News & Events

Fr. Leontios, the author of "Christian Orthodox Political Philosophy". Monk Leontios has been a member of the brotherhood of the Holy Metropolis of Limassol of the Church of Cyprus since 2016. In the world, he was known as Pavlos M. Kyprianou, and under this name he originally published "Christian Orthodox Political Philosophy". In this interview, Reader Nicholas and Fr. Leontios discuss his book, it's message, and many contemporary issues facing the Orthodox Church today.

This year, Holy Trinity Publications participated in the 75th Annual Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany. The event lasted from Wednesday, October 18 to Sunday, October 22, 2023. Holy Trinity Publications has been exhibiting at this book fair since 2014, and this was the fifth time it had its own display. 

The Frankfurt Book Fair is the world's largest and longest running trade show in the book industry. Though the modern iteration of the book fair has been running for seventy-five years, its history can be traced back all the way to the 12th century. This year, 326 agencies representing thirty-one different countries are exhibiting. In 2023, the book fair hosted a record total of 180,000 guests.

The event gave Holy Trinity Publications opportunities for face-to-face meetings with industry professionals from all over the world, and opened up exciting opportunities for wider distribution, as well as the sale of foreign-language publication rights. This year one particular topic of wide concern and discussion was the impact of artificial intelligence on the work of publishing.

On Friday, October 6th, Holy Trinity Publications hosted an event at a private club in Washington, DC to celebrate the release of Foundations of Russian Culture by Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann. This is the first work of Fr. Alexander Schmemann to be released by Holy Trinity Publications. Attending the event were thirty-nine distinguished guests, including Metropolitan Nicholas Olhovsky (First-Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad), Archpriest Victor Potapov (Rector of St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Washington, DC), Archpriest Michael Meerson (Rector of Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in New York City), Archpriest Chad Hatfield (President of St. Vladimir's Seminary), Archpriest Seraphim Gan (Chancellor of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Church Abroad and rector of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), Fr. Nicholas Alford (Rector of St. Gregory the Great Orthodox Church in Washington, DC), Priest Nathan Williams (translator of the book and cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Orthodox Church in Richmond, Maine), Dr. Nicolas Schidlovsky (Dean of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary), Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie (Academic Dean of St. Vladimir's Seminary), and Serge Schmemann, (Member of the Editorial Board of the New York Times, son of Fr. Alexander and author of the foreword to the book).

The guests gathered at 6pm to hear short presentations on the book. Speakers included Metropolitan Nicholas, Dean Nicolas Schidlovsky and Fr. Victor Potapov. After the speeches, Reader Nicholas Chapman, director of Holy Trinity Publications, joined in conversation with Serge Schmemann about Fr. Alexander's understanding of Russian culture.

^{© Sergei Chapnin}  

In his address, Metropolitan Nicholas noted that Fr. Alexander, as one of the most widely recognized voices of the Russian emigration, had an influence that penetrated the Iron Curtain and touched on themes that span many generations of the development of Russian culture, beginning with the maximalism of Orthodox Christian faith that became "one of the chief foundations of the new culture", showing that the flowering of Russian culture cannot be separated from the "daily and never ending need to cultivate an authentic Christian Faith".

In particular, he highlighted the poignant ending of Fr. Alexander's final talk, "the eternal foundation of Russian culture… is more profound and more powerful than culture alone. This foundation is “the image of eternity,” which was “inborn” in Russia at the very outset of her history, and to which Russian culture remains faithful."

A copy of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God was present throughout the whole gathering. During his speech, Fr. Victor Potapov recalled visiting Fr. Alexander and Serge, and serving a moleben before the icon a few days before Fr. Alexander’s repose.

^{© Sergei Chapnin} 

Holy Trinity Publications is very grateful to Marilyn Swezey for making the event possible.

Following the presentations, the guests gathered for refreshments and shared fellowship.

A video of the event will be released in the coming weeks.

All images courtesy of photographer Sergei Chapnin

As we have just passed the midpoint of the forty day fast, we’d like to remind all our readers of a brand new title, released last fall, that holds special relevance for the somber days of Holy Week. One of the liturgical themes of Holy Tuesday is the sinful woman who anoints Christ’s feet with precious oil, or myrrh, in anticipation of his soon-to-be burial. The Church has over centuries expounded on this event through its patristic, homiletic, and liturgical traditions. In his new book, Rev. Priest Kevin J. Kalish brings together this ecclesial treasure-house to show how the Church tells stories with the aim of edifying and encouraging the faithful. 

Recently, Fr. Kevin was interviewed by Bobby Maddex of Ancient Faith Radio. Their conversation may be streamed on demand at AncientFaith.com or in the Ancient Faith Presents… podcast feed.

The annual directory of Bishops, Clergy, and Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia is now available as a free PDF download from this website.

Paperback copies may also be ordered via Lulu.