Gladsome Light Dialogues - An Orthodox Blog » Family Life

Christian love and human eros on Valentine’s Day

Fr. Vasile — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:57:57 +0000

Valentine’s Day is a big deal in America and I am not going to try to diminish that. Even though trying to trace back the roots of this tradition is a very convoluted task, at this point in time it really doesn’t matter to any one where it all started it doesn’t matter if the real St. Valentine existed or not, or if the romancing stories around him are truth or pure fiction, people celebrate it unconditionally. Out of this mess one thing is sure: if you fail to buy chocolate and/or flowers on this day you are toast... Continue reading

My father? I don’t know…

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:35:21 +0000

I've recently stumbled upon two blog posts addressing the donor artificial insemination from a perspective that goes against the grain of the society trends, acknowledging a problem that is often dismissed. Here are the links: Orphaned at conception: http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/deadbeat_donor_dads/ Who did I come from? The children of donor dads grow up: http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/view/who_did_i_come_from_the_children_of_donor_dads_grow_up/ I also wanted to give the readers a personal Orthodox perspective, both as a priest and as a medical doctor; so here we go. There is a great number of problems with the issue of sperm bank donors that rank from practical theology to human psychology. I will try to put my thoughts in a coherent stream. The “harvesting” of the Continue reading

Education and true knowledge – What our children are missing in school today

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:14:59 +0000

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

The case for early marriage

Fr. Vasile — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:49:22 +0000

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.” Continue reading

Keeping our children safe online

Fr. Vasile — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:45:34 +0000

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

Quotes on Anger from the Holy Fathers

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:09:08 +0000

I found this quotes on the website of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in McKinney, TX Do not let the sun go down on the anger of your brother (Eph. 4:26); that is, let no one be angry and enraged against his brother until the setting of the sun. REF:Elder Ephraim of Philotheou Mount Athos, "Counsels from the Holy Mountain" Continue reading

Anger management – Controlling the escalation of anger

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:58:46 +0000

When anger goes out of control, the consequences can be devastating and irreparable. When people have a destructive angry episode, there is a series of steps involved in the escalation of the interaction. We should aim to stop the escalation before it spirals completely out of control. We can learn to break into this chain of behavior at any point to prevent anger from reaching a destructive level, although the Continue reading

Scarry! Should Christians Celebrate Halloween? – Pastor Eric Watt

Fr. Vasile — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:52:25 +0000

I found this interesting article on the net, for those that are stil debating if you want to send your kids trick or treat tonight...Pretty scarry! Should you and I be involved in the celebration of Halloween? Finding the answer to this question has been an interesting journey in itself. I interviewed several people and then researched what many leading Continue reading

Divorce – An Orthodox Perspective – Fr. John Meyendorff

Fr. Vasile — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:26:40 +0000

The Orthodox Christian, in traditional view, canonical regulations on divorce and remarriage are based on two presuppositions. 1) Marriage is a sacrament conferred upon the partners in the Body of the Church through the priest's blessing. As any sacrament, marriage pertains to the eternal life in the Kingdom of God and therefore, is not dissolved by the death of one partner. An eternal bond is created between them-"it is given Continue reading

Further study on the meaning of marriage from a Christian Orthodox perspective

Fr. Vasile — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 21:49:40 +0000

Marriage, an Orthod ox Perspective - Fr. John Meyendorf An excellent study on Christian marriage of the former dean of St. Vladimir Seminary that represents a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the Orthodox perspective on marriage. In it John Meyendorff examines marriage in the Church from the contexts of Judaism and the New Testament, the early Church and Roman law, sacramental life, and contemporary society. Specific issues discussed include: second marriages, "mixed" marriages, divorce, abortion, family planning and responsible parenthood, married clergy, celibacy, and the monastic life. Essential reading for all pastors, it is also useful for parents, newlyweds and those preparing or the sacrament of marriage.