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Elements - Volume I: The Transfiguration of Elijah - Earth & Water
Follow Elijah on his epic journey through the four elements. In volume one, discover how Elijah must first become Earth and then Water in order to begin his road to achieving his full potential in Christ. Elijah rediscovers his roots, learns about the world outside of his narrow modern worldview, makes friends, loses friends and journeys through the seasons of life. Volume 2 is coming out soon.
450 pages, Paperback
Published November 29, 2021
50 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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July 31, 2022Whilst there’s much to comment on, the most important thing I want to share is how this book churned my heart.
From feeling very spiritually lukewarm, this book humbled me before God’s majesty and overflowing love a handful of times. It created a longing in me to seek true communion with Him; as a child to a Father - filled with arrow prayers (albeit I do struggle with this).
And, for the first time in my life, I’ve become a lot more aware of St. Mary’s maternal and loving presence.
The book has so much candor, vulnerability and relatable spiritual struggles.
I can’t find the words for it, but it was so warm (?) and validating to read a book with comments as simple as Wara Enab (vine leaves), reflecting my culture - I found myself laughing out loud a number of occasions.
On a more contextual point, it has helped me stay grounded to my Coptic roots whilst I’ve been traveling, and has given me a stable sense of familiarity. It’s been a portable home away from home.
Very grateful that God allowed this book to be written. Looking forward to volume 2 🤍.
From feeling very spiritually lukewarm, this book humbled me before God’s majesty and overflowing love a handful of times. It created a longing in me to seek true communion with Him; as a child to a Father - filled with arrow prayers (albeit I do struggle with this).
And, for the first time in my life, I’ve become a lot more aware of St. Mary’s maternal and loving presence.
The book has so much candor, vulnerability and relatable spiritual struggles.
I can’t find the words for it, but it was so warm (?) and validating to read a book with comments as simple as Wara Enab (vine leaves), reflecting my culture - I found myself laughing out loud a number of occasions.
On a more contextual point, it has helped me stay grounded to my Coptic roots whilst I’ve been traveling, and has given me a stable sense of familiarity. It’s been a portable home away from home.
Very grateful that God allowed this book to be written. Looking forward to volume 2 🤍.
August 27, 2023
Im an atheist but this was such a beautifully written series. A hopeful bedtime story for me, very comforting and warm idk
October 31, 2024
Elements is a lovely novel that does a good job in expressing Eastern(specifically Coptic) Orthodox Christian Spirituality through the medium of story telling. The reader follows the life and faith journey of the main character, Elijah.
This is a great read for especially someone who is drawn to Eastern Orthodox theology but doesn’t want to engage in it through the medium of systematic theology. One can easily pick up the heartbeat and beauty of the church of the East’s spirituality in this novel.
My only critique, and it’s a small one, is that the book felt a bit long at times, which might have been due to the author’s choice to make a chapter of the book for every book of the Orthodox Old Testament.
This is a great read for especially someone who is drawn to Eastern Orthodox theology but doesn’t want to engage in it through the medium of systematic theology. One can easily pick up the heartbeat and beauty of the church of the East’s spirituality in this novel.
My only critique, and it’s a small one, is that the book felt a bit long at times, which might have been due to the author’s choice to make a chapter of the book for every book of the Orthodox Old Testament.
August 28, 2023
A life changing read, interrupted my entire reading schedule to move onto volume II.
August 6, 2022
This is definitely reached the top list for my favourite spiritual book read so far.
Elijah is born and raised in Canada, from Coptic Egyptian parents who immigrated from Egypt. He grew up in the church and quickly deviated away - thing that we often see nowadays, so I was very well able to relate to Elijah, if not for myself, then with the people I grew up with at church and who slowly left.
I feel like I learned so much from reading this book, more than all the Christian books combined that I ever read. First of all, this book deepened my relationship with the Saints and St Mary and taught me how to talk to them, view them as friends and that they are closer to us than we think. This book also mentions so many important aspects like Liturgy, Midnight Praise, the Jesus Prayer, etc.
Finally, I feel like this book created in me a desire to try new things like Elijah did: work on a farm, a pilgrimage in Egypt,…
Definitely recommend! I think it’s a book that everyone should read: teenagers, young adults, parents
God bless!
Elijah is born and raised in Canada, from Coptic Egyptian parents who immigrated from Egypt. He grew up in the church and quickly deviated away - thing that we often see nowadays, so I was very well able to relate to Elijah, if not for myself, then with the people I grew up with at church and who slowly left.
I feel like I learned so much from reading this book, more than all the Christian books combined that I ever read. First of all, this book deepened my relationship with the Saints and St Mary and taught me how to talk to them, view them as friends and that they are closer to us than we think. This book also mentions so many important aspects like Liturgy, Midnight Praise, the Jesus Prayer, etc.
Finally, I feel like this book created in me a desire to try new things like Elijah did: work on a farm, a pilgrimage in Egypt,…
Definitely recommend! I think it’s a book that everyone should read: teenagers, young adults, parents
God bless!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2023
I generally don't read books from church, they feel like sermons that were just written down and usually these sermons serve the purpose of lecturing me (which I'm not a fan of). But this book. It's a must for every Coptic Christian (even non Coptic) person to read.
It made me cry and made me laugh, and sometimes I couldn't put down the book for hours. If you're egyptian like me, there is so many references to Egypt and our culture, it was almost as if I was back there and seeing what he was seeing or experiencing what he was experiencing.
This book humbles you and shows you the way to become closer to Him and, truly, it has moved me. Can't wait to read part 2!
It made me cry and made me laugh, and sometimes I couldn't put down the book for hours. If you're egyptian like me, there is so many references to Egypt and our culture, it was almost as if I was back there and seeing what he was seeing or experiencing what he was experiencing.
This book humbles you and shows you the way to become closer to Him and, truly, it has moved me. Can't wait to read part 2!
July 17, 2023
A book I found myself reading with my heart more than my head. Can’t recommend Elements: the transfiguration of Elijah enough. And this is only volume one. Please read this!
June 29, 2024
Despite the lack of quotation marks, this book was written really well🤣. The first part of the book before Esther’s death had me so hooked bc it was extremely relatable. I was crying, laughing, and cringing in all the ways I would when looking back at my own life navigating what a “Christian” life looks like in our generation. After that it was a little harder to get through but the analogies of water and earth were really beautiful. Overall, I wouldn’t reread this book but I still enjoyed going through Elijah’s story :))
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2022
Absolutely beautiful and reviving!!
The book took me on a journey with Elijah, I was able to relate with him in some moments. Others i was completely in awe of his transformation. I cried, I laughed, I mourned, it addresses every feeling ever and most importantly growth in Christ.
The book took me on a journey with Elijah, I was able to relate with him in some moments. Others i was completely in awe of his transformation. I cried, I laughed, I mourned, it addresses every feeling ever and most importantly growth in Christ.
July 25, 2023
Insight to the mind of a modern day Saint, great for your spiritual life!
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July 11, 2025such a good book but it’s been a min…need to go back N finish
July 13, 2024
WOW! What a journey this book was! I was never ready to read it before, it didn’t seem to be my cup of tea back then. But I read it at the right time in my life. It’s officially become one of my favourite books ever! It has everything you need in a spiritual book with fiction as the basis. The narrator is unique, their personality shines, and although you shouldn’t read the book for the writing style, the latter reminds me a lot of Sally Rooney’s with the lack of quotation marks and all. There’s something for everyone on this relatable book! TOTALLY RECOMMEND 🙌🏽
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews