Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ

Item No. 9781955890670

by Oswin (John) Craton

The existence of "fools for Christ" in the Orthodox tradition mystifies many people, even some within the Orthodox Church itself. People often wonder what purpose these sometimes comical and oftentimes tragically misunderstood saints serve in the life of the Church—especially given their unconventional and seemingly bizarre behaviors. In Holy Fools we begin to gain a better understanding of these saints' curious manner of serving Christ, as we learn about the extraordinary lives of twenty of the most well-known fools for Christ in a series of brief hagiographies.

About the Author: Oswin Craton was born and grew up in Alabama but currently lives in Indiana. He is the author of A Journey of Fear and Joy, which is the story of his journey to Orthodoxy from a fundamentalist Protestant background. He is known in the music world under his birth name, John, and as a composer of classical music has written a number of ballets, operas, concertos, and other orchestral and chamber works that have been performed internationally. He is a member of All Saints Orthodox Church in Bloomington, Indiana. His patron saint is St. Oswin of Deira.

Praise for Holy Fools

"Dr. John Craton presents the lives of the holy fools in a very readable and engaging manner. His approach to hagiography is refreshing. The way he recounts the lives of these unique saints allows readers of all ages and education levels to absorb how the holy fools loved Christ and suffered for Him. These stories are both spiritually edifying and entertaining, and may challenge readers to examine their own tendency to pass judgment on those whom the world deems 'foolish.'" -Fr. Peter John Gillquist

"The ascetic struggle of being a fool for Christ is one of the most rare and difficult paths that ascetics have undertaken in Church history. They seek to crucify their pride by inviting others to ridicule them, and thus to obscure their actual holiness. Oswin Craton’s book Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ provides a collection of the most important of these unusual saints, whose foolishness enabled them to bear witness to the world in a way that disarmed both believers and unbelievers alike." -Archpriest John Whiteford, rector of St. Jonah Orthodox Church in Spring, Texas, and editor of the St. Innocent Liturgical Calendar

"The saving truths of the gospel are often best communicated through stories, and Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ contains some of the best stories available for that purpose. Oswin Craton has provided an invaluable gift in collecting these astonishing accounts into a single volume. In page after page of "foolishness," Craton has placed the sanity of the gospel on display." -Father John Oliver, author of Touching Heaven: Discovering Orthodox Christianity on the Island of Valaam and Giver of Life: The Holy Spirit in Orthodox Tradition, and host of the Hearts and Minds podcast on Ancient Faith Radio

Author: Oswin (John) Craton

Paperback: 152 pages

Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.5 inches

Publisher: Ancient Faith Publishing

Additional Formats:

eBook
$8.99 at Orthodox Christian Ebooks
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LOOK INSIDE... Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ