Preface to the First Edition

Preface to the Second Edition

Some twenty-five years ago, Fr. Steven Belonick, my father confessor, priest, and friend, had the idea to compose a book of meditations and inspirational thoughts for Great Lent. I was honored and humbled to be asked to be part of that project, along with Michael Soroka, then choir director at our parish, Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church, in Binghamton, New York.

Father Steven told us, his coauthors, to compose heartfelt, sincere meditations. He instructed us to reach deeply into ourselves to realize our own sins and shortcomings and to admit them openly. He hoped in this way each of our readers might see themselves in a similar light and would journey with us on a common Christian pilgrimage.

Father Steven was an excellent spiritual guide. I remember our times working on this project as emotionally and psychologically intense. Certainly we shared fun and friendship, but more important was the spiritual growth we experienced. For me, the hardest part of composing the meditations was the struggle to admit my weaknesses and sins. Writing them on paper, then rereading and editing them, was much more demanding than even a sincere (and supposedly well-thought-out) recounting of my sins within the sacrament of Holy Confession!

Looking back over these meditations all these years later and anticipating their republication has shown me a lot about myself. I knew many of these meditations had profoundly touched me at the time I wrote them. I truly had reached deeply into my heart. Now as I reread them, I also realize I still have the same shortcomings and sins as I did at the time of my writing them twenty-five years ago. But I also have the same goals for growth and a desire for forgiveness.

I still feel honored and grateful for the

opportunity Fr. Steven gave me to participate in this venture. Republishing this book in his memory is a testimonial to his inspired priesthood—and to his excellent editing. He made our three voices ring out as one coherent expression, as two brothers and a sister on a common spiritual journey.

May new readers and old friends find God’s grace as they accompany us once again on our Lenten pilgrimage. Especially, may those students in the Diocese of New England of the Orthodox Church in America—who will benefit from the special fund set aside to receive royalties from this book for their seminary education—be granted that grace. May they follow in the footsteps of a good pastor, Fr. Steven, and the one Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ.

May Archpriest Steven’s memory be eternal!

—Michele Constable, coauthor

Copyright ©2021 by Deborah Belonick. All Rights Reserved. Published by Ancient Faith Publishing.