Friday, 30 November 2012

Thou shall never fall

Attended a university/grad talk by Very Rev. Fr. Mark Aziz at St George and St Anthony Coptic Orthodox Parish in Ottawa. Abouna reminds us about the Theandric work of Christ and our synergia and participation in the Divine Life of the Holy Trinity. Repentance and Confession and participation in the mysteries of the Church. The promise is that in receiving this from Christ we shall never fall.
"[2] Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, [3] as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, [4] by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. [5] But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, [6] to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, [7] to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. [8] For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. [10] Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; [11] for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 
2 Peter 1:2-11 (NKJV)

"His Divine Power" - Fr Mark Aziz discusses 2 Peter 1:2-11



The Educated

"Men and women who are truly theologically and spiritually educated reveal a boldness, born of humility, a confidence tempered by tentativeness, a speech generated by silence, an apology inspired by charity. They resist premature closure of complex issues and superficial answers to complicated questions. They know how to live with ambiguity as they give, with meekness and gentleness, account for the hope that is in them. They speak the truth in love with an enlightened zeal that prevents them from replacing God’s righteousness with a righteousness of their own. They evangelize without seeking to convert. They witness without seeking to win. They teach without desiring to dominate. They testify to truths in which they delight and find life, whatever cost of their convictions, because they simply cannot do otherwise. And they have infinite respect for everyone and everything."

+ Fr. Thomas Hopko, Speaking the truth in Love, Chapter 1 Excerpt

Thursday, 29 November 2012

On St Gregory Palamas



Part I: St. Gregory Palamas & the Challenge of Barlaam





Part II: The Teachings of St. Gregory Palamas on the Spiritual Life



On Building Character of Children

Character
by Fr. Philip LeMasters

Fr. Philip LeMasters argues that if raising everyone's self-esteem by watering down substantive visions of the good life is our preferred mode of operation, then heaven help us if we want our kids to worship anything other than their own self-centered desires.

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

After the Election


After the Election
by Fr. Philip LeMasters

Fr. Philip LeMasters, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University, argues that the primary political action of Orthodox Christians is not found in voting, carrying signs, spouting slogans, or putting bumper stickers on cars. Rather, our most fundamental political witness is to participate in the Divine Liturgy.

Monday, 26 November 2012

Christians And The World

"The calling of the Orthodox Christian is not to transcend the material or secular world, living in some imagined mystical isolation from the “profane.” We are to transfigure the material through the spiritual by our life and actions. We are to bring to bear in our immediate environs the Kingdom of God, and thereby assist in remaking the world in His image, and not our own."
+ Fr Deacon James Bryant, Reclaiming the Arts: An Orthodox Perspective, http://www.pravoslavie.ru/english/53335.htm

"The Christian faith is that God is with us. The Christian life is lived moment by moment in union with God and in harmony with nature which God has rendered the bearer of the holy and the place of communion.

Living a one storey life can be described as simply living here and now. It is being present to God Who is present to us. It is recognizing the true nature of the created world as the arena of both our struggle and our serenity."


Christ is in our midst. He is and ever shall be.

Sunday, 25 November 2012

Holy New Martyr Elizabeth

 An amazing short biography of a wonderful and beautiful saint and martyr. Axia Axia Axia. May her prayers and blessings be with us all Amen.



THE HOLY NEW MARTYR GRAND DUCHESS ELIZABETH (+1918)

by Fr Andrew Phillips


'There will come a time when gifted poets will write verse in praise of the Grand Duchess, her noble soul, her radiant feats, not only ascetic feats but also feats of love and mercy. Her beautiful and noble deeds, her sacrifice, a sacrifice made on the altar of love, will never be erased from the memory of human nobility and mankind will bless her as great, for she was wedded to love'.
Abbot Seraphim, The Martyrs of Christian Duty, P.12, Beijing, 1920.

Saturday, 24 November 2012

Prayer of El Sheikh El Rouhani

Give me Lord to love You. Lord, teach me how to love You. Train me for this love of Yours and let me progress in my love for You. Pour Your love in my heart through the Holy Spirit. Remove from my heart, O Lord, any other love that contradicts Your love, till the whole heart becomes Yours. O Lord, do not let me love anything or anyone more than You, or to love anyone or anythings, a lust or a desire, that does not agree with Your love. Please Lord, do not allow my heart to have in it who would compete with You or what would compete with You...or offend Your love.

+ Prayer of El Sheikh El Rouhani

Fr Mark Aziz on "Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy" V2

Abouna Mark Aziz speaking about Orthodoxy and Orthopraxy at St Mark Coptic Orthodox Parish in Washington, DC.


The Promise of the Image

Talk on Personhood by Fr John Behr: