-
Finding the God Within
Read more: Finding the God WithinPopular New Age thought postulates that everyone has a “god within.” It’s a pleasant way of saying that we’re all special while making “god” to be rather banal. But there is a clear teaching of classical Christianity regarding Christ within us, and it is essential to the Orthodox way of life. We should not understand […]
-
There Are No Opinions In This Article
Read more: There Are No Opinions In This ArticleThere is a name for the Orthodox way of life: hesychia. In Greek, the word means “silence.” It could also be rendered “stillness,” or “quiet.” Far more than simply refraining from speech, it is the quiet of the heart, the stillness of the mind at rest in God, dwelling in peace. It is in this […]
-
Our Conciliar Salvation
Read more: Our Conciliar SalvationI consider it both a strange mystery and a settled matter of the faith that God prefers not to do things alone. Repeatedly, He acts in a manner that involves the actions of others when it would seem, He could have acted alone. Why would God reveal His Word to the world through the agency […]
-
Orthodoxy and the Global Threat
Read more: Orthodoxy and the Global ThreatThe peculiar approach of Orthodoxy to the peoples of the nations is often a point of criticism. The so-called “national Churches” are seen as hotbeds of cultural intransigence and sources of division. The modern difficulties between Constantinople and Moscow echo the ancient rivalry of Constantinople and Alexandria (a primary source for the schism with the […]
-
The Fullness in Lent
Read more: The Fullness in LentThis article keeps coming to mind as I celebrate the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts on these Lenten Wednesdays and Fridays. There is nothing to compare to them in the Christian liturgical world. It’s hard to thinking of fasting in the midst of such a feast. Orthodoxy has a number of “favorite” words – all […]
-
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 […]
-
The Ecstasy of Knowing God
Read more: The Ecstasy of Knowing GodConsciousness is something of a constant in our lives (even when we sleep there is a level of consciousness). We do not think about it very often – since it is simply our awareness of the world outside (as well as the world inside). It is not what we are a ware of – it is […]
-
Singing and Dancing through Great Lent
Read more: Singing and Dancing through Great LentI grew up in a rural American Protestant culture. In many ways there was a level of piety that was beneficial. God’s name, particularly the name of Christ, was held in great reverence. Stores closed on Sundays – and if many people used the afternoon for recreation – most used the morning to attend Church. […]
-
More Thoughts on Hell
Read more: More Thoughts on HellIn my recent article on hell, I offered what I called a “lesson in ontology” (the study of being). It was a way of understanding what it means to say something is real and true, and the nature of existence as a gift. But in describing hell as not “real,” many readers immediately concluded that […]
-
Forgiveness – Do We Know What We’re Doing?
Read more: Forgiveness – Do We Know What We’re Doing?The first service of Great Lent in the Orthodox Church is “Forgiveness Vespers,” served on the eve of Monday of the First Week. There is nothing unusual about the service itself – other than the “rite of forgiveness” appended to it. In this, the priest and the faithful ask forgiveness of one another. Often this […]
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
Also … I fully agree with Stephen. What a beautiful icon! For me it kind of speaks “Pietà”, but in…
Fr. Stephen wrote: “Again, nothing in this diminishes the Resurrection. Interestingly, in Orthodoxy (and not in the West), the theme…
Matthew, It is simply the display of love. It does not distract from the Resurrection, nor compete with it. But…
Stephen, The icon is a version of an icon “Lament me not,” which is a hymn sung during the Holy…
Read my books
Listen to my podcast
Please Read
Categories
Archives
One last comment on the Cross – Resurrection relationship: Even in the movie “The Passion of the Christ” Gibson includes…