Glory to God For All Things

March 30, 2013

Unmediated Grace

This Sunday the Orthodox Calendar commemorates St. Gregory Palamas – perhaps the most significant theologian and teacher of the late Byzantine period. He particularly is 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 this true […]
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Knowledge of God, Orthodox Christianity, The Church, Union with God
March 28, 2013

People of the Book

How obvious is the Bible? In my part of the world, a simple, cultural Protestantism prevails, one where many people when asked what Church they go to will say, “I just read the Bible and try to do what God says.” They may or may not go to a Church. They may, if questioned have […]
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Interpretation, Orthodox Christianity, Scripture, The Church
March 25, 2013

“Hail, Mary, Full of Grace,” – the Cause of All Things

I treasure the small volume of George Gabriel, Mary the Untrodden Portal of God. Gabriel occasionally strikes hard at the West and the book would perhaps be strengthened with a less combative approach to the differences of East and West in the faith (my own opinion), but I liked the book and found Gabriel addressing many […]
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Communion, Incarnation, Mother of God
March 21, 2013

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 […]
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Beauty, Icons, Liturgy, Orthodox Christianity, The Journey of Faith
March 21, 2013

The Mystery, Upborne, Fulfilled

Orthodoxy has a number of “favorite” words – all of which fall outside the bounds of normal speech. Though we commonly use the word “mystery” (for example), popular speech never uses it in the manner of the Church. I cannot remember using the word “fullness,” or even “fulfilled,” in normal speech. More contemporary words have […]
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Allegory, Knowledge of God, Liturgy, Mystical Theology, Orthodox Christianity, The Sacraments, Union with God
March 19, 2013

The True Culture War

The cultural landscape of the modern world is continuing to shift and change. Opinions that were but shortly ago in the minority have moved into the majority and the political world is quickly realigning itself. Positions that were once traditionally Christian with wide public support or acquiescence are being marginalized. In various places Christians find […]
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Knowledge of God, Modernity, Orthodox Christianity, Secularism, The Sacraments, Union with God
March 16, 2013

Preaching the Love of God – St. Isaac of Syria

I would not have a blog except for the friendship of Fr. Aidan Kimel. He has returned to writing himself. His latest is an exquisite word on the need for preaching the love of God – with a wonderful look at this love in the writings of St. Isaac. I append a short excerpt. Do […]
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Fathers, Orthodox Christianity
March 15, 2013

Outside of Paradise

And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the Garden… Joni Mitchell (1969) The instinct of the folk-music singer celebrating the Woodstock Festival was not wrong. The religious sensibilities of younger generations today would likely say the same thing but with no reference to the Scriptures. The longing that marks the human heart finds many […]
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Cross, Orthodox Christianity, Pascha, Prayer, Repentance
March 12, 2013

The Fast that Keeps

Corrie Ten Boom, the Dutch Christian who suffered in Hitler’s Ravensbruck for her work rescuing Jews, shared stories of her life within those death camps. I recall one of her remarks, “We did not keep the Sabbath, the Sabbath kept us.” Some years back I was filming a television show with the local Rabbi and […]
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Fasting, Orthodox Christianity, Union with God
March 11, 2013

Love and Freedom in a One-Storey Universe

I offer the first-ever guest article on the blog. My eldest daughter, Matushka Mary Holste, sent me this piece. I loved it and wanted to share with others. Enjoy. St. Augustine said, “Love and do what you will.” This statement describes a way of being that offers us both freedom and joy. We are to […]
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Heart, Orthodox Christianity, Union with God

Mallory, Years ago I sat beside the hospital bed of my dying mother for several weeks. She could not hold…

Mallory, The Christian story tells us that we are in a war – (or metaphors similar to that). The purpose…

Mallory, Please forgive me for adding one more comment. The work of our Lord is often unseen. Described in the…

Mallory, I read in your comment such deep grief and I know from personal experience as one you have expressed…

Mallory, I’ve met beautiful in soul people who have come out of terrible home experiences and deeply flawed people who…