Monday Morning Meditation -- Blessed Feast of the Dormition of our Most Holy and Ever-Virgin Mary, the Theotokos!

 

Source: uncutmountainsupply.com

The feast of the Dormition is the sign, the guarantee, and the celebration that Mary’s fate is the destiny of all those of “low estate” whose souls magnify the Lord, whose spirits rejoice in God the Saviour, whose lives are totally dedicated to hearing and keeping the Word of God which is given to men in Mary’s child, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world.

Finally it must be stressed that, in all of the feasts of the Virgin Mother of God in the Church, the Orthodox Christians celebrate facts of their own lives in Christ and the Holy Spirit. What happens to Mary happens to all who imitate her holy life of humility, obedience, and love. With her all people will be “blessed” to be “more honorable than the cherubim and beyond compare more glorious than the seraphim” if they follow her example. All will have Christ born in them by the Holy Spirit. All will become temples of the living God. All will share in the eternal life of His Kingdom who live the life that Mary lived.

In this sense everything that is praised and glorified in Mary is a sign of what is offered to all persons in the life of the Church.

—Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko (+2015), The Orthodox Faith, Vol. 2: Worship

Thursday's Theological Thoughts - Ascension

Source: legacyicons.com

and ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father . . .

After His resurrection from the dead Jesus appeared to men for a period of forty days after which He “was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mk 16.19; see also Lk 24.50 and Acts 1.9–11).

The ascension of Jesus Christ is the final act of His earthly mission of salvation. The Son of God comes “down from heaven” to do the work which the Father gives Him to do; and having accomplished all things, He returns to the Father bearing for all eternity the wounded and glorified humanity which He has assumed (see e.g. Jn 17).

The doctrinal meaning of the ascension is the glorification of human nature, the reunion of man with God. It is indeed, the very penetration of man into the inexhaustible depths of divinity.

Fr. Thomas Hopko, The Orthodox Faith, Vol. I

Midweek Morning Meditation

 

Source: athoniteusa.com

Christ is Risen!  Indeed He is Risen!

As we celebrate the Leavetaking of Pascha this morning, we can read this excellent summary of how we understand the Resurrection of the Lord from Fr. Thomas Hopko. The Gospel, the Church, Christianity can only stand and be worthy of our undivided commitment if indeed Jesus Christ has been bodily raised from the dead.

_____

According to Orthodox doctrine there is no competition of “lives” between God and Jesus, and no competition of “powers.” The power of God and the power of Jesus, the life of God and the life of Jesus, are one and the same power and life. To say that God has raised Christ, and that Christ has been raised by his own power is to say essentially the same thing. “For as the Father has life in himself,” says Christ, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself” (Jn 5.26). “I and the Father are one”(Jn 10.30).

The Scriptural stress that God has raised up Jesus only emphasizes once more that Christ has given His life, that He has laid it down fully, that He has offered it whole and without reservation to God—Who then gave it back in His resurrection from the dead.

The Orthodox Church believes in Christ’s real death and His actual resurrection. Resurrection, however, does not simply mean bodily resuscitation. Neither the Gospel nor the Church teaches that Jesus was lying dead and then was biologically revived and walked around in the same way that He did before He was killed. In a word, the Gospel does not say that the angel moved the stone from the tomb in order to let Jesus out. The angel moved the stone to reveal that Jesus was not there (Mk 16; Mt 28).

In His resurrection Jesus is in a new and glorious form. He appears in different places immediately. He is difficult to recognize (Lk 24.16; Jn 20.14). He eats and drinks to show that He is not a ghost (Lk 24.30, 39). He allows himself to be touched (Jn 20.27, 21.9). And yet He appears in the midst of disciples, “the doors being shut” (Jn 20.19, 26). And he “vanishes out of their sight” (Lk 24.31). Christ indeed is risen, but His resurrected humanity is full of life and divinity. It is humanity in the new form of the eternal life of the Kingdom of God.

Fr. Thomas Hopko - The Orthodox Faith, Vol. I Doctrine

Holy Week Meditation -- Great and Holy Thursday

 

Source: oca.org

He said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Lk. 22:19). We are blessed today to keep that commandment and to do this in remembrance of Him. …

In this Divine Liturgy, we will remember and proclaim the entire plan of God—all of the marvelous, wonderful works of God for the sake of our salvation. …

So we remember, we proclaim, and we celebrate that we have been given the honor of living in paradise, enjoying God’s blessings forever. These blessings are nothing less than the very qualities of God Himself. Our delight—and our paradise—is to live within the communion of the Holy Trinity of the uncreated Godhead, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and to enjoy these unending blessings by keeping His commandments.

—Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, “Remember Me, O Lord,” in Holy Week: A Series of Meditations

In Memory of Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko

 

Source: oca.org

This just came to me today from St. Vladimir's Seminary. I will assume that just about everybody in the parish has either read or listened to Fr. Thomas Hopko at some point in time, and that includes our newly-baptized/chrismated members, present catechumens and inquirers. For Fr. Hopko's four volume set on Orthodox Christianity has been required reading in our Catechetical Class for years now. 

_____

Today we remember Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko (March 28, 1939–March 18, 2015), our beloved former dean and profoundly gifted priest, theologian, preacher, and speaker.

Members of the St. Vladimir's Seminary community, led by Archpriest Alexander Rentel and Dean Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, will conduct memorial prayers this week at the graves of Fr. Thomas and Matushka Anne at the Orthodox Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration in Ellwood City, PA.

May the memories of Fr. Thomas and Matushka Anne be eternal!

The Life of Fr Thomas Hopko

Books & Audio

Sermons & Lectures

Podcasts

Unfortunately, the purple bars above obscure the link's title of each of them. For clarity: the first link is to The Life of Fr. Thomas Hopko; the second to Books & Audio; the third to Sermons and Lectures; and the fourth to Podcasts. 

I discourage "Internet Orthodoxy," but one exception is certainly Fr. Thomas Hopko. He is not only "safe" and guaranteed not to mislead any genuine inquirer; but he will proclaim Orthodox Christianity with great vibrancy, inspiration and insight. So, you may want to avail yourselves of some of what is offered here as we seek to grow toward the full stature of Christ.

Lenten Meditation -- Second Tuesday of Great Lent

 

Source: oca.org

Love between sinners is essentially expressed in forgiveness. There is no other way. It cannot be otherwise. Forgiveness is the singular expression of love in this fallen world. If, therefore, we desire to be loved and forgiven by God—and even more if we know that as a matter of fact we are so loved and forgiven—then we must love and forgive each other. The lenten season exists for this purpose: to express the love of God for one another through mutual forgiveness. This is the teaching of Jesus Himself.

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mk. 11:25–26) 

—Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, The Lenten Spring

Fr. Thomas Hopko on the purpose of Lent

 

Sent to me by Mother Paula, an Orthodox nun who was once a member of our parish. + Fr. Thomas Hopko: MP’s notes from his homilies  During Great Lent we are purposely remembering paradise. Radically repenting and changing our hearts and minds. Lent is called the tithe of the year. 10% of the year (365 days) We must be merciful. Forgiveness stops the power of evil. When one really forgives, we want everyone to be saved. Remember, we have been baptized, died, raised with Him and sealed with the Holy Spirit. Our life is not our own, we belong to God, our master. It is only through truth that we are loved by God, created, saved, wounded and healed. No matter how much we fall and sin, He takes us back. He never turns his back on us. We are God’s workmanship. During the Fast all things we do are a means to an end.Prayer, fasting, almsgiving, etc. Read the daily Lenten Bible readings. Attend the Lenten Church services. Receive Lent with gladness!Pray to God to show mercy to one another, constantly forgiving. Lent is a gift from the crucified Lord. Take it and say thank you! God gives us the grace to do this. Pray, accept the gift of life during this time. Fasting and almsgiving should all be done in secret. Pray, go into your heart, your closet. Be joyful when you fast, be not dismal. Just live one day at a time. All of our problems come from thinking, analyzing, and trying to figure things out. Instead we should think of God and have an awareness of Him. Don’t look back and don’t be anxious for tomorrow.Live peacefully, calmly and patiently. Lent is a gift given to us by God for our salvation and for the glory of God. The purpose of the Great Fast is to obtain a broken, contrite and humble heart. “Come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is good and my burden is light.” (Mt. 11: 28- 30)

Nativity Meditation from SVOTS

There are many purposes for presenting the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospels, chief among them which is the affirmation that Jesus, being in truth the Son of God, as all Gospels testify, has come “in the flesh” as a real human being.

…One other important point is made in listing the human generations which led to the birth of Jesus. This is the fact that God is faithful to his promises even though his chosen people are often not faithful.

Among the people from whom Jesus came are both sinners and heathens. In a word, Jesus comes not only from the righteous and holy, but from the wicked and sinful. And he comes not only from Jews, but from Gentiles.

+ Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, The Winter Pascha

Source: saintherman.org

On Saturday, December 13, we commemorated Blessed Fr. Herman of Alaska ((+1837). He was glorified as a saint of the Church on August 9, 1970. In his book The Winter Pascha, Fr. Thomas Hopko dedicated a chapter by way of reflection on St. Herman's grace-filled life. However, as the paragraph below makes abundantly clear, this was a life lived out in obscurity, but now manifest to the world by the grace of God. In the words of Fr. Hopko:

_____

By American standards, St. Herman of Alaska, like the Lord Jesus Himself, was a miserable failure. He made no name for himself. He was not in the public eye. He wielded no power. He owned no property. He has few possessions, if any at all. He had no worldly prestige. He played no role in human affairs. He partook of no carnal pleasures. He made no money. He died in obscurity among outcast people. Yet, today, more than a hundred years after his death, his icon is venerated in thousands of churches and his name is honored by millions of people whom he is still trying to teach to seek the kingdom of God and its righteousness which has been brought to the world by the King who was born in a cavern and killed on a cross. The  example of this man is crucial to the celebration of Christmas - especially in America.

_____

I would assume that for many people reading this, St. Herman is not exactly - or not yet, at least - a well-known saint of the Church. You may just be hearing and reading about him. Many others are quite familiar with this humble saint after many years in the Church. Be that as it may, and allowing for the particular circumstances of his life (living a relatively hidden life in Alaska when that territory was still owned by the Russian Empire),  St. Herman can serve today as a living example - an Icon - of "true Christianity." By this I refer to a non-aggressive Christianity in conformity to Christ's earthly life, unburdened by being overly concerned with the sins of other people, and thus wonderfully free of both hypocrisy and judgementalism. 

Truly, an example to America during our celebration of Christmas.

For those who would like to read more of St. Herman's Life:

https://www.oca.org/saints/liv...

Nativity Meditation from SVOTS

There is a great difference between existing and living. Many people exist. Very few really live. Only those who seek God have life. Only those who delight in his commandments and rejoice in accomplishing his will pass beyond mere existence and actually find life.

…The holy forefathers and mothers, together with all their descendants, have chosen life. They find it in God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is Life itself, God’s incarnate Word. The celebration of the Winter Pascha is a celebration of Life in God’s Word.

+Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko: The Winter Pascha

Nativity Meditation from SVOTS -- The Conception by Righteous Anna of the Most Holy Theotokos

Orthodox theology teaches that all human beings, including the Virgin Mary who is a “mere human” like the rest of us—unlike her Son Jesus who is a “real human” but not a “mere human” because he is the incarnate Son and Word of God—are born into a fallen, death-bound, demon-ridden world whose “form is passing away” (1 Cor. 7.31).

Mary is conceived by her parents as we are all conceived. But in her case it is a pure act of faith and love, in obedience to God’s will, as an answer to prayer. In this sense her conception is truly “immaculate.” And its fruit is the woman who remains forever the most pure Virgin and Mother of God.

+ Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko: The Winter Pascha

Nativity Meditation from SVOTS -- The Holy and All-praised Apostle Andrew the First-called

Come and see! You will witness the mystery of Christ’s birth from the Virgin, His manifestation at the Jordan in His Baptism by John, His victory over the devil in the desert, His proclamation of good news to the poor, His announcement of liberty to the oppressed, His declaration of the acceptable year of the Lord’s grace. …

You will see what “many prophets and righteous men longed to see … and did not see it, and to hear … and did not hear it” (Mt. 13.17). And ultimately you will see the Son of God Himself being lifted upon the Cross in order to give His broken Body as food for His people, and His shed Blood as their drink, that their hunger and thirst for peace and joy and righteousness, and indeed for life itself, might be forever satisfied.

+ Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko: The Winter Pascha

Nativity Meditation from SVOTS

We are all made to be living temples of God. We are all created to be dwelling places of His glory. We are all fashioned in His image and likeness to be abodes of His presence.

The first Christian martyr, the protodeacon Stephen whose memory is celebrated on the third day of Christmas, was killed for proclaiming this marvel when he bore witness that “the Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands.”

For this, like Jesus Himself, he was accused of planning the destruction of the earthly temple at Jerusalem (Acts 7.48; 6.14). The apostle Paul proclaims this same doctrine clearly and without equivocation when he writes to the Corinthians and to us that “we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Cor. 3.9).

+Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko: The Winter Pascha

An Orthodox Understanding of Acts of Mercy

Source: uncutmountainsupply.com

An excellent piece that reminds us of one of the most important components of our Christian lives, perhaps even more so during a fasting season as the one we just embarked on. This piece by Fr. Thomas Hopko came readily to mind as we just heard the Parable of the Good Samaritan during the Liturgy yesterday morning.

Fr. Steven
_________



AN ORTHODOX UNDERSTANDING
OF ACTS OF MERCY 
Fr. Thomas Hopko


Christ commanded his disciples to give alms. To "give alms" means literally "to do" or "to make merciful deeds" or "acts of mercy." According to the Scriptures the Lord is compassionate and merciful, longsuffering, full of mercy, faithful and true. He is the one who does merciful deeds (see Psalm 103).

Acts of mercy are an "imitation of God" who ceaselessly executes mercy for all, without exception, condition or qualification. He is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

To "do mercy" means to do good to others in concrete acts of charity. It does not mean, in the first instance, to forgive, or to "let off sinners." A merciful person is one who is kind, gracious, generous and giving; a helper and servant of the poor and needy. For example, St. John the Merciful of Alexandria was a bishop who helped the poor and needy; he was not a judge who let off criminals.

Mercy is a sign of love. God is Love. A deed of merciful love is the most Godlike act a human being can do. "Being perfect" in Matthew's Gospel corresponds to "being merciful" in Luke's Gospel. "Perfection" and "being merciful" are the same thing.

To love as Christ loves, with the love of God who is Love, is the chief commandment for human beings according to Christianity. It can only be accomplished by God's grace, by faith. It is not humanly possible. It is done by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. One can prove one's love for God only by love for one's neighbors, including one's worst enemies, without exception, qualification or condition. There is no other way.

To love God "with all one's strength" which is part of "the first and great commandment" means to love God with all one's money, resources, properties, possessions and powers.

Acts of mercy must be concrete, physical actions. They cannot be "in word and speech, but in deed and truth" (First letter of John and letter of James).

Jesus lists the acts of mercy on which human beings will be judged at the final judgment (Parable of the Last Judgment in Matthew 25). Acts of mercy are acts done to Christ himself who was hungry, thirsty, naked, homeless, in prison and "sick" i.e. wounded for our transgressions on the Christ, taking up of our wounds, and dying our death.

Christian acts of mercy must be done silently, humbly, secretly, not for vanity or praise, not to be seen by men, "not letting the right hand know what the left hand is doing", etc.

Christian acts of mercy must be sacrificial. By this, we understand that we must not simply give to others what is left over. We have to be sharing our possessions with others in ways that limit ourselves in some way (The Widow's Mite).

Acts of mercy should be done without qualification or condition to everyone, no matter who, what or how they are (Parable of the Good Samaritan).

Christians, when possible, should do acts of mercy in an organized manner, through organizations and communities formed to do merciful deeds. Throughout its history the Christian people have had many forms of eleemosynary institutions and activities.

Being the poor Christians are not only to help the poor; they are themselves to be the poor, in and with Jesus Christ their Lord. Christians are to have no more than they actually need for themselves, their children and their dependents.

How much is enough? How much is necessary? What do we really need? How may we use our money and possessions for ourselves, our families, our children and our churches?

These are the hardest questions for Christians to answer.

_____

*Fr. Thomas Hopko was the Dean Emeritus of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary and  served for many years at the Orthodox Monastery of the Transfiguration in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, before his repose in 2015. 

LENTEN MEDITATION - Day XXXIII — 'When you give alms...'

 

 

Dear Parish Faithful,

In his sermon on the mount Jesus not only gives instructions about prayer and fasting, he gives commandments about almsgiving as well. Indeed, in the sermon, this part comes first.... Jesus, once again, did not say if you give alms. He said, when you give alms....

The apostles of Christ magnified the Master’s teaching about the need to help the needy. They insisted that human perfection consists in giving to the poor and following Christ. They taught, with Jesus, that the measure one gives is the measure one gets. They were convinced that the greatest imitation of God is to give everything without asking anything in return. And when such perfection could not be literally accomplished, the commandment to share one’s possessions, not from one’s abundance but out of one’s needs, was considered binding on all [Acts 4.32–35]....

A person who claims to believe in God but does not help the needy has no living faith.

—Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko, The Lenten Spring

_____

We often link together "prayer and fasting," as in last Sunday's Gospel reading from St. Mark, when Jesus taught his bewildered disciples that a certain type of "demon" can only be expelled through "prayer and fasting." (Mk. 9:29). But, we also know that in the Sermon on the Mount it is "prayer, almsgiving and fasting" that are grouped together as the three essential practices of an integrated whole in the "spiritual life."

LENTEN MEDITATIONS - DAY XIX — Maxims for Christian Living

 

Dear Parish Faithful,

1. Be always with Christ.
2. Pray as you can, not as you want.
3. Have a keepable rule of prayer that you do by discipline.
4. Say the Lord’s Prayer several times a day.
5. Have a short prayer that you constantly repeat when your mind is not occupied with other things.…

From 55 Maxims for Christian Living

by Fr. Thomas Hopko (of blessed memory)

____

To fulfill one of these "simple" maxims from Fr. Thomas Hopko during Great Lent (or for that matter, at any point in the year), would indeed convert our lenten effort into a truly fruitful endeavor!

 

Contemporary Classics of Orthodox Literature

 

Dear Parish Faithful & Friends in Christ,  

"Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God ..."  - Heb. 13:7

 

 

Contemporary Classics of Orthodox Literature

 by Fr. Steven Kostoff

It is my observation that today many Orthodox Christians are reading a good deal of contemporary Orthodox literature - books on spirituality, liturgy, theology and history. These are books that are read immediately upon publication and which are very well promoted - if not well "marketed." A steady Orthodox reading discipline/program is essential in today's world perhaps more than ever. We are so ideologically bombarded from so many disparate quarters, that we need to remember who we are and what we believe! 

I am writing, though, with a particular concern in mind: Perhaps we are only - or mostly only - reading the most contemporary literature. Most of the Orthodox literature that I am now referring to can be accessed on Ancient Faith Radio. There is a circle of well-read authors there who are fairly prolific and have a wide Orthodox reading audience. I am not writing anything against those authors or their books.

However, because I am from an older generation, and have been an Orthodox priest for over forty years now, I want to make a heartfelt plea for the great writers who nurtured me, who nurtured an entire earlier generation or two, and who wrote the classics of twentieth century Orthodox literature. This is a great literature that placed Orthodoxy on the "map" both in America and in Europe and beyond - into Russia and other parts of the world. 

I strongly believe that we need to read these classics of the twentieth century, because these are the very books that served as the foundation for others to build on. These were books that allowed Orthodoxy to emerge from its sheltered ethnic communities; books which revived an abiding and lasting focus on the Fathers of the Church; books which completely restored the apostolic vision of the Liturgy and the Eucharist; and books that penetrated deeply into our genuine spiritual Tradition with the insights and practices that lead us to lives of holiness. 

I repeat: I am not claiming that our newer contemporary literature cannot do that, but our newer authors are standing on the shoulders of the "giants" who prepared the vision that may sustain them. For the sake of balance and wholeness, we must not neglect these classics. It would be a great loss if these books - and their authors - were more-or-less forgotten as the years pass. A further point is that the authors I am about to enumerate were steeped in a centuries-old Orthodox culture. They did not need to be overly defensive defensive, polemical or apologetic. 

This is not a "nostalgia fest" on my part. Of that, I can assure you. I think that as clergy and laity, we need a broad a range of theological grounding as much possible, and again, the classics go a long way in assuring that. (I of course, assume that everyone is reading the Scriptures and Fathers with regularity).

There were four great writers from the Orthodox Tradition that wrote brilliant and compelling books for many decades throughout the twentieth century. I read their works over and over - and over. They have had a lasting effect on me, and I like to think that in my own very modest way, I have applied their vision in my own pastoral ministry, from liturgy to theology. With the exception of Lossky, the other three - especially Frs. Schmemann and Meyendorff - were the key "architects" in establishing the Orthodox Church in America. I had the great privilege of actually knowing, studying under and worshiping with, Frs. Alexander Schmemann and John Meyendorff while a student at St. Vladimir's Seminary (1978-1981), as well as with Fr. Thomas Hopko. An unforgettable experience.

So, here are a few of the authors and books that I would like to highlight and bring to your attention:

+ George Florovsky (1893 - 1979)

His collected works have been published in 13 volumes, I believe, but I would single out:

Vol 1 - Bible, Church, Tradition - An Orthodox Perspective - A collection of essays that provide insight after insight into the meaning and relationship between Scripture and Tradition.

Vol. IV - Creation and Redemption - Another set of brilliant essays that incorporate the works of the Church Fathers in understanding the divine oikonomia from the Incarnation to the Resurrection.

There is a new volume of many never-before translated works, though it is quite expensive. Still, a worthwhile investment. Everything is simply brilliant that is contained in this volume, which also has a great Introduction:

The Patristic Witness of George Florovsky - The Essential Theological Writings 

+ Vladimir Lossky (1903-1958)

The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church - This book is the Orthodox classic of the twentieth century, written in 1945. It takes some real concentration, but endlessly fascinating and insightful.

The Image and Likeness of God - Essays that cover the whole range of theological, anthropological and Mariological themes.

Orthodox Dogmatics - A comprehensive study of dogmatic subjects by a brilliant theologian who leans heavily on the Church Fathers. 

 

+ Alexander Schmemann (1921-1983)

For the Life of the World - An absolute "must read" classic.

Great Lent - Considered the best single volume on the subject in the English language by Met. Kallistos Ware.

The Eucharist - Fr. Schmemann's final study of his life-long engagement with the meaning and practice of the Eucharist.

Church, World, Mission - A series of challenging essays about the Orthodox Church facing the challenges of the contemporary world. 

 

John Meyendorff (1926-1993)

Byzantine Theology - Historical Trends and Doctrinal Themes - A "classic" study of the Byzantine roots of our theological Tradition.

The Byzantine Legacy of the Orthodox Church - A great collection of essays that distinguish between the relative and eternal components of the Byzantine legacy.

Imperial Unity and Christian Divisions - A more detailed look at Church History from the 5th - 8th c. A brilliant work of historical synthesis.

 

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware (1934-2022)  

We cannot fail to mention him! He comes from a background different than the "big four," but he was a decisive figure in bringing Orthodox literature to the non-Orthodox Christian world.

The Orthodox Church - Still the best one-volume introduction to the Orthodox Church.

The Orthodox Way - a great supplement to The Orthodox Church focusing on what we call Orthodox spirituality. A real favorite!

Sacraments of Healing -  Just published and a further supplement to the two other books by Met. Kallistos. To be read together in this year's upcoming Fall Adult Education Class.

The Inner Kingdom - A collection of endlessly fascinating essays by Met. Kallistos, covering his conversion to Orthodoxy to profound insights into the last judgement - and beyond.

 

Other contemporary authors that are excellent and who have been writing for some time now, are: John Behr (Becoming Human), Andrew Louth (Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology), Metropolitan Ilarion (The Orthodox Faith), Peter Bouteneff (How To Be a Sinner), Nona Verna Harrison (The Many-Splendored Image of God). Metropolitan Anthony Bloom (God and Man; Beginning to Pray);  Metropolitan John Zizioulas (Being and Communion), and, of course, Fr. Thomas Hopko (The Orthodox Faith in four volumes), are writers who have rather recently "fallen asleep in the Lord." 

I fully realize that I could be "preaching to the choir," and I apologize if it sounds as if I am implying that you have not read any/some/many of the books above. You may know this literature very well, indeed! And, I do not want to sound patronizing. But, I have been around and reading since the early 1970's(!), so I thought to share some of my own experience with Orthodox literature with those of you who have not been Orthodox for as long. Please accept my advice in that spirit. If anyone would like to pursue this further, a group of us could have a zoom session on this or a related theme.

In Christ,

Fr. Steven

GREAT LENT: The Second Day

 

Dear Parish Faithful,

Great Lent: The Second Day

 

 

I just received this from our good friend, Mother Paula. For those who never met Mother Paula, but who hear about her occasionally from me, she is a former parishioner who became a nun and is now living at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Elwood City, PA. She explains the source of these brief, but very much-to-the-point insights that we would do well to follow during Great Lent.

Dear friends, 
   

Praying  that we will all have a blessed Lenten season and that the time given to us will be a one of joyful repentance, bringing us closer to Christ and to each other.

A few of my notes from +Fr. Thomas Hopko's past homilies from Forgiveness Sunday:

 

• Just live one day at a time. All of our problems come from thinking, analyzing, figuring things out. Instead, we should think of God and have an awareness of Him. Don’t look back and don’t be anxious for tomorrow. 

• Forgive, fast with joy and lay up yourselves treasures in your hearts. 

• Pray to God to show mercy to one another, constantly forgiving. 

• Lent is a gift from the crucified Lord. Take it and say thank you! 

• Lent is a gift given to us by God for our salvation and for the glory of God. 

• We learn during Lent, hopefully to have a broken and contrite heart and to come to realize that it is all grace.

 

Bless and Forgive

Yours in Christ,

Mother Paula

 

A Lenten Reading List

Dear Parish Faithful,

I thought to compile a list of more-or-less Orthodox "lenten classics" that you may want to draw from as this year's Great Lent approaches. I have read and re-read these books through the years and they have all had an impact on my spiritual formation.  

Each book here is quite accessible. No dry theology, but a lively approach to God and the spiritual struggles that we all face; as well as deeply-pondered wisdom to guide us in our journey toward not only our annual Pascha celebration, but in our life-long journey to the Kingdom of God. 

As we pray, fast and practice charity during this season, a good book that deepens our understanding of God so that we can build our relationship with God is one more important component to a holistic lenten effort.  

I have kept my personal list to an Orthodox Top Ten.  Some of the suggested titles are specifically lent-oriented; while some are more general in appeal, but would be excellent choices during Great Lent, I believe.

Of course, any such list of good books presupposes that our primary reading source is always the Holy Scriptures.  We begin with the Word of God - the prescribed Old Testament books perhaps, together with the Psalter. During Great Lent we also read from the remarkable Epistle to the Hebrews and the austere Gospel According to St. Mark.  

However, the books on the attached list are certainly more than mere supplementary reading. They are books written by teachers and guides who love God and who desire to awaken that same love of God in our own minds and hearts. 

* The books with an asterisk can be found in our parish library.

If you have already read all of these books and are looking for something new, feel free to contact me for further suggestions.

Fr. Steven

Lenten Reading List

+  Great Lent by Fr. Alexander Schmemann * — Recommended by Arch. Kallistos Ware as the best single volume about Lent in English, this book has become a “classic” that should be read by one and all.  After reading this book, you will never approach the Lenten services in exactly the same way.  In fact, you just may want to come to church more often during Great Lent. This book includes the great appendix chapter, “Taking Lent Seriously” which you will do after reading this book!

+ The Lenten Spring by Fr. Thomas Hopko * — Also already something of a “classic.”  This is a series of forty three-four page meditations on a variety of lenten themes. A wonderful use of the Scriptures and the Church’s Lenten hymnography, together with Fr. Hopko’s endless stream of great insights.

+ The Way of the Ascetics * by Tito Colliander, a Finnish Orthodox lay theologian, and another “classic”(!).  — Short insightful chapters that are very challenging in today’s world  about an “applied Orthodoxy” in our daily living. Also available as an eBook.

+ Prayer: An Encounter With the Living God by Metropolitan Ilarion Alfeyev.  — A relatively new book by one of today’s most prolific and gifted theologians/spiritual directors.  Short straightforward chapters that yield many insights into the practice of serious and effective prayer.  Very practical and quite helpful for that very reason.

+ The Passion of Christ by Veselin Kesich.  — This was my New Testament professor at St. Vladimir’s Seminary.  A compact and clearly-written account of the Lord’s death on the Cross. Prof. Kesich walks you through the Lord’s earthly ministry and all of the factors that led to the Lord’s Passion. In only about a hundred pages, this book will illuminate a great deal for you as we move toward Holy Week during Great Lent.

+ The Power of the Name:  The Jesus Prayer in Orthodox Spirituality by Archbishop Kallistos Ware.  — Certainly the best short introduction to the Jesus Prayer by a lifelong student and practitioner of the great “prayer of the heart.” Arch. Ware distills years of study and practice into an unforgettable forty-page treatise.  Yes – another classic!

+ The Place of the Heart* by Elizabeth Behr-Sigel.  — The author has been described as the “grandmother” of 20th c. Orthodox writers.  A European lay theologian, Behr-Sigel’s book is subtitled “An Introduction to Orthodox Spirituality.”  This is a far-ranging description of how our immensely rich spiritual tradition developed from the Scriptures to the present day.  A very rich presentation. Actually, Arch. Ware’s essay on The Power of the Name is included here as an Appendix.

+ Becoming Human by Fr. John Behr  — A marvelous and profound meditation – accompanied by iconographic images – on the Person of Christ and how Christ is the link toward our own true humanity.  Many great new insights here that Fr. John has put into a short meditative form based on his other scholarly studies of the early Christian tradition.  A profound link is made between Christ – the one true human being – and our own emerging humanity after His image.

+  God’s Many-Splendored Image by Nonna Verna Harrison * — Verna Harrison is an Orthodox nun, known as Sister Nonna. She is also a highly-respected patristic scholar and theologian.  This book explores “theological anthropology for Christian formation.”  That sounds rather intimidating, but prominent readers have said that “clarity, simplicity, beauty, and depth” characterize the content and style of this book.  A truly wonderful exploration of what it means to be, as a human being, “God’s many-splendored image.”  Insightful observations are made in this book about figures ranging from desert fathers to Albert Einstein. Sister Nonna dedicated the book “to all people whom other people have thrown away. It shows that God does not throw away people.” Who would not want to read a book with a dedication like that?

+ The Sayings of the Desert Fathers – The Alphabetical Collection, Benedicta Ward (editor and translator).  — Here are the multitude of aphorisms, anecdotes and wisdom sayings of the great desert fathers arranged alphabetically (the Gk. alphabet, that is) from the letters Alpha to Omega, and everything in between.  These are the words of life from the great pioneers of Christian asceticism and the spiritual life.  We read the words of Sts. Anthony the Great, Arsenius, and Macarius the Great and a host of other spiritual guides.  An endless source of wisdom that can be read through the years.