Father Dr. James Thornton, an erudite writer, has provided us with the lives of nearly six hundred royal Saints, spanning more than 4,000 years, from St. Melchizedek in the 20th century B.C. to the Byzantine and Russian Royals, and from Norway to Ethiopia. With an inspiring introduction by Archbishop Chrysostomos.

“A treasure...and an exhaustive collection,” Library Index.

The present work on the great Church luminary, St. Mark of Ephesos, is the latest volume from the pen of Professor Constantine Cavarnos, one of the more distinguished and celebrated Orthodox writers of our times. This eloquent biography is based on the pious life of Mark that appeared in a book on the Saint by St. Athanasios Parios, a post-Byzantine Greek Hieromonk and intellectual (1721-1813) known by the telling sobriquet, “Great Teacher of the [Greek] Nation,” who was an important member of, and active apologist for, the Kollyvádes movement on Mt. Athos. Professor Cavarnos’ summary of St. Mark’s life is followed by an informative discussion of the Saint’s published and unpublished works, as well as percipient and enlightening comments about his importance as a philosopher, and as a hymnographer, also an area in which St. Mark excelled.

Devoted to St. Photios the Great (820-891), Patriarch of Constantinople, the most important and intellectual leader of the ninth century, this book establishes the lofty Christian character of St. Photios, the purity of his life, his many-sided greatness, and the groundlessness of the charge that he was the cause of the Schism between Eastern and Western Christianity. Appended to the treatise are beautiful hymns taken from the service in honor of the Saint. 1980. Second printing, 1988. 125 pp., 1 plate.

The thought of St. Photios, great theologian and important philosopher, are very relevant to Orthodox Christians and others as well. This book is addressed to all persons interested in philosophical and theological thought. 1998. 84 pp.

This book is devoted to the Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great (527-565), one of the most important personalities of the sixth century. It is the first work that undertakes to relate the religious policy of that illustrious emperor to his religious beliefs. Written in a clear, concise, and scholarly manner, it deals with the most important aspects of Justinian’s personality, placing him in proper historical perspective. In this book, Justinian emerges as a very capable administrator, a wise legislator and codifier of law, a profound theologian, a remarkable author, a great defender, protector and preserver of the Orthodox Christian faith, an exemplary philanthropist, a strong supporter of monasticism, a builder of many magnificent churches, monasteries and philanthropic institutions, and a saint of the Orthodox Church. 1982. 312 pp., 32 plates. Second printing, 2004.

Preface, Introduction, and New Translation by Asterios Gerostergios et al. Notes and comments by Augoustinos Kantiotes, Bishop of Phlorina, Greece. 75 beautiful drawings in the Byzantine style by iconographer Rallis Kopsidis. This book presents the Lives of Sts. Barlaam and Ioasaph in a sequence of interrelated fascinating stories, through which he sets forth the basic truths of the Christian Faith in a clear, simple, and convincing manner. Its author, St. John Damascene (8th century) was a great theologian, philosopher, and hymnographer. 1997, 438 pp., 75 illus. Second printing, 2002.

An account of the life, character, and message of St. Cosmas Aitolos (1714-1779)—great missionary, illuminator, and holy martyr of Greece. His teaching on God, Heaven and Hell, and his Prophecies, together with selections from his Teachings (Didachai). 1971. 3rd edition, revised and considerably enlarged, 1985. Reprinted 1994. 118 pp. 6 illus.

An account of the life, character, and message of St. Macarios (1731-1805)—Archbishop of Corinth, guardian of sacred Tradition, reviver of Orthodox mysticism (hesychasm), compiler of the drawings in the Philokalia, spiritual striver, enlightener and guide, and trainer of martyrs—together with selections from three of his publications. 1972. Reprinted 1977. 2nd edition, 1993. 120 pp., 2 illus.

An account of the life, character, and teaching of St. Nicodemos the Hagiorite (1749-1809)—great theologian and teacher of the Orthodox Church, enlightener, reviver of hesychasm, moralist, canonist, hagiologist, and writer of liturgical poetry—together with a comprehensive list of his publications and selections from them. 1974. 2nd edition, 1969. Reprinted 1994. 168 pp., 3 illus.

An account of the of the life, character, and message of St. Nikephoros of Chios (1750-1821)—outstanding writer of liturgical poetry and lives of saints, educator, spiritual striver, and trainer of martyrs—together with a comprehensive list of his publications, selections from them, and brief biographies of eleven neo-martyrs and other Orthodox saints who are treated in his works. 1976. 2nd, augmented edition, 1986. 124 pp., 2 illus.

An account of the life, character, and message of St. Seraphim of Sarov (1759-1833)—widely beloved mystic, healer, comforter, and spiritual guide—together with a very edifying Conversation with his disciple Nicholas Motovilov on the acquisition of the grace of the Holy Spirit and the Saint's Spiritual Counsels. This volume was written by Cavarnos in collaboration with Mary-Barbara Zeldin, a scholar with a wide acquaintance with Russian history and culture, proficient in the Russian language, and for many years Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Hollins College, Virginia. 1980. 2nd printing 1984. 3rd printing, 1993. 167 pp., 1 plate.

An account of the life, character, message, and miracles of St. Arsenios of Paros (1800-1877)—remarkable confessor, spiritual guide, educator, ascetic, miracle-worker and healer—together with some of his counsels. 1978. 2nd, augmented edition, 1988. 124 pp., 4 illus.

An account of the life, character, and teaching of St. Nectarios (1846-1920)—educator, theologian, spiritual guide, miracle-worker and healer—together with a comprehensive list of his writings, selections from them and an essay on his teaching on God. 1981. 2nd, augmented edition, 1988. Reprinted 1995. 222 pp., 5 illus.

This volume is devoted to the most remarkable Greek woman saint of recent times, St. Methodia (1865-1908), patron saint of Kimolos, one of the Cyclades Islands. It contains an account of the life of this remarkable ascetic, teacher of virtue, counselor, comforter, and spiritual healer, together with selected hymns from the akolouthia in honor of her, a letter to one of her sisters, selected sayings, and a description of Kimolos and its holy icons by the famous writer and iconographer Photios Kontoglou. 1987. 123 pp., 20 illus. Reprinted, 2001.

Newly manifested Saints, who suffered Martyrdom by the Ottoman Turks in 1463 at the Monastery of the Nativity of the Theotokos near the village of Thermi on the island of Lesvos. An account of their life, character, message, and miracles. 1990. Second printing, 1994. 200 pp., 26 illus. Third printing, 2000.

Remarkable recent Confessor and Spiritual Guide, illuminating writer, and for half a century Abbot of the Monastery of Longovarda on the island of Paros. An account of his life, character, and thought. 1993. 240 pp. 10 illus.

Remarkable Ascetic and Mystic, faithful adherent of the ideals of the Kollyvades Saints Macarios of Corinth and Nicodemos the Hagiorite (ca. 1881-1961). An account of his Life, Character, and Message. 1997. 125 pp., 13 illus.

Remarkable Confessor and Spiritual Guide, Profound Analyst of twentieth-century society, Inspiring Writer on many vital topics, and for forty years Abbot of the Monastery of Dionysiou at the Holy Mountain of Athos. A comprehensive account of his life, Character, Thought, and Works. 1999. 238 pp., 15 illus.

In this volume the author presents in concise form the life, character, thought, and influence of three most recent holy personages. His presentation of them follows a chronological sequence. 2001. 160 pp., 17 illus.

Eminent theologian, philosopher, educator, hymnographer, and writer of Lives of Saints. An account of his life, character, and teaching, together with a comprehensive list of his writings, discussions of them and selections from them. 2005. 155 pp., 6 illus.