Between Past and Future

In memory of Fr. Aleksandr Men

Father Alexander Men is widely known in his motherland - Russia – and abroad as well. His first book – The Son of Man - was first published in Russian when he was alive by a Belgian Publisher. It had been brought secretly to Europe during the last period of persecution of Christians in Soviet Russia, and then illegally diffused in USSR thanks to samizdat. Later it was translated into several languages, in Brazil it became a bestseller, and in the States it got a large popularity.

On September 9, 1990, murderers - unknown until today - killed Father Aleksandr Men, striking his head with a sharp instrument. Was it a consequence of the fact that he was considered a primary danger by the communist authorities?

On the 20th anniversary of his murder it is worth to explore the complex figure of this famous Orthodox priest, more appreciated in other Christian Churches than in Russian Orthodox Church, his missionary and publicist activity, his spiritual heritage.