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Frederica Mathewes-Green and the Holy Grail
Read more: Frederica Mathewes-Green and the Holy GrailKhouria Frederica Mathewes-Green, a long-time friend and well-known Orthodox writer, has an excellent piece in First Things that I had not seen (it’s almost a year old). A friend sent me a link and I deeply enjoyed the read. It is a creative use of sources that I really appreciate in a writer – someone […]
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Reading Recommendations
Read more: Reading RecommendationsHaving just posted “ten books of influence,” (by request) – I’ve been reflecting on the role of books in the Orthodox life. I’ll start with the story of a brief encounter: During my years as an Anglican priest, I continued to read Orthodox writings, a practice that had begun in college. I worked on “digesting” […]
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Ten Books of Influence
Read more: Ten Books of InfluenceIt is always difficult to say what has most influenced you when it comes to books. My Orthodox reading began when I was in college and has thus spanned some 35 years or more. I’ve read much outside of Orthodoxy, very little of which I would recommend. But in response to several requests, I’ll give […]
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Orthodoxy and the Apocalypse
Read more: Orthodoxy and the ApocalypseAnd Christ said unto them, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power” (Acts 1:7) We live in difficult times, and for some of us the times are more difficult than others. We also live in a culture of apocalypticism, in which […]
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Scenes of Orthodox Monasticism
Read more: Scenes of Orthodox Monasticism
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“And For Thy Whole World”
Read more: “And For Thy Whole World”Anyone familiar with Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazovshould remember the teaching in that novel of the Elder Zossima. He states that “each man is responsible for the sins of every man,” and holds this realization as the key to the life of paradise. The great novelist is not inventing a new idea, but simply allowing one […]
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The Habit of Prayer
Read more: The Habit of PrayerThough created in the image of God – man has fallen far. The image is not demolished, but we have not fulfilled the likeness and we frequently distort the image beyond recognition. Part of the true human life described in Genesis, are the “walks in the Garden” with God. Man and God converse – they […]
Knowledge of God, Orthodox Blogs, Orthodox Christianity, Prayer, The Journey of Faith, Union with God
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The Consequence of a Full Faith
Read more: The Consequence of a Full FaithAs noted in a number of earlier posts, I prefer to use the term “fullness” when describing the Orthodox faith because it is far more explanatory than simply saying that we are the “true Church,” etc. “Fullness,” of course does not deny this, but it moves us onto more fruitful ground. I want to take […]
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Prayers By The Lake – St. Nicolai
Read more: Prayers By The Lake – St. NicolaiThis poem by St. Nicolai Velimirovic reminds me of the cadences of the Song of the Three Young Men. All creation truly gives voice to its praises. XXVI Arise all you creatures and serve the Living Lord who cares about you. Worship Him and serve Him, for no one greater than He has visited you […]
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A Royal Nun and the Angels
Read more: A Royal Nun and the AngelsThe following is a short excerpt from Mother Alexandra’s (former Princess Ileana of Romania) small book, The Holy Angels. It is by far the best treatment I have seen on the subject despite its short length. This short account tells of her encounter with her guardian angel at age seven. In the service of Orthodox […]
Going off Mark’s musings about Judas, I suspect there are always more layers and nuances than can be transmitted through…