Flavian Alexander Torik. Archpriest of Russian Orthodox Church.

This book by popular Russian Orthodox writer Archpriest Alexander Torik was written by the author in 2004, and is the first book in the Flavian trilogy. Flavian, Father Alexander’s first novel, describes an unexpected turning point in the life of Aleksei, a quite ordinary city dweller. A chance meeting with a former classmate turned much in the life of this physics-major-turned-successful-manager upside down, setting Aleksei on a new path with many amazing discoveries along the way. Our hero discovers a parallel world existing alongside our ordinary everyday little world – a huge, fascinating spiritual world, where the soul of every person finds meaning, joy, and Love. Father Alexander, tell us: is Hieromonk Flavian a real person? Of course he’s real! There are many such “Flavians”. They just aren’t always visible to the untrained eye, nor do they try to be. Flavian lives inside every zealous pastor, who “layeth down his life for the sheep” of Christ’s flock! The hero of this particular book combines the features of various priests I know and love: my first spiritual father Fr. Aleksiy, my first parish priest Archpriest Vasily, and many others from whom I have learned and continue to learn about sacred service to God’s Church. Father Alexander, who is the central figure of your trilogy about Father Flavian – Flavian himself, or Aleksei? The central figure in my books is Love!