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On the Reduction of Christianity
St. Hilarion Troitsky 1886-1929 In order to become a follower of a particular philosophical school it is necessary to assimilate the philosophical works by the father of that school. But is it sufficient to know the New Testament in order to become a Christian? Would this knowledge be enough for salvation? … [Read More...]
On Theologizing
St. Gregory the Theologian ca. 329-389 Not to every one, my friends, does it belong to philosophize about God; not to every one; the Subject is not so cheap and low; and I will add, not before every audience, nor at all times, nor on all points; but on certain occasions, and before certain persons, and within … [Read More...]
On the Septuagint
St. Philaret of Moscow 1782-1867 In the Orthodox teaching of Holy Scripture it is necessary to attribute a dogmatic merit to the Translation of the Seventy, in some cases placing it on an equal level with the original and even elevating it above the Hebrew text, as is generally accepted in the most recent … [Read More...]
St. Jerome on Prayer
St. Jerome 347-420 [A]lthough the Apostle bids us to pray without ceasing, 1 Thes. 5:17 and although to the saints their very sleep is a supplication, we ought to have fixed hours of prayer, that if we are detained by work, the time may remind us of our duty. Prayers, as every one knows, ought to be said at … [Read More...]
On the Salvation of Roman Catholics
St. Theophan the Recluse 1815-1894 I do not know if Catholics will be saved, but if I became a Catholic I would not be saved. Source … [Read More...]
On True Christianity
St. Gregory Palamas ca. 1296-1359 Those who do not belong to the Truth do not belong to the Church of Christ either; and all the more so if they speak falsely of themselves by calling themselves, or are called by each other, holy pastors and hierarchs; because it has been instilled in us that Christianity is … [Read More...]
On God Being All in All
St. Neilos the Wise died ca. 430 In order that God might be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28; Eph. 1:23), He is Light to those who are worthy of light, but a chastising Fire to those who deserve eternal chastisement. (Epistle 1.47 To Dositheos) … [Read More...]
On Scholasticism
St. Maxim the Greek ca. 1475-1556 No dogma, human or divine, can firmly be considered reliable among them [scholastics], if Aristotelian syllogisms do not affirm that dogma and if it does not respond to artistic demonstration. (Florovsky, Ways of Russian Theology) … [Read More...]
Lives of the Saints
On Hagiography
Hieromonk Seraphim Rose 1934-1982 A touchstone of true Orthodoxy is the love for Christ's saints. From the earliest Christian centuries the Church has celebrated her saints – first the Apostles and martyrs who died for Christ, then the desert-dwellers who crucified themselves for the love of Christ, and the … [Read More...]
The Life of St. Mary of Egypt
St. Sophronius of Jerusalem ca. 560-638 "It is good to hide the secret of a king, but it is glorious to reveal and preach the works of God" (Tobit 12:7) So said the Archangel Raphael to Tobit when he performed the wonderful healing of his blindness. Actually, not to keep the secret of a king is perilous and a … [Read More...]
The Life of St. Benedict of Nursia
THE DIALOGUES OF SAINT GREGORY, SURNAMED DIALOGUS AND THE GREAT, POPE OF ROME AND THE FIRST OF THAT NAME. Divided into Four Books, wherein he entreateth of the Lives and Miracles of the Saints in Italy, and of the Eternity of Men's Souls. Translated into our English Tongue by "P. W." and printed at Paris in … [Read More...]
St. Gregory the Dialogist and Emperor Trajan
In the time that Trajan the emperor reigned, and on a time as he went toward a battle out of Rome, it happed that in his way as he should ride, a woman, a widow, came to him weeping and said I pray thee, sire, that thou avenge the death of one my son which innocently and without cause hath been slain. The emperor … [Read More...]
A Vision of the Heavens
St. Andrew, the Fool for Christ of Constantinople ca. 9th cent. Once during a terrible winter when St. Andrew lay in a city street frozen and near death, he suddenly felt a warmth within him and beheld a splendid youth with a face shining like the sun, who conducted him to paradise and the third heaven. "By … [Read More...]
On the Righteous Repose of St. Seraphim of Sarov
St. Seraphim of Sarov 1759-1833 Near St. Seraphim's cell was the cell of a monk called Paul who, being his neighbor, performed the duties of his cell attendant.When he went from the monastery to his near hermitage, St. Seraphim used to leave candles burning in his cell which he had lit from morning before the … [Read More...]
St. Salvius the Seer of Heavenly Mysteries
St. Gregory of Tours ca. 538-594 The feeling of reverence which I have for him compels me to say something about St. Salvius. He often used to tell how, during his years as a layman, while he was occupying himself with worldly affairs he never permitted himself to be ensnared by the carnal desires which so … [Read More...]
On Orthodox Monarchy and Saint Nicholas II
The battle against Tsar Nicholas II was clearly bound up with the battle against God and faith . . . He became a Martyr, having remained faithful to the Ruler of those who rule, and accepted death in the same way as the martyrs accepted it. Archbishop John Maximovitch. Very soon after Russia accepted the seed … [Read More...]
The Incredible Vision of St. Fursey
Bede the Venerable ca. 673-735 Whilst Sigebert still governed the kingdom, there came out of Ireland a holy man called Fursey renowned both for his words and actions, and remarkable for singular virtues, being desirous to live a stranger for our Lord, wherever an opportunity should offer. On coming into the … [Read More...]
On St. Scholastica
St. Gregory the Dialogist ca. 540-604 GREGORY. What man is there, Peter, in this world, that is in greater favour with God than St. Paul was: who yet three times desired our Lord to be delivered from the prick of the flesh, and obtained not his petition? Concerning which point also I must needs tell you, how … [Read More...]
The Incredible Vision of St. Drythelm
Bede the Venerable ca. 673-735 At this time a memorable miracle, and like to those of former days, was wrought in Britain; for, to the end that the living might be saved from the death of the soul, a certain person, who had been some time dead, rose again to life, and related many remarkable things he had seen; … [Read More...]
The Dying Prayer of St. Athanasius
St. Athanasius the Great ca. 297-373 Thou art Jesus, the Son of the Father, Yea, Amen. Thou art He who commandeth the Cherubim and the Seraphim, Yea, Amen. Thou hast existed with the Father in truth always, Yea. Amen. Thou rulest the Angels, Yea, Amen. Thou art the power of the Heavens, Yea, … [Read More...]
Articles
An Orthodox Perspective of the Last Days
The following is a sample chapter from the book Ultimate Things: An Orthodox Christian Perspective on the End Times, by D.E. Englemen. Although Orthodoxy does not have an official and dogmatic position on the later times, this book provides very useful information from the Holy Fathers and Scripture. Chapter … [Read More...]
On Orthodox Monarchy and Saint Nicholas II
The battle against Tsar Nicholas II was clearly bound up with the battle against God and faith . . . He became a Martyr, having remained faithful to the Ruler of those who rule, and accepted death in the same way as the martyrs accepted it. Archbishop John Maximovitch. Very soon after Russia accepted the seed … [Read More...]
Building The New City: St. Basil’s Social Vision
By Paul Schroeder In St. Gregory the Theologian’s funeral oration for St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory describes the legacy of St. Basil’s philanthropic endeavors in this way: “Go forth a little way from the city, and behold the New City, the storehouse of piety, the common treasury of the wealthy … … [Read More...]
St. Paisy Velichkovsky on Demonic Activity
There is a crucial aspect of Orthodox theology that we, as “modern folk” need to concern ourselves with: the study and nature of demonic influence. All throughout the Scripture we see how Christ and the Apostles speak of us battling demons. We see Christ cast them out of people. We see Saint Paul insist, in … [Read More...]
Understanding Orthodox Worship
Many who either do not understand or who despise the traditional/liturgical worship service of the Orthodox Church do so because, for one reason, they do not understand the very nature of worship. Christ says in Matthew 16 that nothing will prevail against the Church. This is how the Church worships: without … [Read More...]
St. John Chrysostom on Abortion and Birth Control
"[I]n truth, all men know that they who are under the power of this disease [the sin of covetousness] are wearied even of their father's old age [wishing him to die so they can inherit]; and that which is sweet, and universally desirable, the having of children, they esteem grievous and unwelcome. Many at least … [Read More...]
A Snapshot Of Our Declining Western Culture
A World Split Apart — Commencement Address Delivered At Harvard University, June 8, 1978 Alexander I. Solzhenitsyn Solzhenitsyn's warning of Western decline is as relevant today as it was twenty-five years ago. [In some ways it is even more relevant today!] Iam sincerely happy to be here with you on the … [Read More...]
Fr. Seraphim Rose’s Orthodox World-View
The Orthodox World-View by Father Seraphim Rose of Platina Before beginning my talk, a word or two on why it is important to have an Orthodox world-view, and why it is more difficult to build one today than in past centuries. In past centuries—for example, in 19th century Russia—the Orthodox … [Read More...]
Different Theologies Involve Different Paradigms
Many times there is confusion within Orthodox and western conversation that seems to be somewhat of bandit; that is, there is a problem that swiftly and frequently snatches an important state of solitude from the minds of those discussing and even considering Orthodoxy. What seems to happen is that the western … [Read More...]
Heresy as Intellectual Temptation
Heresy involves many temptations. But one that I wish to discuss is the temptation of intellectual simplicity! Simplicity is a double-edged sword. We need simplicity when referring to the Gospel and its theology but we need this simplicity to be orthodox. This is not "simple." Really, the simplicity that we need … [Read More...]
Come and Experience the Majesty of Christ!
It is often said within Orthodoxy that modern heresy is simply ancient heresy repackaged. Those who refuse to unite with the One Holy and Apostolic Church in our day are most frequently engaging in the same heresies that separated groups from the Church in the ancient world: The hierarchy, the oral (relational) … [Read More...]
Orthodox Church and State
THE ORTHODOX CHURCH AND SOCIETY. PART I: HISTORIC ROOTS OF CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS Igumen Phillip Ryabykh, the Moscow Patriarchate representative at the European Union, offers a fascinating look at the Orthodox Church and society in this interview with the editor of Road to Emmaus Orthodox magazine. The first … [Read More...]
