Barely two hundred years ago when Finland began to emerge as a modern nation state, distinct from Swedish dominance in the West and Russian influence in the East, the roots of the Finnish tribes were found, not in written form, but in epic songs sung by a revered caste of songsingers found primarily in the deep forests of Karelia, or eastern Finland. These pages introduce the story of these songs, their spirituality, and the modern Karelian culture they are giving birth to.

KARELIA, The Songsingers' Land and the Land of Mary's Song: An Introduction to, and Meditation on, Karelian Orthodox Culture

Currier, Alvin Alexsi

Religion & Spirituality

Alvin Alexsi Currier

This book is about Ritual Towels. If you have ever been to Eastern Europe you have seen them, even if you didn’t notice them. From the White Sea in the North to the Black Sea in the South they are everywhere across in Slavic heartland of the Old World. In Finnish they are called Kaespaikka, in Russian and Ukrainian, Rushnyky, and in Romanian, Stergare. Orthodox immigrants to America commonly called them towels, or ritual towels, although calling them ritual cloths may be more appropriate. I have used both terms interchangeably. I was given my first towel nearly forty years ago. To this day it lives with my wife and I as a talisman of the Orthodox faith we came to embrace, a sign of the mystical that Orthodoxy opened for us, and a gateway to the potency of a life entwined with nature that we were blessed to experience in Finland, Russia, Romania, and the Carpathians. It is my prayer that this rambling story will help save the remnants of these towels that are still found among us and maybe even inspire the creation of new towels to tell of our times; soothe, comfort and protect us.

Grandma's Ritual Towel

A charming, delightfully illustrated classic Christmas folktale from old Russia retold by Alvin Alexi Currier about a poor family who entertains an angel unaware. Picturebook for preschool and up.

The Miraculous Child: A Christmas folktale from old Russia

Children's Books

Literature & Fiction

Old Maria: A Grandfather's Tale of Spiritual Warfare Once Upon a Time in Old Russia

In the year 2000 when the Russian folk artist, Nadezdah Glazunova asked her spiritual father for a blessing to illustrate a third children’s book with Alvin Alexsi Currier, the priest gently refused her, giving her instead the obedience to illustrate the life of Saint Sergius for the children of the world. This was a daunting challenge for every detail of the Saint’s life was widely known in the Slavic world and every incident was already illustrated by great masters whose paintings had become iconic for the incidents. Nadezda prayed and painted. Alexsi attempted to draft a text worthy of her amazing art. Together they offer here the blessed result.

The Wonderful Life of Russia's Saint Sergius of Radonezh

Miracles are never far from the mystical and sometimes magical spirituality and prayer life of the rural Russian villages, and from that world comes this tale of a young orphan an old monk a tame bear and a miraculous healing.

Alyosha's Apple: A Tale of Old Russia

Grandpa's icon: Carpatho-Rusyn roots

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Books by Alvin Alexsi Currier