Barriers to Unity Part 2: Nationalism and Thinking in Terms of "Diaspora"

"Christ, in his humble condescension, is hidden throughout all mankind" 

+ Metropolitan Georges (Khodre)

"If the passing millennium was an era of religious-nationalistic hostility, could we possibly hope that the next one will be a time for nationalities to come to a respectful appreciation for each other? What an incredible witness it would be if Orthodox nationalities would assert the Gospel-based, charitable and prudent attitudes towards other members of the human race!"

+ Fr. Alexander Garklavs

Culture and ethnicity, diversity of the different Orthodox cultures can be a very positive thing, but what is often dangerous is the walled in mentality, of "them vs. us" that has created Jurisdictionalism and Orthodox "Denominationalism" in North America. Culture and Ethnicity has also been recapitulated by the Cross and Resurrection, and as such has the potential for restoration instead of the fallenness which creates the idol of nationalism.

Orthodoxy: An Unlimited Expression

Orthodoxy: An Unlimited Expression
by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios
(Recorded by Yale Divinity School on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 - 5:30pm)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um_h0HwMRaw

Transcript

St Isaac the Syrian and God's Love

Fr Aidan Kimel has posted a lovely (and challenging) series on St Isaac the Syrian's views on God's love, judgement, penal sub, and Orthodox understanding of salvation.

The writings of St Isaac challenges us I think because of the paradox and incomprehensibility of the astonishing wonder of God's love. Perhaps again we must appeal to an apophatic paradox: God's Love is incomprehensibly beyond what I think love is, yet this love has been encountered and can be touched in and through the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ. We partake of Bread and Wine that is Body and Blood. We behold the Man, Who is God in the Flesh.

We are in wonder and ask the Theotokos to pray for us, for how humble is she who in her womb, she embraced Him whom the heavens could not contain? It is this tremendous paradox that humbles us and yet raises us, beyond compare. May we live out our Baptism and glorify God with His Saints.

In regards to the universalism of St Isaac the Syrian, I agree with Fr Aidan that we must tread carefully on the subject, and realize our own sinfulness and readily repent, growing in union with God, growing in union with the infinite depths and mysteries of Divine Love, that one day we may have the humility to love in the Way and Type of Christ.

O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of Goodness and Giver of Life, Come dwell in us, cleanse us of all stain, guard us from the Enemy, teach us to love, repent and pray, free us from delusion and the fallen passions, and save our souls, O Good One.

May our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ the Son of God, Who we Glorify with the Father and the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.

ps. I highly recommend Fr Aidan's blog http://afkimel.wordpress.com and have also included the series in one big post below:

Orthodox Interchurch Dialogue (Critical Look at Challenges)

If you've five hours this weekend (especially if you are Coptic Orthodox) I highly recommend listening to the following talk:

Orthodox Interchurch Dialogue (Critical Look at Challenges)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDv_VsNxQjM

Metropolitan Kallistos Ware on the Divine Liturgy

On the Divine Liturgy Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkAz950LXHU

On the Divine Liturgy Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-f47DL5fWg

What is the Gospel?

What is the Gospel?
An Orthodox Approach
(but keep in mind this is only brief description and not intended as a formula or a package)
http://saintpaulemmaus.org/for-visitors/what-is-the-gospel-message/

The word Gospel is used all the time in the media, by religious people, and even as a genre of music. But what is the Gospel?

Adam’s Lament

Adam’s Lament

by St Silouan the Athonite

Adam, father of all mankind, in paradise knew the sweetness of the love of God; and so when for his sin he was driven forth from the garden of Eden, and was widowed of the love of God, he suffered grievously and lamented with a great moan. And the whole desert rang with his lamentations, for his soul was racked as he thought, 'I have distressed my beloved God'. He sorrowed less after paradise and the beauty thereof; for he sorrowed that he was bereft of the love of God, which insatiably, at every instant, draws the soul to Him.

In the same way the soul which has known God through the Holy Spirit, but has afterwards lost grace experiences the torment that Adam suffered. There is an aching and a deep regret in the soul that has grieved the beloved Lord.

Adam pined on earth, and wept bitterly, and the earth was not pleasing to him. He was heartsick for God, and this was his cry:

Aquinas and Orthodoxy

Aquinas and Orthodoxy
by Fr Andrew Louth

Talk given to the Oxford Orthodox Christian Student Society, at the Danson Room, Trinity College, Oxford, October 20th, 2011, 19:00-20:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqa74WEj03s

Transcript:

Barriers to Unity Part 1: Antipaty and Ennui

One of the telling things that Fr Kenneth points out in his book "Common heritage, divided communion: the declines and advances of inter-Orthodox relations from Chalcedon to Chambesy" is related to implenting joint commission on a lay level and some of the barriers to doing so:

"There are, at the same time, Orthodox faithful and clergy who not only consider the “other side” as heretical and even know much of the history of the “Chalcedonian schism” but (in varying degrees) deny outright the progress made in inter-Orthodox dialogue. As a consequence, they sometimes openly brand faithful from outside their own communion as schismatics or heretics in an archaic, “medieval” fashion."

Orthodoxy as the Basis for Unity

"I am deeply convinced that Orthodoxy; which is the basis of every interaction between us and other Churches, is a unifying factor not a divisive one. I am also convinced that adhering to it is the right way. With love and humility, we strengthen the common factors that bind us all together. There will undoubtedly be differences, not in essentials, and this a source of propitious diversity. This shall be considered a richness to us, and not a deviation of our adherence to Christ.

Therefore, we hope to accomplish all steps towards a full sacramental unity with our brethren in the Eastern non-Chalcedonian Churches, based on what we have agreed upon in Chambesy as a positive result of a long and extensive dialogue. If we realize this, we should be able to show that we have offered a living example of the credibility of our endeavors to achieve unity and to witness to our loyalty to the Lord." 

+ Patriarch John X, Vision for the Antiochian Orthodox Church, February 17, 2013,  http://araborthodoxy.blogspot.com/2013/02/john-xs-vision-for-patriarchate-of.html