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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Orthodox Churches
This lucidly written biography of Aleksandr Men examines the
familial and social context from which Men developed as a Russian
Orthodox priest. Wallace Daniel presents a different picture of
Russia and the Orthodox Church than the stereotypes found in much
of the popular literature. Men offered an alternative to the
prescribed ways of thinking imposed by the state and the church.
Growing up during the darkest, most oppressive years in the history
of the former Soviet Union, he became a parish priest who eschewed
fear, who followed Christ's command "to love thy neighbor as
thyself," and who attracted large, diverse groups of people in
Russian society. How he accomplished those tasks and with what
ultimate results are the main themes of this story. Conflict and
controversy marked every stage of Men's priesthood. His parish in
the vicinity of Moscow attracted the attention of the KGB,
especially as it became a haven for members of the intelligentsia.
He endured repeated attacks from ultraconservative, anti-Semitic
circles inside the Orthodox Church. Fr. Men represented the
spiritual vision of an open, non-authoritarian Christianity, and
his lectures were extremely popular. He was murdered on September
9, 1990. For years, his work was unavailable in most church
bookstores in Russia, and his teachings were excoriated by some
both within and outside the church. But his books continue to offer
hope to many throughout the world-they have sold millions of copies
and are testimony to his continuing relevance and enduring
significance. This important biography will appeal to scholars and
general readers interested in religion, politics, and global
affairs.
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