The Dramatic Journey of Faith: Orthodox Religious Conversion in America
$20.00
- Gift wrapping:
- Options available
The Dramatic Journey of Faith: Orthodox Religious Conversion in America by Fr. Vasileios Thermos explores the psychological, developmental, and spiritual dimensions of conversion, highlighting its transformative and ongoing nature.
Fr. Vasileios Thermos examines how conversion impacts both individual identity and the collective soul of the Church while addressing the role of pastoral care in this process. The book challenges readers to view conversion as a profound reorientation of the soul rooted in struggle and grace. It offers insights into the enduring influence of the Christian faith on personal and communal renewal.
by Bishop Maxim Vasiljevic
In the annals of history, few phenomena carry the transformative power and drama as that of religious conversion. This book, “The Dramatic Journey of Faith: Orthodox Religious Conversion in America,” invites you to explore the profound and often tumultuous journey of conversion, a journey that reshapes the very core of one’s being.
From the grand historical sweep of the conversion of Graeco-Roman citizens to Christianity, to the deeply personal and contemporary stories of persons embracing Orthodox Christianity in America today, this book provides a rich canvas of insights into the conversion experience. It is a journey marked by sifting and shifting, turmoil and grace, personal struggle, and communal impact. A true conversion emerges not simply through theological persuasion, but through fellowship—through being, working, reflecting, suffering, and witnessing together, and above all, by sharing a common vision of what the Church is.
From the grand historical sweep of the conversion of Graeco-Roman citizens to Christianity, to the deeply personal and contemporary stories of persons embracing Orthodox Christianity in America today, this book provides a rich canvas of insights into the conversion experience. It is a journey marked by sifting and shifting, turmoil and grace, personal struggle, and communal impact. A true conversion emerges not simply through theological persuasion, but through fellowship—through being, working, reflecting, suffering, and witnessing together, and above all, by sharing a common vision of what the Church is.
This book’s exploration goes beyond mere accounts of change in belief. It delves into the psychological and developmental processes that underpin conversion, the pastoral care necessary to guide souls through their spiritual transformations, and the continuous, active nature of conversion that defies a conclusive epilogue. It raises essential questions about the impact of conversion on the identity of the Church and the collective soul of the community. Fr. Vasileios demonstrates that the conversion of a human individual into a true person, living in the image of the Holy Trinity, cannot ignore psychological, natural scientific, or sociological concerns.
In an age where personal identity and spiritual fulfillment are in constant negotiation, this book offers a compelling examination of how conversion can serve as a powerful agent of change. It challenges us to consider conversion not just as a change of faith, but as a profound and dramatic reorientation of the soul, laden with struggle, grace, and ultimate transformation. Fr. Vasileios Thermos provides a call to readers to embark on a journey of understanding the depths of religious conversion, to witness the struggles and triumphs, and to appreciate the enduring power of Christian faith in reshaping lives and communities.
Rev. Vasileios Thermos, M.D., Ph.D., was born in 1957 at Lefkada, Greece. He studied at the Medical School of Athens University and after he graduated he studied at the Theological School of the same University. He was specialized in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry which he practiced until recently in Athens; he retired in 2024. In 1986 and 1987 he was ordained and served at the diocese of Viotia. He has been engaged into training programs for clergy in Greece, Cyprus, USA.
In 1996–97 he was a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School; he took classes also in Harvard School of Arts and Humanities, Boston College, Boston University, Andover Newton Theological School. In 1997 he received his PhD in Pastoral Psychology from the Theological School of Athens University. In 2014 he worked for 3 months as a Visiting Research Scholar at the Institute of Medical Humanities of the Medical School of Texas University on a project about homosexuality and contemporary gender theories. He has also conducted a research on clergy health and burnout.
He has written numerous books and articles in Greek; some of them have been translated into English, French, Russian, Romanian, Bulgarian, Serbian, Spanish, Italian, German, Finnish. He is the editor of a journal in Greek (Psyches dromoi: Ways of the Soul), published every 6 months, on the relationships between theology/religion and psychiatry/psychology (first issue in May 2011).
In 2004 a master thesis on his total work appeared by Peter Kazaku at the Theological School of Balamand University, Lebanon. This thesis was updated and enriched, thus forming the book «Orthodoxy and Psychoanalysis: Dirge or Polychronion to the Centuries-old Tradition?», which was published in 2013 by Peter Lang publications in the series ‘European University Studies’, volume 938. Also in 2020 another master thesis appeared in the School of Theology of the University of Vienna, by Gabriella Moutsatsos: Ansätze der Οrthodoxen Pastoralpsychologie der Gegenwart: Simeon Kragiopoulos und Vasileios Thermos.
During 2001-2013 he was a Visiting Professor of Pastoral Psychology and Psychology of Religion in the Theological Academy of the Orthodox Church of Albania. From 2013 until 2024 he taught Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Psychology in the University Ecclesiastical Academy of Athens; he is now retired.
In 2017–18 his essay The Paradox of Mental Health Care and Spirituality: The Culture of Extreme Individualism as a Mediator was awarded the prize on the “Culture, Care, and Spirituality” contest by the Jean-Marc Fischer Foundation in Switzerland.
He has been a member of scientific committees organizing conferences on the relationship between theology and psychiatry/psychology. He has also given thousands of lectures to seminars, parents groups, clergy assemblies, camps, high schools, radio and TV etc. His areas of interest are: Relationship between psychological sciences and religion; Psychology of religious beliefs and experiences; Dialogue between psychoanalysis and religion; Psychology of clergy and of the ecclesiastical organization; Psychology of culture; Religious development of child and adolescent; Language, psychology, and religion; Post-modernity and religion; Homosexuality and gender identity.
