www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Books St Nikodemus the Hagorite: EXOMOLOGETARION, A Manual of Confession

While I was working at our Clergy-Laity Congress last week in Nashville, I came across and purchased this book. Since I arrived home I have been enjoying it. The preface is by Bishop Basil of Wichita (Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese), and the introduction is by Protopresbyter George Metallinos, Dean of the University of Athens Theological School.

Any that can come across this book, I would be more than happy to engage in a discussion on it.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+

Abouna you were in Nashville and didn't let us know !

We were just three hours away. :p

Dear Father,

Christ is in our midst!

I obtained my copy from the "Uncut Mountain Press" website earlier this month, and I've been enjoying the read very much. I am very pleased with the purchase, in fact, I've been stealing bits of it for the weekly bulletin already.

It is a beautifully produced and handsome volume, and Kyr Basil's preface is very good.. He is absolutely right about the importance of this work in the spiritual and accademic preparation needed for confessors and spiritual fathers, undoubtedly the restoration of the practice of this Mystery was a critical element of the spiritual revival that bore so much fruit on the Holy Mountain, and in the Slav lands.

Protopresbyter's introduction is a wonderful read, and I learned so much from it. My only fear is that Protopresbyter George's introduction, slightly overstates his point, with regard to Saint Nikodemos' use of sources?

A discussion of this text would be most interesting!

the unworthy,
Elias

Dear Father Elias, Christ is in our midst!

I obtained my copy from the Church of Greece Publishing House, which also sells it. I happen to agree with of your observations, especially regarding Father George's introduction. It might the professor in him, that really is not a point of debate though. I suggest we both give a few days to read into it a little more, and then commence the discussion.

Your brother in Christ,
Father Anthony+

Dear Father Elias,

I spent quite a bit of time last night and early this evening rereading Father George Metallinos' lengthy introduction. From the first few parapgraph's he explains the premise of his introduction. Apparently in the Greek edition it is taken for granted that the reader has a grounding in Patristics, while it is assumed that the English reader would in most cases lacks such a grounding. I can assume the Greek edition has no such introduction, though the purpose of the book is for the education of the confessor, who may be still in theological formation.

This would explain the meticulous explanation he gives and the patristic sources and terminology that is explained. For those of us with a patristics background both from seminary and follow-up individual study, it seems to be a re-hash of material already learned. Though in some cases it is a nice review, even though getting through a 27 page introduction is a little on the tedious side.

In IC XC,
Father Anthony+