Kyriacos C. Markides, PhD, a professor of sociology at the University of Maine, has been exploring the life and worldview of Christian shamans, saints, mystics, hermits and healers for the last 30 years. He is the author of several books on Christian mystical spirituality, including his trilogy The Magus of Strovolos and the follow-up trilogy The Mountain of Silence, which reveal the mystical wisdom tradition of Eastern Christianity, little-known in the West. Kyriacos lectures and leads workshops throughout the world and has appeared on national and international television and radio programs.