Alexander Elchaninov, one of the most gifted priests of the Russian emigration, died from a tragic illness in 1934, at the age of fifty-three. In his early years he was involved in the cultural and religious movements which transformed the country's literature and art during the period 1900-1910. He was ordained comparatively late in life, after passing through the harrowing experience of the 1917 revolution. While deeply rooted in the spiritual and ascetic tradition of the Orthodox Church, Father Alexander remained close to the intellectual movement of his day. Because Fr Alexander came to the priesthood through the gates of secular culture, this book will be of particular value to all struggling to live the Christian life in an increasingly secular and materialistic world. He writes on themes of universal concern — on sin and nervous disease, on marriage, on the meaning of art, on facing illness and death.

This is the story of an anonymous 19th-century Russian peasant who wanted to learn to "pray without ceasing" (I Thess. 5:17) and was introduced to the Jesus Prayer--the continuous repetition of "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"--a practice that comes from the Eastern Orthodox Church and has its roots in the desert spirituality of early Christianity.

"When the winter begins to make way into the Northern World, the Church of Christ begins to celebrate a 'splendid three-day Pascha'." Thus Father Thomas Hopko begins the first of forty meditations for the season of Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, ending with the feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple on the fortieth day after Christ's birth. In the style of his popular book for the paschal fasting season, The Lenten Spring, the author again draws on the biblical readings and liturgical hymns and verses of the season to illumine the way for believers to follow the Church's days of preparation and celebration for the Coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in human flesh. Many references are made to the writings of the saints and Church Fathers, as well as to contemporary Christian teachers and spiritual guides. All those who love the Lord's Coming will find comfort and strength, as well as enlightenment and instruction, for having passed through the Winter Pascha with this book as their companion.

This book teaches us how to change the world by dealing with the little things in life from a spiritually enlightened perspective. You may not be able to change the world now but you can change your personal world and the personal world of those around you right now. Instead of snarling at the nasty checkout person you can instead give them a smile. Instead of thinking of them as this or that, why not see them as beautiful souls who need love and prayer? The result? Inner peace, and in the long run, world peace. Great Book.