Death to the World

Death to the World was a free zine apparently created by [[Eastern Orthodox Christian monks in northern California, around the year 2000. Aimed at "punks," street kids, and spiritual seekers, the 'zine opened up the possibility of a serious rebellion against drab and empty modern life, by choosing to embrace radical Christianity. Issues featured photographs of monks in ossuaries (places where the bones of monks were stored) and true articles about Christians who died for their faith.

Particular attention was paid to the life and work of Father Seraphim Rose, who became co-founder of the St. Herman of Alaska Skete. He and his monastic brother Father Herman lived in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness, living simply in primitive conditions, offering hospitality to kids who were having problems, and translating rare spiritual texts and printing them on their hand-operated printing press. He had been a reader of Rene Guenon and an explorer of Asian wisdom. He brought the little-known lore of Russian mysticism and the clairvoyant Optina Elders to the attention of young pilgrims. Rose died in 1982. A biography of him is called Not of This World.

Perhaps fewer than ten issues of the photocopied 'zine were published.