Academia Lunare is proud to welcome American writer Michael Haldas, who will be publishing his book, "Echoes of Truth: Christianity in the Lord of the Rings" with us. The text will be enriched by the beautiful drawings of artist Elaina Olga, who joined Michael on this fantastic voyage of discovery.
Let me introduce you to our new family members!
Michael Haldas is an author, religious educator, speaker, and a life-long fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and similar works. He told us:
"Echoes of Truth: Christianity in the Lord of the Rings
was a true labour of love honouring
the work and the man who created it."
Before this work, Michael wrote the book, Sacramental Living: Understanding Christianity as a Way of Life, which he presented special leather-bound editions of as gifts to both Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in private audiences at the Vatican and the Patriarchate.
In addition to writing, Michael also does twice-monthly podcasts for Ancient Faith Radio and a blog series for the Orthodox Christian Network's (OCN). He is published monthly in Theosis Magazine, and his articles have been featured in several other publications. He is also a member of the Orientale Lumen Foundation, an organisation dedicated to Catholic and Orthodox unity; the Orthodox Speakers Bureau; and is on the board of the Washington Theological Consortium. Michael teaches adult religious education at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Bethesda, Maryland, and his class is streamed live through OCN to thousands globally. He has a degree in English and has completed graduate level studies in world religions. Michael has also published short stories in the fantasy and dark fantasy genres and wrote the fantasy fiction novel, Avatar Dawn.
Elaina Olga is an artist and art historian. She received a B.A. in Art History with a focus on Mediterranean and Byzantine Art, as well as minors in Archaeology and Chemistry. As a child, she was deeply affected by the iconography that surrounded her in church, as well as the art of animation, video games, and books, all of which would sparked a life-long love of the visual arts and the meaning instilled within them. Her love of God and her passion for the human spirit inspires her to search for the deeper meaning in the subjects she illustrates.
"My hope is that my passion shines through the work I create
and speaks to the heart of the individual."