PRESENTATION OF ARCHIMANDRITE GABRIEL VUCKOVIC’S BOOK “SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS” ON RADIO SVETIGORA IN SERBIA

(press here – audio)

Spiritual Conversations via Skype, the book by Archimandrite Gabriel Vuckovic, was recently published. This book is specific, and unique in spiritual literature, and it is also exceptionally graphically endowed. Color photographs are taken by Darko Radanovic, and Graphics Editor is Dragi Savicevic.
Guest in our studio is Radomir Vucic, the journalist from Republic of Srpska TV Station, who got a blessing from Father Gabriel to present the book to the public. The book begins with the letter written by Archimandrite Gabriel to Metropolitan Jovan of Zagreb, Ljubljana and All-Italy, in which Father Gabriel asked Metropolitan Jovan to bless the book publishing. Additionally, the following had been written:

“The Most Reverend, I am very astonished that your nearly prophetic words, with which you gave us the blessing to purchase a computer for Monastery Lepavina, predicted a form of missionary work in the times burdened by enormous spiritual emptiness in the souls of our people. To me, an Abbot, this seemed unlikely at the time; however, through the Glory of our Lord, and with a help of the Holy Theotokos of Lepavina, those words helped me to, after working hard and learning about computer technology, peacefully converse with believers; it helped me to answer the questions of those who are seeking for spiritual advice and moralities, those who seek to drink at least a drop of the water from life-giving springs, and those who are starving for the Word of God.

Read more…

Since it seemed to me that these conversations became valuable for other readers too, with your blessing I started to publish them in the column “Advices and Answers on Everyday Uncertainties of Spiritual People”, on Monastery Lepavina’s web-site. Then, something astonishing happened. The number of visits to this column on our web-site extended enormously. Therefore, according to the latest data, 45 000 believers visited the column from December 4, 2008 until April 6, 2009. This truly presents unbelievably high public interests. Intellectuals, laics, mothers, sisters, young and old started to reach out; they are all hungry for the Word of God.

So the idea to print this book was born, and with your blessing we would name it the same as the title of the column. This form of missionary work is still a novelty, and no other Christian Orthodox web-sites in the world are practicing it….”

In a reply to this letter, which is also a prologue of the book, Metropolitan Jovan of Zagreb and Ljubljana wrote:

“Archimandrite Gabriel (Vuckovic), the Abbot of the Monastery Lepavina, through his “Advices and Answers on Everyday Uncertainties of Spiritual People” which we can read on Monastery’s web-site, encourages one to think about computer, information technology and electronic mail phenomenon as the most contemporary device of pastoral theology and modern dialogue with the fellow beings anywhere in the world. We could find reliance in the Lord Christ’s words to the holy Apostles and their followers:  “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation” (Mk. 16, 15)

Those who are familiar with the web-site of the Monastery Lepavina, and those who listen to the Radio Blagovesti and the Akatist to the Most Holy Mother of God read by Archimandrite Gabriel (from  10pm until 11pm), do not need too much explanation about the spiritual value which one can experience through this unique spiritual union…

It took a lot of hard work to rebuild the Monastery Lepavina after it was destructed during World War II.  Surviving was difficult.  Throughout the gradual renewal of the ruins, even to get a telephone for the Monastery’s Office was a great wish. Only few wealthy people used computers at the time, and the poor could only wish for something like it. When the opportunity to get this miraculous equipment arose, there was a need to learn basic computer skills and to connect with a completely new world, which was previously not considered as important.  It is apparent now that we have to become literate in a modern world, and it is apparent that we have to use all modern technologies to successfully conduct our missionary and spiritual duties.
Visit the web-site of Monastery Lepavina or read what Archimandrite Gabriel has to say to you in his book, which is in your hands, and then decide yourself how much of that spiritual treasure, which could be valuable to your souls, is there.

Source: http://manastir-lepavina.org