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Father George Calciu: Interviews, Talks, and Homilies
This autobiography of Father George was recorded in 1996, and transcribed at the Saint Paisius Monastery, Forestville, CA, by an American Orthodox nun, Mother Nina, now of St. Nilus Skete, Alaska. 389 pages,
392 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 28, 2011
I’d heard about Fr. George but not actually read anything by him before. This was quite an incredible collection. To read the words of someone who had lived through such terrible things and emerged full of light rather than darkness was amazing.
November 17, 2011
Anyone who follows my reviews has probably detected something of a trend. If it has been published by St. Herman Press, it earns five stars. This collection is no exception. I ordered it from Platina during the Spring and have already read it at least twice over. Like many Orthodox texts, it is easy to re-read some sections a half-dozen times in relatively quick succession.
The only thing about this book that might frustrate a less avid reader is a slight tendency towards redundancy. Between his brief autobiography, his interview with the nun Nina, and other biographies, you'll definitely come out of this book knowing the details of Fr. George's life. Personally, that repetitiousness doesn't bother me. It's a fascinating life and worth remembering. Beyond details of Fr. George's time in the horrific Pitesti prison, this excellent resource includes his seven influential "Homilies to the Youth," which earned him yet another ticket to prison and, eventually, exile from Romania. His other sermons and essays are also worth note. They are brief and perfect for someone who wants to include brief spiritual meditations during their day. As I get busier and busier with work and Grad school, time for extended reading has dwindled (much to my dismay!). It's nice to be able to read something of legitimate spiritual depth in its completeness without having to feel like I'm always leaving in the middle of an idea.
Naturally, Christians (Orthodox and otherwise) should strive to become familiar with the lives of the martyrs and confessors of the Communist yoke. I have read literature about various Russian saints of this period. This is the first text, however, that I have encountered relating to Soviet atheistic persecution in Romania. Definitely worth purchasing.
The only thing about this book that might frustrate a less avid reader is a slight tendency towards redundancy. Between his brief autobiography, his interview with the nun Nina, and other biographies, you'll definitely come out of this book knowing the details of Fr. George's life. Personally, that repetitiousness doesn't bother me. It's a fascinating life and worth remembering. Beyond details of Fr. George's time in the horrific Pitesti prison, this excellent resource includes his seven influential "Homilies to the Youth," which earned him yet another ticket to prison and, eventually, exile from Romania. His other sermons and essays are also worth note. They are brief and perfect for someone who wants to include brief spiritual meditations during their day. As I get busier and busier with work and Grad school, time for extended reading has dwindled (much to my dismay!). It's nice to be able to read something of legitimate spiritual depth in its completeness without having to feel like I'm always leaving in the middle of an idea.
Naturally, Christians (Orthodox and otherwise) should strive to become familiar with the lives of the martyrs and confessors of the Communist yoke. I have read literature about various Russian saints of this period. This is the first text, however, that I have encountered relating to Soviet atheistic persecution in Romania. Definitely worth purchasing.
December 16, 2013
I'm overjoyed to have read this book at this particular time.
The work is very appropriate right here, right now. It is a fresh reminder of the terror inflicted by the godless authorities upon millions in the last century, and a wakeup call to the erosion and outright war being waged upon Christianity from secularization, militant Islam, and our own apathy.
The work is very appropriate right here, right now. It is a fresh reminder of the terror inflicted by the godless authorities upon millions in the last century, and a wakeup call to the erosion and outright war being waged upon Christianity from secularization, militant Islam, and our own apathy.
July 1, 2015
Amazing story of an intellectual and religious leader who underwent devastating hardships in the most deplorable Romanian prison camps under Soviet occupation, and still came out on top.
May 30, 2023
Great book! In fact, it's so great that I bought it twice! Accidentally, that is. If anyone wants a copy just email me or contact me and I will send it to you for free.
September 9, 2013
This book is not a single narrative, but a selections of biographical sketches about and interviews with Father George Calciu, as well as a selection of his homilies, talks, and newsletter articles written to his congregation. Because of this, there is a certain amount of repetition — repetition which is to be expected.
The organization of this book is interesting, beginning with biographical sketches and interviews which mention the seven Lenten Homilies to the Youth, the sermons Father George gave to the Romanian people in 1978. But for all the foreshadowing, one is still unprepared for the power of these sermons. It is no wonder that they were laboriously hand-copied, passed from person to person, and quickly made their way to the outside world. After his Homilies to the Youth the book focuses on the various lectures, talks, writings, and interviews given after Father George was released from prison and exiled to the United States, including interviews given after the fall of communism and on the occasion of his visit to his homeland.
Their are several notable things about this book.
First, Father George rarely names names or places blame. There are a few occasions where he mentions a specific church hierarch who failed him, specifically the Bishop and former monk who arranged for Father George's arrest and imprisonment. And yet even here there is no sense that Father George is seeking revenge; what one senses is sorrow and forgiveness. Father George notes that when he initially began writing his account of life in the Pitești prison, his anger overwhelmed him. It wasn't until he put his writing away, symbolically making a break with the past, that he recovered. By this we are meant to learn that the rehashing of wrongs hurts our hearts and is ultimately unfruitful. Revenge is a dish best not served at all.
Second, Father George notes several times that it was through suffering that he became aware of God's presence, that God was with him in his suffering. God did not save him from his suffering, nor did God save him by means of his suffering. However, patient endurance of suffering — while not redemptive — has a purifying effect.
Third, there are passages in this book that are quite remarkable in their practicality. For example, when Father George discusses prayer, he outlines which prayers are normative, and then provides a number of techniques by which one can maintain focus on the prayers. Unlike some more theoretical discourses on prayer, this is personal, pragmatic, and pastoral.
Finally, Father George notes that although our fellow Christians can fail us, our priests can fail us, and even the Church hierarchs can fail is, the Church is still the place where we find salvation. This is continually relevant, as the failure of Bishops, Metropolitans, and Patriarchs looms large in social media. And yet the Church of Christ still stands, and is still the one place where we can partake of the Eucharist, the medicine of immortality. Thanks be to God.
The organization of this book is interesting, beginning with biographical sketches and interviews which mention the seven Lenten Homilies to the Youth, the sermons Father George gave to the Romanian people in 1978. But for all the foreshadowing, one is still unprepared for the power of these sermons. It is no wonder that they were laboriously hand-copied, passed from person to person, and quickly made their way to the outside world. After his Homilies to the Youth the book focuses on the various lectures, talks, writings, and interviews given after Father George was released from prison and exiled to the United States, including interviews given after the fall of communism and on the occasion of his visit to his homeland.
Their are several notable things about this book.
First, Father George rarely names names or places blame. There are a few occasions where he mentions a specific church hierarch who failed him, specifically the Bishop and former monk who arranged for Father George's arrest and imprisonment. And yet even here there is no sense that Father George is seeking revenge; what one senses is sorrow and forgiveness. Father George notes that when he initially began writing his account of life in the Pitești prison, his anger overwhelmed him. It wasn't until he put his writing away, symbolically making a break with the past, that he recovered. By this we are meant to learn that the rehashing of wrongs hurts our hearts and is ultimately unfruitful. Revenge is a dish best not served at all.
Second, Father George notes several times that it was through suffering that he became aware of God's presence, that God was with him in his suffering. God did not save him from his suffering, nor did God save him by means of his suffering. However, patient endurance of suffering — while not redemptive — has a purifying effect.
Third, there are passages in this book that are quite remarkable in their practicality. For example, when Father George discusses prayer, he outlines which prayers are normative, and then provides a number of techniques by which one can maintain focus on the prayers. Unlike some more theoretical discourses on prayer, this is personal, pragmatic, and pastoral.
Finally, Father George notes that although our fellow Christians can fail us, our priests can fail us, and even the Church hierarchs can fail is, the Church is still the place where we find salvation. This is continually relevant, as the failure of Bishops, Metropolitans, and Patriarchs looms large in social media. And yet the Church of Christ still stands, and is still the one place where we can partake of the Eucharist, the medicine of immortality. Thanks be to God.
September 27, 2020
Very relevant for Americans in 2020
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews