I am writing a work of historical fiction to explore the religious dynamics of the Eastern Mediterranean region in the seventh century from a Christian perspective. The main character in the work will be a personal vehicle through which the reader will enter into the milieu of that time and region, especially in regards to praxis embodied in asceticism and (mystical) prayer. This character, though a Christian, will come into close contact with both Jewish and Muslim individuals, thus adding to the layers of his outer and inner dialogue around spiritual matters. In order to complete this work, I require time; and in order to write it in an informed manner, I require time and financial resources for research and consultation with scholars. For this reason, I am applying for the Pastoral Study Project Track of the SGPL program.