Cartea despre femei (The Book about Women) is a book written by Savatie Bastovoi, a Romanian Orthodox monk, poet, novelist and essayist. The book was published in 2015 by Cathisma, an Orthodox publishing house, and it contains 112 pages of reflections, stories and illustrations about women and their role in the Christian faith.
The book is divided into 12 chapters, each one dedicated to a different aspect of womanhood, such as motherhood, beauty, love, wisdom, suffering, prayer and holiness. The author draws inspiration from the lives of saints, biblical figures, historical personalities and contemporary women, as well as from his own personal experience and artistic vision. The book is also illustrated with 12 watercolors by the author himself, depicting various female characters from his writings.
Cartea despre femei is not a typical theological treatise or a moralistic manual, but rather a poetic and intimate dialogue between the author and his female readers. The book aims to offer a spiritual perspective on the challenges and joys of being a woman in the modern world, as well as to celebrate the beauty and dignity of femininity. The book is written in a simple and accessible language, with humor and sensitivity, and it addresses both Orthodox and non-Orthodox readers who are interested in exploring the Christian view on women.
The book can be downloaded for free as a PDF file from various online sources[^1^] [^2^], or it can be purchased online from different Romanian bookstores[^2^]. The book has received positive reviews from critics and readers alike, who praised the author's originality, creativity and wisdom. The book is also part of a larger project by Savatie Bastovoi, who has written several other books on topics such as God, love, death, art and childhood.
Savatie Bastovoi is not only a writer, but also a painter, a monk and a theologian. He was born in 1976 in Chisinau, Moldova, and he studied art and philosophy before becoming a monk in 1999. He took the name Savatie, after a martyr who did not like his name. He lives in the Noul Neamt Monastery, under the jurisdiction of the Russian Patriarchate, in Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova.
As a writer, Savatie Bastovoi has published more than 20 books, covering various genres such as poetry, fiction, essay and spirituality. He has received several awards from the Writers' Union of Moldova and Romania, and he has been translated into French, Russian and Macedonian. His most famous novels are Iepurii nu mor (The Rabbits Don't Die), which was published in France by Actes Sud, and Nebunul (The Madman), which was published in Russia by Eksmo.
As a painter, Savatie Bastovoi has exhibited his works in several countries, such as Romania, France, Germany and Russia. He uses watercolors to create colorful and expressive portraits of saints, biblical characters and ordinary people. He also illustrates his own books, such as Cartea despre femei (The Book about Women), which contains 12 watercolors of female figures from his writings.
As a monk and a theologian, Savatie Bastovoi has been involved in various projects of Orthodox spirituality and culture. He founded the Ekklesia magazine and the Cathisma publishing house, which promote Orthodox literature and art. He also taught iconography at the Theological Seminary in Chisinau. He is known for his outspoken views on topics such as idolatry, freedom, love and forgiveness. 8cf37b1e13