-
Philotimo – Responsive Gratefulness
Read more: Philotimo – Responsive GratefulnessAs noted in my preceding post, I was introduced to this word through reading about the Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain who used it quite frequently in his teaching. The following short article appears on OrthodoxWiki, the online Orthodox encylopedia. It is a worthy read on an important virtue as taught by the Church. May God, […]
-
Responsive Gratefulness, Miracles and Love – the Elder Paisios
Read more: Responsive Gratefulness, Miracles and Love – the Elder PaisiosResponsive gratefulness (translating the Greek philotimo) is a very strong theme in the teachings of the Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain. The following is taken from the book Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain. Elder Paisios stressed that our acts are worthwhile only if they are done out of a grateful predisposition. He always […]
-
The Love of God and the Gospel of Christ
Read more: The Love of God and the Gospel of ChristI believe that the love of our enemies is utterly essential to the love of God. If we do not love our enemies, we will not know God, nor rightly love Him. Indeed, I believe that we only know God to the extent that we love our enemies. If anything, this points to the utter necessity of grace […]
-
St. Gregory the Theologian on our Ransom by God
Read more: St. Gregory the Theologian on our Ransom by GodOne of the greatest orators of his age, St. Gregory the Theologian (also known as Gregory Nazianzus), is considered among the most central of Church fathers. His work, and that of St. Basil the Great, did much to win the day for the Nicene Creed (by God’s grace) and to secure its completion at the […]
-
Justice and Mercy – With Thanks to the Pontificator
Read more: Justice and Mercy – With Thanks to the PontificatorFr. Al Kimel has recently posted an article (The Injustice of Grace) on the triumph of God’s mercy that is well worth reading. The following is an excerpt in which he quotes passages from St. Isaac the Syrian and St. Antony the Great: The seventh century ascetical master, St. Isaac the Syrian, boldly challenged the portrayal […]
-
Further Notes on a Common Faith – Newman
Read more: Further Notes on a Common Faith – NewmanIn my recent post on a Common Faith, I offered a concatenation of quotes from the Fathers, East and West, on the doctrine of salvation as union with God (divinization or theosis). It included as well, both Luther and Calvin. I commented at the time that with some little research surely we could add Newman […]
-
The Theological Task of Orthodoxy – A Further Word
Read more: The Theological Task of Orthodoxy – A Further WordLast October I ran the following quote from Fr. Georges Florovsky: Orthodoxy is summoned to witness. Now more than ever the Christian West stands before divergent prospects, a living question addressed also to the Orthodox world… The ‘old polemical theology’ has long ago lost its inner connection with any reality. Such theology was an academic […]
-
Riddled with the Worm of Bad Temper
Read more: Riddled with the Worm of Bad TemperWe ought to be very careful to keep watch on ourselves. When a harbor is full of ships it is easy for them to run against each other, particularly if they are secretly riddled by the worm of bad temper. St. John Climacus, 4 I have seen my four living children nearly grown. The youngest […]
-
A Minor Note
Read more: A Minor NoteWhile the world was turning and other matters of import taking place, Glory to God for All Things, crossed a half-million views today. Thanks for reading – I hope to make it worth your trouble. I simply appreciate the opportunity to think a bit and write. Blessings to all of you and a good evening. […]
@Dana Ames, thank you so much for that link. (I also turned the music off.) While watching, I was overwhelmed…