Who can talk about the life of this man? Who can talk about Costi Bendaly? This pedagogue in the fullest sense of the word, this teacher, indeed, this father. Many talk about the royal priesthood but few live it. He was a priest par excellence. Why? Because he was sincere. His faith was his life. He prayed, he researched, he combined heart and mind. He spoke about children because he sympathized with them. He talked about the youth because he lived among them. But how did he know all this? How was he able to produce this enormous legacy that he left? I will tell you how: He received God’s abundant graces because he acquired the virtue of humility. All bear witness to how he behaved during the Civil War and know how

Costi Bendaly… Heart and Mind Together Costi Bendaly has departed. The theologian who did not possess a degree in theology, though he surpassed many who have attained advanced degrees in academic theology, has departed. If the prevalent saying in the Orthodox tradition is, “the true theologian is the one who prays,” then, taking Costi Bendali as an example, we can say, “the true theologian is the one who lives the Gospel, including prayer, imitating Christ Jesus in everything.” Costi Bendali put the heart and the mind together and made the harmony between them a rule for practicing the faith. He did not make an opposition between

Costi Bendaly (born 1926) is probably the most prolific author whose name is closely associated with the Orthodox Youth Movement MJO . Originally a specialist in applied psychology with a doctorate from the University of Lyon III (France), Bendali has dedicated his writing to reconsidering the relation of the latest approaches in psychology, philosophy and education to religious awareness and commitment. Bendali’s fundamental premise is that