| Encyclical of Greek Archbishop Stylianos of Australia Concerning Same-Sex Marriage Concerning the impending address of the Federal Parliament concerning same-sex marriage, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia Archbishop Stylianos has issued na encyclical to his Australian flock: To the Reverend Clergy and the honourable Administrative Committees of the Parish-Communities of our Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Dearly Beloved, Further to our Encyclical of 28th May 2013, in relation to a law which the State proposes to vote upon with regard to Marriage between persons of the same gender, we write to you once again because the Federal Parliament is expected very soon to deal with the redefinition of the concept of Marriage. You might appreciate, then, should such an Act be legalized, what destructive consequences this will have on the institution of Marriage, but also on the institution of the Family more generally. As Orthodox Christians, therefore, we are obliged, once again, to express in the strongest possible terms, our objection to the enactment of such legislation, as this will assail the sacredness of the Sacrament of Marriage and the Family, as has been taught to us through the ages by our holy faith and by the Fathers of the Church. In the first instance, of course, our reaction must be through prayer to God. That is why the period of the August Fast for the Dormition of our Lady, which is about to commence, is the most appropriate time to beseech the Theotokos, of whom we ask, as " a fervent advocate and invincible battlement, fountain of mercy and sheltering retreat for the world, " to protect the People from such an aberration. We are also called upon to protest by gathering signatures, requesting the defeat of the proposed legislation. Our protest may be expressed by signing the relevant petitions or via the online internet page of the Archdiocese (marriage.greekorthodox.org.au). You shall receive detailed instruction from our Reverend Clergy. Hopeful that none of us will show indifference to such an important issue, I thank you for your cooperation in this matter and pray that the abundant blessings of God be upon you all during this blessed period of the Sacred August Fast. Sydney, 17th July 2015 With fervent fatherly prayers Archbishop Stylianos Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in Australia PS—To be read in the Churches at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy on the Sundays of 26th July, 2nd August and 9th August. 29 июля 2015 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| The 9 th Annual Saint Herman’s West Youth Conference was hosted by St. Martin the Merciful Church in Corvallis, OR, from the 27 th to the 31 st of December, 2015. This is an official, annual youth conference of the Western American Diocese; it is sponsored for the purposes of educating our youth in the tenants of the Orthodox Faith and engendering acquaintances and friendships for the young people that for them reaches beyond the usual pool of acquaintances limited within respective parishes. Every year the conference has been efficaciously hosted in a different parish of the Diocese. This variation in venue provides the youth with exposure to other parishes in the area. The program: two keynote speakers were invited to the conference, and two outings were organized off site. In addition, praises were raised up to God and to His St. Herman of Alaska to whom these conferences are dedicated. The youth were encouraged to, and had the opportunity, to confess their sins and receive the Holy Mysteries of Christ at the Divine Liturgy. There were workshops dedicated to the art of Liturgics. By singing, altar serving, and reading during the Divine Services, the youth had practice and concrete application of the skills covered in the workshops. Other workshops included: cultivating faith in our times, relationships both with God and neighbor, as well as roundtable discussions that provided an opportunity for the youth to ask questions about our Faith; combined, these workshops and discussions created a profound impression on the young men and women. Surrounded by ninety peers, the youth found that they are not alone in their Orthodox identity and struggles to find their faith. Below the Western American Diocese Media Team presents videos of the lectures read to the attendees by the keynote speakers, Priest Timothy Pavlatos and Matushka Elena Perekrestova. These presentations are outstanding and received positive responses from our youth. Two more videos follow: excerpts from one of the workshops and the closing youth talent show. Fr. Timothy Pavlatos: Worldly Conforming to Christly Transforming Matushka Elena Perekrestova: St. Alexander of Munich: A Modern Confessor in the Face of Tyranny " A Transfigured Life through Repentance and Grace, " with Bishop Theodosy & Archimandrite Irenei The Talent Show that Closed the Conference Western American Diocese 22 февраля 2016 г. Смотри также Комментарии Мы в соцсетях Подпишитесь на нашу рассылку |
| The differences permeate the two worldviews from top to bottom and place the two cultures “as far as the east is from the west” (Ps. 103:12). From the individualist tendencies of Latin theology and ecclesiology juxtaposed against the conciliarity of the Eastern mind to various mystical experiences of saints [v] – all speak of an ever-widening divide, a “divergence of hearts” (Kuraev, Вызов 140). And while I do not wish to give St. Augustine as much credit in shaping the history of mankind as some have attributed to him, I do believe that it may be possible to identify some specifically Augustinian traits that, left without peer review for a few hundred years, could have potentially influenced the very features that are now identified as the core differences between the Western and Eastern cultures. One of the most obvious things that cannot escape our attention is that St. Augustine’s Confessions is nearly the first autobiography that appeared in the West. The only exceptions are the so-called “apologies” that, although autobiographical in nature, nonetheless had the purpose of excusing the author’s actions in light of accusations or misunderstandings. Another autobiographical work – Libanius’ Orations – appeared in the Eastern part of the Roman Empire only a few decades before Confessions; but this work was neither intended for public readings, nor did it achieve any notable status in the cultural makeup of either the East or the West. The very fact that Confessions, a work that has had such a profound impact on the development of the Western mind and soul, is an autobiography, deserves further exploration. It appears that in his Confessions St. Augustine breaks away from, however rudimentary, the tradition of apologetic autobiographies and proclaims a new era in the development of the genre. In a commentary on Book I of the Confessions, Charles Matthews argues that … in terms of genre, the Confessions may be the least apologetic text Augustine ever wrote, despite all those who try to read their way to faith through it; it is not meant for those outside of the church, but for those inside, to help them in their quest to become more fully Christians. (Paffenroth 9) |
| At the same time, he said, “No single ecclesiastical community can ‘privatize’ Jesus and his teaching, declaring themselves to be the exclusive owners of the rights to His inheritance and to claim to be the exclusive owner of the rights to His heritage. Jesus is greater than the Church, because he is God himself, who came to earth in human flesh. The meaning of his person and teaching are so universal and all-encompassing that they go beyond the confines of the Church. Jesus belongs to the entire world and to every person. He has something to say to every human being, both to those who are already in the Church and those who are on the path to it and those who are far from it and from any religious affiliation at all”. And the parables of Jesus “belong not only to the Church and not only to believers. They belong to all mankind. They are capable of saying something new to each person”. Metropolitan Hilarion’s presentation was attended by His Beatitude Tikhon, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, and other participants in the dinner given in his honour by president of the seminary Archpriest Chad Hatfield. About a thousand more people listened to the keynote address online. The conference will continue on November 12 with papers to be read by leading American specialists in the New Testament, among them Professor Emeritus Carl Holladay, the Emory University; Professor of Biblical Studies Craig Keenner, Asbury Theological Seminary; Professor of New Testament Studies Gregory Sterling, Yale Divinity School; Professor Emeritus Edit Humphrey, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary; Prof Garwood Anderson, head of the Nashotah-House Theological Seminary; Mr John Barnet, Associate Professor at the Chair of the New Testament, St. Vladimir’s Seminary; Associate Professor Bruce Beck, the Holy Cross Seminary in Brooklyn, MA; Prof of Religion and Philosophy James Walles, Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Ten. DECR Communication Service /Patriarchia.ru Календарь ← 7 April 2024 year |
| And, of course, the ‘zine later published by his brotherhood called Death to the World made a huge impression on me. The idea was that Christianity, and especially monasticism, fulfills the yearning of “angry young people” towards non-conformism, rebellion against falsehood and hypocrisy. This is the very experience that inspired me and Vladimir Legoida when we discussed the future publication of an Orthodox periodical for young people. From these discussions were later born the periodicals, Foma and Tatiana’s Day. [Foma means “Thomas”, and the periodical is subtitled, “A journal for those who doubt”. Tatiana’s Day is named after the Martyr Tatiana, to whom is also dedicated a church in the Moscow State University.] In a word, Father Seraphim Rose means very much to me, and I always commemorate him in the Divine services and ask his prayers. We would like to include for English readers some of the readers’ commentary to this article, which further shows how Russian Orthodox Christians feel about Father Seraphim Rose. “The example of Father Seraphim’s life and ascetic labors have helped and continue to help me during the most difficult moments of my life, and his book, The Soul After Death strengthens us when we see our close ones off to eternal life. I believe that the Lord has taken Father Seraphim into His Heavenly abodes. Father Seraphim, pray to God for us!” —Galina “The amazing books of Father Seraphim Rose opened to me the beauty of Orthodoxy, and they are still my favorite books. I bow my head before his ascetic labors, his path, and his zeal.”—Natalia “Father Seraphim, pray to God for us… His books were some of my first, and they formed in me an enduring immunity to all sorts of eastern garbage.”—Vasya “Father Seraphim showed us how the heart opens up to God. What else do we need in life? Thank you!” —Alexander Translation by OrthoChristian.com 2 сентября 2012 г. ... Комментарии nawal 7 сентября 2013, 09:00 Sounds father seraphim is very blessed father, i would love to read more about him. |
| A great storm is near at hand. Though one may not know exactly when it will break forth, it seems reasonable to suppose that it cannot be more than twelve or fourteen years yet future. Великая буря приблизилась. Хотя невозможно точно узнать, когда она разразится, представляется резонным предположить, что это произойдет не позднее чем через двенадцать-четырнадцать лет. Это никак не доказывает сделанное заявление, а просто подтверждает приведенные высказывания в других работах Расселла: он определенно ожидал, что мировые бедствия начнутся до наступления 1914 года, не позднее 1905 или 1907 года, согласно процитированному отрывку, и что разразившееся бедствие приведет к разрушению всех земных правительств ко времени наступления этой конечной даты. За два года до наступления 1914 года Сторожевая башня Действительно призвала читателей к осторожности. Книга «Свидетели Иеговы в божественном предназначении» (с. 53) цитирует слова Расселла из выпуска «Сторожевой башни» за 1912 год: There surely is room for slight differences of opinion on this subject and it behooves us to grant each other the widest latitude. The lease of power to the Gentiles may end in October, 1914, or in October, 1915. And the period of intense strife and anarchy «such as never was since there was a nation» may be the final ending of the Gentile times or the beginning of Messiah’s reign. But we remind all of our readers again, that we have not prophesied anything about the Times of the Gentiles closing in a time of trouble nor about the glorious epoch which will shortly follow that catastrophe. We have merely pointed out what the Scriptures say, giving our views respecting their meaning and asking our readers to judge, each for himself, what they signify. These prophecies steel read the same to us…. However, some may make positive statements of what they know, and of what they do not know, we never indulge in this; but we merely state that we believe thus, and sush for such and such reasoned. Конечно, есть возможность незначительных расхождений во мнениях по данному вопросу, и это побуждает нас предоставить друг другу самую широкую свободу. Конец власти язычников может наступить в октябре 1914 или в октябре 1915 года. Период же интенсивной борьбы и анархии, «доселе невиданной народами», может быть окончанием времен язычников или началом Правления Мессии. |
| Someone who is just becoming acquainted with the Church’s life and teaching should, of course, first read the New Testament and only then read the Old Testament, even though they are in the opposite order in the Bible. It is very good to read the commentaries of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospels according to Matthew and John and, if one has the patience and energy, his commentaries on the Epistles as well. Does one need any “special conditions” in order to read Holy Scripture and the Holy Fathers? Many people today read while taking public transport, since this is their only “free time.” Once one gets home after work and has taken care of all one’s household chores, it seems impossible to absorb anything serious… There is the practice, recommended by quite a few people with spiritual experience, of beginning one’s day with the reading of Holy Scripture – if only a few chapters of the Gospels. One should literally feed one’s soul with them, so that the Gospels might guide one in all the situations of life. Besides which, people do indeed feel tired in the evening – literally overloaded. The classical European tradition included reading the Bible as a family in the evening – which, incidentally, found expression in both literature and painting. Alas, this tradition belonged to other times, when life was more balanced. Their daily labor may have been physically difficult then, but their heads still remained in relative peace – unlike in today’s “information society,” when we hardly know who or where we are by the time we get home. In my opinion, therefore, it is best to read Holy Scripture at home in the morning. Sometimes people taking public transport read serious books. This depends more on whether someone is good at attentive reading. If one is, then one can read on the go – this is certainly better than just looking around. Spiritual literature: the word about God Which books, in your opinion, should every Christian read? One should certainly read Abba Dorotheos, the Russian ascetic strugglers Sts. Theophan the Recluse and Ignatius (Brianchaninov), and then The Philokalia . Properly speaking, The Philokalia is an anthology of patristic texts. I think it is impossible to tear oneself away from the first four volumes of The Philokalia . In St. Theophan the Recluse’s Russian translation, The Philokalia is suitable reading for all Christians, since St. Theophan attempted to adapt even the most difficult monastic and hesychastic texts for use by average people. Therefore, notwithstanding the misconception that The Philokalia is only for monks, it can and should be read by everyone. When becoming acquainted with spiritual literature one should start, as with regular literature, with the classics: first read the fundamental, essential works of the Holy Fathers, and only later read books by modern authors. There are, for instance, some very good books by Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain that have entered our life fairly recently. |
| About Pages Проекты «Правмира» Raising Orthodox Children to Orthodox Adulthood The Daily Website on How to be an Orthodox Christian Today Twitter Telegram Parler RSS Donate Navigation What Should We Read Before Nativity? admin 26 December 2012 What should we be reading during the remaining days of the Nativity Fast? We asked a number of clergy throughout Russia for their recommendations. (Whenever possible, titles have been given as they appear in English-language editions.) Bishop Roman of Yakutsk and the Lena The Holy Gospels. I repeat: the fast is a time of intensive spiritual labor. One’s mind and inner world need to be brought into line with the life-experience of the Gospels. For this one needs to read. Read more often. Perhaps even take the Gospel with you as you walk; put it under your pillow; be close to this Book. Read in the subway. Read everywhere. Read in your free time and in your not-free time. Read and reflect. Bishop Jonah of Obukhiv Deputy Abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery of St. Jonah in Kiev It is difficult to recommend a particular book. Different kinds of literature are appropriate for people at different levels of churching. But if you are going to read something, then by no means read any pseudo-Orthodox fiction: novels, novellas, and short stories with Orthodox trappings that have become very popular today among Orthodox readers because of their ease and crudeness of presentation. Unfortunately, such fiction displaces serious ascetic literature. I think it is best to turn to one’s spiritual father with a request that he recommend a book for the fasting period. A spiritual father knows the spiritual condition of the spiritual children appealing to him and can give sound advice. Archpriest Alexander Iliashenko Rector of the Church of the All-Merciful Savior in the former Monastery of the Joy of All Who Sorrow (Moscow) Director of the Pravmir website Today many books are being published and it is easy to find worthy reading. It is instructive to read the lives of the saints during the fast: both of ancient saints and of modern New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, as well as those who suffered in other countries. There are some especially interesting books, for example, about the lives of Greek saints. |
| Unceasing prayer of the heart and reading only Holy Scripture and the Holy Fathers – this is the ideal to which every Christian should aspire. Not everyone can attain this – I myself am far from it. But in spiritual warfare, as in battle, if one needs to retreat then it should be done in an orderly manner – not running away cowardly or, what is worse, going over to the side of the enemy. Since I cannot live with only the Bible and The Philokalia , I read simpler things: the lives of saints and the letters of the Optina Elders to laypeople. And if I lack the strength even for this, I read books on Christian history or religious philosophy. If I am even weaker yet, I read good literature: Dostoevsky, Pushkin, Tolstoy (his great novels, not his later works). Among foreign classics there are also writers with a Christian spirit, but I simply know Russian writers better. But looking at pornography is like reading enemy propaganda. People who are starting out on the spiritual path should ask for advice about reading, especially as concerns spiritual literature, from an experienced spiritual father. Archpriest Viktor Grigorenko During the fast we should also pay attention to spiritual food. One should read more than usual, but one should do this slowly, unhurriedly. Once again, once we have taken the burden on our shoulders we should not cast it off. One should regulate one’s reading time. It is good to read the daily Gospel and Epistle readings, as indicated in the church calendar, in the morning, so that one might recall what one has read throughout the course of the day. In the evening, after one’s prayers, one can read spiritual literature. As for authors whose works are especially valuable to study during the fast, one should advise with the priest to whom one normally goes to confession. Text prepared by Leonid Vinogradov, Oksana Golovko, Alisa Orlova, and Maria Senchukova. Translated from the Russian Translator’s note: Several authors advise reading the letters of the Optina Elders. While relatively few volumes of their letters have yet been translated into English, several volumes containing selections from their letters and other spiritual councils do exist: Living Without Hypocrisy: Spiritual Counsels of the Holy Elders of Optina (an anthology of spiritual advice drawn from the works of the Optina Elders); Russian Letters of Spiritual Direction, 1834-1860 by Staretz Macarius of Optino; and A Collection of Letters to Nuns: Profitable Instructions for Laymen and Monastics by St. Anatoly (Zertsalov) of Optina. See also the seven-volume Optina Elder Series published by St. Herman Press, which also contains many letters. |
| About Pages Проекты «Правмира» Raising Orthodox Children to Orthodox Adulthood The Daily Website on How to be an Orthodox Christian Today Twitter Telegram Parler RSS Donate Navigation The Problem with Abundance Source: Pemptousia Michael Bressem, Ph.D. 10 February 2020 People are rarely satisfied with having enough. Many say to themselves,“If a little is good, then surely more is better.” This belief appeals to our desire for greater freedom: we want a larger selection to choose from to appease whatever mood strikes us at the moment. And people laud freedom as if it is a virtue. Liberty is perceived as an essential human right along with life and the pursuit of happiness. Yet, freedom adds nothing to our character; rather, freedom places us in a position to be more vulnerable to temptation and so possibly lose our moral standing. In fact, virtue is more likely to arise when we limit our freedoms than expand them. Regardless, secular society is in a mad dash to give us more freedom by offering an “abundance” ( abundare from Latin meaning “overflow”). We want more channels on TV, more commodities on superstore shelves, more clothing shops at mega-malls, more dishes on restaurant menus, more recreational toys to play with on weekends, more features on electronic gadgets, etc. Of course to indulge in these freedoms and add to our abundance, we need more money which means we will work longer hours or go into more debt; thereby, we risk increasing the likelihood of developing stress-related health disorders and having relational conflicts. Also, the time it takes to shop for and then play with our new “whatever” mentally distracts us from contemplating more important matters. In this modern age, who takes the time to quietly reflect: to take stock of our lives and learn lessons contributing to our spiritual growth? Consider some of the other consequences of abundance: It increases an attitude of entitlement among youth. Each passing generation becomes more desperate for what is media touted as a “must have;” they don’t value the patience and diligence needed to labor many years for their desires, but instead selfishly proclaim they deserve to have it “Now!” Greater freedom is increasingly leading us to measure our self-worth and social status based on our abundance, and those who don’t have access to “all that life has to offer” are to be pitied. Abundance is complicating our lives with a never ending list of new manuals to read, new machines to maintain, new web sites to explore, new games to play on tablet devices, new people to add to our social network, etc. Much of our populace are losing their souls in a morass of plenitude. |
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