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Babylon and the Trees of Pentecost
Read more: Babylon and the Trees of PentecostFrom the Feast of Pentecost The arrogance of building the tower in the days of old led to the confusion of tongues. Now the glory of the knowledge of God brings them wisdom. There God condemned the impious for their transgression. Here Christ has enlightened the fishermen by the Spirit. There disharmony was brought about […]
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The Struggle for True Communion
Read more: The Struggle for True CommunionFor many Protestants (and some others) whose Church experience has largely been shaped in the past few decades, one of the most disconcerting aspects of a first visit to an Orthodox Church is the fact that not everybody, not all Baptized Christians, are permitted to receive communion. Indeed, communion is restricted to Orthodox Christians who […]
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Do We Live In Between?
Read more: Do We Live In Between?The time between the Ascension of Christ and the Day of Pentecost marked something of an “in-between” period for Christ’s disciples. They had been instructed at the time of the Ascension to remain in Jerusalem and wait “for the promise.” Ten days later the promise was fulfilled and the Holy Spirit filled the fledgling Church […]
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Heavenly Minded
Read more: Heavenly MindedYears 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 […]
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Within a Mandorla
Read more: Within a MandorlaThere is a small class of events within the gospels that are treated in a special manner by iconographers. This special treatment reflects the language of Scripture as well. In the icons of the Transfiguration, Pascha and the Ascension, there is a particular artistic device used called a Mandorla. Sometimes circular, sometimes almost star-shaped, it […]
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God Has Gone Up with a Shout
Read more: God Has Gone Up with a ShoutThere is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the […]
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The Mystery of Love
Read more: The Mystery of LoveIt is common to both the writings of Dostoevsky [particularly in the Brothers Karamazov] and in the teachings of the Elder Sophrony and St. Silouan, that each man must see and understand himself to be responsible for the sins of all. This can be a statement that troubles some – as if doing this were a […]
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Our Selves, Our Souls, Our Bodies – More on Faith
Read more: Our Selves, Our Souls, Our Bodies – More on FaithAnd here we offer and present unto Thee, O Lord, our selves, our souls and bodies, to be a reasonable, holy and living sacrifice unto Thee… From Thomas Cranmer’s Eucharistic Prayer Regardless of what opinion one may have of the English reformer Thomas Cranmer’s theology, no one can deny him a central place in the […]
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Saving Faith
Read more: Saving FaithIn a recent post I quoted Vladimir Lossky on the nature of faith. Several have asked me to expand on the Orthodox understanding of faith. I begin with Lossky’s quote: What one quests is already present, precedes us, makes possible our question itself. ‘Through faith, we comprehend (we think) how the ages have been produced’ […]
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Father, I wanted to tell you I have been praying that prayer each night. I am very grateful that Mary…
Mallory, It’s often the case in the various New Age schemes (like “manifesting”) that there is an unnamed Something behind…
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Mallory, Indeed…”what my heart truly wants.”