16409-BKS
Sold Out
A remarkably simple and yet profoundly deep narrative in which we are introduced to the remote world of the nineteenth century Altai. A mountainous region of southern Siberia, it has peaks rising to nearly fifteen thousand feet and possesses unique flora and fauna. Much of the present-day region is incorporated within a UNESCO world heritage site known as “The Golden Mountains of Altai.” The native Altai tribesman Mikhail Chelvalkov vividly describes the physical beauty of the region whilst chronicling many of the encounters which took place throughout his life as the population was transformed from competing nomadic pagan tribes to settled and harmonious Orthodox Christian culture. Fr. Mikhail was one of the first native disciples of the Russian Orthodox missionary priest Makarii (Glukharev), who was glorified as a saint in 2000 AD. This vivid translation of his testament will both enrapture the reader with its directness and beauty and also provide invaluable insights for students of Christian mission, ethnography, geography, and botany.
“My children! I am giving you these writings of mine describing my life as a testament that you may work harder for God than I worked for Him...”
The author, a native Altai tribesman, Father Mikhail Chevalkov, was a man of great moral courage and integrity. He was one of the first native disciples of the Russian Orthodox missionary priest Makarii (Glukharev), glorified as a saint in 2000 AD. In this simple yet profound narrative, the reader travels with Chevalkov, through his life as we learn of his conversion, his struggle for literacy, the care shown to his family, and his numerous encounters with pagan tribes. Chevalkov created the written Altai language as he translated church service books and religious songs, as well as allegorical poems, parables, and maxims. This memoir will enrapture the reader with its directness and beauty whilst also providing invaluable insights for students of Christian mission, ethnography, and geography.
Paperback, 168 pages.