On Hospitality, Generosity and Giving

"When we love the name of salvation, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and have mercy upon each other, we fulfill all the Law. Through mercy, Abraham was pleased, to host God, and His holy angels.
...When we continue to keep Him, in our inner being, He will make us rich, so we can give to others. We do not ask for, the wealth of this world, but for the salvation of our souls, by calling upon His holy name."

+ Wednesday Watos Psali, Midnight Praises, Coptic Orthodox Church, http://tasbeha.org/hymn_library/view/356 

"I am frightened at the possibility of being condemned. Not because I have robbed, or committed adultery, or done something forbidden, but rather for having failed to care for Christ himself in the person of the poor. Servants of Christ, let us then visit Christ! Let us take care of Christ! Let us feed Christ! Let us welcome Christ...in the person of the poor."

+ St Gregory of Nazianzus

Theosis/Deification in the Oriental Orthodox Liturgical Tradition

Someone has compiled a list of prayers and references in the Oriental Orthodox Liturgical Tradition which teach about Theosis/Deification . The list contains references to deification in the liturgical life of the Orthodox Church. In particular the list focuses primarily on the Coptic Orthodox prayers but also includes a few references to other Oriental Orthodox liturgical prayers:

Original list reblogged from: http://www.writeurl.com/publish/0vnlqlqd3rqkpygoc69d

On The Unconditionality of Divine Love

Here are some links to a very well written set of articles by Fr Aidan Kimel on the Eclectic Orthodoxy blog (make sure to also read the comments section of each post):

Hell (Unfortunately)?
https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2015/06/16/hell-unfortunately/

Universalism and the Deluge of Condemnation
https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2015/06/18/universalism-and-the-deluge-of-condemnation/

The Gospel of Deluge
https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2015/06/21/the-gospel-of-deluge/

Debating Universalism: The Need to Do One’s Homework
https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2015/06/23/debating-universalism-the-need-to-do-ones-homework/

Orthodoxy and the Damnation of the Damned
https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2015/06/25/orthodoxy-and-the-damnation-of-the-damned-2/

The Unconditionality of Divine Love and the Universalist Hope
https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2015/06/27/the-unconditionality-of-divine-love-and-the-universalist-hope/

Highly recommended is the most recent post "The Unconditionality of Divine Love and the Universalist Hope" which is also reblogged below:

St Nicholas Cabasilas And The Life In Christ

http://modeoflife.org/2012/06/22/st-nicholas-cabasilas-and-the-life-in-christ/

By Anthony Papantoniou

(Source: Greek Australian Vema, English Section, June and July 2009 Issues)

Lex Orandi and the Test of all Dogma

"The liturgical and sacramental life of a Church is the authentic expression of the faith, or the mind and of the spiritual experience of her clergy and people. On the other hand the liturgy stamps its imprint on the consciousness of the worshipping community, as a channel of grace. All dogmas are ultimately tested in the life of the Church against the basic tradition on the one hand, and against the experience of the age on the other."

+ H.H. Karekin I, "Problems of Consensus in Christology: The Function of Councils" in Christ in East and West, ed. by Paul R. Fries and Tiran Nersoyan (Mercer University Press, 1987), 49-64.

Sacraments

"All sacraments are an epiclesis, all sacraments call the Holy Spirit upon a reality to reveal the fullness of that reality, to bring forth what is there, to release the full potential."

+ Fr Roberto Ubertino

"We might say that the symbol does not so much “resemble” the reality that it symbolizes as it participates in it, and therefore it is capable of communicating it in reality...

By its very nature the symbol unites disparate realities, the relation of the one to the other always remaining “absolutely other.” However real a symbol may be, however successfully it may communicate to us that other reality, its function is not to quench our thirst but to intensify it: “Grant us that we may more perfectly partake of Thee in the never ending day of Thy Kingdom.” It is not that this or that part of “this world” — space, time, or matter — be made sacred, but rather that everything in it be seen and comprehended as expectation and thirst for its complete spiritualization: “that God may be all in all.”

Christian worship is symbolic because, first of all, the world itself, God’s own creation, is symbolic, is sacramental; and second of all, because it is the Church’s nature, her task in “this world,” to fulfill this symbol, to realize it as the “most real of realities.” We can therefore say that the symbol reveals the world, mankind and all creation as the “matter” of a single, all-embracing sacrament."

+ Fr Alexander Schmemann,

On Compassion and Forgiveness

“Remember People’s love and their past good experiences with you. Should you doubt their sincerity or find out they have wronged you, Their old love will intercede and your anger will fade away.” 

+ H.H. Pope Shenouda III

"I beseech you, put this to the test. When a man affronts you or brings dishonor on your head, or takes what is yours, or persecutes the Church, then pray to the Lord, saying: “O Lord, we are all Thy creatures. Have pity on Thy servants and turn their hearts to repentance,” and you will be aware of grace in your soul. To begin with, constrain your heart to love enemies, and the Lord, seeing your good will, will help you in all things, and experience itself will show you the way."

+ St Silouan the Athonite

"Christianity honors man greatly, and raises his value as the crown of all creation who has the sole dominion over it. But it is a spiritual religion which aims to create a religious society, eliminating the spirit of evil in man, to bring him back to his first state before the fall when God made him in His image and according to His likeness (Genesis 1:26). When Christianity asks us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use us and persecute us (Matthew 5:44), it does that to elevate the state of all parties that they become no more enemies but friends. In doing that, it does not convert us to passive fearful people, but to good and active people. It gives us a powerful weapon by which we defeat our enemies. It is the weapon of goodness which eliminates evil from its root "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). Hence, withstanding is out of strength and not of weakness, for "He who rules his spirit is better than he who takes a city" (Proverbs 16:32). The matter is very clear in our own lives, in fulfilling such commandments - which some consider as lowering to human honor - one gains honor and tribute via humility and love, and not via roughness and haughtiness, and he converts enemies to friends." 

+ Bishop Yoannis of Gharbia

Some Ideas for Summer Camp

Here are two posts from Fr Johnathan Tobias' blog that organizers of Summer Camps, Youth Conferences or Mahragan Alkeraza might find interesting.

Cool scientific facts that should be talked about at summer camp

http://janotec.typepad.com/terrace/2014/06/cool-scientific-facts-that-should-be-talked-about-at-summer-camp.html

More cool science facts that should be talked about at summer camp (or OCF)

http://janotec.typepad.com/terrace/2014/06/more-cool-science-facts-that-should-be-talked-about-at-summer-camp-or-ocf.html

The articles are also reblogged for reference below:

The Struggle of Love

"Don't wage your Christian struggle with sermons and arguments, but with true love."

+ Elder Porphyrios

"When we argue, others react. When we love people, they are moved & we win them over. When we love...we are the first to benefit." 

+ Elder Porphyrios

The Purpose of Orthodox "Spirituality"

One of our professors once mentioned that the term "Spirituality" is a category that is rooted in the presuppositions of protestant ethos or the result of the Protestant Reformation. Our professor referred instead to a term 'pastoralia' to refer to the pastoral application of the 'spirituality' of the Church's living theology. So one could say that when we think of 'spirituality,' the whole life of the Church is 'spiritual' just as it is 'physical' or 'worldly' or 'eschatological'. Likewise all of the Church is to be applied pastorally, thereby hinting that 'pastoralia' is indeed a more accurate term...if under certain circumstances we are asked to use terms and categories. Better perhaps to point towards the beauty of the life of the Church, the beauty of the Lord and say "Taste and see."

The Purpose of Orthodox "Spirituality"
by Metropolitan Saba Esber
Source: http://araborthodoxy.blogspot.ca/2013/05/met-saba-esber-on-purpose-of-orthodox.html

Question: I know, father, that many Orthodox do not like to use the term "spirituality." But insofar as it is a term that is current in the field of religion as in other fields, can you explain to us what is Orthodox spirituality?