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The Magus of Strovolos: The Extraordinary World of a Spiritual Healer
Ever since his childhood, Kyriacos C. Markides has heard mysterious rumors concerning the Magus of Strovolos, Cyprus’s “specialist of the netherworld.”
When he returns to Cyprus as an adult, Markides seeks out this master healer and spiritual teacher, to discover the old man for himself. Armed with the skepticism he learned as a sociologist, combined with his passion to explore the inner world and beliefs of this strange Magus, Markides soon learns to appreciate the power and wisdom of this peaceful and humorous soul.
From his exorcism of a Jewish girl haunted by Nazi ghosts to his theory of reincarnation, the Magus reveals to Markides the extraordinary secrets of his philosophy, challenging Western materialism and science, and pointing towards vast domains we normally cannot see.
In writing The Magus of Strovolos , Markides seeks to bring the master healer’s teachings to the world. By reading it, we too undertake his spiritual journey.
When he returns to Cyprus as an adult, Markides seeks out this master healer and spiritual teacher, to discover the old man for himself. Armed with the skepticism he learned as a sociologist, combined with his passion to explore the inner world and beliefs of this strange Magus, Markides soon learns to appreciate the power and wisdom of this peaceful and humorous soul.
From his exorcism of a Jewish girl haunted by Nazi ghosts to his theory of reincarnation, the Magus reveals to Markides the extraordinary secrets of his philosophy, challenging Western materialism and science, and pointing towards vast domains we normally cannot see.
In writing The Magus of Strovolos , Markides seeks to bring the master healer’s teachings to the world. By reading it, we too undertake his spiritual journey.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 1985
92 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
January 18, 2009
This is a remarkable little book about a Cypriot teacher, who operates against the backdrop of the Orthodox Church and represented a fascinating mix of gnostic and theosophic beliefs and concepts, but fed always from his own experience of things, not from book knowledge. He clearly was quite influential in his way, and the teachings have a very common sense feel to them. The implied metaphysics is quite sophisticated.
It is a fascianting read, for anyone who is open to explore these realms, and for my money much more coherent than something like Carlos Castaneda's work to which it has been compared. It also is a clear demonstration that there are many paths, and certainly that behind the apparent foreground of Christianity and its thought system of sin, guilt and fear, other traditions survived which carried on something much closer to the real teaching of Jesus. The approach to Judas in this tradition is very interesting, among other things.
It is a fascianting read, for anyone who is open to explore these realms, and for my money much more coherent than something like Carlos Castaneda's work to which it has been compared. It also is a clear demonstration that there are many paths, and certainly that behind the apparent foreground of Christianity and its thought system of sin, guilt and fear, other traditions survived which carried on something much closer to the real teaching of Jesus. The approach to Judas in this tradition is very interesting, among other things.
November 6, 2021
One of those books that make you wonder if the author is being serious or not. If he's serious and right then there's a guy performing miracles somewhere over Greece/Cyprus way. If he's not serious then this is a book for entertainment only and there's no such thing as magic.
Even if magic doesn't exist then this is still a useful book because it puts everything into a nice box and ties and pretty ribbon on the top. What I mean is that the philosophy of magic is concisely explained and is encapsulated in a logical framework that makes sense and is easy to follow, practice and remember.
Actually, this is not a book about magic, per se, it's more about healing. But healing using what I would call magic. By that, I mean that there is no medicine involved. The Magus in the title simply manipulates matter in such a way that spines are straightened, cysts and excised and people are brought to a state of health by psychic means.
The best thing about this book for me is that it persuaded me to enter meditative states in which I went out (in my mind) and tried to do my own healing. It's not working very well in me, though - I have a bit of a cold and it's not (yet) getting any better no matter how much white light I bathe my throat in. Still, at least it's better than the alternative, right?
Read this book if you believe in magic and want someone to tell you it's all real. Alternatively, read it if you can keep an open mind and perceive what you read to be entertaining and positive. Naturally, if you're a close-minded hater then don't even bother (or change (your choice)).
Even if magic doesn't exist then this is still a useful book because it puts everything into a nice box and ties and pretty ribbon on the top. What I mean is that the philosophy of magic is concisely explained and is encapsulated in a logical framework that makes sense and is easy to follow, practice and remember.
Actually, this is not a book about magic, per se, it's more about healing. But healing using what I would call magic. By that, I mean that there is no medicine involved. The Magus in the title simply manipulates matter in such a way that spines are straightened, cysts and excised and people are brought to a state of health by psychic means.
The best thing about this book for me is that it persuaded me to enter meditative states in which I went out (in my mind) and tried to do my own healing. It's not working very well in me, though - I have a bit of a cold and it's not (yet) getting any better no matter how much white light I bathe my throat in. Still, at least it's better than the alternative, right?
Read this book if you believe in magic and want someone to tell you it's all real. Alternatively, read it if you can keep an open mind and perceive what you read to be entertaining and positive. Naturally, if you're a close-minded hater then don't even bother (or change (your choice)).
January 21, 2008
This book started me on my own personal spiritual quest.
March 4, 2019
somehow this book left a bad feeling in me.
January 25, 2024
A real treasure but the audio version is poorly produced. This is what the title says, a description of a truly extraordinary healer and an introduction to how he views the energetic/spiritual dynamics that he works with.
I recommend reading it in print or Kindle. The Audible version has very poor sound quality (muffled, quiet, flat) so I could only hear it if I used ear buds with volume all the way up. The narrator is pretty awful too. That said, I finished it in 2 days. I found it very fascinating and well told.
I recommend reading it in print or Kindle. The Audible version has very poor sound quality (muffled, quiet, flat) so I could only hear it if I used ear buds with volume all the way up. The narrator is pretty awful too. That said, I finished it in 2 days. I found it very fascinating and well told.
June 20, 2013
Stylianos Atteshlis called Daskalos, a name that describes what he really was: a teacher.
A true Researcher of Truth approach in seeking the truth is methodical, safe and self-evident. At least it once was when Daskalos was teaching. Some great people are living around us, deliberately working away from any publicity. They know that their mission is of such nature, that they must remain unknown. Our human adoration and “recognition” means nothing to them. The serving of the divine plan is their only purpose. A plan which we are still unable to comprehend with our earthly brains and our materialistic way of thinking and living.
Many things are kept hidden and sold for money by egotistical individuals who call themselves teachers. The real truths were never for sale because they were given freely to all.
Although some researchers of truth members seem to have left the animal kingdom, which is unconscious ignorance, to evolve through to their present conscious ignorance and egotism. Perhaps one day they too can evolve into truthful conscious awakening as their teacher, Daskalos.
In the eastern theology, there is a virtue called ‘watchfulness’ that some ‘researchers of truth’ members have forgotten. Those teachings Daskalos once taught at his Stoa in Nicosia Cyprus. The nous (intellect) is the eye of the soul, the heart, while a thought is what functions in a man’s mind. It is one thing to try to keep the mind pure and another to try to keep the nous (intellect), that is the heart, pure. Nevertheless, purity of thoughts is needed, because it is impossible to keep one’s inner self free from sin if one has evil thoughts. Some still seem to have a misleading impression that the Philokalia is predominantly a manual on the practice of the ‘Jesus Prayer’, with little else besides.
‘At every hour and moment let us guard the heart with all diligence from thoughts that obscure the soul’s mirror, for in that mirror Jesus Christ, the wisdom and power of God the Father, is luminously reflected. According to St. Athanasius “God became man so man can become god." Watchfulness is portrayed as the axe which shatters the large trees, hitting their roots. And when the root is struck, it will not spring up again. When the intellect of man has heed for the soul, it keeps watch over the heart and the five senses of the soul, the bodily as well as the spiritual. When intellect is awake and attentive, it keeps watch over speculations, the thoughts and controls the imagination so the whole man, body and soul, is kept pure. When man is rendered pure through watchfulness and spiritual works, his prayers have courage to go before God as they cross the sky beyond the stars passing through the heavens and draw near to the Divine Throne of Grace, where the blessings of God are granted.
Never agree with what people say until you make your own search for the answer and find it in your heart- like writing your own script on a blank page. The more you learn, the more you will realize how little you know and how nothing is ever certain. Maybe some of us build walls not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.
A true Researcher of Truth approach in seeking the truth is methodical, safe and self-evident. At least it once was when Daskalos was teaching. Some great people are living around us, deliberately working away from any publicity. They know that their mission is of such nature, that they must remain unknown. Our human adoration and “recognition” means nothing to them. The serving of the divine plan is their only purpose. A plan which we are still unable to comprehend with our earthly brains and our materialistic way of thinking and living.
Many things are kept hidden and sold for money by egotistical individuals who call themselves teachers. The real truths were never for sale because they were given freely to all.
Although some researchers of truth members seem to have left the animal kingdom, which is unconscious ignorance, to evolve through to their present conscious ignorance and egotism. Perhaps one day they too can evolve into truthful conscious awakening as their teacher, Daskalos.
In the eastern theology, there is a virtue called ‘watchfulness’ that some ‘researchers of truth’ members have forgotten. Those teachings Daskalos once taught at his Stoa in Nicosia Cyprus. The nous (intellect) is the eye of the soul, the heart, while a thought is what functions in a man’s mind. It is one thing to try to keep the mind pure and another to try to keep the nous (intellect), that is the heart, pure. Nevertheless, purity of thoughts is needed, because it is impossible to keep one’s inner self free from sin if one has evil thoughts. Some still seem to have a misleading impression that the Philokalia is predominantly a manual on the practice of the ‘Jesus Prayer’, with little else besides.
‘At every hour and moment let us guard the heart with all diligence from thoughts that obscure the soul’s mirror, for in that mirror Jesus Christ, the wisdom and power of God the Father, is luminously reflected. According to St. Athanasius “God became man so man can become god." Watchfulness is portrayed as the axe which shatters the large trees, hitting their roots. And when the root is struck, it will not spring up again. When the intellect of man has heed for the soul, it keeps watch over the heart and the five senses of the soul, the bodily as well as the spiritual. When intellect is awake and attentive, it keeps watch over speculations, the thoughts and controls the imagination so the whole man, body and soul, is kept pure. When man is rendered pure through watchfulness and spiritual works, his prayers have courage to go before God as they cross the sky beyond the stars passing through the heavens and draw near to the Divine Throne of Grace, where the blessings of God are granted.
Never agree with what people say until you make your own search for the answer and find it in your heart- like writing your own script on a blank page. The more you learn, the more you will realize how little you know and how nothing is ever certain. Maybe some of us build walls not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.
January 25, 2012
My favorite parts of this book were and still remain, the scenes where Daskalos speaks. He reminds me of a teacher I once knew. He inspires me to strive to experience a similar reality to the one he describes to his incredulous audiences. After I finished reading this book for the first time, I went online to see how much it would cost to visit him in Nicosia and spend some time there, learning. I found out that he had passed away some years before this book crossed my path. That made me sad. It felt as though the jewel I thought I had been holding in my hand had suddenly turned to sand, and was seeping away between my fingers. It was, in the end, a lesson of the impermanence of the physical world. The words however, have remained and continue to resonate. I've written much more about my impressions at http://www.uncustomarybookreview.com/.... The author has also generously permitted me to publish a copy of the chapter on elementals along with the review. For anyone interested in learning more about the potency of thought, it's a must read.
November 26, 2024
If you want to spare some hours then avoid this book, little contextual info, just some vague miraculous story telling. I don’t mind sects and spiritual practices if they make people feel more comfortable and don’t replace the proven treatments. I don’t mind even reading about them since it can be entertaining. But rather as an external research of their activities than a blunt propaganda broadcasting as it came across to me.
February 18, 2024
This is book has a very magical feel to it, because to some extent it makes you want to believe in magic.
It dives deep into spiritual concepts from healing to spirits in another realm to karma to cosmic entities, but in an approachable format that are based on the best way for us humans to understand such concepts, storytelling.
Do be advised that you really have to try to keep an open mind and heart and you have to leave all doubt out the door to properly enjoy this book!
It dives deep into spiritual concepts from healing to spirits in another realm to karma to cosmic entities, but in an approachable format that are based on the best way for us humans to understand such concepts, storytelling.
Do be advised that you really have to try to keep an open mind and heart and you have to leave all doubt out the door to properly enjoy this book!
January 7, 2024
I was in way over my head with this book. If you’re interested in mysticism, karma, spiritual healing, life/death, elementals, etc, then you’ll have a good time. However, this was my first time delving into these things and I grew impatient of not understanding what the fuck was happening.
I may revisit it when I have a better grasp on some of these concepts because the healer seems pretty extraordinary, but for now I can’t make it through
I may revisit it when I have a better grasp on some of these concepts because the healer seems pretty extraordinary, but for now I can’t make it through
August 12, 2021
This is one of my top 10 Spiritual Books
Very advanced spiritual concepts written in common language that everyone can understand. The average person may doubt this work as much of it cannot be seen with the naked eye. Yet you can not see air and no one seems to have a problem knowing that air exists. I highly recommend contemplation of this material.
Very advanced spiritual concepts written in common language that everyone can understand. The average person may doubt this work as much of it cannot be seen with the naked eye. Yet you can not see air and no one seems to have a problem knowing that air exists. I highly recommend contemplation of this material.
March 26, 2009
If you are interested in mysticism, different levels of the conscious, leaving and entering upon will to perform healings, exorcisms, karma, or different views of life and death, and have a more than capable author to tie it all together in a nice little book, than what are you waiting for?
January 22, 2008
An account, fairly well written, of one of the most remarkable healers of our time.
not-read
March 23, 2012The Magus of Strovolos: The Extraordinary World of a Spiritual Healer (Arkana) by Kyriacos C. Markides (1989)
April 30, 2021
Mind blowing
I work with Anthroposophy and this book contains for me a living and more modern description of how it is possible to work with the Spiritual World. Very inspiring.
I work with Anthroposophy and this book contains for me a living and more modern description of how it is possible to work with the Spiritual World. Very inspiring.
June 10, 2024
It’s a very interesting book but it contains much too much metaphysics. If this was necessary it should have been expounded in a more systematic manner, not in this dialectical format, because it results largely incomprehensible. Nevertheless my mind remains slightly blown if really there was such a manifestation of Neoplatonic magical “Christian” thought in 20th century Cyprus, never mind if he did the things recounted.
June 20, 2025
one of the most interesting and enlightening books i have read by far. it took me around 2 months to finish because of how overwhelming it felt to read something so intense. i am even surprised that not alot of people have heard of this book.
i found it 2 years ago in a bookshop and i thought it was so interesting and it was up until 2 months ago that i bought it and decided to read it. it is a must read for those who are curious about the universe the soul and how things can happen
i found it 2 years ago in a bookshop and i thought it was so interesting and it was up until 2 months ago that i bought it and decided to read it. it is a must read for those who are curious about the universe the soul and how things can happen
Read
June 23, 2025A fascinating book that started Markides's many anthropological works on mystics and healers. After reading the book, I am convinced that Daskalos had a legitimate healing and clairvoyant gifting, yet some of the more esoteric material mystified me. For instance, the reader is told about out-of-body journeys, conversations with extra-terrestrial spirit beings, the transmutation of gold into silver, and many other hard-to-believe stories. Frankly, I'm not sure what to do with many of these.
October 25, 2020
“You were given a lesson to understand that nothing is pre-recorded and that the future is constantly being created within the eternal present. We were given to understand experientially that man’s freedom is a reality and not an abstract notion.”
“Every moment that passes,we are rewriting the history of the future based on the choices we make.”
“Every moment that passes,we are rewriting the history of the future based on the choices we make.”
October 11, 2017
Fascinating
A read and a half. Wonderful. If you want to know what the perennial philosophy really is this is the book for you.
A read and a half. Wonderful. If you want to know what the perennial philosophy really is this is the book for you.
September 16, 2022
Imádom olvasni Daskalos történeteit. Mind sokat tanulhatunk tőle. Nyugodjon békében.
I love reading Daskalos' stories. We all can learn a lot from him. May he rest in peace.
I love reading Daskalos' stories. We all can learn a lot from him. May he rest in peace.
November 15, 2022
amazing book.
Book is good for open minded person, who is is searching the truth.
Not recommend for those who are offended by ideas outside their own belief.
Book is good for open minded person, who is is searching the truth.
Not recommend for those who are offended by ideas outside their own belief.
September 9, 2025
knocks your socks off
April 29, 2025
A biography of a spiritual healer from Cyprus named Daskalos that lived there in the mid-20th century. His worldview was a mix of dharmic and Christian beliefs, similar to theosophy:
-One has a material, noetic and spiritual body, which expand into other dimensions. These are bound together by one’s esthetic double or energy field.
-People can be possessed by ghosts of dead humans, demons or elementals. Elementals are thought forms created by human will, usually without realizing, that then go on to live a separate existence.
-Out of body healings or work, which he calls exomatosis, is a common method he used. This can be dangerous if not done properly.
-There are hidden masters that guide and influence humanity and can teach. One teacher that he would channel was the Apostle John.
-Karma and karmic debt often leads to illness and pain, which can be taken on voluntarily to alleviate the suffering of others.
He describes the different healings and work he did in his life. In the very conservative environment of Cyprus he was often shunned as a devil worshipper, but did gain a following.
He describes going out of body to help avert Skylab from hitting a populated area. He says he was working hard to move it but found extraterrestrials already doing so. These live on a higher dimension than us and use flying saucers. They invited him to join them but he declined. They guard and love earth and humanity.
-One has a material, noetic and spiritual body, which expand into other dimensions. These are bound together by one’s esthetic double or energy field.
-People can be possessed by ghosts of dead humans, demons or elementals. Elementals are thought forms created by human will, usually without realizing, that then go on to live a separate existence.
-Out of body healings or work, which he calls exomatosis, is a common method he used. This can be dangerous if not done properly.
-There are hidden masters that guide and influence humanity and can teach. One teacher that he would channel was the Apostle John.
-Karma and karmic debt often leads to illness and pain, which can be taken on voluntarily to alleviate the suffering of others.
He describes the different healings and work he did in his life. In the very conservative environment of Cyprus he was often shunned as a devil worshipper, but did gain a following.
He describes going out of body to help avert Skylab from hitting a populated area. He says he was working hard to move it but found extraterrestrials already doing so. These live on a higher dimension than us and use flying saucers. They invited him to join them but he declined. They guard and love earth and humanity.
October 26, 2021
This is indeed a glimpse into an extraordinary world! Whether you read this as fiction or non-fiction, the ideas and anecdotes from this healer and others in his milieu are fascinating. It is one of those books that widens your own world and fills it with wisdom and magic.
Read
March 6, 2009a book translated from greek, so not a particularly easy read but lots of interesting wisdom to be gained. An extrordinary spiritual healer who believes in christian faith and secrets of his philosophy, challenging wstern materialism and science as well as pointing towards things we cannot see. Originally printed in 1985
June 11, 2023
This book, a sort-of-biography-sort-of-spiritual-healing-
manual-summary, was recently recommended to me by a friend who thought I might like it. And I did! Though I did not understand all the vocabulary, I found it to be a very life-affirming book about what is possible when a mere human connects with divine intelligence and power. And as I was finishing I noticed the glossary of terms, ah oh!
manual-summary, was recently recommended to me by a friend who thought I might like it. And I did! Though I did not understand all the vocabulary, I found it to be a very life-affirming book about what is possible when a mere human connects with divine intelligence and power. And as I was finishing I noticed the glossary of terms, ah oh!
January 28, 2010
I really enjoyed this book and will read it again at some point in the future. It does an excellent job of uniting all the religions of the world and explaining spirituality in a way that isn't dependent upon any deity or particular belief.
April 3, 2016
I have read this book three times. First in 1996, second in 2008, and now, as I am currently wrapping up my third reading of it. This book inspired my own spiritual journey that completely changed my life.
June 3, 2007
Wild!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews