People all over the world know Metropolitan Kallistos Ware as a church leader, scholar, and writer. But far fewer know him as a man. Near the end of his life, he agreed to sit for several sessions and speak about his life (his childhood and upbringing, his schooling and scholarly career, his conversion to Orthodoxy, and his travels and experiences in church life) as well as his memories of the many different people he met and knew over the years (C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Philip Sherrard, Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, Saint Sophrony, and many others) and to give his thoughts on some contemporary questions facing the Church in our age. These sessions were recorded, transcribed, and edited for the present volume.

Listeners of The Orthodox Church, The Orthodox Way, and the English translation of the Philokalia can now learn how these publications came to light, and come to know the man behind these books in a new and deeper way. Further, some of the most prominent figures in the Orthodox world in the past century make various appearances in the life of Metropolitan Kallistos. Those who listen to this book will come to appreciate not only his brilliant intellect but also his warm heart and ready wit.

Metropolitan Kallistos (Timothy) Ware (1934–2022) was an English bishop, scholar, and theologian. He is perhaps best known for his books: The Orthodox Church (Penguin), The Orthodox Way (SVS Press), and the English translation of the Philokalia (Faber). From 1966 to 2001, he was Spalding Lecturer of Eastern Orthodox Studies at the University of Oxford, and he was a leading voice in the Orthodox Church, well-known and loved throughout the world. The SVS Press audiobook program is sponsored by St. Symeon Illumination Fund. If you are interested in sponsoring the creation of an SVS Press audiobook, please contact us at media@svots.edu.