The Ascetic of Love: A Book Review by Elenie Basil

At the meeting of the last Book Discussion Group, Eleni Curtis White reviewed the book, The Ascetic of Love by Mother Gavrilia, ( born Gavrilia Papayanni in Constantinople). It is the story of a contemporary nun (1897-1992) who found her calling among the needy in Thessaloniki, Athens, England, India and other countries. Characterized by a quick and lively wit and an eagerness to help others, Mother Gavrilia had a remarkable gift for understanding those who came to her for guidance. The biography is a "quick-read" - about 150 pages. Following this, the second half of the book is a revelation of Mother Gavrilia's wisdom revealed in a question-answer style. Her words, lifted from tapes, recordings and of course, her writings ( she was literate in five languages!) offer enlightenment, encouragement and serenity. Several copies of the book are available in the Library. We promise you will come away from the reading feeling better about yourself and inspired to respond to the needs of others.Review by Elenie D. Basil