I-ville—a Kingdom where pride and selfishness dwell, and where people live by the motto “Me first!”  You-ville—a Kingdom where humility and kindness have their home, and where people put the good of others before their own.    This is a story of a young boy named Stubborn, as he strives to become the first person of I-ville to make the difficult journey to the beautiful, joy-filled Kingdom of You-ville, and to become a citizen there.

As we join Stubborn in his adventures, we learn, along with him, profound lessons in how to struggle against bad thoughts and feelings. Drawn from the teachings of the beloved Elder Paisios of Mount Athos, Greece (1924–1994), these lessons can be of tremendous spiritual benefit for young and old alike. The journey of young Stubborn is one that all of us must take, and which all of us can accomplish—if only we can shrink our “I” and put “You” first!

From I-ville to You-ville has now entered its fifth printing in Greece, where a theatrical adaptation of it is widely performed by school and theater groups.   

Mersine Vigopoulou resides in Souroti (Thessaloniki), Greece. She is the author of several children's books, including the upcoming Lady Tradition and Orthodoxy.

128 pages; hard cover; full-color illustrations throughout;

ISBN 960-86778-6-6

FIVE STARS FOR FROM I-VILLE TO YOU-VILLE
A Book Review by Catherine Whitton

Everyone should read From I-Ville to You-Ville! It is one of the best books I have ever read and is applicable for both children and adults. The author of the beautiful story, Mersine Vigopoulou, was born and raised in Thessaloniki, Greece; she currently lives near the village of Souroti, close to the Monastery of St. John the Theologian, where the blessed Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos (1924-1994) died and was buried. Ms. Vigopoulou met the Elder only once, but learned much from his books and writing. From I-Ville to You-Ville is based on Elder Paisios' teachings on prayer and inner watchfulness. In her Prologue, Ms. Vigopoulou explains that she wrote the story "as an outpouring of love for children, in an attempt to simplify what may seem difficult."

From I-Ville to You-Ville focuses on a young boy named Stubborn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Haughtiness. Stubborn lives in I-ville, a Kingdom where pride and selfishness reside, the motto is "me first," and the subjects must bow in worship to Queen Conceit. One day, he meets Serenity, a girl from the Kingdom of You-ville, a place where humility and kindness live, and people selflessly put others' good before their own. The meeting begins Stubborn's difficult journey from the confining walls of I-ville to the winding road that leads to You-ville.

The book is a fast-read, portraying Elder Paisios' wise teachings through simple words, an engaging plot, and colorful illustrations. Children, as well as adults, can better understand God's love and how He wants us to live as Christians through the vivid characters and themes. Some themes include having positive thoughts and not letting in bad ones; talking to God; and shrinking one's ego in order to experience unity with God, humility, and the serenity of serving others.

Here are some statements from the book's characters, revealing the grace and wisdom of Elder Paisios; *"When you do something good, do it in a good way. Don't expect something in return." * "When God allows something bad to happen, something good will come out of it in the end." * "We adults make our lives miserable with childish fantasies and we become cowardly and afraid. God definitely doesn't want us to be like this. We need to be daring and courageous—not afraid of our own shadows!"

I highly recommend this book to everyone. Our parish bookstore, Logos, has From I-Ville to You-Ville by Mersine Vigopoulou, as translated into English. Uncut Mountain Press, 2006. $19.00 and worth every penny.