Outskirts Press, INC.

The ancient seduction between light and darkness

EPIKLESIS is a spiritual mystery about light and darkness, life and death, hope and despair, and about two orthodox and conservative priests who find themselves in the middle of the ancient battle that still rages over the souls of men, women, and children. It is the story about a spiritual war that is, for the most part, unseen, unheard, unspoken, and ignored. It is a story about shadows, about seduction, about the primordial forces of darkness that continue to pursue and bewitch the Lord’s precious children, even in the pews, classrooms, and administrative offices of the old mainline Christian denominations. It is also a story about friendship, faith, and the enduring power of prayer. The story begins in the turbulent days of the spring and summer of 1968, following the assassinations of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert Kennedy, and then winds its way across three states - steadily and inexorably -- to the very doorway into Sheol. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:10-11).

“Now think for a minute, Stan. Why would they want you to go to any cemetery in Memphis? And how would they know where you are? You must understand that they are desperately trying to manipulate you, Stan. They just want you to head off into the darkness, preferably to Memphis, and go to any place where there is death or dead bodies. It doesn’t matter to them where it is. They just want you in the darkness, among the dead. Do you hear that? It doesn’t matter to them which cemetery you pick, because – quite honestly -- they will be following you all the way. You are not pursuing them. They are pursuing you. Actually, they’re already following you. I can tell you, from what I can feel in my spirit right now, that they are already around here, somewhere close by, keeping an eye on you . . . and on Fr. Jack and me.” Jack made the sign of the cross across his chest, and so did I. To underscore the importance of this moment, Jack stood up next to Stan and extended his right hand toward him. “Please, please, Stan, do not give in to them. Stay here where you are surrounded by the Light of Christ, and by Fr. Steve and me, and others who love and care for you, people who can take care of this evil for you. They can’t touch you when you’re in the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the presence of the angels and archangels, within the ever-loving embrace of God. They want to get you on their turf, alone, where they can attack you at a time of their choosing. “Let Father Steve and me work on this . . . on OUR turf . . . at a time of OUR choosing.”