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The Peregrine's Odyssey
Christiani esse non licit! “It is not lawful to be a Christian”
These four words hung over the head of every Christian for the first three centuries of the nascent Church of the Christos, the God-man.
In 116 AD, during the reign of the Emperor Trajan, Ignatius, bishop of Antioch in Syria, heard those four words that sentenced him to death in the Roman Colosseum. His condemnation and martyrdom were witnessed by his closest friend, Gaius Segusiavus, the “Peregrine.”
Through the eyes of Gaius, we travel back in time to October of 96 AD, to Antioch in the Roman province of Syria. On a stormy night in Antioch, Ignatius reveals the story of his mid-life conversion, prompted by a singular event witnessed by his father outside Jerusalem in 30 AD. Gaius, a prosperous merchant from Roman Gaul, a typical believer in the gods, is incredulous at Ignatius’ strange tale and the peculiar history of the followers of Christos. Ignatius, the novice Christian, asks a favor of Gaius, a request rooted in his new religion.
Granting Ignatius’ request leads the two friends to the island of Patmos, a Roman penal colony, and a meeting with the last of the twelve apostles, the “Ancient One”, John, the beloved of Christ. Against the backdrop of Trajan’s Roman Empire, Gaius is inexorably drawn into the Christian world as “The Way” spreads throughout the Empire and into Gaius’ own family. We encounter the Christians of Rome, those in Asia and Bithynia; the emperor Trajan, successful in war, reshaping the face of Rome with his monumental building projects; the decorated centurion Maximus who befriends Gaius; the eloquent Roman senator, Pliny the Younger, through whose letters we live the lives of noble Romans; and a vengeful, banished son who will haunt the last days of the “Peregrine.”
Throughout the course of twenty years, from that night in Antioch to a death under the noonday sun in the Colosseum, the lives of Gaius and Ignatius are increasingly intertwined: Ignatius the martyr who becomes one of the most famous and iconic of the early Church Fathers; Gaius who seeks understanding of his closest friend’s faith, while fearing the possibility of hearing those mortal four words.
History and fiction meet in this story of the love of two “brothers” and the story of the Love that conquers both.
These four words hung over the head of every Christian for the first three centuries of the nascent Church of the Christos, the God-man.
In 116 AD, during the reign of the Emperor Trajan, Ignatius, bishop of Antioch in Syria, heard those four words that sentenced him to death in the Roman Colosseum. His condemnation and martyrdom were witnessed by his closest friend, Gaius Segusiavus, the “Peregrine.”
Through the eyes of Gaius, we travel back in time to October of 96 AD, to Antioch in the Roman province of Syria. On a stormy night in Antioch, Ignatius reveals the story of his mid-life conversion, prompted by a singular event witnessed by his father outside Jerusalem in 30 AD. Gaius, a prosperous merchant from Roman Gaul, a typical believer in the gods, is incredulous at Ignatius’ strange tale and the peculiar history of the followers of Christos. Ignatius, the novice Christian, asks a favor of Gaius, a request rooted in his new religion.
Granting Ignatius’ request leads the two friends to the island of Patmos, a Roman penal colony, and a meeting with the last of the twelve apostles, the “Ancient One”, John, the beloved of Christ. Against the backdrop of Trajan’s Roman Empire, Gaius is inexorably drawn into the Christian world as “The Way” spreads throughout the Empire and into Gaius’ own family. We encounter the Christians of Rome, those in Asia and Bithynia; the emperor Trajan, successful in war, reshaping the face of Rome with his monumental building projects; the decorated centurion Maximus who befriends Gaius; the eloquent Roman senator, Pliny the Younger, through whose letters we live the lives of noble Romans; and a vengeful, banished son who will haunt the last days of the “Peregrine.”
Throughout the course of twenty years, from that night in Antioch to a death under the noonday sun in the Colosseum, the lives of Gaius and Ignatius are increasingly intertwined: Ignatius the martyr who becomes one of the most famous and iconic of the early Church Fathers; Gaius who seeks understanding of his closest friend’s faith, while fearing the possibility of hearing those mortal four words.
History and fiction meet in this story of the love of two “brothers” and the story of the Love that conquers both.
422 pages, Hardcover
Published April 28, 2019
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Michael Kleinfall
2 books3 followersThroughout my high school and college years I was fortunate to have a number of literature professors who planted the seeds that someday might sprout a novel or two.
After graduating from the University of California-Davis in 1970 I began a 30-year career in business insurance and risk management.
Now "retired," I have the luxury to pursue that life-long dream of being a published author.
Over the years, I've dabbled in a number of genres and finally found the “it” that I enjoy and that employs my interests and experience.
For the past fifteen years I have been active in Church ministry. One ministry in particular married an interest in history (Roman imperial period) with the history of early Christianity. The overarching questions I often asked were: What was it like to be one of the first Christians? And, why would a "pagan" get involved with or practice this radically strange religion? How can we, twenty centuries later, relate?
Four years ago, I began this project—a series of historical-fiction novels I call Burnt Offerings—delving into this period of Roman and Christian history, entering the world, the culture, the lives of the first Christians and their Roman neighbors. A secondary purpose was to (re)introduce some of the important Christian figures who were so instrumental in promoting (evangelizing) and defining what Christianity was and would become.
This first book, The Peregrine's Odyssey, begins our journey into this early period of our shared history of western civilization.
After graduating from the University of California-Davis in 1970 I began a 30-year career in business insurance and risk management.
Now "retired," I have the luxury to pursue that life-long dream of being a published author.
Over the years, I've dabbled in a number of genres and finally found the “it” that I enjoy and that employs my interests and experience.
For the past fifteen years I have been active in Church ministry. One ministry in particular married an interest in history (Roman imperial period) with the history of early Christianity. The overarching questions I often asked were: What was it like to be one of the first Christians? And, why would a "pagan" get involved with or practice this radically strange religion? How can we, twenty centuries later, relate?
Four years ago, I began this project—a series of historical-fiction novels I call Burnt Offerings—delving into this period of Roman and Christian history, entering the world, the culture, the lives of the first Christians and their Roman neighbors. A secondary purpose was to (re)introduce some of the important Christian figures who were so instrumental in promoting (evangelizing) and defining what Christianity was and would become.
This first book, The Peregrine's Odyssey, begins our journey into this early period of our shared history of western civilization.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 1, 2020
During the first 20 years of the second century AD, Gaius Segusiavus Peregrinus is torque-bearer of the Gallic clan based near Lugdunum (Lyons). As master of the family’s cereal and luxury goods shipping enterprise, he constantly roams Mare Nostrum, visiting the trading posts in Ostia (Rome), Carthago, Alexandria, Antiochia and Ephesos. His faithful wife Fionna delights him whenever he is back at the Villa of the Three Crows, but his sons and nephew disappoint him. Will anyone prove worthy of inheriting the family torque when he dies?
Gaius’ lifelong friend, the Jew Ignatius, becomes a member of the illicit sect known as Christiani. Together, they are instrumental in rescuing the aged Apostle Ioannes from his exile on the island of Patmos and bringing him to the community of believers in Ephesos. Through these towering characters, including historical letters by the later canonised St. Ignatius of Antiochia, we gain precious insights into the caring community of followers of Iesous Christos, their faith and the persecution they suffer. Will these intimate experiences convince Gaius to change his religion?
Geographic and historical details are meticulously accurate and very informative. Circumstances and prospects fluctuate under the Roman emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan, but all the while the Christians live under the threat of arrest and execution. What will happen when the most promising heir to the house of Segusiavus adopts the faith?
The family tree, maps and appendix with an afterword and a summary of the principal characters – historical and fictitious – are very helpful. This is a long book, unnecessarily drawn out, in my opinion, by recapitulating key episodes and including rather too many named characters who play only minor roles.
Gaius’ lifelong friend, the Jew Ignatius, becomes a member of the illicit sect known as Christiani. Together, they are instrumental in rescuing the aged Apostle Ioannes from his exile on the island of Patmos and bringing him to the community of believers in Ephesos. Through these towering characters, including historical letters by the later canonised St. Ignatius of Antiochia, we gain precious insights into the caring community of followers of Iesous Christos, their faith and the persecution they suffer. Will these intimate experiences convince Gaius to change his religion?
Geographic and historical details are meticulously accurate and very informative. Circumstances and prospects fluctuate under the Roman emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan, but all the while the Christians live under the threat of arrest and execution. What will happen when the most promising heir to the house of Segusiavus adopts the faith?
The family tree, maps and appendix with an afterword and a summary of the principal characters – historical and fictitious – are very helpful. This is a long book, unnecessarily drawn out, in my opinion, by recapitulating key episodes and including rather too many named characters who play only minor roles.
July 24, 2019
I loved the depth of this epic and can't wait for the others in the series to come out. The characters are so true to life, and the adventures that they undertake are so awe-inspiring, The Peregrine's Odyssey should have you glued to your seat. Ideal reading for those who seek to learn more about life as lived in Ancient Rome (and beyond). The historical detail is outstanding.
January 4, 2020
This is a deeply human (and brother-focused) story, rich in detail, and with the feel of an adventure story. The characters are fully flushed out, and quite compelling in and of themselves. Add a very good mix of real and fictional people and events, plus excellent plot points and excellent research, (and more) and this gels into a high quality read. A really strong historical and christian fiction effort. Recommended. 4.5 stars rounded up.
I really appreciate the review copy!!
I really appreciate the review copy!!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews