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A Refutation of Old Calendarism
The purpose of this paper is to critique the tenets of Old Calendarism (also known as True Orthodoxy) using a range of examples from the history of the Church. Since several other matters relating to zealotry (such as the change in the Church’s Calendar, syncretistic Ecumenism and Sergianism) also remain highly … [Read More...]
Elder Sophrony on Orthodoxy and Ecumenism
Elder Sophrony of Essex Forgive me; perhaps all this is superfluous. At this point, though, I would like to say a little about the fact that at the present time a significant part of the Christian world tends to accept one of the most dangerous heresies. What is consists of is people saying that in our days … [Read More...]
The Holy and Great Council: With Great Preparation but Without Expectations
Conclusions and Summary of the Theological-Academic Conference: The Holy and Great Council: With Great Preparation but Without Expectations Invoking the blessings of the Holy Trinity, on Wednesday, March 23, 2016, in the Melina Merkouri Hall of the Peace and Friendship Stadium, in Piraeus, Greece, at Neo Faliro, … [Read More...]
From the Second Vatican Council (1965) to the Pan Orthodox Council (2016)
Signposts on the Way to Crete [1] by Protopresbyter Peter Heers It is an overused but necessary cliché to state that the Orthodox Church is the Church of the Oecumenical Councils. It is more essential to state that the Orthodox Church not only held and lived through those Councils, it also lives daily by the … [Read More...]
On Monotonic and Polyphonic Chant
Bishop Chrysostomos Former Archbishop and Metropolitan Emeritus of Etna It is well known that in 1846, Patriarch Anthimos VI, who between 1845 and 1873 served three non-consecutive terms on the Ecumenical Throne, issued an encyclical, together with his Bishops, in November of that year, decrying and … [Read More...]
On Chalcedon and Semantics
Fr. Georges Florovsky 1893-1979 I do not think our separation [with Anti-Chalcedonians] is due only to historical misunderstandings about the terms physis, hypostasis, ousia, prosopon, etc. These terms have taken a definite sense in the effort of the whole undivided Church to voice the one truth of the … [Read More...]
On Peace and Truth
St. Cyril of Alexandria ca. 376-444 I love peace; there is nothing that I detest more than quarrels and disputes. I love everybody, and if I could heal one of the brethren by losing all my possessions and goods, I am willing to do so joyfully; because it is concord that I value most... But there is a question … [Read More...]
St. Cyril of Alexandria on Miaphysite Christology and Chalcedonian Dyophysitism
The following Fr. John McGuckin paper is a must-read for those interested in the ongoing dialogue between the Orthodox and the Anti-Chalcedonian Miaphysites. Fr. John is an expert on St. Cyril's theology and all are encouraged to read, and re-read his magnificent "St. Cyril of Alexandria: The Christological … [Read More...]
Lives of the Saints
On Applied Orthodox Dogmatics
St. Justin of Ćelije 1894-1979 Saints are people who live on earth by holy, eternal Divine truths. That is why the Lives of the Saints are actually applied dogmatics, for in them all the holy eternal dogmatic truths are experienced in all their life-creating and creative energies. In the Lives of the Saints it … [Read More...]
On Our Champion Leader
St. Maximus the Confessor ca. 580-662 [T]he holy Theotokos was always a participant and a leader in every good thing. After the Ascension of Christ, she, the treasure house of all good things, being thus in her own country, took charge of every good thing, and while she was dwelling in the land, she was herself … [Read More...]
On Papa-Nicholas Planas
St. Nicholas of Athens (Papa-Nicholas Planas) 1851-1932 glorified by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1992 Once the chanter of the vigils, Panayiotes Tomis, asked him (St. Nicholas), "What do you think, Father, about the calendar?" And he answered him, "From conviction, the Old, and from obligation, the New!!" … [Read More...]
On the Sources for the Life of the Virgin Mary
St. Maximus the Confessor ca. 580-662 Now, then, everything that we will relate and make known is trustworthy and reliable, true testimonies taken from the assembly of the pious: first of all, from the holy Evangelists and Apostles; then from the holy and deeply devout Fathers, whose words are full of all … [Read More...]
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...]
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...]
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 … where … [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 being … [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...]
