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St. Silouan as a Teacher
Read more: St. Silouan as a TeacherThis is a small excerpt from St. Silouan the Athonite by Archimandrite Sophrony. Throughout my time with Blessed Staretz Silouan I never for an instant doubted that his words were the ‘words of life eternal’ received from on high, and that it was not some sophistry that had taught him the truth which his whole […]
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Apostolic Succession
Read more: Apostolic SuccessionFor the first three days of this week (Mon-Wed) I will be in Jacksonville, FL, along with my brother clergy from the diocese to meet with our hierarch, Archbishop Dmitri. It is always a joy to be with the Bishop. For years as an Anglican, I almost always dreaded such occasions. I rarely got along […]
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We Are Not Able To Do That
Read more: We Are Not Able To Do ThatFrom the Wisdom of the Desert Fathers It was said that some philosophers came one day to test the monks. Now one of the monks passed by clothed in beautiful garments, and the philosophers said to him, ‘Come here’, but he, in anger, scorned them. Another monk, a Libyan, passed by, and they said to […]
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Silence is Enough
Read more: Silence is EnoughFrom the Wisdom of the Desert Fathers A brother asked an old man, ‘If a brother tells me irrelevant things, do you advise me, abba, to ask him not to do so?’ The old man said he did not. Then the brother asked why, and the old man said, ‘Because we are not able to […]
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An Orthodox Witness on NPR – Be Kind to Children
Read more: An Orthodox Witness on NPR – Be Kind to ChildrenI have no idea what you may personally think about spanking children. I was vehemently opposed to it when I was a child, but no one asked my opinion. All of my children are now too large to spank. Indeed, my son is larger than I am and could certainly take me out if the […]
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Candlewax and Hedgehogs – Origins of Groundhog Day
Read more: Candlewax and Hedgehogs – Origins of Groundhog DayThis article, from an earlier parish newsletter is posted here by request. Candlewax and Hedgehogs—a peculiar way to entitle an article, I’ll admit. But both have their associations with the second day of February. The first is more important so we’ll begin there. The second day of February is one of the 12 great feasts, and […]
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To Fulfill All Righteousness
Read more: To Fulfill All RighteousnessOn February 2nd, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple. The feast is also known as the “Meeting” focusing on the “meeting” with St. Simeon and the Prophetess Anna. Again, the feast is also called the “Purification” remembering that one important aspect of this 40-days after the birth of […]
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Asceticism and Normalcy
Read more: Asceticism and NormalcyIt always seems to me that I run into two kind of people when it comes to ascetical labors. One person tries to do too much too soon, and quickly becomes disgusted with themself and thereafter does little. Another person does very little, out of fear, and again remains in the same position. Oddly, the […]
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Finding Faith
Read more: Finding FaithTwo of my favorite modern Orthodox authors, Metropolitan Anthony Bloom and Fr. Sophrony Sakharov have a peculiarity in common that make them “work” for me. Both include in their personal stories their own search for God, including the confession of dealing with modern Atheism. I never personally became an Atheist – that was a faith […]
Maybe I should have said “spiritual ignorance”?