Author of …
Click on these links and you will partake in the essence of heartfelt prayer – enjoy! (about 20 mins. total)
http://youtu.be/r0Ky5CUxSsY
A good reminder for us to be humble and simple, pure in mind and spirit, hospital and loving, and willing to learn no matter how old we are.
God Bless,
Veronica
Your friend and brother,
Fr Anthony C.
Click here to watch a Youtube video of Veronica filmed in Platiina, CA where she wrote her book.
Link to a short Video from Book Event with Veronica Hughes, Jan. 25 2012
Pearl of Great Price
Please join us for a “Book Event” at 7 PM, on Wednesday, January 25. Author Veronica Hughes will be here to speak on her book “Pearl of Great Price” which chronicles her journey from disillusioned baby-boomer Roman Catholic—to practitioner of Hatha yoga, EST, Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, to teacher of the occult, metaphysics, psychic healing, and Theosophy—to faith in Jesus Christ in the Orthodox Church.
St. Seraphim of Sarov Orthodox Church
90 Mountain View Ave.
Santa Rosa, CA 95407 info@saintseraphim.com
707-584-9491 (Phone)
707-585-9445 (Fax)
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.
St. Arsenios of Cappadocia's Tomb, he reposed on November 10, 1924.
Highly recommended books – Both are must reads.
The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints, Compiled by St. Demetrius of Rostov
St. Arsenios the Cappadocian, written by Elder Paisios
My husband and I have been reading the sweetest little book about the life of St. Arsenios the Cappadocian, written by Elder Paisios. This little book is available in paperback and quite affordable. It seems that God has blessed us with so many faith affirming elders in our efforts to study of the lives of modern saints, currently focusing on those from Greece.
At the same time we have been reading The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints, which is only available in hard bound in monthly volumes. Many of the months have yet to be published. My husband and I made the commitment to buy and read this series of books in support our daily practice of reading the lives of Saints from the early Church. It is one of the most comprehensive, in depth and inspiring collections of the full stories and lives of many of the most beloved Saints of the Orthodox Church.
Reading these longer versions of the lives of Saints, such as St. John Chysostom (75 pages long) or St. Gregory the Wonderworker, who literally prayed to God and moved mountains has changed our lives! Daily we are being reminded that “With God, all things are possible”. Not only are they possible, but given how entrenched both my husband and I have been in the Western logical mind, reading the longer version of the lives of martyrs and ascetics is mind blowing! In a matter of months, by the grace of God and the prayers of the Saints, we have begun to enter into a deeper contemplation of the Divine and more fervent prayer as a direct result of reading these volumes. Glory to God!
St. Arsenios the Cappadocian (1840–1924) was the spiritual father of Elder Paisios’ family. He baptized Elder Paisios as an infant. Throughout his life Elder Paisios had great love and reverence for the memory of St. Arsenios, and it was out of this love that he compiled the book “Saint Arsenios the Cappadocian”[1] which provides us with the details of his life.
St. Arsenios pastored his Greek Orthodox flock amidst extremely difficult conditions. He lived with his people in the village of Farasa in Cappadocia, which after 1453 had fallen into the hands of the Muslim Turks. Under the harsh yoke of the Turks, the Greek people of Farasa formed an oasis of Orthodox Christianity. They sought refuge in holy St. Arsenios, who was their teacher, their spiritual father, and the healer of their souls and bodies. His reputation as a healer was so great that not only Greek Christians but also Turkish Muslims came to him for healing. Many times his village was threatened with violence from marauding Turks, but each time it was preserved in a miraculous way by St. Arsenios. The accounts in this book, which were taken down by Elder Paisios from eyewitnesses, testify to how powerfully God works through His holy ones, and to how lovingly He cares for and protects His children amidst adversity.
Since 1970, many apparitions and miracles have occurred near his holy relics, which reside in the Monastery of Souroti near Thessalonica. He was officially glorified by the Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1986.
Click here to check out my “roughing at our cabin in Platina, CA”, video. This is where I wrote my book. Our cabin is adjacent to St. Herman of Alaska Eastern Orthodox Monastery. It is in the wilderness of Northern California – partially tamed by us. I have posted some of the most beautiful views below. My husband, Greg, has been working on our cabin for seven years. To keep myself busy; I wrote my book! There is “a Peace that passes all understanding” on this blessed mountain. Just as my conversion to Christianity was not a shoe in or easy process – our challenges to create this spiritual haven on this mountain make us realize how blessed we are and how the good things in life are worth fighting for…
Veronica
Moon Rise over our cabin at Platina
Winter in the valley below our cabin
Moon Rise over Mt Lassen from our cabin
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