There are two misunderstandings about marriage which should be rejected in Orthodox dogmatic theology. by Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev) The love that exists between a man and a woman is an important theme in many books of Scripture. The Book of Genesis, in particular, tells us of holy and pious couples, such as Abraham and Sarah, […]
Can a Scientist Believe in the Resurrection?
April 17, 2017 By
by Ian Hutchinson, MIT I’m a professor of nuclear science and engineering at MIT, and this weekend, I’m celebrating the resurrection of Jesus. So are dozens of my colleagues. How can this be? Hypothesis one: We’re not talking about a literal resurrection. Perhaps it is just an inspiring myth that served to justify the propagation […]
Are John 3 and 6 About Baptism and Eucharist?
April 4, 2017 By
by Seraphim Hamilton There is a convergence of language in John 3 and 6. Both chapters contain the rare (for John) phrase “Son of Man” a reference to the ascending High Priest in Daniel 7. Both contrast flesh and Spirit. Both refer to the promise of the new exodus. Both allude strongly to Ezekiel 36-37. […]
Why Not “Open Communion”?
March 29, 2017 By
from the OCA.org website Especially at the feast of Pascha (Easter) non-Orthodox Christians ask why they may not receive Holy Communion in Orthodox parishes. As painful as this refusal is, it is based on our understanding of the true meaning of the sacrament as revealed in Scripture and ecclesial experience. A few months ago someone […]
Ordination to the Diaconate – A Homily by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom
March 1, 2017 By
The Primary task of the diaconate is love. The deacon protects the prayer of the priest. The deacon proclaims the Gospel with power and authority, but only if he himself has received the word. Translated by Dcn. Nicholas Parks The ordination of one of the members of a Christian parish to sacerdotal rank is an […]
The Spiritual Pathology of Sola Scriptura
December 19, 2016 By
by Fr. John Guy Winfrey I was recently asked by an old friend of mine to address sola scriptura from the stand point of spiritual pathology, or more closely to his words, what does this do to one’s soul and how does one heal that? For decades Orthodox Christians have written about sola scriptura in […]
The Shape of the Lord’s Prayer
November 26, 2016 By
by Fr. Sava Medakovic And to everyone who has ever attended one of my Bible studies – see, I was right! In biblical studies there has been a group of scholars who have been looking at the shape or the literary structure of scripture to determine more precisely the author’s intended meaning of scriptural passages. […]
Epistle on Islam and Muslims
November 25, 2016 By
Selected from the saint’s letters; sections on Islam and Muslims. by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov Vainly and erroneously you think and say that virtuous… Muslims will be saved, that is they will join intercourse with God! Vainly you consider the contrary notion a novelty, a brief error! No! Such is the eternal teaching of the true […]
