Acknowledgments

The path I’ve followed is perhaps hard to trace, covered as it is by such diverse underbrush. It is hard even for me to retread with precision, led as I was by so many impulses and failures, and also by so many wonderful guides. Some of those beautiful lives who have contributed to this journey must tolerate some recognition in this small corner of the internet:

Ágúst (Symeon) Magnússon: My first Orthodox (and Icelandic) friend. He challenged and suffered many of my recalcitrant, myopic assumptions. He is a beautiful man. Having gifted me my first icon (the Sinai Pantocrator), he put the first nail into the coffin of my sad westernized faith.

Dale Brown: This Anglican priest-turned-potty-mouthed-booze-drinking-icon-of-Christ is still far ahead of me on this path. May all his humility, guidance, and insight be rewarded. I owe him much.

Garret (Gregory) Miller: Philosopher and friend of a friend—now brother forever by the grace of God.

Jared (Paisios) Dybzinski: Perhaps more than anyone else, Jared has directly influenced my investigation and ultimate incorporation into the Orthodox faith. He is a patient, wise, and thoughtful man of precise words and cautious reflections. May God bless him.

Others, whose lasting effects I can hardly calculate, include:

Elijah White, Brendan Wicke, Fr. Mark Haas, Fr. Evan Armatas, Steve Hoskins, Lander Hultin, Seth Forwood, Steve Turney, Nolan Brown, Daniel Tucker, Kent Steiler, George Kenworthy, Scott Matkovich, and all my students, esp. Megan Davis, Elizabeth Yeh, Joe Caraway, and Anna Davis.

My eternal gratitude.