February 2012
94 posts
I wish I had as much political power as a fetus.
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“In that place they shall forget this world. There they have no want; and they...”
– Aphrahat the Persian Sage
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“Love is very different to infatuation. It is different to caring, it is...”
– Bishop Angaelos
Extremely tired.
I spent today serving with HE Metropolitan Seraphim and Fr Seraphim (confusing, eh?) then showing Janice around central London. It was only at about 7pm that I remembered that I hadn’t broken my communion fast yet…oops.
26 hours with no food has a funny effect on people, especially when they haven’t sat down since 9am…
I hope you all had a blessed...
“A book is a mirror: if an ape looks in, no apostle can look back out.”
– G.C. Lichtenberg (via zerogate)
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“Apology, recognition, repatriation and forgiveness must be taken as a whole.”
– HH Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia, speaking on the 2nd day of the international conference on the Armenian Genocide in Lebanon.
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“”The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.
The...”
– Psalm 117:14, 18
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“The Goodness of God is so rich in graces, that it seeks a cause to have mercy on...”
– St. Anthimos of Chios
Ramblings of an average human.: It felt really... →
kenosis-theosis:
jamesfromta:
Usually I would but as the Great Fast hasn’t begun yet for Eastern Orthodox I didn’t get ashed. Though when I woke up today I did have to stop myself from going to a Church and getting ashed.
I was wondering if we receive an ashen cross on our foreheads…
my pupils at work today were all amazed to see so many of the staff with ashen crosses on their...
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“With the Blood and Body being a gift in the faith of the Church, we only allow...”
– Rev. Dr. K. M. George.
Anonymous asked: Do you know any kind Eastern Orthodox monks or priests? Do you have their e-mails? I want to e-mail them for a personal problem of mine.
I recieved a response from Br. Nathanael (aka...
He has informed me that he IS an Orthodox monk under the blessing of Bishop Jerome, Vicar Bishop of the ROCOR Diocese of East America of New York.
I have not E-mailed his Grace Bishop Jerome to ask how a man in a cassock can be allowed to be so political and somewhat hateful.
I am not doing this as some vendetta, I am simply just baffled as to the whole thing, political punditry is not the way...
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“Nation will not take up sword against nation, and they will no more learn to...”
– Tertullian
Brother Nathanael
OK, does anyone know if this guy is actually a canonical Orthodox Monk?
He claims to be a Russian Orthodox Monk and writes an Anti-Zionist blog and podcast, as well as claming things such as 9/11 conspiracy theories and other really odd things for an Orthodox monastic to care about, let alone say.
I am really baffled since I have never known any Orthodox monk to 1) make anti-semitic youtube...
almaza asked: hi i'm a greek/lebanese/american/orthodox, and i can't begin to tell you how refreshing your blog is, seeing someone with such a strong interest in their faith is awesome. :)
I love serving the Altar, especially with the...
So, today I was given the opportunity to serve the Altar at St. Felix’s Parish with the Archbishop. This is a rare occasion since usually the Deacons take the Altar duties and I just chant the Litanies.
Today was especially brilliant since it started badly and ended up brilliantly. It started badly because I forgot my Tonia and service book so had to call the Secretariat before and say i...
“Offer unto all a bright image of your holy church, her true orthodox faith, her...”
– Pope Kyrillos VI, before his repose (via theophilus79)
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“God is close to those that call upon him.”
– Pope Kyrillos VI, Patriarch of Alexandria
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A FEW BRIEF THOUGHTS ON THE LENT FAST - by Fr....
Lent, as is well known, is a period for giving up, abstaining, fasting… In the Byzantine Orthodox tradition in the first week only meat is given up so the people are vegetarian, only going vegan at the start of the 40 days, whereas in the Coptic Orthodox tradition we are straight into the full vegan fast from the beginning. Whereas in other fasts, such as Advent, fish is allowed other than on...
listening to a very long album.
The entire coptic Liturgy of St Basil on CD, an awesome thing to own.
You can put it on at 10am, forget it is on, then come back into your room at 3pm and it is still going.
I would love to visit St Antony’s Monastery and attend this Liturgy in full, I do wonder if my legs would last the 5 and a half hours (with a sitting break for Sermons and Readings of course) but it would be...
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Hymns and chants at church are not just music and...
“Hymns and chants at church are not just music and tunes. They are prayers directed to God. They have their depth and effect on your heart and your spirituality. Therefore, there is a difference between the one who just sings and the one who chants hymns.”
- Pope Shenouda III, Patriarch of Alexandria and the See of St. Mark
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People that you meet are sent by God...
People that you meet are sent by God. Passing your way, they are for your own spiritual benefit, if you know how to benefit from them. The righteous present you with an example and a blessing, while you benefit endurance, patience and forgiveness for others from the evil.
Pope Shenouda III, Patriarch of Alexandria and the See of St Mark.
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“saints are signs of the glory of God in this world not so much as individuals as...”
– John Zizioulas
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Wow...
I have just been reading an article on the 3 years after Chalcedon (451-454) and that over 33,000 were killed in persecutions sponsored by the Empire and supported by Imperial Patriarchs, and all for refusing the to accept the Tome of Leo. I had read about some (such as Samuel the Confessor) in the Synaxarium but did not know it was that widespread.
Some of these were just horiffic, throwing...
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“What did the dissidents do or say that deserves persecutions? If pagans have...”
– St. John the Faster, speaking on the persecution of Non-Chalcedonian Christians in the Byzantine Empire.
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“As empty vessels make the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the...”
– Plato
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That awkward moment when...
You have been happily involved in a long exchange of theological based emails with a Greek priest (helping with uni ideas and sharing general favourite reading) then he suddenly drops the ‘m word’ into the conversation.
Needless to say, he was surprised when I informed him that I am part of one of these ‘m word’ churches and we are in fact not a ’ heretical...
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“God, for your sake, humbled Himself, and you will not be humbled for your own...”
– Saint Macarius the great
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What the Apostles preached on the Sacrament of...
“On the Lord’s own day, assemble in common to break bread and offer thanks; but first confess your sins, so that your sacrifice may be pure. However, no one quarreling with his brother may join your meeting until they are reconciled; your sacrifice must not be defiled. For here we have the saying of the Lord: ‘In every place and time offer me a pure sacrifice; for I am a...
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We call this food Eucharist...
“We call this food Eucharist, and no one else is permitted to partake of it, except one who believes our teaching to be true and who has been washed in the washing which is for the remission of sins and for regeneration and is thereby living as Christ enjoined.
For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these, but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the...
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Orthodox Christians, do you take the creation in...
I have seen lots of debates on this from within Orthodoxy and want to know the views on here.
Do you take the creation in genesis as literally or Allegotically and why do you choose this view?
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“For David’s sake, sins were forgiven to his posterity; and for...”
– Aphrahat the Persian
Iran Worried U.S. Might Be Building 8,500th... →
verbalresistance:
TEHRAN—Amidst mounting geopolitical tensions, Iranian officials said Wednesday they were increasingly concerned about the United States of America’s uranium-enrichment program, fearing the Western nation may soon be capable of producing its 8,500th nuclear weapon.
“Our intelligence estimates indicate that, if it is allowed to progress with its aggressive nuclear...
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“Bless us, O Father and Saint, O new Elijah!”
– Saint Cyril of Alexandria’s cry on seeing one of saint Shenouda’s miracles.
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The Orthodox Christology of St Severus →
St Severus of Antioch is one of the great Fathers of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. In the decades after the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD it was he, more than any other theologian, who expressed most forcefully and clearly the Orthodox Christology of the Oriental Orthodox Churches. This podcast, presented by Abouna Peter Farrington, considers his Christology, especially as it is found in the...