praise for Things of the Hidden God

"Merrill's great strengths as a writer have always been his ability to braid the past, present and future; his lightheartedness; and his willingness to digest those books the rest of us may never read and give the reader the gift of their essential wisdom. In his new book, Merrill, ever God's fool, also gives us something of himself, of his own wisdom and transformation."

-Susan Salter Reynolds
L.A. Times

"A gem that shows off Merrill-the-poet's gorgeous writing, and Merrill-the-reporter's sharp eye—and introduces a new Merrill, the pilgrim."

-Kirkus Reviews (starred)

News

[05/06/2021] Read these two latest reviews of Flares. The Millions lists it as a must-read for May 2021 while poet Nina Murray raves that the words "induce an electric trance" on Compulsive Reader.

[04/30/2021] To celebrate the end of National Poetry Month, Chris joins A Mighty Blaze for their final installment of Poet's Cafe. He talks about Flares, poet-diplomacy, Myanmar, and more.

[04/23/2021] "Dividing Lines": On Poetry and Diplomacy, a new article by Chris on the potent connection between the two.

[03/21/2021] In Burma, 'they have come for the poets': read Chris's op-ed for The Dallas Morning News about the fate of Burmese poets in the aftermath of the military junta.

Christopher Merrill

Things of the Hidden God: Journey to the Holy Mountain (2005)

In despair and longing to end his spiritual desolation, Merrill became one of a handful of visitors permitted entry to Mount Athos—a mysterious land that for more than a thousand years has been the secret heart of the Eastern Orthodox Church. There, amid the beautiful terrain, the ancient rhythms, and the spiritual rigor of this holy place, he found a haven. As Merrill's story unfolds, we, too, hike the rough trails of Athos, exploring a place and a way of life scarcely altered since medieval times. We share encounters with monks and spiritual seekers; visit Athos's twenty monasteries, where exquisite art treasures are sequestered; make our way to lonely hermitages that clutch the cliffs above the sea. Like Merrill, we come to consider existence in a new and different light.

Part journal of personal discovery, part meditation upon the history and traditions of the contemplative life, Things of the Hidden God takes us where the temporal and the eternal intersect, where community and solitude coexist, and where centuries-old practices offer insight for how to live today.

Buy the book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Powell's Books.