Name Kyriacos Markides | ||
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Books The Magus of Strovolos, Homage to the Sun: The Wisd, Riding with the Lion: In Search of, Fire in the Heart: Healers, Gifts of the Desert: The Forgotten | ||
Kyriacos C. Markides
Kyriacos C. Markides (born November 19, 1942) is a professor of sociology at the University of Maine who has written several books on Christian mysticism. In his books he explores first a circle of "healers" on Cyprus surrounding "Daskalos" (a pseudonym for Stylianos Atteshlis ), who combined some Christian beliefs with shamanistic/witchcraft practices, and latterly mystical Christianity through his association with a charismatic elder, Father Maximos, a former monk from Mount Athos. (Maximos is, apparently, Markides' pseudonym for a Cypriot bishop, namely Metropolitan Athanasios of Limassol.) Markides has also given lectures and workshops around the United States, Canada and other countries as well as appearing on US television and being interviewed by radio stations, newspapers and magazines. There is a fairly wide-ranging interview in two parts with Kevin Allen of Ancient Faith Radio available online as an audio download or transcript. Dr. Markides also spoke eloquently for the San Antonio, Texas-based South Texas Geriatric Education Center (STGEC) in 2000. To see his take on the timeless topic of "EthnoGeriatrics in the Care of the Elderly", simple peruse the STGEC MedEdVid Channel on YouTube.
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In his earlier books Markides seems content to see any psychic phenomenon as of interest and value in itself and is also quick to draw (apparent) parallels between different religions or to gesture towards "the perennial philosophy". However, he has gradually moved away from these assumptions. Speaking to Kevin Allen he avers: "... it was a revelation to me that there might be something over and beyond the physical material universe. So, that was the starting point. Then, of course, I realized that there are grey areas and there are problematic kinds of phenomena [that not all] are good, necessarily." It is not clear where Markides stands on some of these issues now.
In addition Markides has written a book about the political sociology of the Cyprus problem.
Markides lives in the Stillwater neighborhood of Old Town, Maine, with his wife, Emily, whom he describes in his books an eco-feminist and peace activist.
