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Transfiguration of the World Where You Are
Read more: Transfiguration of the World Where You AreI am traveling in the latter part of this week, going home to see parents and in-laws (which for me means going to South Carolina). As I posted in answer to an earlier question, we cannot “change the world,” even if this is an eschatological goal of the Kingdom. Political movements speak of transforming the […]
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The Transfiguration of the World and the Life of the Church
Read more: The Transfiguration of the World and the Life of the ChurchFor many centuries, the life of the Church (I am not here speaking particularly of the Orthodox Church though it applies even there) has been relegated to itself as institution and dispenser of the sacraments. Many of the the things we think of as intergral parts of the institution have only existed for a short […]
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The Transfiguration of the Material World – Part 2
Read more: The Transfiguration of the Material World – Part 2The transfiguration of the material world is not just a corollary of the doctrine of the Incarnation, but of the complete doctrine of salvation itself. Christ did not come and die, and rise again, only to make us better people. He came to make dead men live. He came to make a creation that is […]
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Transfiguring the Material World – Christmas Through the Ages
Read more: Transfiguring the Material World – Christmas Through the AgesI’ll have to ask for forgiveness at the outset on this post – mostly because of its speculative nature – something I generally prefer not to engage in – at least not for others to read. The Incarnation of Christ is significant in the course of our salvation – but we all too easily look […]
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Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Read more: Christ is Born! Glorify Him!Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, Has shown to the world the light of wisdom. For by it those who worshipped the stars, Were taught by a star to adore Thee, The Sun of Righteousness. And to know Thee the Orient from on high, O Lord, Glory to Thee! Troparion for Christmas Day
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The Fiery Furnace of Christmas
Read more: The Fiery Furnace of ChristmasThe three youths, wise in God, who shone with joy in the furnace, proclaimed the birth of Christ on earth; For just as the Lord sent down a precious dew, He preserved from the flame her who gave birth; He keeps her undefiled and enriches her with divine gifts. Therefore Daniel, pleasing to God, rejoiced […]
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Waking Up
Read more: Waking UpThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10). This fear descends on us from on High. It is a spiritual feeling, firstly of God and then of us ourselves. We live in a state of awe by virtue of the presence of the Living God together with awareness of our own […]
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Journey into the Winter Pascha
Read more: Journey into the Winter PaschaThis morning, following the rubrics of the Church, we did the service of the Royal Hours, which include readings from Old Testament and Epistle and Gospel for each of the services of the Hours (1st, 3rd, 6th, and 9th). Also much incense. It is a service that in structure will be repeated again before the […]
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The Smallness of God and Anglican Struggles
Read more: The Smallness of God and Anglican StrugglesWhom have we, Lord, like you – The Great One who became small, the Wakeful who slept, The Pure One who was baptized, the Living One who died, The King who abased himself to ensure honor for all. Blessed is your honor! St. Ephrem the Syrian We draw near to the Feast of our Lord’s […]
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The Priests’ Priest
Read more: The Priests’ PriestToday, December 20, is the feast day of St. John of Kronstadt, a modern (early 20th century) Russian priest who is admired by many priests in the Church today. His own asceticism (fasting, etc.) was well beyond what is normally seen in parish priests. He had numerous gifts of the Spirit: prophesying, healing, etc. There […]
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