Gifts of the Desert: The Forgotten Path of Christian Spirituality

by Kyriacos C. Markides

In Kyriacos C. Markides’s newest book, Eastern Orthodox mysticism meets Western Christianity as the internationally renowned author takes readers on a deep journey back in time to unveil the very roots of authentic spirituality.

In his previous book The Mountain of Silence , Markides introduced us to the essential spiritual nature of Eastern Orthodoxy in a series of lively conversations with Father Maximos, the widely revered charismatic Orthodox bishop and former abbot of the isolated monastery on Mount Athos. In Gifts of the Desert , Markides continues his examination of Easter Orthodox mystical teachings and practices and captures its living expression through visits to monasteries and hermitages in Greece and America and interviews with contemporary charismatic elders, both male and female.

Markides’s pursuit of a deeper understanding of Orthodoxy takes him to the deserts of Arizona and a stay at a new monastery in Sedona; to the island of Cyprus and a reunion with Father Maximos; on a pilgrimage to holy shrines aboard a cruise ship in the Aegean Sea; and finally to the legendary Mount Athos, home to more than two thousand Orthodox monks. Markides relates his journey and reflections in a captivating style while providing important background material and information on historical events to give readers a highly accessible, in-depth portrait of a tradition little known in the West.

Gifts of the Desert will appeal to a wide range of people, from Christians seeking insights into their religion and its various expressions to scholars interested in learning more about the mystical way of life and wisdom that have been preserved on Mount Athos since the fall of the Byzantine Empire and the Great Schism that separated the Eastern and Western Churches. Perhaps most important, however, is the bridge it offers contemporary readers to a Christian life that is balanced between the worldly and the spiritual.

Genres: Spirituality, Theology, Nonfiction, Religion, Christianity, Philosophy, Christian

384 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2005

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Markides's 'The Mountain of Silence' came at the perfect time in my life. It was what 'sealed the deal' in my heart for Orthodoxy. 'Gifts of the Desert' was just as pivotal but in a different way. While reading, it seemed to say, "Well, you're here now, and this is how it's done." I absolutely loved this book!

[Franklin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second time trying to get through Gifts of the Desert. Who am I, but I think that it could have been much shorter, i.e., edited better. I've ground to a halt again at about the same place as last time. That is not to say that there is not good content and very encouraging stuff in here, but it might be one of those books that has to hit you at the right time. I will push through to the end soon.

Read Mountain of Silence. That is a wonderful book, dare I say, a classic read on Eastern Christian Spirituality. It is very genuine and Markides isn't afraid to voice his doubts and to push back in his discussions with Fr Maximos.

[Angelina · Rating 5 out of 5]

O carte exceptionala! Am invatat multe lucruri noi iar cartea este un adevarat dar pentru cine este dispus sa-si deschida inima, mintea si sufletul pentru a afla cum sa se cunoasca pe sine mai bine dar mai ales cum sa poata accede la cunoasterea mai inalta, cea a lui Dumnezeu, prin Intreita Cale. Minunata experienta!

[Luaba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after reading the Magus of Strovolos and very much like the former, this book is does a great job to bridge Eastern philosophy to Christianity.

[vlad popescu · Rating 4 out of 5]

”Omul smerit caută întotdeauna dialogul și nu este prins în capcana rigidă a propriilor opinii și moduri de gândire. Lasă spațiu pentru conversația cu alții. Este întotdeauna gata să asculte. Omul smerit nu cade orbește în propriile logismoi (gânduri). Pune întotdeauna un semn de întrebare la sfârșitul gândului său și caută sfatul altora.”

”Indiferent ce ni se întâmplă nu este ceva accidental. Metanoia înseamnă să nu cauți niciodată scuze personale. În momentul în care îți cauți scuze și autojustificări, nu mai ești în metanoia. Acestea sunt ca focul și apa. Nu se amestecă.”

”Să presupunem că cineva spune ceva care ți se pare nedrept sau umilitor. Sau să presupunem că cineva te ignoră sau te face să te simți respins etc. Pentru oamenii obișnuiți, așa ceva poate fi greu de îndurat, dar în realitate acestea sunt oportunități de aur pentru creșterea noastră spirituală. Sunt trimise de Dumnezeu ca exercițiu spiritual. Dacă ripostăm și, să zicem, câștigăm disputa, în realitate am pierdut. Am pierdut o mare oportunitate.”

[Liliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aceasta este a doua carte din acest ciclu, mi-a plăcut, sunt multe lucruri utile de învățat și aplicat în viața. În centrul cărții îl avem tot pe părintele Maximos care ne îndrumă in călătoria către cunoașterea ortodoxiei autentice.

Un fragment spre final (pag 350) care m-a țintit unde mă doare:

"Omul care spune mereu "eu cred", "eu știu", "eu am constatat", "eu am descoperit" emite un semnal că ceva nu funcționează bine la el. Știi ce greu este sa vorbești cu cineva care este in această stare de amăgire despre propriile cunoștințe și propria importanță, ceea ce duhovnicii numesc 'plani'. Este mai bine sa stai de vorba cu un om imoral, lipsit de etică, decât cu unul copleșit de acest neajuns. [...] Acest om nu asculta de nimeni altcineva, numai de propriile opinii. Oamenii aflați sub acest blestem au urechi, dar nu aud. Sunt sub influența unor spirite pe care Evanghelia le numește surde și mute "

Glosar
Plani - iluzie, eroare în perceperea și cunoașterea chestiunilor spirituale

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written in a very easy-to-read style, making the Orthodox faith more understandable. Much of it was profound and encouraging, but I found parts of it confusing and paradoxical. A few sections raised some serious questions about the author's beliefs. Overall, I'm glad I read it because I definitely mined some nuggets of gold in doing so.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A follow on The Mountain of Silence, but with more emphasis of Maximos and his direct teachings. These two books make me want to be in the room with the author and Maximos, but be sure to start with The Mountain of Silence.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend of mine from college ended up joining one of the many monasteries mentioned in this book several years ago so I was curious to read it to find out a little bit about where he lives these days, though telling the story of an individual monastery isn't really the point of the book. Besides that, it had some interesting stuff to say about the philosophy/theology of monasticism and Eastern Christianity.

[Thaddeus Wert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as "The Mountain of Silence" (Markides didn't have as much access to Fr. Maximos for this one), but still very interesting. I particularly enjoyed the story behind the Orthodox Christian monastery that is in the Arizona desert.

[Trevor Luke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mountain of Silence is better, but I still enjoyed this outing.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book I have read by Markides, and it was as great as Inner River and Mountain of Silence.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to read, but not as worthwhile as "The Mountain of Silence."

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Borderline heretical but with some fascinating passages on Orthodox spirituality.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gifts of the Desert: The Forgotten Book of Christian Spirituality.

[Teresa]

Recommended to me by Julie Kaye