For centuries and across all cultures and languages, the idea of "Don't shoot the messenger" prevailed. In the days before our modern communications technology, the rulers would use the "town crier" to make announcements and even convey bad news to the village. It was considered treason to harm the local town crier.
But what about Messengers…
The word “asceticism” is something of a mystery to our modern way of life. We have lived with such plenty and such amazing comfort and ease for so long that now we assume that all of life is meant to be pain (and even effort) free. Just consider our attitudes towards marriage. We assume that…
Orthodox Christianity is an eschatological religion! O, Mr. Fancypants with your big words! :-)
Ok, Orthodoxy is the Faith that keeps eternity in mind and the ultimate victory of Christ over all darkness. Is that better? Ok, let me add more: Orthodoxy is the Faith, the Way of Life, that always reorients me and my life…
Orthodox Christianity is an eschatological religion! O, Mr. Fancypants with your big words! :-)
Ok, Orthodoxy is the Faith that keeps eternity in mind and the ultimate victory of Christ over all darkness. Is that better?
In fact, the reality that eternity is more real than these temporary events is seen in how we worship, how we…
St. John Climacus, the author of "The Ladder of Divine Ascent," once said "Humility is the only virtue that no devil can imitate. If pride made demons out of angels, there is no doubt that humility could make angels out of demons." Humility is what kept 2/3rds of the angels in heaven and pride is…
A recent article on the Christian view of marriage is titled "Marriage is a Lifetime of Suffering." You won't see that on any Hallmark card for wedding anniversaries anytime soon. And yet, the idea of salvific suffering is so foreign to us as to be actually offensive to many. But the Christian understanding of life…
Our American nation is suffering a time of chaos, fear, anger, and, yes, even the scourge of hatred. And this suffering can lead us to despair. But the message of the Orthodox Christian Faith is that suffering can actually form and shape us into Christ-like persons IF only we wouldn't waste these moments of suffering.…
Our American nation is suffering a time of chaos, fear, anger, and, yes, even the scourge of hatred. And this suffering can lead us to despair. But the message of the Orthodox Christian Faith is that suffering can actually form and shape us into Christ-like persons IF only we wouldn't waste these moments of suffering.…
A recent article on the Christian view of marriage is titled "Marriage is a Lifetime of Suffering." You won't see that on any Hallmark card for wedding anniversaries anytime soon. And yet, the idea of salvific suffering is so foreign to us as to be actually offensive to many. But the Christian understanding of life…
The word “asceticism” is something of a mystery to our modern way of life. We have lived with such plenty and such amazing comfort and ease for so long that now we assume that all of life is meant to be pain (and even effort) free. Just consider our attitudes towards marriage. We assume that…