Böcker av George Valsamis

Κεντρικὸ θέμα τῆς δημιουργίας τοῦ ἀνθρώπου στὴν Παλαιὰ Διαθήκη δὲν εἶναι τόσο ἡ ἴδια ἡ δημιουργία ὅσο τὸ λεγόμενο προπατορικὸ ἁμάρτημα, ὑποτιθέμενη ἀρχὴ ὅλων τῶν δεινῶν ποὺ ὑποφέρει ἡ ἀνθρωπότητα μέχρι σήμερα, ἡ ἐξορία ἀπὸ τὸν παράδεισο. Ποιό εἶναι τὸ περιεχόμενο τῆς ἐντολῆς ποὺ ἀψήφισαν οἱ πρωτόπλαστοι; Τί ἀκριβῶς δὲν ἤθελε ὁ Θεὸς νὰ κάνουν; Στὸ κείμενο ὑπάρχουν ἐνδείξεις, ὄχι ἐξήγηση. Ἰδίως γιὰ τὴν τιμωρία ἢ τὶς συνέπειες τῆς παράβασης τὰ γεγονότα μοιάζουν σαφέστερα, ὁ ἄνθρωπος γνώρισε γιὰ πρώτη φορὰ τὸν πόνο καὶ τὸν θάνατο. Στὴν πραγματικότητα καὶ αὐτὰ εἶναι ἀμφίβολα. Τὸ βιβλίο αὐτὸ ἐξετάζει τὰ σχετικὰ μὲ τὸ προπατορικὸ ἁμάρτημα καὶ μὲ τὴ σπουδαιότητά του γιὰ τὴ ζωὴ τῶν χριστιανικῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν.

Why Greeks abandoned their ancestral religion? Is it true that the ancient Greeks developed and propagated Christianity? What is the use of classical studies today? What can we learn about God from Homer? What are the main characteristics of Greeks according to Homer? How is the theological view of Greeks related with their scientific and technological endeavour? Why Plato calls philosophy a studying of death? How is ancient religion and philosophy related with the formation of the Polis? What is the reason of the development of democracy? What is the meaning of the distinction between Greeks and barbarians? What was the vision of Alexander the Great? What is the meaning of Platonic Ideas, and how are they related with Homer and Christianity? What is the ground of the birth of Tragedy? What is the relationship between Tragedy and the whole spirituality of the athenian Polis? How God intervenes to educate men? What is the meaning of education? Official page: www.elpenor.org

The text approved by the Ecumenical Patriarchate aims at providing "the best reconstruction of the most ancient text of the ecclesiastical tradition and, more specifically, of the Church of Constantinople." The text was based on manuscripts that are usually neglected. Most of them come from and after the 10th century, containing the full text of the New Testament, while others contain only parts used in church offices. The Authorized Version has been called "the most influential version of the most influential book in the world, in what is now its most influential language", "the most important book in English religion and culture", and "the most celebrated book in the English-speaking world". Even prominent atheist figures such as the late Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins have praised the King James Version as being "a giant step in the maturing of English literature" and "a great work of literature". Official page: www.elpenor.org

The Greek original text, according to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, and the King James English translation are published here side by side in facing pages, co-operating for an edition that celebrates the original text of the New Testament, helping those who try to study, learn and enjoy this so important ancient and modern language. Contrary to Elpenor's Greek New Testament, this bilingual edition uses a smaller font size, in order to avoid expanding beyond the limit of two convenient volumes. I am always impressed by the love for Greek shared by so many people especially in the US and Europe. I hope this edition contributes something of real value to their joyous efforts. Official page: www.elpenor.org

This book contains notes I was keeping during a year in school as a teacher, discussing matters of education with friends of mine. For this publication a lot has been added. While I was a student, influences from outside the school system helped me know what I was interested in. If I had to rely on the school system, I would never have realized my goals in life, I would even have grown a lot of hate against those very things I was going to devote my life to later on! Is there any better definition for a failed system of education?

This edition of the New Testament, used in Greek-speaking Orthodox Churches, can be regarded as the most authoritative form of the Bible. Greek text according to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (1904/12). Larger typeface for easy reading Chapters divided in paragraphs The text is illuminated with images of Byzantine manuscripts, photos of churches in Athos Holy Mount and in other places in Greece, Orthodox Icons and various Orthodox style drawings. Official page: www.elpenor.org