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Compassion for Animals in the Orthodox Church
International Journal of Orthodox Theology 10:2 (2019) 9 urn:nbn:de:0276-2019-2025 His Eminence Kallistos Ware, Metropolitan of Diokleia Compassion for Animals in the Orthodox Church Abstract In this article, His Eminence Metro- politan Kallistos Ware deals with the question about the place of animals in the liturgical and theological world of the Orthodox Church. “The art of the icon is par excellence a liturgical art.” Therefore, if we can find icons with animals and plants or stars and all nature, we might understand this as an eschatological view of the uni- verse. “We humans are not saved from the world but with the world; and that means, with the animals.” Another meaningful question of this article is: “Do animals have souls?” “Even if animals are not ensouled, yet they are undoubtedly sentient. They are responsive and vulnerable. (…) As His Eminence Kallistos living beings, sensitive and easily Ware, Metropolitan of hurt, they are to be viewed as a Diokleia 10 His Eminence Kalistos Ware, Metropolitan of Diokleia 'Thou', not an 'It', (…) not as objects to be exploited and manip- ulated but as subjects, capable of joy and sorrow, of happiness and affliction. They are to be approached with gentleness and tenderness; and, more than that, with respect and reverence, for they are precious in God's sight.” Keywords Compassion, animals, Orthodox Church, worship, soul What is a merciful heart? It is a heart on fire for the whole of creation, for humankind, for the birds, for the animals, for the demons, for all that exists. St Isaac the Syrian (7th century) 1 A place for animals in our worship? As I sit writing at my table, I have before me a Russian icon of the martyrs St Florus and St Laurus. -
Sveshnikov-Mental Imagery in Prayer
Mental Imagery in Eastern Orthodox Private Devotion by Father Sergei Sveshnikov Just as there can be a properly trained voice, there can be a properly trained soul.[1] —Fr. Alexander Yelchaninov This presentation is based on the research that I undertook for a book titled Imagine That… : Mental Imagery in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Private Devotion, published in paperback in February of 2009 with the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Kyrill of San Francisco. The work is an analytical comparison of Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox attitudes toward mental imagery. In this presentation, I wish to focus specifically on the Orthodox tradition of prayer. * * * Eastern Orthodoxy displays a great degree of uniformity in following a path of stillness of thought and silence of mind to achieve the prayer of heart in private devotion. Saint John Climacus writes in The Ladder (28:19) that “the beginning of prayer consists in chasing away invading thoughts…” (285) The mind is to be freed from all thoughts and images and focused on the words of prayer. Further in the chapter on prayer (28), St. John instructs not to accept any sensual images during prayer, lest the mind falls into insanity (42; 289); and not to gaze upon even necessary and spiritual things (59; 292). Unlike some forms of Roman Catholic spirituality, the Orthodox Tradition does not encourage the use of mental imagery. In fact, it almost appears to forbid sensory imagination during prayer altogether. In the words of one of the contemporary Orthodox elders, Abbot Nikon (Vorobyev) (1894-1963), “that, which sternly, decisively, with threats and imploring is forbidden by the Eastern Fathers—Western ascetics strive to acquire through all efforts and means” (424). -
Orthodox Books
Orthodox Books Orthodoxy:Introductions and Overviews Ancient Faith Topical Series Booklets Cclick here^ The Cambridge Companion to Orthodox Christian Theology - Cambridge Companions to Religion, Mary Cunningham & Elizabeth Theokritoff Eastern Orthodox Christianity: A Western Perspective, Daniel B. Clendenin Encountering the Mystery: Understanding Orthodox Christianity Today, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Introducing Eastern Orthodox Theology, Fr Andrew Louth Introducing the Orthodox Church-Its Faith and Life, Fr. Anthony Coniaris The Orthodox Church: An Introduction to its History, Doctrine, and Spiritual Culture, Fr John McGuckin The Orthodox Faith Series, Fr Thomas Hopko The Orthodox Way, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware Doctrine After Death, Vassilios Bakoyiannis The Deification of Man, Georgios Mantzaridis The Mystery of Christ, Fr. John Behr The Mystery of Death, Nikolaos Vassiliadis The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church, Fr Vladimir Lossky The Nicene Faith, vols 1 and 11, Fr. John Behr Church History The Christian Tradition 2: The Spirit ofEastern Christendom 600-1700,Jaroslav Pelikan The Great Church in Captivity: A Study of the Patriarchate of Constantinople from the Eve of the Turkish Conquest to the Greek War ofIndependence, Steven Runciman History of the Byzantine State, George Ostrogorsky The Lives of Orthodox Saints, Ormylia Monastery The Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Kallistos Ware Liturgy and Sacraments The Divine Liturgy: A Commentary in the Light of the Fathers, Hieromonk Gregorios and Elizabeth Theokritoff The Eucharist: -
GLIMPSES INTO the KNOWLEDGE, ROLE, and USE of CHURCH FATHERS in RUS' and RUSSIAN MONASTICISM, LATE 11T H to EARLY 16 T H CENTURIES
ROUND UP THE USUALS AND A FEW OTHERS: GLIMPSES INTO THE KNOWLEDGE, ROLE, AND USE OF CHURCH FATHERS IN RUS' AND RUSSIAN MONASTICISM, LATE 11t h TO EARLY 16 t h CENTURIES David M. Goldfrank This essay originated at the time that ASEC was in its early stages and in response to a requestthat I write something aboutthe church Fathers in medieval Rus'. I already knew finding the patrology concerning just the original Greek and Syriac texts is nothing short of a researcher’s black hole. Given all the complexities in volved in the manuscript traditions associated with such superstar names as Basil of Caesarea, Ephrem the Syrian, John Chrysostom, and Macarius of wherever (no kidding), to name a few1 and all of The author would like to thank the staffs of the Hilandar Research Library at The Ohio State University and, of course, the monks of Hilandar Monastery for encouraging the microfilming of the Hilandar Slavic manuscripts by Ohio State. I thank the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection; and Georgetown University’s Woodstock Theological Library as well as its Lauinger Library Reference Room for their kind help. Georgetown University’s Office of the Provost and Center for Eurasian, East European and Russian Studies provided summer research support. Thanks also to Jennifer Spock and Donald Ostrowski for their wise suggestions. 1 An excellent example of this is Plested, Macarian Legacy. For the spe cific problem of Pseudo-Macarius/Pseudo-Pseudo-Macarius as it relates to this essay, see NSAW, 78-79. Tapestry of Russian Christianity: Studies in History and Culture. -
Atlas of American Orthodox Christian Monasteries
Atlas of American Orthodox Christian Monasteries Atlas of Whether used as a scholarly introduction into Eastern Christian monasticism or researcher’s directory or a travel guide, Alexei Krindatch brings together a fascinating collection of articles, facts, and statistics to comprehensively describe Orthodox Christian Monasteries in the United States. The careful examina- Atlas of American Orthodox tion of the key features of Orthodox monasteries provides solid academic frame for this book. With enticing verbal and photographic renderings, twenty-three Orthodox monastic communities scattered throughout the United States are brought to life for the reader. This is an essential book for anyone seeking to sample, explore or just better understand Orthodox Christian monastic life. Christian Monasteries Scott Thumma, Ph.D. Director Hartford Institute for Religion Research A truly delightful insight into Orthodox monasticism in the United States. The chapters on the history and tradition of Orthodox monasticism are carefully written to provide the reader with a solid theological understanding. They are then followed by a very human and personal description of the individual US Orthodox monasteries. A good resource for scholars, but also an excellent ‘tour guide’ for those seeking a more personal and intimate experience of monasticism. Thomas Gaunt, S.J., Ph.D. Executive Director Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) This is a fascinating and comprehensive guide to a small but important sector of American religious life. Whether you want to know about the history and theology of Orthodox monasticism or you just want to know what to expect if you visit, the stories, maps, and directories here are invaluable. -
Marquette History of Theology
MARQUETTE HISTORY OF THEOLOGY VOLUME II: LATE MEDIEVAL TO 1800 Edited by Patrick Carey In Collaboration With Michel René Barnes Alexander Golitzin Mickey Mattox Marcus Wriedt David Schultenover Wanda Zemler-Cizewski 1 CONTENTS SECTION I: LATE MEDIEVAL THEOLOGY, 1350-1500 Jean Gerson ............................................................ 1 On Mystical Theology .............................................. 2 Jean Gerson: Selections from A Deo exivit, Contra curiositatem studentium and De mystica theologia speculativa, ed. and trans. Steven E. Ozment, Textus Minores, vol. 38 (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1969), 47–73, 85–89. Gabriel Biel ........................................................... 13 The Circumcision of the Lord ....................................... 14 Heiko Augustinus Oberman, Forerunners of the Reformation: The Shape of Late Medieval Thought (New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1966), 165–74. Desiderius Erasmus ..................................................... 22 The Praise of Folly ................................................ 23 Karl F. Thompson, ed., Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation, 3rd ed., Classics of Western Thought, vol. 2 (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc., 1980), 286–302. Excerpts from Desiderius Erasmus, The Praise of Folly, trans. by Hoyt Hopewell Hudson (copyright 1941 © 1969 by Princeton University Press; Princeton Paperback, 1970), 16–125. SECTION II: BYZANTINE CHURCH, 1350-1800 Nicholas Cabasilas ...................................................... 36 The Life in Christ ................................................ -
The Holy Spirit and Ethics: a Response to Philip S. Keane
• CTSA PROCEEDINGS 51 (1996): 114-19 • THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ETHICS: A RESPONSE TO PHILIP S. KEANE Philip Keane's thoughtful and suggestive paper discusses how pneumatology can address issues in moral theology and vice versa. He begins from the perspec- tive of a rationalistic, philosophical Catholic moral theology and shows how it can be broadened and deepened through a fuller awareness of the Holy Spirit. His reflections reveal paths of thought leading in various directions, all of which invite further fruitful reflection. He discusses the mystery of transcendence in God and at the core of the human person and the presence and activity of the Trinity as a community of persons. He identifies the Holy Spirit as the source of deeper ethical understanding in the following areas: interpretation of the Bible and historical experience; moral insight through artistic creativity and imagina- tion; repentance, asceticism, self-discipline, virtue and character; and prayer, liturgy, spiritual discernment and knowledge of God. I have been asked to make a response based on the theology and spirituality of the Orthodox Church. My impression is that many of Keane's insights resonate remarkably well with major themes in Eastern Christian teaching and practice. Let me suggest briefly how within the Orthodox tradition the Holy Spirit gathers into one the divergent pathways whose starting points Keane has so clearly signposted. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE SAINTS St. Silouan the Athonite, a spiritual teacher of our own century, focuses on the indwelling and activity of the Holy Spirit as central to authentic spiritual life. Very significantly, his criterion for discerning the presence of the Spirit in a person's life and prayer is precisely an ethical one. -
Life and Teaching of Saint Seraphim of Sarov’ by N
THE SERIES ‘CHRISTIAN ASCETICS EN SAINTS OF RUSSIA’ ‘Life and Teaching of Saint Seraphim of Sarov’ by N. Puretzki and the Monastery of Sarov Saint Seraphim is one of the most venerated saints of Russia, and has greatly influenced the spiritual life, not only of the entire Russian clergy, but also of the thousands of laymen who were drawn to Christian mysticism. Staretz Seraphim has formulated in his teaching in simple words the purpose and the ways of Christian ascetic life, in order to make them understandable to all those seeking God. The cover image is a photo of his miracle-working icon in the Russian Orthodox Church in the name of Saint Mary of Magdala in The Hague. This icon was presented to the church by the last Russian Tzar, Nicolas II, a martyr and a saint; the reason being that the church was originally the domestic chapel of Queen Anna Paulowna, who was a member of the Royal Romanov House, and the wife of King Willem II of the Netherlands. This icon has another particular characteristic: it is not a strictly formal representation of a saint, but one of the two portraits of Saint Seraphim. This book is published with the blessing of Monsignor Simon, Archbishop of Brussels and Belgium and temporarily of The Hague and the Netherlands Publisher: Gozalov Books, The Hague Editors: ‘English Writers’, Wassenaar, the Netherlands and the Convent Portaïtssa at Trazegnies, Belgium ISBN: 978-90-812765-2-8 Size: 203 x 127 mm Cover: Paperback, full colour Extent: 76 Illustrations: 4 pen drawings Price: £ 7.00 For Trade Distribution: Gazelle Book Services Ltd., White Cross Mills, Hightown, Lancaster LA1 4XS Tel: 01524 68765 Fax: 01524 63232 email: sales@ gazellebooks.co.uk. -
DECEMBER 27, 2020 Very Rev
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis Bishop of Charlotte DECEMBER 27, 2020 Very Rev. Christopher A. Roux HOLY FAMILY Rector & Pastor SUNDAY CYCLE: B — WEEKDAY CYCLE: I — PSALTER: WEEK I WEEKEND MASSES Saturday Vigil: 5:30 pm Sunday: 7:30 am, 9 am, 11 am and 12:30 pm DAILY MASSES Monday - Friday: 12:10 pm Saturday: 8 am HOLY DAY SCHEDULE 7:30 am, 12:10 pm, 7 pm CONFESSION Thirty minutes before daily Masses Saturday: 7:30 am and 4 - 5 pm Sunday: 10 - 11 am ADORATION Wednesday: 8 am - 6 pm Sunday: 10 - 11 am PARISH OFFICE HOURS Mon., Wed., Fri.: 9 am to 5 pm Mission Statement We the members of The Cathedral of St. Patrick, through the mercy of God the Father, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit, seek to grow continually in knowledge of and love for God. We strive to enable ongoing conversion to Christ of our adults, to inspire faith in our children, and to be witnesses of His love in the greater community. Address: 1621 Dilworth Road East, Charlotte, NC 28203 Phone: (704) 334-2283 E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.stpatricks.org THIS WEEK AT THE CATHEDRAL DATE MASSES & INTENTIONS EVENTS 8:00 am † Roger Lee Leonard 7:30 AM—Confession Saturday Requested by Jenny Orso 8:00 AM—Mass December 26th 5:30 pm † Maria Naccarella 4:00—5:00 PM—Confession 5:30 PM—Mass Requested by the Rodriguez Family 7:30 am † Salvatore DiSapio Requested by Michelle Parides 7:30 AM—Mass Sunday 9:00 am Pro Populo 9:00 AM—Mass December 27th 10:00—11:00 AM—Adoration 11:00 am † Mickey Willyard 10:00—11:00 AM—Confession Requested by the Mooney Family 11:00 AM—Mass Holy Family 12:30 pm † John M. -
Concelebration with Agafangel
■ Yet more historic pages in the chronicle of the Orthodox Resistance Greek and Russian Anti-Ecumenists Embrace in Concelebration An historic visit lory to God for all things! The Holy Synod in Resistance had the especial blessing of welcoming His Eminence, Bishop Agafangel ofG Odessa and Tauris to its Headquarters, that is, to the Holy Monastery of Sts. Cyprian and Justina, in Phyle, Attica, offering him hospitality thereat from November 15 to November 20, 2007 (Old Style). ■ Our momentous and multilevel interaction with His Eminence, Bishop Agafangel took on the nature of a truly historic visit, in view of the fact that this blessed Hierarch already heads that large segment of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (ROCA) which not only has not accepted the false union, this past May, between the ROCA and the Moscow Patriarchate, but which is fully conscious that it constitutes the continuation of the original Rus- sian Orthodox Church Abroad, since it continues to preserve the latter’s Historical Heritage. * * * On Wednesday, November 15, around 7:00 p.m., our Holy Synod welcomed His Eminence, Bishop Agafangel with gladness and rejoicing to its Synodal Headquarters. At the conclusion of the Doxology service in the Monastery’s new Cathedral, His Grace, Bishop Cyprian of Oreoi, Acting President of the Holy Synod, addressed His Eminence, conveying to him welcoming wishes from our ailing and much-revered First Hierarch, Metropolitan Cyprian, and also from the oth- er members of our Hierarchy. “In your person,” said His Grace, the Act- ing President, “we behold Holy Russia, from the times of St. -
4 Does God Care About Sex(Uality)?
Saturday, June 5, 2021 Does God care about sex(uality)? Ideas from the ‘world’ ❖Sex as necessary for fulfillment as a human being ✤Freud to now ✤New Age and Tantric(esque) beliefs have taken a prominent role in society. ✦Sex as an expression of the Divine itself ❖Sexual expression as a main identity marker, which that is/was being repressed by social systems ✤Sexuality is a performance that must be supported ✦Multiple Identities based on partner choice or attraction or support for this sexual performance ✴Polyamorous? Asexual? Same Sex/Gender? Creation of many identities ad infinitum based on attraction and arrangement. ✴Desire and its ambiguities become an identity that demands recognition by society. ❖Attraction Wars ✤Innate disposition vs Free Partner Choice ✦Contrasting definitions of sexual identity ✴One defined as ability to find and pair with partners. ✴One about having fate determine your actions. ✤My attraction is a need that requires satisfaction (pending the other’s consent) ✦Effects are: Rise in divorce, rise in non-married cohabitation, rise in purposefully open or negotiated forms of household arrangements with accompanying ‘contractual’ sexual access. 1 Saturday, June 5, 2021 The Place of Sexuality in Orthodox Teaching ❖Erotic human energy ✤Orthodoxy is not a sexual spirituality and has no visions of sex as a means to spiritual progress. That activity is related to the animal side, not the Spirit. ✦“In contrast to the above [new age] teachings, the Holy Fathers consistently warn us not to mingle the carnal with the spiritual, -
Essays on Monastic Themes St. Seraphim of Sarov
Reviews 39 Theology and Prayer: Essays on Monastic Themes presented at the Orthodox-Cistercian Conference, Oxford, 1973 (Studies Supplementary to Sobornost No 3), edited by A. M. Allchin, Fellowship of St. Alban and St. Sergius, 1975,107 pp., 50P. St. Seraphim of Sarov by Valentine Zander, SPCK, London, 1975, 150 pp., £2.50. The Christian West has for long regarded the spiritual tradition of the Orthodox Church with diffident reverence, an attitude for which these two books provide further justificatien .. Both publications are marked by subtle unities, within and between: themselves. It is astonishing how often in Theology and Prayer the same themes.- Merton's approach to "dread", the influence of Gregory of Nyssa on St. Bernard, the themes of excessus and kenosis - occurin papers dealing outwardly with widely disparate subjects. Thomas Merton is the explicit subject of two of the six papers, and most of the others find it difficult not to mention him somewhere. And Merton is the link between these two books, for as John Eudes Bamberger says in his paper on Thomas Merton and the Christian East, Merton was greatly dependent on that spiritual tradition at the centre of which stood St. Seraphim of Sarov. Of the other papers, Kallis tos Ware points out in his succinctly definitive account of Hesychia how often it is the men of activity, and not only the. contemplatives, who have practised this form of spirituality. John Saward in a masterly paper on'.'The Fool for Christ's Sake in Monasticism East and West" makes brief Qut excellent use of that unjustly neglected master of 17th century spirituality, Jean Surin,.