I know it's such a shame they took it out on the "wrong" Christian "group".
I've always thought the Roman Catholic Church has a lot of skeletons lurking in its closet, being responsible for so many wrong-doings throughout history. I don't know that much about the Eastern branches of Christianity, but I've always thought them more appealing.
I think it's great we have a hero in this series who is a professed Orthodox and that the Orthdox religion and beliefs are portrayed in such a positive way .

First of all, I want to say that I'm pretty surprised to see that you know so many things about Troy etc...

Second the name Vasilissa IS Russian. It's just that, in greek it's not a name. It just means "Queen".

I think I read somewhere that the stress is on the last i, like VasilIssa. In greek it is "VasIlissa". It's kinda weird, since in the translated copy they translate her name and make it seem like her name is actually "Queen"

Regarding the history topic thet you brought up, I think the connction is from the byzantine era, when Russians and greeks had relationship, since the word vasilisa is Greek. "King" is translated as "Vasilias".

Serioysly, noone here is from Russia???

No, the closest I ever get to Russia is my father is from the north of Finland, having grown up in the shadow of the very big neighbour in the east and also my grandfather having fought against the Soviet Union in WW2.

It's a fascinating country with a very interesting history. So different from most of the Western European countries, since it never had the chance to be part of the development towards a modern democracy in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

I can imagine that the Greek and Russian cultures borrowed heavily from one another during the reign of the Byzantine Empire. And then of course my own country and Russia have always been sworn enemies, competing and fighting throughout history over the control of The Baltic Sea.

This thread is enlightening. Interesting I haven't come into it before.

I don't think Rose's father being muslim is significant.
Technically speaking Rose would be muslim too.
Does Richelle specify in the book about Abe? Turkish decent doesn't 100% mean that Abe is.

I haven't got my books at the moment (lent them to a friend) but I got the distinct impression Abe is Muslim. I can't remember how it was put, but I might be wrong.

I don't think it signifies either. Only I'm glad he seems a quite OK character and I think it's a relief to have someone being Muslim and NOT automatically being the bad guy.

not to seem well insulted or anything but my family is Roman Catholic

I was raised Roman Catholic too. Went to Catholic school until 8th grade. I don't really follow the religion anymore. I'm a spiritual person and try to live a good life and be a good humble person and i pray and stuff, but the whole religion aspect just wasn't for me.

As for the books, if Abe is or isn't Muslim i don't think there is any significance in it. Since he wasn't part of Rose's childhood, Rose would have been raised under her mother's preference of religion. But being a guardian I think religion took a back burner. But, as we knew Rose didn't really believe in religion, only went for Lissa who was a devoted Christian which appears to be the dominate religion in VA.

don't worry the only reason i go to church is cause my grandma wants me to go with her and i my grandma a lot same with my grandpa who comes with us and the other reason is because another form of the goddess Nyx is Mary and i pray to her when i go to church

SPOILER!:Lissa is the Queen in Last Sacrifice!

So when do we find things that will actually get better when it came to the root of Lissa's name?