Catalogo Libri
The action of this novel takes place in the 4th century AC, after the Roman Empire was christianised, in the hot years of political fights between the Christians of the Western Empire and the followers of Arius, who is declared a heretic but retains considerable support. The protagonist Damon, who saw his parents beheaded by the Roman Empire, the last Christians martyred. He becomes a student of the future Pope of the Greek-speaking world, embarking on a life of theology and piety. Emperor Constantine befriends him because he resembles the Emperor’s son whom he erroneously executed. As Damon is about to sail to the Nicene Council in 325 A.D., he meets Theodora, a nun who belongs to the faction led by Arius. Damon works to build the Church and becomes responsible for regulating the teaching of converts who flood en masse.
While the Nicene Council’s proclamation that Jesus is God hardens Christianity, ushering in a repressive Church which obliterates science, music, and art, Damon loses himself and has sex with Theodora - he almost rapes her - on the church altar where St. Mark is buried. His remorse drives him to atone in monasteries, eventually becoming a desert hermit and earning a reputation as a healer: thousands flock to him until he becomes true to himself and returns to Alexandria and Theodora. But the world had changed during the twenty years of his absence. Christians are destroying libraries and temples. They have arrested heretics, including Theodora... The historical background is reconstructed basing on documents accurately researched.
researched.
ca. 100,000 words
Original language in English (manuscript available)
world rights available
Kameel Nasr was born in Lebanon of displaced Palestinian parents and spent his formative years in San Francisco, where he became a social activist, spiritual seeker, and published author. He joined a religious order, grappling with the meaning of life while working to ameliorate the condition of the urban poor, ultimately directing a media program to cultivate community consciousness of America’s homeless. He has traveled the world by bicycle and is an expert on Mediterranean history and religion.