Glory to God For All Things

March 2, 2009

Know God or No God

The task for Orthodox Christians throughout Great Lent and at all times is quite simple and straightforward: know God.
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Knowledge of God, Orthodox Christianity
March 2, 2009

A Word on Comments

I have a task and a purpose in maintaining this blog. It is free and a work of love and an offering to God. It provides a place to write about the Orthodox faith. It also provides a place for reasonable discussion of the topic at hand. By the same token, it is not a […]
Read more: A Word on Comments
Orthodox Christianity
February 28, 2009

Why We Fast

Fasting is not very alive and well in the Christian world. Much of that world has long lost any living connection with the historical memory of Christian fasting. It is as though they were Jews who heard there was such a thing as kosher and decided to make up the rules for what to eat […]
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Orthodox Christianity
February 26, 2009

Fasting – Prayers by the Lake – XLI

By St. Nikolai Velimirovich XLI With fasting I gladden my hope in You, my Lord, Who are to come again. Fasting hastens my preparation for Your coming, the sole expectation of my days and nights. Fasting makes my body thinner, so that what remains can more easily shine with the spirit. While waiting for You, I […]
Read more: Fasting – Prayers by the Lake – XLI
Conversion, Fathers, Orthodox Christianity, Prayer
February 25, 2009

The Difficulty of Lent

Many of our readers come from communities who use the Western calendar, on which today is the first day of Great Lent, Ash Wednesday. Orthodox Lent begins on at sundown this Sunday. This short reflection may be of help for us all. Great Lent is one of the most important spiritual undertakings in the course […]
Read more: The Difficulty of Lent
Conversion, Orthodox Christianity, The Journey of Faith
February 24, 2009

Orthodoxy Where You Live

I live in East Tennessee. It is an area of the nation famous for Davy Crockett (his descendants are still here). It is the place where bluegrass music originated. It was settled by Protestants – mostly Scots-Irish – which means Protestant Scots who had once lived in Scotland. It is a land of the Cherokee, […]
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Culture, Orthodox Christianity, The Journey of Faith
February 23, 2009

Standing on the Edge

One of the peculiar marks of life in the modern world is the sense one has of standing on the edge. We are always (it seems) either standing on the edge of disaster or on the edge of some great discovery. Of course, a lot of this is simply the way we market the world […]
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Orthodox Christianity
February 23, 2009

Simple Suggestions for Orthodox Study of Scripture

Saint Isaac the Syrian writes, “Very often many things are said by the Holy Scriptures and in it many names are used not in a literal sense… those who have a mind understand this” (Homily 83, p. 317). +++ The Holy Scriptures are indeed edifying for the Christian life – particularly as they are read […]
Read more: Simple Suggestions for Orthodox Study of Scripture
Knowledge of God, Scripture
February 19, 2009

Scripture and the Church

I have written several posts lately on Holy Scripture – reading comments tells me that there is a point that needs to be underlined that I have neglected to some extent – the relationship between Scripture and Church. Much of the modern world is today the product of Protestant cultures – or cultures in which […]
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Orthodox Christianity, Scripture, The Church
February 17, 2009

St. Silouan on the Love of God

I cannot remain silent concerning the people, whom I love so greatly that I must weep for them. I cannot remain silent because my soul ever grieves for the people of God, and I pray for them with tears. I cannot refrain from making known to you, brethren, the mercy of God and the wiles […]
Read more: St. Silouan on the Love of God
Knowledge of God, Orthodox Christianity, Saints

Thanks Fr. Stephen.

Matthew, Yes, that imagery is common in Orthodoxy as well. The oldest known Marian hymn, evidenced by a 3rd century…

Matthew, Fr. Anatoly, in the movie, certainly is depicted as “dying well.” He is at peace with God, and with…

Hello again Dee. Do you think Anatoly is an example that all Orthodox should emulate?

Thanks Dee.