Comments on: Is Anybody There? Speaking to the Heart

By: Tom Hamilton

Tom Hamilton — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 08:08:31 +0000

Fr. Stephen, Thank you. I have often read this and tried to understand it. I saw the woman as being evasive, to keep from dealing with self. Many protestants use this passage as a treatise on witnessing. I knew there was more but was unable to discern it until now. Wonderful.

By: Orthodox in the District

Orthodox in the District — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 08:45:23 +0000

Reblogged this on Orthodox in the District.

By: fatherstephen

fatherstephen — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 12:40:38 +0000

TeresaAngelina,
I hope to soon complete an overhaul of the site (work is beginning) and the search of the archives will be much simpler. I do not think I’ve written specifically on the “nous.” I often avoid the term, using other words instead. It is often translated “mind,” (intellectus in Latin) but it has a meaning that is more refined than the English “mind.” And, to make matters worse, it gets used in slightly different ways by different writers (thus context becomes very important).

By: TeresaAngelina

TeresaAngelina — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 23:51:41 +0000

Sorry Father…just found the “search” button for this site. That will do it. Shouldn’t need to request directions any longer. Noticed that there are no actual articles dealing with the nous but many others which will certainly help. Thank you for your patience!

By: fatherstephen

fatherstephen — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 22:26:39 +0000

Jim, yes quote away! thanks for the reference, too.

By: jhc38401Jim Cox

jhc38401Jim Cox — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 20:31:01 +0000

Fr. Bless . . .

Am I permitted to quote your posts in my blog posts? Of course with a reference. Why should I suffer criticism which rightly belongs to you!

By: TeresaAngelina

TeresaAngelina — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 05:20:12 +0000

Hello Father,
If the nous is a function of the conscious, what exactly is it otherwise? Is it only a function? Sorry to sound a bit dumb…I am actually on this topic. I have heard so many varying comments including the nous being the mind. Except that if that were the case, why not just call it the mind? I know this is an older post but I am a bit behind. If there is another post on this topic, could you please just point me in the right direction?

By: fatherstephen

fatherstephen — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 18:18:50 +0000

Ben,
The conscience is a function of the nous. The terminology in these things has a tendency to vary. It matters less how we understand it, than how we deal with it. The conscience is among those things that need to be purified. There is, we could say, a “conscience” function of the heart – though the conscience is understood to be something that needs illumination. As we pray, as we study, as we fast, as we deal with the thoughts and emotions of the false self, our conscience becomes cleansed. By God’s divine energies the conscience is illumined. There is a need for conscience to be nurtured and guided by the Church (or in union with the life of the Church). It’s not just some individual inner absolute.

By: Ben Andrus

Ben Andrus — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:12:24 +0000

Father Bless. Fr. Stephen, I very much appreciate your recent series on the Heart. If you have a moment could you elaborate on the connection between the Nous and the conscience? Are the Nous and the conscience synonymous, or is the conscience located in the mind? Thank you.

By: davidp

davidp — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:28:41 +0000

http://findingthewaytotheheart.blogspot.fi/ St Macarius wrote that the heart if the battlefield of salvation. Read it on the side column of above link. david