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1. Prefaces Nikita (Nik) Lopoukhine
For many people, these values are of the
Chair, IUCN World Commission on Pro-
utmost importance, even in the technologically developed countries, where
tected Areas
unfortunately they have been at times neglected. I am honored and pleased to write this preface to this inspiring book resulting
I grew up mostly in Canada and spent my
from the Delos Initiative. Presenting, as
summers along the shore of Lake Labelle
this book does, an array of sites dedicat-
in Quebec. It was and is a place where my
ed to prayer, meditation and liturgy and
family, friends and relatives not only renew
demonstrating how these significant areas
our physical strength and relationships,
of sanctity link to biodiversity conservation
but also our spiritual strength. It is a place
is, to say the least, timely. The world is
instrumental to my becoming close to
facing problems of almost insurmountable
nature and molding my career in protect-
magnitude, of which climate change is but
ed areas.
one.
This book provides examples of
places where humans strive to live sus-
Over fifty years ago on the shores of the
tainably and to reflect on their relationship
lake, my uncles and my father built a
with God and the environment.
These
chapel dedicated to St. Sergius of
examples can act as an important guide
Radonezh, a beloved saint of fourteenth
for our own daily living.
century Russia who lived, for some of his life, in a monastic cell deep within a forest.
The work that is being done by the Delos
The late Fr. Alexander Schmemann, then
Initiative, within the Task Force on Cultural
Dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary
and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas is
in New York spent his summers on the lake
providing a very much needed inspiration
and served the Divine Liturgy on Sundays
and guidance for the World Commission
and Christian feast days. Other priests
of Protected Areas. The critical work of
continue to serve in this chapel each sum-
this Task Force assures a more inclusive
mer.
approach and consideration to spiritual
In early August, the feast of Transfigu-
values associated with protected areas.
ration is marked by a procession down to
< Montserrat, Agulles section, one of the favourite areas of climbers.
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