The Isle of Monte Cristo [Paperback]

S.T. Georgiou (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2010

The Isle of Monte Cristo is S.T. Georgiou's third book of spiritual reflections grounded in the life and work of Robert Lax, poet, mystic and friend of Thomas Merton. These meditations continue to explore his understanding of the divine Presence in everyday life. Drawing from a wide range of scholastic and creative experiences that highlight his faith journey Georgiou imparts how life is an inner pilgrimage that ultimately leads to the treasure of the Christ, hidden in our hearts. Georgiou's interior trek began on Patmos where St. John experienced the Revelation. There Georgiou serendipitously met Lax, (1915-2000), the much-beloved poet and hermit, who became his mentor. In this book a circle of love completes itself. As Br. Patrick Hart, last secretary to Thomas Merton, makes evident: "Like his mentor, Georgiou is now a teacher whose lesson-plan focuses on agape the highest and purest form of love."

Editorial Reviews

Review

A poetic journey through the liminal landscapes of the interior life. The Isle of Monte Cristo will unlock hidden treasures within you. --Dr. Michael Ford, presenter, "Heart & Soul," BBC World Service Programs

The spiritual quest is never a solo journey and Georgiou is a sure companion. A great book to give to a friend. --Sr. Renee Branigan, O.S.B., The American Monastic Review

The Isle of Monte Cristo is an inner pilgrimage of faith, hope, and love. We awaken to the mystery of Christ dwelling in each of us. --Rosemary Ellis Robinson, Director, St. Agnes Spiritual Life Center, San Francisco

The spiritual quest is never a solo journey and Georgiou is a sure companion. A great book to give to a friend. --Sr. Renee Branigan, O.S.B., The American Monastic Review

The Isle of Monte Cristo is an inner pilgrimage of faith, hope, and love. We awaken to the mystery of Christ dwelling in each of us. --Rosemary Ellis Robinson, Director, St. Agnes Spiritual Life Center, San Francisco

The spiritual quest is never a solo journey and Georgiou is a sure companion. A great book to give to a friend. --Sr. Renee Branigan, O.S.B., The American Monastic Review

The Isle of Monte Cristo is an inner pilgrimage of faith, hope, and love. We awaken to the mystery of Christ dwelling in each of us. --Rosemary Ellis Robinson, Director, St. Agnes Spiritual Life Center, San Francisco

About the Author

S.T. Georgiou is a teacher, writer, and artist. He lectures at San Francisco State University, San Francisco City College, and at the Center For Arts, Religion, and Education (C.A.R.E.) at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Novalis Publishing (September 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2896462295
• ISBN-13: 978-2896462292
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,139,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steve Georgiou and the Isle of Monte Cristo, November 6, 2010

By 

Paul L. Fromont "A Prodigal Kiwi" (New Zealand) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Isle of Monte Cristo (Paperback)

Steve Georgiou wonderfully concludes his trilogy (begun in 2002 with "The Way of the Dreamcatcher: Spirit Lessons with Robert Lax, Peacemaker, Sage" (dedicated to his father); and followed by "Mystic Street: Meditations on a Spiritual Path" in 2007 (dedicated to his mother)) with his 2010 publication "The Isle of Monte Cristo: Finding the Inner Treasure" (Toronto: Novalis, 2010. 299 pages with black and white photographs). This final book is dedicated to his sister Maria.

All three books have forewords by Thomas Merton's former secretary Brother Patrick Hart, O.C.S.O. All three a woven through with the thread of Georgiou's "mentorship" by Trappist Monk Thomas Merton's best friend, American poet / mystic / sage / hermit Robert Lax (b. 1915)). During the latter period of his life Lax, born in the US, was resident on the island of Patmos, Greece. It was here that Georgiou met Lax in 1993. He would make the trip regularly until 1999, not long before Lax's death on September 26th 2000.

While my favourite book remains the first in the trilogy "The Way of the Dreamcatcher", in reading "The Isle of Monte Cristo" I again found myself drawn into the stories and recollections that Georgiou shares. I need to also say, you can fruitfully read this final book without necessarily having read the first two, or the first one in particular. Georgiou backgrounds the story of his encounter with Robert Lax on Patmos at the beginning of "The Isle of Monte Cristo"

I learnt new things about Rublev's Trinity icon in Georgiou's "Communion of Love". His "Toward the Far-Off Land", "Dark Night", "Night Becomes Light", "Fishermen" and "Lost and Found were also deeply evocative for me. As was his opening reflection (Prologue) on Alexandre Dumas' 1844 novel The Count of Monte Cristo (and later bringing Simone Weil's Gravity and Grace briefly into conversation with it, p.77).

As with the earlier titles the text is given greater depth by the inclusion of largely meditative black-and-white photographs of Patmos; Georgiou (with Lax and Demetrios); the Cave of Revelation wherein St. John witnessed the Apocalypse; Ocean Beach (San Francisco); Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (San Francisco); and icons of the Trinity (Rublev), the Resurrection (Gk `Anastasis') and the stunning Pantocrator (see "In the Sanctuary of the King") from the inner dome of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.

The inclusion of excerpts from Lax's poems and the occasional pencil drawing by Georgiou also add something to the book.

Overall, this is a beautifully presented and richly evocative little book that encourages its readers to put themselves "in a place where grace can flow" (Lax) and to take the path of the heart. Relevantly too it invites us to live deeper lives and to not succumb to living on the surface of life, a reality all too common to those of us who live in the so-called West. I highly recommend the adventure that is The Isle of Monte Cristo and encourage you to see where it takes you in terms of your own life journey.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Awakened Heart, December 6, 2010

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Sacred Heart Monastery "Renee Branigan, OSB" (Dickinson, ND) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Isle of Monte Cristo (Paperback)

This is really the best of the trilogy (The Way of the Dreamcatcher and Mystic Street are the first two) because Georgiou's growth is so obvious, his lessons learned at Robert Lax's side have grown into spiritual adulthood. Georgiou has an exquisite sense of seeing through the haze of life into the clarity beneath the speed and noise of surface distractions. All this comes through discipline and attentiveness, of simply being awake. His chapters are simply that: life lessons learned from simply being awake and attentive to grace. What he absorbed over the years from Lax was quiet and simplicity, the ability to distill God's essence in the ordinary. Over the trilogy he grows strong in this as a way of life. My favorite chapter in this book was his "Trading Places" in which he recounts one of his last visits with the aging poet. He had gone ahead up the hill to Lax's small hermitage after their evening stroll. Grasping Lax's key in his hand was a tactile symbolism of the entry to his birthplace. There was sanctity both in the place and in the stillness; everything had meaning, everything was holy. While he was standing there trying to absorb with his senses this sacred moment there was a knock at the door. It was Lax who had finally made it up the hill; roles were reversed and it was Georgiou who answered the door. What followed was the dialogue, in reverse, of their first encounter years before. After they ate and he helped Lax to bed, he observed, "Even as my mentor became more relaxed, taking in deep breaths as he fell asleep, he appeared to be teaching. Lax travelled lightly, even in the realm of dreams. Even there, his heart remained awake" (p. 243).
Thomas Merton once said of his good friend Robert Lax that he was the holiest person he knew. Through Georgiou's eyes, we believe it. Over the years and through the trilogy culminating in The Isle of Monte Cristo, Georgiou has not just absorbed but naturalized so much of Lax's teaching. Reading these books is a good way to learn to be patient and gentle with life and find the grace that is everything. It isn't hidden except to those who refuse to see. To see one must be awake. This book helps you listen to the silence of the ordinary.
Renee Branigan, OSB

4.0 out of 5 stars A Higher View, December 14, 2010

By 

bmont - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Isle of Monte Cristo (Paperback)

As in "Way of the Dream Catcher" Georgio discusses Robert Lax and quotes him, but he also describes what I call "mystic" encounters with God. These encounters happen on the beach, in his classroom or back on Patmos. Anyone who is interested in reading people like Thomas Merton or knowing more about his friend Robert Lax will love this book. It is also good step for someone wanting to make God more central in their life.