-
Hopko on the Cross of Christ
Read more: Hopko on the Cross of ChristAn excerpt from a commencement address at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2007, given by Fr. Thomas Hopko. It is deeply worthy of conversation. I first posted this back in June, 2007, when it was “new.” That which is true is always new and timeless. …I can tell you that being loved by God, and loving […]
-
Freedom and the Self
Read more: Freedom and the SelfThis past Sunday on the Orthodox Church commemorated St. Gregory Palamas – perhaps the most significant theologian and teacher of the late Byzantine period. He is particularly important when considering the nature of the Christian experience of God. Orthodoxy believes that it is truly possible to know God though He remains unknowable. The mystery of […]
-
St. Patrick’s Protection Against Secularism
Read more: St. Patrick’s Protection Against SecularismThe nature of secularism is the notion that anything at all exists apart from God – that is – that it has an independent existence. This is the very heart of modernity’s self-understanding: the world and all that is in it is self-existing and does not require God for its existence or well-being. This is […]
-
The Forgiveness of Children
Read more: The Forgiveness of ChildrenI was sitting during our service of Forgiveness Vespers. I’m getting older and I was tired. The senior priest was leading the service and I was sitting quietly, steeling myself for the “Rite of Forgiveness” (where everyone forgives everyone) that was to follow. It takes time to do this when there are hundreds of people […]
-
A Modern Lent
Read more: A Modern LentFew things are as difficult in the modern world as fasting. It is not simply the action of changing our eating habits that we find problematic – it’s the whole concept of fasting and what it truly entails. It comes from another world. We understand dieting – changing how we eat in order to improve […]
-
Adam’s Sin and the Sin of All
Read more: Adam’s Sin and the Sin of AllI saw this quote from St. Sophrony of Essex posted on Facebook yesterday. It speaks to the heart of our life and the mystery of sin and forgiveness. It is a theme that is common in the Fathers: “Many of us cannot, or do not want to, accept and suffer of our own free will […]
-
Words as Icons
Read more: Words as IconsCreation has a sacramental purpose: it reveals God. For from the first making of the world, those things of God which the eye is unable to see, that is, his eternal power and existence, are fully made clear, he having given the knowledge of them through the things which he has made (Rom. 1:20) This […]
-
Taking My Mental Shoes Off
Read more: Taking My Mental Shoes OffI approach spirituality as a social scientist who believes that whether or not God exists, spirituality is a deep part of human nature, shaped by natural selection and cultural evolution, and central to human flourishing and self-transcendence. – Jon Haidt The above quote is a sentiment that I see more and more often these days. It […]
Subscribe to blog via email
Support the work
Your generous support for Glory to God for All Things will help maintain and expand the work of Fr. Stephen. This ministry continues to grow and your help is important. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement!
Latest Comments
Unholy Fool, I think you’re misreading Hopko (or not reading deeply enough). This is always a problem when pondering the…
While I hesitate to disagree with someone who surely knows more than I, the imagery used at the beginning of…
Matthew, To say it is a mystery sounds like dodging the question. It is, instead, an invitation to take a…
Thank you for sharing Fr. Tom’s beautiful and powerful words!
Read my books
Listen to my podcast
Please Read
Categories
Archives
This feeling of God being “abusive” is why I don’t read the OT anymore, and I’ve made peace with the…