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Rating: 
Summary: First rate hagiography of neglected faithful
Review: As the Ottoman Empire expanded, more and more Orthodox Christians became the subjects of the sultans. For the most part, officials of the Empire were content to allow the Christian population the freedom to practice their religion so long as they paid their taxes. They also had to be willing to live as second-class citizens throughout their lives. Islamic law forbids forced conversions, but at certain times and places, usually when the Empire was in distress, Turkish authorities gave vent to their frustrations, becoming persecutors, much as in the manner of ancient Rome. The Orthodox were arrested on a variety of charges. The most serious was that of having made a profession of faith in Islam, and now deciding to retract it. Women who spurned Muslim suitors were in a very precarious situation. Hauled before a Muslim court, the unfortunate victim was given the opportunity of returning to Islam or facing capital punishment. Before execution, which was always in some public place, the accused usually had to endure an exquisite array of tortures. The author has gathered the stories of the last days of these men and women, the neomartyrs, as an inspiration, as well as an historical account. There are approximately 200 of them in this volume, grouped according to the century in which they lived. The majority come from the Balkans, but others were martyred in Southwest Asia and Egypt. A few accounts are of Muslim converts to the Orthodox faith. Several records of the neomartyrs' trials run for three or four pages of text, and offer details of the contest between the accused and the judge. Others contain only a few lines. Certainly not every martyr had a biographer to record the events surrounding his or her death. The trials follow a certain pattern. The accused is arrested and charged with a crime against Islam, and then brought before an official who investigates the truth of the matter. The judge promises great rewards for apostasy, but the Christian remains firm. The refusal merits execution. One of the remarkable aspects of this martyrology is the broad spectrum from which the neomartyrs were drawn. Although many were clerics or monks, as might be expected, others are George the Tailor, Elias the Barber, John the Boatman, or Helen Bekiaris, an adolescent. These were people in ordinary occupations, men and women, who probably had very little formal education in Orthodoxy, but whose attachment to Christ led them to choose a painful death rather than abandon their religion. Unfortunately, Father Vaporis died before the publication of his collection. In it he has left a living testimony of his own faith. The neomartyrs are not well known to western Christians, but this book will make it possible to learn of their heroism and devotion to their faith.
Charles A. Frazee
Rating:
Summary: What is a Martyr?
Review: This is a very moving book and is relevant now more than ever since the word and concept "martyr" is being hijacked by Islamic extremists who are the very opposite of what a true martyr stands for. Most of my review is simply from the jacket but there are several books that I have noted which you will want to read if this issue holds any importance for your life. "This study is the culmination of two decades of research on Orthodox Christian Neomartyrs under the Ottoman Turks. Father Vaporis has compiled the life stories of almost two hundred faithful men and women who were by and large of humble station, possessing little or no formal education, yet gave their lives, or witnessed, for Christ...It also contains a number of accounts of Muslims who converted to Orthodox Christianity and suffered a martyr's death because they refused to return to Islam. This, however, is not simply a collection of hagiographic stories. Here, the lives are retold in a fluid, easy-to-read manner, and set in an historical context to make them more accessible to the reader. Also of great interest are the many translations of the dialogue between the Neomartyrs and the Ottoman judges (kadi), during the three interrogations that were mandated by Islamic law. These records provide fascinating information on mutual perceptions and the clash between Orthodox and Islamic cultures, illustrating how the Ottomans became decreasingly tolerant of Orthodox Christians as their empire declined. While of great historical interest, this collection of accounts of Orthodox Neomartyrs, who had to choose between conversion to Islam and painful torture and death, will no doubt inspire many readers in their own daily lives. Includes 16 full-color icon plates. Rev. Dr. Nomikos Michael Vaporis was an historian of Byzantine history and Modern Greek Hellenism, as well as the former Dean of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, and Director of Holy Cross Orthodox Press." What produced these heroes of the faith? A religion that has been militant from its earliest times. Islam has not been a friend to non-Muslims in general and Christianity in particular. Several books by Bat Ye'or detail this millennia-long genocide. "The Decline of Eastern Christianity Under Islam: From Jihad to Dhimmitude: Seventh-Twentieth Century" and "The Dhimmi: Jews & Christians Under Islam" as well as the collection of essays "Islam and Dhimmitude: Where Civilizations Collide" detail in depth the tragedy that has beset eastern Christianity as a result of the so-called prophet's religion. It produced true Christian martyrs- witnesses to the love of Christ God- not the suicide murderers of modern times. I do not believe that Islam must be violent, but its history in this regard is shameful and disturbing. Other books of interest may include: Pearl of Great Price, the Life and Martyrdom of Mother Maria Skobtsova 1891-1945 by Sergei Hackel; Exploring the Inner Universe, by Roman Braga. The Prophet and the Messiah is a useful and accurate overview of Christianity and Islam for beginners. May these times pass.
Rating:
Summary: First rate hagiography of neglected faithful
Review: This is a very moving book. My review is simply from the jacket. This study is the culmination of two decades of research on Orthodox Christian Neomartyrs under the Ottoman Turks. Father Vaporis has compiled the life stories of almost two hundred faithful men and women who were by and large of humble station, possessing little or no formal education, yet gave their lives, or witnessed, for Christ...It also contains a number of accounts of Muslims who converted to Orthodox Christianity and suffered a martyr's death becasue they refused to return to Islam. This, however, is not simply a collection of hagiographic stories. Here, the lives are retold in a fluid, easy-to-read manner, and set in an historical context to make them more accessible to the reader. Also of great interest are the many translations of the dialogue between the Neomartyrs and the Ottoman judges (kadi), during the three interrogations that were mandated by Islamic law. These records provide fascinating information on mutual perceptions and the clash between Orthodox and Islamic cultures, illustrating how the Ottomans bcame decreasingly tolerant of Orthodox Christians as their empire declined. While of great historical interest, this collection of accounts of Orthodox Neomartyrs, who had to choose between conversion to Islam and painful torture and death, will no doubt inspire many readers in their own daily lives. Includes 16 full-color icon plates. Rev. Dr. Nomikos Michael Vaporis was an historian of Byzantine history and Modern Greek Hellenism, as well as the former Dean of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, and Director of Holy Cross Orthodox Press. Other books of interest may include: Pearl of Great Price, the Life and Martyrdom of Mother Maria Skobtsova 1891-1945 by Sergei Hackel; Exploring the Inner Universe, by Roman Braga.
Rating:
Summary: The Lives of those who take Christ seriously.
Review: This is a very moving book. My review is simply from the jacket. This study is the culmination of two decades of research on Orthodox Christian Neomartyrs under the Ottoman Turks. Father Vaporis has compiled the life stories of almost two hundred faithful men and women who were by and large of humble station, possessing little or no formal education, yet gave their lives, or witnessed, for Christ...It also contains a number of accounts of Muslims who converted to Orthodox Christianity and suffered a martyr's death becasue they refused to return to Islam. This, however, is not simply a collection of hagiographic stories. Here, the lives are retold in a fluid, easy-to-read manner, and set in an historical context to make them more accessible to the reader. Also of great interest are the many translations of the dialogue between the Neomartyrs and the Ottoman judges (kadi), during the three interrogations that were mandated by Islamic law. These records provide fascinating information on mutual perceptions and the clash between Orthodox and Islamic cultures, illustrating how the Ottomans bcame decreasingly tolerant of Orthodox Christians as their empire declined. While of great historical interest, this collection of accounts of Orthodox Neomartyrs, who had to choose between conversion to Islam and painful torture and death, will no doubt inspire many readers in their own daily lives. Includes 16 full-color icon plates. Rev. Dr. Nomikos Michael Vaporis was an historian of Byzantine history and Modern Greek Hellenism, as well as the former Dean of Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology, and Director of Holy Cross Orthodox Press. Other books of interest may include: Pearl of Great Price, the Life and Martyrdom of Mother Maria Skobtsova 1891-1945 by Sergei Hackel; Exploring the Inner Universe, by Roman Braga.
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