Orthodixie

Of course it’s in Asheville.

While on vacation, I took the latest book on Anna Akhmatova, The Word that Causes Death’s Defeat — Poems of Memory, by Nancy K. Anderson. Tsarskoe Selo (now Pushkin) was Akhmatova’s favorite place. She loved life, and writing, there. This book is full of historical facts, particularly how the Communists imprisoned, tortured and killed poets. The book is not, however, a “page turner” fit for the beach and, being on vacation, I decided to buy some good ol’ Pulp.

Super Walmart, coast of North Carolina, is not exactly Barnes & Noble. The only book they stocked that really caught my eye was The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry. I felt a bit guilty as I carried it to check-out. I mean, I did write all those words critical of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. And here I was buying a book within the same genre. But, not really. “The Romanov Prophecy” deals with a conspiracy surrounding the heir to the throne of Nicholas II — not the Lord of all creation!

It begins with a prophecy by Rasputin and carries a black lawyer from the South, Miles Lord, on a journey around the globe in search of the descendants of the last Tsar as Russia prepares to reestablish the monarchy. It’s a thrilling read, but it scared me a bit. Not, mind you, the writing so much as the coincidences. “The Romanov Prophecy” begins at Tsarskoe Selo. Fine. No biggie. It turns out that the main character resides in Atlanta, but was reared in South Carolina. Okay. Sort of gave me a “homey” feeling. It doesn’t mention Akhmatova or her contemporaries by name. But it does, several times, speak of the maltreatment and murder of poets. Then, about midway through the novel (dealing with Rasputin, the Tsarina, Alexei, etc), I turned on TV to find the History Channel broadcasting a show about the same. (At the time, I’d forgotten that the anniversary of the Royals’ death, 7/17, was approaching.) I told my wife, “This is weird, first there’s the Tsarskoe Selo connection between the two books, now, just as I’m reading about this very thing, this on the History Channel”.

But it was to get even weirder. You see, I live in Asheville, Hendersonville actually, and went to college in a small town called Boone, North Carolina. Most people have heard of Asheville. Not so many, Hendersonville. Boone? Really.

Anyway, this from page 302 of “The Romanov Prophecy” …

In the center of the screen was Asheville, a cross of dark red lines emanating in four directions, signifying Interstates 40 and 26. To the north were towns like Boone, Green Mountain, and Bald Creek. To the south were Hendersonville and the South Carolina-Georgia border. Maggie Valley and Tennessee lay to the west, and Charlotte loomed off to the east. He studied the Blue Ridge Parkway, snaking a path to the northeast from Asheville to the Virginia line. The towns carried interesting names, Sioux, Bay Book, Chimney Rock, Cedar Mountain. Then, just north of Asheville, south of Boone, near Grandfather Mountain, he saw it.

Now, ya’ll, come on! If you’re familiar with this area (I’m not sure of the veracity of all those locales), you gotta love it. This is a book about Russians. Russian Royals! And here I was, vacationing on the North Carolina coast, reading two books set at Tsarskoe Selo — and one of them practically listing my street address!

It was a good read. I recommend it: “The Romanov Prophecy” by Steve Berry. ($4.88 @ Walmart.) So good in fact, that I encouraged my wife — born Amy, chrismated Elizabeth — to read it. I’d already told her of all the coincidences. We were on our way home when from the passenger seat she said: “Oh wow. Look!”

The book was dedicated … “To Amy and Elizabeth.”

That does it! Steve Berry owes me money!

Therapy!

A visit!

Something!

Here are some lovely photos of the Cathedral of Epiphany in Diocese of Irkutsk of the Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate), Siberia. These were sent to me by the Rector of the Cathedral, Father Rodion (who visits this Blog). Enjoy!

Rule One: If misfortune strikes you, first of all address God, and open your heart to Him and tell Him all about your suffering. Many of us sin when we share our desperate condition with others in order to make them feel sorry for us. The One we forget is God. He is the last on the list of those to whom we complain and whom we ask for help. By doing it out of order, we turn order into chaos.

Short Instructions on How to Overcome Depression by Prelate John, Metropolitan of Tobolsk.

Thanks to FWD from Fr Josiah Trenham

Testing this theory, perhaps if I use the words Review, Orthodox, Christian, Harry Potter, Half Blood Prince — should I remove the commas? — my hits will multiply.

Like Fr John, I used to be opposed to the Harry Potter books. Now, views from B16 aside (has the Pope read them?), I’ve even recommended the Harry Potter books to help folks learn about spiritual warfare. A friend, Fr Mark, encouraged me to just read the first book. As a latecomer, I was privileged to read all five Harry Potter books within a month or so. It just goes to show … when some folks convert, they really go nuts. Here’s a fellow convert that has written a couple books on Harry Potter and Christian imagery. John Granger believes, as I do, that you might be able even to find God in the Potter series.

BTW, John Granger is making the media rounds. Here’s excerpts from an email about the same:

I am very happy to report that Reader John Granger … was interviewed on the nationwide “Paula Zahn Show” on CNN last evening (Friday, July 15), along with the writer and commentator Michael O’Brien, the outspoken critic of the Harry Potter books.

In balanced, intelligent, and careful statements about the Harry Potter books, John pointed out the religious symbolism in them, the Christian imagery that the author employs, the folly of fundamentalistic reactions to the books, and the fact that they have not sparked interest in the occult, which interest is, in fact, thankfully decreasing dramatically in the U.S. of late.

Mr. O’Brien cited the effects of the Harry Potter books on an increase in interest in the occult among the young, which both John and Paula Zahn contradicted, pointing out that the studies cited by O’Brien are in fact the inventions of Protestant fundamentalists who are using the Harry Potter issue to further their somewhat narrow religious agendum. Ms. Zahn noted that the author of the series calls herself a Christian, says that she does not believe in magic or the occult, and emphatically rejects any talk of her promoting interest in them. John’s comments reinforced this point.

I think that John presented himself in a non-confrontational, very dignified, and quite sophisticated manner. Though he was not representing the Church and, of course, made no mention of his religious affiliation, he is certainly to be commended by all of us for a very fine interview.

The issue which John discussed is not an issue which should cause division among Orthodox (there is, after all, ample room for a number of views on the issue), and I think that John’s very perceptive comments went a long way towards placing the diversity of thought and opinion among Orthodox observers in a context that sheds light on the broader issues that we should keep in mind, as thinking Christians formed in Patristic moderation, in approaching controversial contemporary matters such as the Harry Potter books.

Then again, I don’t own the current book, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, yet. So if you’re looking for a new book review on the new Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, you’ll have to go elsewhere.

Did I mention Harry Potter?
Orthodox Christian?
Half Blood Prince?
Review?