Centuries of Holiness: Ancient Spirituality Refracted for a Postmodern Age

Unbelievably insightful on over one hundred spritual questions. A thinking believer's resource. I heartily recommend this. I am purchasing several as gifts.

This small rich book is Lenten reading for several of my church group. The separate "essays" are stand alone focused thought filled jewels. The information is written in easy to understand language, the concepts are timeless and deeply complex. Scholarly with a human touch, Richard Valantasis is a fascinating erudite teacher and spiritually gifted priest. This elegantly shaped book is the finest bedside table reading, one essay at a time.

The "centuries" of the title are not chronological centuries but designate this collection of one hundred spiritual essays, based upon Eastern Orthodox teachings but "refracted" for modern Western Christians. Valantasis envisions his readers as those who "yearn for a spiritual life that has depth and intellectual challenge." He demands a high level of concentration and commitment from his readers-- his sentences are complex, and the ideas behind them are equally so. I found much wisdom within them! The density of the essays requires that they be digested over some considerable time. The author includes suggestions for focusing on certain chapters over the course of a retreat, or throughout a season of the church year.