"God is truth, and my prayer should be truth as well as life; God is light and my prayer should be offered in the light of the mind and the heart; God is fire and my prayer should be ardent; God is perfectly free, and my prayer should be the free outpouring of the heart."
~St. John of Kronstadat, Spiritual Counsels
Showing posts with label Religious posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Religious posts. Show all posts
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Signs
There's a church near our house that has a handpainted sign by the side of the highway that says in big letters THE WAGES OF SIN ARE DEATH and underneath, in much smaller letters it says But Christ died to save sinners.
They've got it backwards.
I mean, sure, the wages of sin are death. But that's not important. The important part is the love of God which led Christ to die to save sinners. That's what we should be proclaiming--the Love of God, not the fallen-ness of man.
We cannot find salvation, we cannot achieve perfection by fear of hell. We can only find it through love of God and by His grace.
They've got it backwards.
I mean, sure, the wages of sin are death. But that's not important. The important part is the love of God which led Christ to die to save sinners. That's what we should be proclaiming--the Love of God, not the fallen-ness of man.
We cannot find salvation, we cannot achieve perfection by fear of hell. We can only find it through love of God and by His grace.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Holy Monday
Behold, the Bridegroom is coming in the middle of the night, and blessed is the servant whom He shall find awake and watching, but unworthy is he whom he shall find idle and careless. Beware, then my soul lest thou be weighed down with sleep, lest thou be given up to death and shut out of the Kingdom. But awake and cry: Holy, Holy, Holy, art Thou O God: through the intercessions of the Bodiless Ones, save us.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Forgiveness Sunday
Today is the last Sunday before Lent begins for us. (We celebrate Pascha [Easter] at a different time than Protestants and Catholics, so Lent begins at a different time.) It's commonly called Cheesefare Sunday, because it's when we say Farewell to all dairy products. We've already said Farewell to all meat last Sunday. More officially it's known as Forgiveness Sunday because we have a service where everyone in the parish asks everyone else in the parish to forgive them. Being at college, I'm a parish of one at the moment, so I just did the rest of the service. (If you're interested, you can read the text of the service HERE.)
I really like the Forgiveness Vespers because so often we think of forgiveness as a very in your head sort of thing. But in this service we actually literally fall down before each other and ask the other person's forgiveness and then embrace. It's a very real thing, and I think that it's significant that on Pascha we also embrace each other, bringing it around full circle.
I really like the Forgiveness Vespers because so often we think of forgiveness as a very in your head sort of thing. But in this service we actually literally fall down before each other and ask the other person's forgiveness and then embrace. It's a very real thing, and I think that it's significant that on Pascha we also embrace each other, bringing it around full circle.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Quotes from The Art of Prayer
I posted a few quotes from the introduction HERE.
"Training, then, must also be twofold, outer and inner: outer in reading books, inner in thoughts of God; outer in love of wisdom, inner in love of God; outer in words, inner in prayer; outer in keenness of intellect, inner in warmth of spirit."
~St. Dimitri of Rostov, p. 44
"[Inner prayer is performed] not only standing or walking, but also lying down, in a word, always--whenever you happen to raise your mind to God."
~St. Dimitri of Rostov, p. 45
"The heart is a small vessel, but all things are contained in it; God is there, the angels are there, and there also is life and the Kingdom, the heavenly cities and the treasures of grace."
~St. Makarios of Egypt, p. 46
"No unity with God is possible except by an exceedingly great love."
~St. Dimitri of Rostov, p. 47
"Because all have grace, only one thing is necessary: to give this grace free scope to act....the more our heart is purified the more lively becomes our feeling towards God."
~St. Theophan the Recluse, p. 59
"You must never regard any spiritual work as firmly established, and this is especially true of prayer; but always pray as if beginning for the first time. When we do a thing for the first time, we come to it fresh and with a new-born enthusiasm."
~St. Theophan the Recluse, p. 74
"But constant repetition is not required. what is required is a constant aliveness to God--an aliveness present when you talk, read, watch, or examine something."
~St. Theophan the Recluse, p. 83
It is important to remember that these authors are writing for other Orthodox Christians. They are assuming that their readers will attend church, confess and receive Communion regularly. St. Theophan says specifically not to regard the development of inner prayer as a substitute for the life in the Church or the Sacraments.
"Training, then, must also be twofold, outer and inner: outer in reading books, inner in thoughts of God; outer in love of wisdom, inner in love of God; outer in words, inner in prayer; outer in keenness of intellect, inner in warmth of spirit."
~St. Dimitri of Rostov, p. 44
"[Inner prayer is performed] not only standing or walking, but also lying down, in a word, always--whenever you happen to raise your mind to God."
~St. Dimitri of Rostov, p. 45
"The heart is a small vessel, but all things are contained in it; God is there, the angels are there, and there also is life and the Kingdom, the heavenly cities and the treasures of grace."
~St. Makarios of Egypt, p. 46
"No unity with God is possible except by an exceedingly great love."
~St. Dimitri of Rostov, p. 47
"Because all have grace, only one thing is necessary: to give this grace free scope to act....the more our heart is purified the more lively becomes our feeling towards God."
~St. Theophan the Recluse, p. 59
"You must never regard any spiritual work as firmly established, and this is especially true of prayer; but always pray as if beginning for the first time. When we do a thing for the first time, we come to it fresh and with a new-born enthusiasm."
~St. Theophan the Recluse, p. 74
"But constant repetition is not required. what is required is a constant aliveness to God--an aliveness present when you talk, read, watch, or examine something."
~St. Theophan the Recluse, p. 83
It is important to remember that these authors are writing for other Orthodox Christians. They are assuming that their readers will attend church, confess and receive Communion regularly. St. Theophan says specifically not to regard the development of inner prayer as a substitute for the life in the Church or the Sacraments.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
The Orthodox mind
The subject sounds very grand and complicated, and I don't count myself as qualified to say much about it. These are just two quotes from Bishop Kallistos Ware's Introduction to The Art of Prayer. I do think that they are very indicative of the kind of mind that true Orthodox ascetics seek to achieve.
"Neither [St. Theophan the Recluse or St. Ignatius Brianchaninov] sought to be 'original,' but they saw themselves rather as guardians and spokesmen of a great ascetic and spiritual heritage received from the past. At the same time they did far more than mechanically repeat earlier writers: for this tradition inherited from the past was also something which they had themselves experienced creatively in their own inner life."
In our times when so many people long to be "fresh" and "original," it seems strange to think that guarding and fully experiencing the truths of the past is a better path. But I think that it is a better path. I also think that thinking you're terribly original often leads you straight into group-speak. Think of all the young people out there with long hair who play guitars and who are convinced that they're terribly counter-culture. Or, on the other hand, think of all the people who bake all of their own whole-wheat bread and cook all of their own meals and, again, are convinced that they're terribly counter-culture. I like guitar, and I like whole-wheat bread and baking it, and cooking. But let's not fool ourselves into thinking we're something that we're not.
"It is necessary, then, for the ascetic to descend from the head into the heart. He is not required to abandon his intellectual powers--the reason, too, is a gift of God--but he is called to descend with the mind into his heart."
This part is terribly important, in my opinion, because it shows the Orthodox middle road. On one extreme we have those for whom Reason is God. On the other we have those completely governed by their emotions. The Orthodox teaching steers neatly between the two. At first glance it might seem that it tends more towards the second extreme, but as Bp. Kallistos explains earlier in the Introduction:
"[The heart] is the primary organ of man's being, whether physical or spiritual; it is the centre of life, the determining principle of all our activities and aspirations. As such, the heart obviously includes the affections and emotions, but it also includes much else besides: it embraces in effect everything that goes to compromise what we call a 'person.'"
A little food for thought, on a grey Tuesday.
"Neither [St. Theophan the Recluse or St. Ignatius Brianchaninov] sought to be 'original,' but they saw themselves rather as guardians and spokesmen of a great ascetic and spiritual heritage received from the past. At the same time they did far more than mechanically repeat earlier writers: for this tradition inherited from the past was also something which they had themselves experienced creatively in their own inner life."
In our times when so many people long to be "fresh" and "original," it seems strange to think that guarding and fully experiencing the truths of the past is a better path. But I think that it is a better path. I also think that thinking you're terribly original often leads you straight into group-speak. Think of all the young people out there with long hair who play guitars and who are convinced that they're terribly counter-culture. Or, on the other hand, think of all the people who bake all of their own whole-wheat bread and cook all of their own meals and, again, are convinced that they're terribly counter-culture. I like guitar, and I like whole-wheat bread and baking it, and cooking. But let's not fool ourselves into thinking we're something that we're not.
"It is necessary, then, for the ascetic to descend from the head into the heart. He is not required to abandon his intellectual powers--the reason, too, is a gift of God--but he is called to descend with the mind into his heart."
This part is terribly important, in my opinion, because it shows the Orthodox middle road. On one extreme we have those for whom Reason is God. On the other we have those completely governed by their emotions. The Orthodox teaching steers neatly between the two. At first glance it might seem that it tends more towards the second extreme, but as Bp. Kallistos explains earlier in the Introduction:
"[The heart] is the primary organ of man's being, whether physical or spiritual; it is the centre of life, the determining principle of all our activities and aspirations. As such, the heart obviously includes the affections and emotions, but it also includes much else besides: it embraces in effect everything that goes to compromise what we call a 'person.'"
A little food for thought, on a grey Tuesday.
Monday, January 07, 2008
Christ is born!
We've had a lovely Nativity so far and will have our family dinner soon. Ham, rolls, green beans, and cheesecake made by yours truly. It's chocolate cheesecake too. We had the midnight service last night, mostly presided over by a visiting priest who is probably one of my favorite people in the whole world. And Christ is born! Did I mention that?
I've always loved Pascha more than Nativity, but somehow this year they strike me as very much connected. Without one we can't have the other; without the Child in the manger, there is no Crucifixion and no Resurrection.
I also listened very carefully to all the commandments in the service (it's interesting to me that they're very clearly commands--we don't have any excuses to ignore them) to rejoice since Christ is born. I've been needing some joy recently since I've been facing some tough decisions about things in the future and I don't like thinking about the future much, especially when I don't have any answers. I tend to get panicky. There were other factors involved which didn't make it any easier. So, all in all, it's been hard around here recently and the reminders to have joy for Christ has conquered death came at just the right time.
And yes, I will put up the 2007 Books post soon, I promise. I have not forgotten about it. We've just been so busy with all the Nativity preparations that I haven't had a chance to sit down and type it up.
Hope you're having a wonderful Nativity if you celebrate it today, and a blessed day no matter what!
I've always loved Pascha more than Nativity, but somehow this year they strike me as very much connected. Without one we can't have the other; without the Child in the manger, there is no Crucifixion and no Resurrection.
I also listened very carefully to all the commandments in the service (it's interesting to me that they're very clearly commands--we don't have any excuses to ignore them) to rejoice since Christ is born. I've been needing some joy recently since I've been facing some tough decisions about things in the future and I don't like thinking about the future much, especially when I don't have any answers. I tend to get panicky. There were other factors involved which didn't make it any easier. So, all in all, it's been hard around here recently and the reminders to have joy for Christ has conquered death came at just the right time.
And yes, I will put up the 2007 Books post soon, I promise. I have not forgotten about it. We've just been so busy with all the Nativity preparations that I haven't had a chance to sit down and type it up.
Hope you're having a wonderful Nativity if you celebrate it today, and a blessed day no matter what!
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Taste of prayer
This is from the ninth ode of the canon to the Theotokos. I found it highly comforting earlier.
Turn not away from the torrent of my tears, O Virgin, thou who didst give birth to Christ, who dost wipe away all tears from every face.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Fill my heart with joy, O Virgin, thou who didst receive the fullness of joy, and didst banish the grief of sin.
O most holy Theotokos, save us.
Be the haven and protection, and a wall unshaken, a refuge and shelter, and the gladness, O Virgin, of those who flee unto thee.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
Illumine with the rays of thy light, O Virgin, those who piously confess thee to be the Theotokos, and do thou banish away all darkness of ignorance.
Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
In a place of affliction and infirmity am I brought low; O Virgin, do thou heal me, transforming mine illness into healthfulness.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Living by a different time
Or perhaps I should have said, living by a different calendar. You see, myself and my family are Old Calendar Orthodox Christians. *NOTE: I am not getting into The Debate here. I am simply telling how this has been a part of my life. Those of you who are not Orthodox may be confused here, but don't worry. If you don't know what I'm talking about, the note doesn't apply to you.* Being Old Calendar means that our church life is thirteen days behind everyone else. For instance, today is the 7th of December OC, not the 20th. Our worldly lives use the usual Gregorian calendar (anything else would be a tad awkward) but our religious lives operate on a different time frame.
Around this time of year the difference seems startlingly apparent. Practically, it means that December 25th (Gregorian) isn't Christmas. It's the feast of St. Herman of Alaska. Similarly, January 7th isn't just another day--it's the Lord's Nativity. It means that certain dates have great resonance for us which the rest of the world doesn't even think of, while other dates are far less busy than they are for others. For myself, New Year's has always seem stuck in the middle of St. Herman and Nativity.
Since my parents are converts we experience some of the more "normal" excitement surrounding December 25th. We generally open presents from our non-Orthodox relatives on that day so they don't think we've forgotten about them. But in a way, it's their day not ours, and our hearts really glow more at the thought of the beginning of Orthodoxy in America than sugarplums and snow fairies.
I like having this very literal sense of Orthodoxy operating on a different temporal plane than the rest of the world. I like that Christmas for us remains uncomercialized, still wonderful for its sacredness, not for its presents. Though, of course, I like the presents.
Around this time of year the difference seems startlingly apparent. Practically, it means that December 25th (Gregorian) isn't Christmas. It's the feast of St. Herman of Alaska. Similarly, January 7th isn't just another day--it's the Lord's Nativity. It means that certain dates have great resonance for us which the rest of the world doesn't even think of, while other dates are far less busy than they are for others. For myself, New Year's has always seem stuck in the middle of St. Herman and Nativity.
Since my parents are converts we experience some of the more "normal" excitement surrounding December 25th. We generally open presents from our non-Orthodox relatives on that day so they don't think we've forgotten about them. But in a way, it's their day not ours, and our hearts really glow more at the thought of the beginning of Orthodoxy in America than sugarplums and snow fairies.
I like having this very literal sense of Orthodoxy operating on a different temporal plane than the rest of the world. I like that Christmas for us remains uncomercialized, still wonderful for its sacredness, not for its presents. Though, of course, I like the presents.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
My namesday
It's the Entry of the Theotokos into the temple and therefore my namesday. My parents gave me a beautiful woven bookmark with an icon of the Theotokos on it.
I've always liked my namesday because it's a quiet and tender kind of feast.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Icons
Yesterday morning I woke up feeling very cold and empty. No particular reason, just the early morning gloom that I sometimes wake up with. I got out of bed and dressed and went into my prayer closet (I do literally have a prayer closet, or rather I have my icons and prayer books on a bookcase in a closet) to do the Morning Prayers.
I wasn't really thinking about it, but at the end I reminded myself to kiss the icons that are on the top of the bookcase and hung on the walls. As I did so, I realized that I'm not all alone. The icons reminded me that there is the cloud of witnesses St. Paul talks about, the Church Triumphant, which prays for us if we ask it. I literally felt so warm and joyous! It was such a remarkable change from what I had been feeling just before.
It strikes me as interesting that I needed that physical contact with wood and paint to remind me of the Scripture. I needed my cloud of witnesses there. I think that is one of the reasons I love the Orthodox church. It recognizes that we do live in a fallen world and need our senses raised up to heaven.
My "prayer closet"
I wasn't really thinking about it, but at the end I reminded myself to kiss the icons that are on the top of the bookcase and hung on the walls. As I did so, I realized that I'm not all alone. The icons reminded me that there is the cloud of witnesses St. Paul talks about, the Church Triumphant, which prays for us if we ask it. I literally felt so warm and joyous! It was such a remarkable change from what I had been feeling just before.
It strikes me as interesting that I needed that physical contact with wood and paint to remind me of the Scripture. I needed my cloud of witnesses there. I think that is one of the reasons I love the Orthodox church. It recognizes that we do live in a fallen world and need our senses raised up to heaven.
My "prayer closet"
A blessed day
Today is the Old Calendar beginning of the Nativity Fast AND St. Herman of Alaska's feast day AND St. Paisius Velichkovsky's feast day! It ought to be a blessed day if any of them are!
St. Herman
Troparion, Tone 4
Blessed ascetic of the northern wilds/and gracious intercessor for the whole world/teacher of the Orthodox Faith/and good instructor of piety/adornment of Alaska and joy of all America/holy Father Herman/pray to Christ God that He may save our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 8
Monk of Valaam and beloved of the Mother of God/new zealot of the desert-dwellers of old by thine ascetic labors/having taken prayer as thy sword and shield/thou didst reveal thyself as terrible to demons and pagan darkness/wherefore we cry to thee O saint Herman/pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.
St. Paisius Velichkovsky
Troparion, Tone 4
O Paisius the joy of Russia/the boast of Athos and the wonder of Moldavia/by thy divinely inspired teaching, thou dost direct us to the found of wisdom and salvation./And now enjoying in heaven the vision of Christ God,/entreat Him to grant us His great mercy/and save our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 1
As a patristic bee, O Father Paisius,/thou didst gather the precious pollen, collecting and preserving the teachings of the Holy Fathers,/ and the golden honey of sanctity produced in thy hive/thou didst bequeath by God's Providence to the last Christians/to guide us in leading a God-pleasing zealous life./Therefore let us struggle while it is still day/with the time and weapons which God has given us.
St. Herman on Orthodox Wiki
St. Paisius on Orthodox Wiki
St. Herman
Troparion, Tone 4
Blessed ascetic of the northern wilds/and gracious intercessor for the whole world/teacher of the Orthodox Faith/and good instructor of piety/adornment of Alaska and joy of all America/holy Father Herman/pray to Christ God that He may save our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 8
Monk of Valaam and beloved of the Mother of God/new zealot of the desert-dwellers of old by thine ascetic labors/having taken prayer as thy sword and shield/thou didst reveal thyself as terrible to demons and pagan darkness/wherefore we cry to thee O saint Herman/pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved.
St. Paisius Velichkovsky
Troparion, Tone 4
O Paisius the joy of Russia/the boast of Athos and the wonder of Moldavia/by thy divinely inspired teaching, thou dost direct us to the found of wisdom and salvation./And now enjoying in heaven the vision of Christ God,/entreat Him to grant us His great mercy/and save our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 1
As a patristic bee, O Father Paisius,/thou didst gather the precious pollen, collecting and preserving the teachings of the Holy Fathers,/ and the golden honey of sanctity produced in thy hive/thou didst bequeath by God's Providence to the last Christians/to guide us in leading a God-pleasing zealous life./Therefore let us struggle while it is still day/with the time and weapons which God has given us.
St. Herman on Orthodox Wiki
St. Paisius on Orthodox Wiki
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Orthodoxy comes to America
Today is the 213th anniversary of the arrival of Orthodoxy in America when St. Herman, St. Juvenaly, and the missionaries with them landed in Alaska.
Glory to God!
St. Herman of Alaska
Glory to God!
Psalm 102
As I was doing the Typica this morning, the first Antiphon caught my attention. What a wonderful expression of God's mercy and love!
Psalm 102 (Orthodox numbering, it's Psalm 103 for everyone else)
Bless the Lord, o my soul; blessed art Thou, O Lord. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all that He hath done for thee. Who is gracious unto all thine iniquities, Who healeth all thine infirmities. Who redeemeth thy life from corruption, Who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion. Who fulfilleth thy desire with good things; thy youth shall be renewed as the eagle's. The Lord performeth deeds of mercy, and executeth judgment for all them that are wronged. He hath made His ways known unto Moses, unto the sons of Israel the things that He hath willed. Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. Not unto the end will He be angered, neither unto eternity will He be wroth. Not according to our iniquities hath He dealt with us, neither according to our sins hath He rewarded us. For according to the height of heaven from the earth, the Lord hath made His mercy to prevail over them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our iniquities from us. Like as a father hath compassion upon his sons, so hath the Lord had compassion upon them that fear Him; for He knoweth whereof we are made, He hath remembered that we are dust. As for man, his days are as the grass; as a flower of the field, so shall he blossom forth. For when the wind is passed over it, then it shall be gone, and no longer will it know the place thereof. But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, even unto eternity, upon them that fear Him. And His righteousness is upon sons of sons, upon them that keep His testament and remember His commandments to do them. The Lord in heaven hath prepared His throne, and His kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord, all ye His angels, mighty in strength, that perform His word, to hear the voice of His words. Bless the Lord, all ye His hosts, His ministers that do His will. Bless the Lord, all ye His works, in every place of His dominion.
Text from the Online Readers Service Horologion
Psalm 102 (Orthodox numbering, it's Psalm 103 for everyone else)
Bless the Lord, o my soul; blessed art Thou, O Lord. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
all that is within me bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all that He hath done for thee. Who is gracious unto all thine iniquities, Who healeth all thine infirmities. Who redeemeth thy life from corruption, Who crowneth thee with mercy and compassion. Who fulfilleth thy desire with good things; thy youth shall be renewed as the eagle's. The Lord performeth deeds of mercy, and executeth judgment for all them that are wronged. He hath made His ways known unto Moses, unto the sons of Israel the things that He hath willed. Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. Not unto the end will He be angered, neither unto eternity will He be wroth. Not according to our iniquities hath He dealt with us, neither according to our sins hath He rewarded us. For according to the height of heaven from the earth, the Lord hath made His mercy to prevail over them that fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our iniquities from us. Like as a father hath compassion upon his sons, so hath the Lord had compassion upon them that fear Him; for He knoweth whereof we are made, He hath remembered that we are dust. As for man, his days are as the grass; as a flower of the field, so shall he blossom forth. For when the wind is passed over it, then it shall be gone, and no longer will it know the place thereof. But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity, even unto eternity, upon them that fear Him. And His righteousness is upon sons of sons, upon them that keep His testament and remember His commandments to do them. The Lord in heaven hath prepared His throne, and His kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the Lord, all ye His angels, mighty in strength, that perform His word, to hear the voice of His words. Bless the Lord, all ye His hosts, His ministers that do His will. Bless the Lord, all ye His works, in every place of His dominion.Text from the Online Readers Service Horologion
Monday, September 24, 2007
Holy Women of Russia: a review
Holy Women of Russia
by Brenda Meehan
Since I grew up in the Orthodox Church I grew up hearing and reading Lives of Saints. In a way, Brenda Meehan's book seemed a great deal like a non-Orthodox version of those Lives. Meehan does a fabulous job of presenting the lives of the five women she examines in a respectful manner. At the same time, it is very clear that she is not Orthodox and does not speak from that point of view. Specifically, it is very clear that Meehan wants to apply several aspects of modern feminism to the women she writes about. This jarred for me in several places, but I appreciate that she realized that the women worked within a system rather than rebelling against it.
One of the most interesting aspects of the whole book comes in the first line of the introduction.
Highly recommended.
by Brenda Meehan
Since I grew up in the Orthodox Church I grew up hearing and reading Lives of Saints. In a way, Brenda Meehan's book seemed a great deal like a non-Orthodox version of those Lives. Meehan does a fabulous job of presenting the lives of the five women she examines in a respectful manner. At the same time, it is very clear that she is not Orthodox and does not speak from that point of view. Specifically, it is very clear that Meehan wants to apply several aspects of modern feminism to the women she writes about. This jarred for me in several places, but I appreciate that she realized that the women worked within a system rather than rebelling against it.
One of the most interesting aspects of the whole book comes in the first line of the introduction.
I have had great difficulty writing this book. I am convinced now that it is because the women I am writing about--vibrant, spiritually intense women--didn't like the way I was originally telling their story, making it part of a dry analysis of the rise of women's communities in nineteenth century Russia....these women jumped up from the pages, refusing to be neatly contained within my chapters and withing a framework that stressed the sociohistorical at the expense of the spiritual. They insisted that I listen to the inner stirrings of their hearts and take seriously the spiritual paths they had trod. And I think they also wanted to say that holiness and spirituality are timeless.I think that it was Meehan's allowance for that point of view which takes this book from the realm of academic research into a real evaluation of the lives of five Orthodox women who tried to serve God in their own ways. It takes them seriously and it asks how we can follow their lead--even those of us who are not Orthodox. Later in the introduction Meehan says, "These women believed, and shock us into believing, in a world in which virtue has meaning." This book is a wonderful introduction to five holy women who sought to find virtue in others and cultivate it in themselves.
Highly recommended.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Weddings
I went home this weekend for a wedding at church. It was very lovely, although having the reception outside may not have been the best idea. It was cold.
At any rate, it struck me once again that the Orthodox services are so rich, so full of grace and symbolism and reality. I don't believe that any other denomination can claim that in the same way (sorry my Protestant and Catholic friends). I'm deeply thankful that I am Orthodox.
Tomorrow is the start of another week. To (mis)quote Anne Shirley, one with "no mistakes in it." I'm grateful for that as well.
At any rate, it struck me once again that the Orthodox services are so rich, so full of grace and symbolism and reality. I don't believe that any other denomination can claim that in the same way (sorry my Protestant and Catholic friends). I'm deeply thankful that I am Orthodox.
Tomorrow is the start of another week. To (mis)quote Anne Shirley, one with "no mistakes in it." I'm grateful for that as well.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Nature and God
"Nature never taught me that there exists a God of glory and of infinite majesty. I had to learn that in other ways. But nature gave the word glory a meaning for me."
~C.S. Lewis
~C.S. Lewis
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Fr. Seraphim Rose--25 years
Today is the 25th anniversary of the death of Fr. Seraphim Rose, one of my personal spiritual heroes, and, in my belief, a saint.
I wrote about him a year ago here. I won't repeat all of that since none of it has changed. Let me simply say that Fr. Seraphim has inspired me and countless others. In fact, I wonder sometimes if my family would be Orthodox if Fr. Seraphim had not been who he was.
Here are a number of resources and links concerning Fr. Seraphim.
Articles by Blessed Hieromonk Seraphim Rose
Fr. Seraphim Rose, on nominal Christianity
Christianity and Suffering
Forming Young Souls
A thread on Fr. Seraphim in a Catholic forum
Saints of Christ
Excerpts from Fr. Seraphim's writings
Pastoral Guidance
Lives of a Saint--article from Pomona College
Personal Reminiscences from Fr. Ambrose Young
Photographs of Fr. Seraphim
Relating to non-Orthodox
A number of posts on Fr. Seraphim
Interviews on Fr. Seraphim
Holy Fr. Seraphim pray to God for us!
I wrote about him a year ago here. I won't repeat all of that since none of it has changed. Let me simply say that Fr. Seraphim has inspired me and countless others. In fact, I wonder sometimes if my family would be Orthodox if Fr. Seraphim had not been who he was.
Here are a number of resources and links concerning Fr. Seraphim.
Articles by Blessed Hieromonk Seraphim Rose
Fr. Seraphim Rose, on nominal Christianity
Christianity and Suffering
Forming Young Souls
A thread on Fr. Seraphim in a Catholic forum
Saints of Christ
Excerpts from Fr. Seraphim's writings
Pastoral Guidance
Lives of a Saint--article from Pomona College
Personal Reminiscences from Fr. Ambrose Young
Photographs of Fr. Seraphim
Relating to non-Orthodox
A number of posts on Fr. Seraphim
Interviews on Fr. Seraphim
Holy Fr. Seraphim pray to God for us!
Friday, August 24, 2007
The final controversy
Evidently Tsarevitch Alexei's remains may have been found. From the article:
That's the truth! Probably most people accepted the story about the remains that were found in 1991, but there is definitely doubt about whether those remains are actually the saints'. "Bones of Contention" from the Orthodox journal Road to Emmaus is a good exposition of those doubts.
Prosecutors said Friday they have reopened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the last Russian czar and his family nearly 90 years ago after an archaeologist said the remains of Nicholas II's son and heir to the throne may have finally been found.
The announcement of the reopened investigation, while a routine matter, signaled that the government may be taking seriously the claims that were announced Thursday by Yekaterinburg researcher Sergei Pogorelov. [...]
The find comes almost a decade after remains identified as those of Nicholas and Alexandra and three of their daughters were reburied in a ceremony in the imperial-era capital of St. Petersburg. The ceremony, however, was shadowed by statements of doubt — including from within the Russian Orthodox Church — about their authenticity.
That's the truth! Probably most people accepted the story about the remains that were found in 1991, but there is definitely doubt about whether those remains are actually the saints'. "Bones of Contention" from the Orthodox journal Road to Emmaus is a good exposition of those doubts.
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