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May God Grant Us To Weep
Read more: May God Grant Us To WeepFrom the writings of the Elder Sophrony: Spirtual weeping is an abundance of life springing vigorously from potent love, whereas ordinary weeping prostrates mortal man…. The ascetic Fathers did not weep because they were deprived of temporal goods but they do insist on the necessity for spiritual weeping without which man’s stony heart is incapable […]
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Fr. Sophrony on Personhood
Read more: Fr. Sophrony on PersonhoodThe incarnation of the Logos of the Father – Jesus Christ – furnishes a solid foundation for our knowledge of God. Actuated by love for Him, we undergo a profound transformation of our whole being. Christ’s infinite life is transmitted to us. Our spirit finds itself on opposite poles – in both the black depths […]
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It's Nothing Personal
Read more: It's Nothing PersonalOne of the most frightening phrases in the English language is: “It’s nothing personal.” It almost always precedes something bad. For someone to tell me that what they are about to do is not personal is already a confession of sin. But why should the word personal carry such weight? In the life of the […]
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Why Does God Sing?
Read more: Why Does God Sing?Why would God sing? The question may sound strange and yet it is said in Zephaniah (3:17), “He will rejoice over thee with singing.” I first noticed this verse when I was a very young Christian and have puzzled about it for nearly forty years. Equally puzzling to our modern way of thought is the […]
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Another Word from St. Isaac of Syria
Read more: Another Word from St. Isaac of SyriaI prostrate myself, Lord, at the footstool of your feet and at your holy right hand which has fashioned and made me a human being capable of becoming aware of you. But I have sinned and done wrong, both in myself and before you, for I have abandoned holy converse with you and have given […]
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Yes, We Can
Read more: Yes, We CanAbba Lot went to see Abba Joseph and said to him, “Abba as far as I can, I say my little office, I fast a little, I pray and meditate, I live in peace and as far as I can, I purify my thoughts. What else can I do?” then the old man stood up […]
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The Palamite Century
Read more: The Palamite CenturyMany books on Orthodoxy spend time recounting the history of the Church. Not many recount the recent history of Orthodoxy or Orthodox thought. Many people do not realize how utterly captive Orthodox theology was to various Western groups and oppressed by the Turkokratia (Turkish empire) until the 20th century. Even in Russia, theology had been […]
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Forgiveness – the Hardest Love of All
Read more: Forgiveness – the Hardest Love of AllI cannot think that any of my readers is a stranger to forgiveness, either the need to be forgiven or the need to forgive. The need to forgive, according to the commandment of Christ, extends well beyond those who ask for our forgiveness: we are commanded to forgive our enemies – whom I presume would […]
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Living in a Crowded Heaven
Read more: Living in a Crowded HeavenNow the powers of heaven do serve invisibly with us. Lo, the King of Glory Enters. Lo, The Mystical Sacrifice is upborne, fulfilled. From the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts There is an old joke in which some member of some religious group, dies and goes to heaven. He passes by various rooms and is […]
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Psalm 50 (51) The Great Psalm of Repentance
Read more: Psalm 50 (51) The Great Psalm of Repentance
Dee, we both appreciate you and the rest of the friends. Sincerity has been my approach. I have been blessed…