A Crisis of Beauty
There is a crisis of beauty within my culture. That is a very kind way to say that much of the world around me, at least the civilizational part, is ugly. It is not an ugliness born of poverty (though poverty is very ugly around here) – unless we understand that there is a poverty within the human spirit that … Continue reading
Theophany and the Gates of Hades
For an Orthodox priest, the services of the Church involve many “comings and goings.” Part of any service takes place within the altar area, which is usually enclosed by an iconostasis, a wall on which icons are hung. The wall does not truly separate one area of the Church from another so much as it marks one area off from … Continue reading
The Mystery of Christ’s Baptism
This week, the Church moves from the feast of Christmas to the feast of Theophany - the celebration of the Baptism of Christ. The intent of this feast is not to celebrate a succession of historical events (the Baptism of Christ is at least 30 years later than His birth). Rather this feast takes us into the depths of the mystery of Christ and … Continue reading
Empty Ritual
For the first two decades of my life I thought that “empty” always had to be said in front of the word “ritual.” It speaks volumes about a certain understanding of the world in which we live and the nature of its relationship to God. Time and experience have given me a radically different take on ritual – both what … Continue reading
The Word within the Word – The Sacrament of Time
Perhaps the most beautiful passage in all of Scripture is the prologue of St. John’s Gospel: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was … Continue reading
Icons in a Literal World
The Scripture tells us that the “pure in heart shall see God.” I have always assumed that this describes a present event and not a promise about a distant life after death. We do not see God now, because our hearts are not pure. In the same manner, we do not see the reality of the world – because our … Continue reading
Looking Like Christmas
One of the most striking features of the Gospels is the frequent response of the Disciples after the resurrection of Christ: doubt. I have always been sympathetic to the doubts and hesitations that accompanied their ministry during the ministry of Christ. They are almost endearing in their inability to grasp what Christ is all about. However, the same inability to … Continue reading
Heaven On Their Minds
Years ago, I recall hearing someone complain about zealous Christians, “They are so heavenly minded that they are of no earthly good.” The truth of the statement depends entirely on the understanding of heaven and earth. It is possible to pursue a version of “heaven” such that the spiritual life is undermined. It is also possible to pursue heaven in … Continue reading
The Hypostatic Nearness of You (A Repost)
Originally posted in February 2007. I have updated a few things. It is a piece that is quite relevant as my youngest child graduates high school this week. The fullness only grows. Sometimes I sit down to write with an idea and I know that I am either getting ready to write something good, or something really bad. That is … Continue reading
Recent Comments
- Michael Bauman on Double-Minded
- mary benton on Double-Minded
- Michael Bauman on Double-Minded
- mary benton on Double-Minded
- Michael Bauman on Double-Minded
Read “Everywhere Present”
Have you ever referred to God as “the Man upstairs”? Most Christians living in a secular society have unwittingly relegated God and all things spiritual to the “second storey” of the universe: Read More...
Christianity in a One-Storey Universe
On Ancient Faith Radio
Click on the icon to listen to Fr Stephen on
"Ancient Faith Radio""
Orthodox News – Pravmir
Information on the Orthodox Faith
Please Read
Archives
Orthodox Blogs
- A Mule in the Chapter House
- Ad Orientem
- Again and Again
- Christ is in our Midst
- Curmudgeon in Training
- Energetic Procession/Energies of the Trinity
- Frederica
- Hexaemeron
- Just Genesis
- Monachos.net
- Orthodixie
- Orthodox Way of Life
- Orthodoxy Today
- Priest Matthew Jackson
- Prudence True
- Slava lui Dumnezeu Pentru Toate
- St. James Kids
- Teologia Pentru Azi
- The Blog of Seth
- The Cost of Discipleship
- Two Natures