Book Review: ‘Byzantium’ by Stephen Lawhead

Aidan, a young Irish monk, is one of thirteen brothers chosen for a long pilgrimage to Byzantium where they are to present a costly gift to the emperor. Aidan grew up in the monastery and hasn’t been to very many places, so he is happy and excited about this opportunity to see the world. But the journey proves to be a disaster. Sea Wolves attack the monks’ ship, and things seem to go from bad to worse after that.

The story has too many twists and turns to retell here; besides, I don’t want to spoil it for you so I will concentrate on the spiritual part of Aidan’s long journey, which, to me, was just as fascinating. At first, Aidan behaves like a perfect monk and a perfect Christian: he faces trials with remarkable patience and endures hunger, captivity, and beatings without a word of complaint. He is fully devoted to God, trusting that there is a purpose in all this, even though he might not understand it himself. But then Aidan’s faith is shaken. He still believes in God, but he feels that God has abandoned him in his misery.

But a remarkable thing happens. As Aidan’s faith declines, that of his new friends Vikings whom he’d been trying to convert before seems to grow. They want to hear more about this god, Jes, and when Aidan angrily replies that this god is a cruel, uncaring god who is not worth praying to, the Vikings assume that the god must be really good since Aidan wants to keep him to himself (I loved that part!). Nevertheless, Aidan continues his journey faithless. Hate and thirst for revenge now burn in his heart instead. It seems that nothing can turn him around – and you don’t blame him as you read on. None of us would wish to have our faith tested that way.

I will not tell you how the journey ends, you will have to read for yourself. I’ll just say that this story was a true blessing to me, in many ways.