Hello
Has anyone read any of the works by Met. Hierotheos? I had never heard of him then someone gave me his book, "A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain". It's very good thus far and an appendix lists several other works by him in English. Anybody know anything about him? Is it work looking for his other books?
Orthophilly
Metropolis Hierotheus of Naupactus and Saint Vlasios (Blaise) of Hellas, is actually very famous and a reall ascetic person. He is one of the several known as "Holy" bishops of the New Calendar Church. He strives to live as a Great-Schema monk and being a Bishop. He offenly goes to Athos and stays a couple of days for spiritual relaxing. He is famous for his love to Saint Vener Gregory Palamas Archbishop of Thessalonica and to his works. He has studied psychotherapy, and psychology to what I know. By his God-giving gifts of knowledge, he spreads it to people of the Church. If you would see him from far, you might think he is an extreme ascetic. (Long beard, very hairy. A bishop you don't see that hairy everyday.) He is ranked amongst the best bishop the Church of Hellas can have, along with the retired Metropolitans Augustine of Florina and Procopius of Cephallonia. Also, the profit that he gets from his books, he gives to the monastery he has founded in Nafpactos dedicated to the Birth of the Theotokos. He also is in great spiritual acquaintance with Elder Ephraim (Former Abbot of Philotheou) of Arizona. Before he even became priest, he went confessing to him at Philotheou Monastery of Athos. If there is anything else you need to know, I can write to him for you. I'm planning very soon to ask his blessings, and some spiritual advice.
(Also, let me remind you, that Metropolitan Hierotheus was involved in the finding of the Holy Relics of the New Holy Martyrs of Lesbos, Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene. Apparently, if I am correct, Metropolitan was at Lesbos when this happened, where they say some of his spiritual sons or daughters that were with him from Nafpaktos seen visions of the Saints to find their relics in Mytelene. He also wrote books of the time, and there are pictures where he has been present at the digging.)
I think that Met. Hierotheos is a very insightful author. There are large excerpts of some of his books on the Birth of the Theotokos Monastery site (you can also buy the texts through that site).
I endorse much of what has been written above. A number of his and Metropolitan Augustinos of Florina works adorn my book shelves. Both reach out in a true missionary sense and do so beyond simply the Greek speaking world. While Bishop Augustinos uses very simple prose and themes Metropolitan Hierotheos approach is, perhaps, more cerebral.