age of twenty-five, he embarked on a trip to India, where he undertook his search in the ashrams of three famous gurus, one of whom was worshipped as a god. His experiences in India, along with his subsequent encounters with Elder Paisios on Mount Athos, are recounted in the present book in vivid detail.
Popular in Greece since its first publication there in 2001, The Gurus, the Young Man, and Elder Paisios is a page-turning narrative of both outward adventures and inward struggles. What stands out most in this book, however, is the radiant image of Elder Paisios, possessed of divine gifts, laboring in prayer for his fellow man, and overflowing with unconditional love. Through this, one sees the uncreated Source of the elder’s love and of the author’s spiritual transformation: the true God-man Jesus Christ, Who honors man’s personal freedom while drawing him, through love, into everlasting union with Himself.
Softcover, 320 pages, $17 US
ISBN 978-1-887904-16-2
Check out this wonderful video review of Veronica’s book by David Withun released 12/28/11
A moving biography about the process of Christian conversion that takes you into not just the story, but a part of Veronica’s soul and its journey to Christ and the Eastern Orthodox Church.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWbnkCOkh1A&feature=digest_fri
This book tells the story of one woman’s movement from the traditional Roman Catholicism of her youth, through various New Age and Eastern spiritual and religious movements, and finally to Eastern Orthodox Christianity. Throughout the course of the narrative, the reader is not only told the events that occurred but also let into the emotional, mental, and spiritual world of the author, getting a glimpse of the movements of heart and spirit that eventually lead to embrace Christ and his Church.
Her story is one that many, including myself, who have converted to Orthodoxy in America over the last several decades will be able to identify with, as many of us found ourselves disillusioned with the spiritual barrenness and harshness of Western religion, as embodied in Roman Catholic and Protestant Christianity, and so headed East to religions and philosophies like Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism, only to turn again to Christianity as it is embodied in the Orthodox Faith, its fullest and truest expression.
I recommend this book both for those who have come or are coming to Orthodoxy from such a background in Eastern and New Age religions, as well as for those who have close friends and family interested or involved in such movements. I think this book can act as an excellent bridge book and a gateway for those who have fled from the typical Western understandings of Christ to return to Christ, the real Christ.
Dear Veronica,
Thanks so much for sending us your endearing, engaging, insightful book – yes, it is hard to put down. May our Lord and His Most Holy Mother bless you and keep you always!
Mother Susanna and the Sisters, Our Lady of Kazan Skete, Santa Rosa 11/9/11
WestbowPress.com