You ask me, O man of God, where did today’s crisis come from and what does it mean? Who am I to be asked about such a great thing? “You should only speak when what you have to say is better than silence,” says St. Gregory the Theologian. And even though I believe that silence would be better… Continue reading
Education and true knowledge – What our children are missing in school today
Another school year started this week. Future scientists, engineers, doctors begin their journey today, a journey through rationality and logic in the hope of pushing further away today’s science barriers. During the following school years these children will be taught mathematics, physics, chemistry and other subjects that will reveal to them, step by step… “how Continue reading
Praise the Theotokos – a selection of readings
On the Dormition of Mary: Early Patristic Homilies
Frightened by Confession Part 2-Overcoming Shame
On a bench besides John, Mary is also deep in thought. “Hmm… I think I start understanding why I should go to Confession. But what do I say when I get there? I know I’ve done some things that I am not proud of, but here is a scary thought: how can I tell all this to another person, especially a man? He’s going to judge me and probably will never look at me with the same eyes again. Plus, how do I know he’s not going to tell anyone? I don’t think I could overcome this shame.”
Shame is a common feeling for anyone that prepares for Confession, especially at the beginning. It is Continue reading
Frightened by Confession Part 1-Do I need it?
The Dormition Lent has begun. Father X speaks again on Confession and spiritual development. What are the people thinking about it? Let’s take a look around.
John sits somewhere in the back and shakes His head as Father X goes on about the benefits of Confession. “Here we go again, we started the fast and Father is speaking again about Continue reading
Fasting and the revelation of our shortcomings
Most of the Orthodox people have a hard time fasting. Every beginner realizes sooner rather than later that fasting is difficult, and the discipline of the stomach is not easy to master.
The struggle of fast has however another curious secondary effect: the amplification of all our other shortcomings. When we fail in fasting we feel guilty and unworthy. Continue reading
The struggle of prayer – a short practical guide
If you ask anyone in church about prayer they will most likely us a descriptor like: a pleasant experience, a conversation with God, a link with the absolute or other general terms, all positive in nature. Things are different however when, during Confession, a Father Confessor asks the same question. He will most likely hear more about lack of time, loss of focus, procrastination and struggle in general. The truth is that prayer is easier said than done. Continue reading
The case for early marriage
A very interesting article by Mark Regnerus making the case for early marriage as a a way to deal with pre-marital sexuality, divorce rates and economical crisis. You can read the article here.
One of the most interesting statements of the article in my opinion is this: “Most young Americans no longer think of marriage as a formative institution, but rather as the institution they enter once they think they are fully formed.”
Who’s affraid of the Theotokos?
I recently posted a status on Facebook referring to the fast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. A few minutes later I got a reply from a non-denominational protestant friend: “I did not know that God had a mother”. This is a very typical response from this audience since they do not have any particular place for the Virgin Mary in their theology or worship. Continue reading
Keeping our children safe online
One of the growing parental problems is the control of our children internet access. With a variety of explicit materials and predators lurking the net more and more parent grow worry about their children accessing the internet. More so with new technology like iphods, iphones, mobile internet, social networking the breadth of the problem has grown exponentially… Continue reading