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by St. John Chrysostom Our father among the saints, John (347-407), Archbishop of Constantinople, was a notable Christian bishop and preacher from the fourth and fifth centuries in Syria and Constantinople. He is famous for eloquence in public speaking and his denunciation of abuse of authority in the Church and in the Roman Empire of the time. He had notable ascetic sensibilities. 1. Just as a chorus seeks the chorus leader, and a … [Read more...]
by St. John Chrysostom Our father among the saints, John, Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities. After his death (or, according to some sources, during his life) he was given the … [Read more...]
By St. Theophan the Recluse Our father among the saints, Theophan the Recluse, (d. 1894) was the bishop of Tambov in Russia. He was a prolific author, especially on the subjects of the Christian life and the training of youth in the faith. Originally written on December 29, 1863, the Sunday after Christ's Birth, St. Theophan has much to tell us about our contemporary setting, and the appropriate worldview and response. It reached my ears … [Read more...]
Congratulations to our 30(40) Day Bloggers! Merry Christmas, and congratulations on a job well done. The task you undertook 40 days ago has not been an easy one, but with diligence and God's help, you have persevered. You have run a good race! Well done! This year's exercise had many more blogs than last year, and while this was an occasion for happiness, it also made it much harder for me to write/blog/comment on your work this year. I … [Read more...]
by St. Ephraim the Syrian Our father among the saints, Ephraim was a prolific Syriac language hymn writer and theologian of the 4th century. He is venerated by Christians throughout the world, but especially among Syriac Christians, as a saint. Here Ephraim presents his “counsel of life”, warning against various sins such as greed, pride, fornication, and slander. 1. This is the day that gladdened them, the Prophets, Kings, and … [Read more...]
by Fr. John Behr Some 30 years ago, Karl Rahner claimed that most Christians are “mere monotheists,” that if the doctrine of the Trinity proved to be false, the bulk of popular Christian literature, and the mindset it reflects, would not have to be changed. Unfortunately, this is largely still true. Defining the doctrine of the Trinity as a mystery which cannot be fathomed by unaided human reason invites a position such as … [Read more...]
by Kevin Allen Our friend, the award winning host of "The Illumined Heart" Kevin Allen, is a convert to Orthodoxy from Hinduism (see his story HERE at Journey To Orthodoxy) and is also a fair hand at theological distinction, and this article is right up our alley at Preachers Institute. I try to read St Athanasius’ classic, On The Incarnation (DE INCARNATION VERBI DEI) or parts of it, during the forty days of the Advent season. I am … [Read more...]
by David Bradshaw, University of Kentucky Anyone familiar with the history of western philosophy is aware of how large a role has been played within it by theology. This is true not only of the Middle Ages, when philosophy was the handmaiden of theology, but as recently as Hegel and Kierkegaard, or arguably even Heidegger and Wittgenstein. For almost two millennia philosophers have drawn on theology to help them grapple with issues including, … [Read more...]
A monk went to his master in the morning, sad after a long night he had spent in meditation counting the virtues of one of his fellow monks. He said to his master, “Father, I have wasted the night in vain-sitting the whole night and counting the virtues of brother so and so, and found that they were thirty virtues; and I grew sad, since I found that I own nothing, not even one virtue of them.” But his master said, “Your sadness … [Read more...]
by St. Irenaeus of Lyons Against Heresies, Book 4, Chapters 7, 10, 11, 23 Therefore Abraham also, knowing the Father through the Word, who made heaven and earth, confessed Him to be God; and having learned, by an announcement [made to him], that the Son of God would be a man among men, by whose advent his seed should be as the stars of heaven, he desired to see that day, so that he might himself also embrace Christ; and, seeing it through … [Read more...]
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