'An Orthodox Survival Guide'

[Irene]

My daughter is reading an interesting book aimed at the under 25s or anyone who has the responsiblity of teaching young people about spirituality: "An Orthodox Survival Guide for the 21st Century"

"....There are many obstacles in the world today that block the path to heaven. This book guides the reader safely around them."

Author Victor Mihailoff with the blessing of Archbishop Hilarion. My daughter bought the book at an Orthodox youth camp but The book gives Father Joachim as contact for people interested in purchasing the book - his email kosovo_au@yahoo.com.au

I'm hoping to get to read more of the book when she is finished with it.

[Father David Moser]

Author Victor Mihailoff with the blessing of Archbishop Hilarion.

I know Victor fairly well - having done commentary on his first book, Breaking the Chains of Addiction. If this book is like the first it will indeed be good - and it will encourage an "agressive" Orthodoxy (something that should be good for teenagers and young adults)

Fr David Moser

[Chrissi]

I know Victor fairly well - having done commentary on his first book, Breaking the Chains of Addiction. If this book is like the first it will indeed be good - and it will encourage an "agressive" Orthodoxy (something that should be good for teenagers and young adults)

Fr David Moser

Father bless,

I'm finding the book very insightful. I've been marking pages that I would like to quote given the appropriate discussion, because (in particular) they have aided me in understanding a little more about certain topics that are of interest to me at this point in time.

In Christ,
Christina

[Peter Farrington]

I am certainly inclined to purchase this book for my eldest daughter, but I note that ROCOR in the UK, (whom I do often find overly negative about manuy things) say:

THIS PAPERBACK, which runs to 210 pages, appears to have been privately published in Australia, and it purports to have been “written for people who are between twelve and twenty-five years of age as well as those adults who have the responsibility of teaching young people Orthodoxy and spiritual knowledge.” Such a book would indeed be invaluable if one could have full confidence in the spiritual sobriety and understanding of its author. Unfortunately this is not that book. The author, about whom we are told nothing except his name, appears to be a person of tremendous good will and enthusiasm, but not altogether spiritually sound. Perhaps the book should have been subjected to a thorough revision before it was published.

This is not to say that it is altogether bad. There is much in the book that is helpful and edifying, but, like the proverbial curate’s egg, it is good in parts, and when one undertakes to write a guide for people, to be good only in parts is perilous.

..

I apologise for poking fun, and would not have done so had these lapses in discretion and sobriety been incidental, but they are persistent and the leitmotif of the whole work, which rather than being an Orthodox Survival Guide, is more a akin to a Pharisee’s Instruction Book.

I am not more doubtful and would value someone who knows this book commenting on this ROCOR review.

Thanks

Peter

[Irene]

I am certainly inclined to purchase this book for my eldest daughter, but I note that ROCOR in the UK, (whom I do often find overly negative about manuy things) say:

"Such a book would indeed be invaluable if one could have full confidence in the spiritual sobriety and understanding of its author. Unfortunately this is not that book. The author, about whom we are told nothing except his name, appears to be a person of tremendous good will and enthusiasm, but not altogether spiritually sound. Perhaps the book should have been subjected to a thorough revision before it was published.

I apologise for poking fun, and would not have done so had these lapses in discretion and sobriety been incidental, but they are persistent and the leitmotif of the whole work, which rather than being an Orthodox Survival Guide, is more a akin to a Pharisee’s Instruction Book."

I am not more doubtful and would value someone who knows this book commenting on this ROCOR review.

Thanks

Peter

Hmmm this review is from ROCOR? Strange, Father Joachim who is selling the book and Archbishop Hilarion who blessed it are both from ROCOR. As is Father David from this list, who said he knows the author. Hopefully someone else who has read it will eventually post a review. I'm sure my daughter could post a little more about the contents when she has read more. Perhaps quote something interesting, she is however away at her Grandparents for a couple of days and posting from there.....Irene

[Peter Farrington]

It is taken from the August edition of 'The Shepherd'. A publication of the ROCOR monastery at Brookwood.

Peter

[Chrissi]

Hmmm this review is from ROCOR? Strange, Father Joachim who is selling the book and Archbishop Hilarion who blessed it are both from ROCOR. As is Father David from this list, who said he knows the author. Hopefully someone else who has read it will eventually post a review. I'm sure my daughter could post a little more about the contents when she has read more. Perhaps quote something interesting, she is however away at her Grandparents for a couple of days and posting from there.....Irene

So far I've read over half the book and I'd have to disagree with the commentary from ROCOR (Well, more specifically the person who composed the review). The book gives insight into many aspects of our responsibility as young Orthodox people, and what will guide us on the right path. There are a few points in it that I actually wanted to ask about, and now I don't need to, and the explanations make sense.

Now, I'm not saying that this book is for every young Orthodox person. Nor am I saying that I agree with it whole-heartedly (sometimes it almost makes me ashamed to be young, which is obviously not its intention). What I am saying is that I believe many parts of it will help some, but maybe not others. Some parts could do with a bit more substance to them, too.


This book was written for the purpose of filling a church-attendance-gap in the lives of young Orthodox Christians and keeping them on the path of salvation.

I believe, from the above quoted opening to the book, that the author (Victor Mihailoff) genuinely wants to aid young people in attaining a better spiritual element to their lives. All-in-all though, it is up to each individual to make up their own minds about the book (And considering 100% of the profits go to ROCOR too, that's a good incentive). I do know people who would agree with that review, too.

In Christ,
Christina

[Peter Farrington]

Thanks for that Christina

I might well get the book now, and at least read it myself before passing it to my eldest daughter.

Thank you

Peter

[Irene]

Hi Peter,

I've found the review on "the Shepherd" (http://www.saintedwardbrotherhood.org/0806/shepherd8.html) but haven't worked out who the reviewer "S.F.A" is - yet. I'm dissapointed that an Orthodox person has said the book appears to be published privately, to me that makes it sound like some person wrote it and published it themselves without consulting anyone.

The review doesn't mention that the Archbishop Hilarion gave his blessing for the publication of the book or that it is published to raise funds for Orthodox Charities.

I've been trying to search for other reviews online for this book and found none.

However I have found a tiny bit of info on Victor Mihailoff and his other book which I include here only to give an idea of what sort of person the author is.

"Victor Mihailoff is a former addict. Today he is one of Australia’s foremost experts on the causes of addictive behavior and how to cure addictions. Victor Mihailoff lives as a monastic recluse. He divides his time between prayer and meditation and a psychological and spiritual ministry to addicts, former addicts and their families." link to review (http://www.eobooks.com/results.asp?action=search&position=-1&sort=title&page=1&type=browse&keyword=addiction)

An editors and customers review of "Breaking the Chains of Addiction" (http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Chains-Addiction-Spirituality-Addictions/dp/1928653200/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b/002-3018048-6659253?ie=UTF8).

You are right about reading the book first, a parent knows how a child will take certain information, how they will react.

In Christ
irene

[Peter Farrington]

I hesitate to think who "S.F.A." is, since it is a common English abbreviation which could mean 'no-one at all'.

But yes it did seem rather a strange review. I am not sure that I am any closer to knowing what the book is about after reading it, although I now have a negative opinion to overcome.

Yes it is strange that it should be well known and supported by hierarchs elsewhere. I wonder why it was chosen for review unless it was circulating in ROCOR circles and in such a case I wonder then why it is portrayed so negatively?

Peter

[Father David Moser]

The review doesn't mention that the Archbishop Hilarion gave his blessing for the publication of the book or that it is published to raise funds for Orthodox Charities.



There are a lot of reasons for this. First it is Victor's normal progression - he writes, gets a blessing and then self-publishes a limited run while submitting the manuscript to a publisher who may or may not pick up the book for publishing (as Regina Press did for "Breaking the Chains of Addiction"). Second there is the issue of editorial revision. Victor discovered with his first book that the final version that went to print was in his opinion (and in mine, btw) watered down because the editors took out some parts to make it more readable. Now a change in style or correction of errors is one thing - but this was wholesale deletion of portions of text without the author's agreement. Self publishing avoids this problem. There are other reasons - but they are more personal and not worth going into here.

Given my comments about the office of a Church censor here, let me note that Victor does run everything by his diocesan bishop and so is not just "out there on his own" but does actively submit his books to diocesan approval before he self-publishes or submits them for someone else to publish.

Fr David Moser

[Kris]

I hesitate to think who "S.F.A." is, since it is a common English abbreviation which could mean 'no-one at all'.

But yes it did seem rather a strange review. I am not sure that I am any closer to knowing what the book is about after reading it, although I now have a negative opinion to overcome.

Yes it is strange that it should be well known and supported by hierarchs elsewhere. I wonder why it was chosen for review unless it was circulating in ROCOR circles and in such a case I wonder then why it is portrayed so negatively?

Peter

Hi,

I'm only guessing, but I would assume the reviewer is Fr. Alexy, the priest from the Brookwood monastery. I will try to remember to ask him about the review the next time I see him.

I think one has to bear in mind that this is just Fr. Alexy's personal opinion on this book, and by no means the official position of ROCOR. It would not surprise me if the other monks at the Brotherhood have a completely different opinion on the book.

In XC,
Kris

[Chrissi]

Thanks for that Christina

I might well get the book now, and at least read it myself before passing it to my eldest daughter.







You are right about reading the book first, a parent knows how a child will take certain information, how they will react.




That would be a good idea, you'd definately want to know what sort of opinions are expressed in the book, there doesn't seem to be anything radical of course, but it would be a good discussion point between the two of you at the very least. My mum didn't read it before me, but she will read it after me (given that I let her of course :) )

Christina

[N. McDonald]

I know Victor fairly well - having done commentary on his first book, Breaking the Chains of Addiction. If this book is like the first it will indeed be good - and it will encourage an "agressive" Orthodoxy (something that should be good for teenagers and young adults)

Fr David Moser

Dear Fr Moser
I am a fairly recent convert to Orthodox, but a long time Christian (baptized Roman Catholic and then a twenty year segue into the Calvary Chapel evangelical church). This is my first post on this site--(and actually the first time I have ever contributed to an online discussion group! hope I'm doing this correctly...)

I am writing you because I recently bought the book "Breaking the Chains of Addiction." I did a search on the authors name and this site came up--where I see that you write that you know him well--Am trying to find out if Mr Mihalioff can be contacted? I understand he is a monk--and wonder if he would pray for someone? Or does he do any counseling in America?

Am in the fourth chapter and finding it very informational. I have a dear friend whose daughter is "born again" but a heroin addict--have told her about the book and she is very interested in it.

I have another question though--there is a commentary on "Orthodox Survival Guide for the 21st Century" which seemed very balanced/ sensible to me http://www.saintedwardbrotherhood.org/0806/shepherd8.html
and makes me wonder if Mihailoff is as legalistic in his approach in "Breaking Chains"?
What do you think?

If he wrote Orthodox Survival many years ago, perhaps he has matured and is not quite so rigid?

I have been in a legalistic church--and it is death, not life.
I would like to recommend the "Breaking Chains" wholeheartedly---perhaps I just need to keep reading..:-)

My heart is broken for my friends daughter. We rescued this girl from an overdose just last week and she has been going cold turkey since then. She is home with her mother--but I feel it would take a miracle-to save her. Certainly the protection, strength and grace that are present within the Church are essential--but her parents are not Orthodox, although her father is a nominal Catholic. Her mother is very open to Orthodoxy though--I am praying.Any thoughts you have would be very appreciated--
Thank you !
In His Love
N. McDonald

[Andrew]

I have a good friend at church who has struggled with drug addiction... alcohol, cocaine, opiates, psychedelics, etc. He said that this book is very good.

The problem with opiates is the physical side of breaking free... its hard to get over the feeling of the euphoric nod of heroin, and have to deal with life as it is. It is much easier to retreat to the warm cocoon and not care about things than to actually face them. In addition, the withdrawls are terrible.

The Jesus Prayer is especially good for those who are getting over addictions. It gives a straight path to life... when thoughts drift towards drugs, you humbly return to the Prayer. When the person craves the drug, they call out to Christ and His Holy Mother, and they send grace.

God bless.