Gladsome Light Dialogues - An Orthodox Blog » marriage

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

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.

A love divided – the true story behind the movie

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:59:59 +0000

LOVE CONQUERS ALL; But for decades a village paid the price of AMANDA DOHERTY IT was one of Ireland's most shocking episodes. The mixed marriage of Sean and Sheila Cloney hit the headlines in the 1950s when it led to the bitter Fethard-on-Sea boycott in Co Wexford. Catholics refused to buy goods from their Protestant neighbours after Sheila refused to honour the infamous Ne Temere pledge to send her daughters Eileen and Mary to the local Catholic school. So great was the pressure on Sheila that she fled to Belfast and then Scotland with her daughters. This prompted local priest Fr Stafford to order Continue reading

The Theology of Marriage and Sexuality -Fr. George Morelli

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:24:30 +0000

The writer of Genesis said of Adam and Eve: "And God blessed them, and God said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it;' Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh" (Genesis 1:28; 2:24). St. Paul wrote in Hebrews: "Let marriage be held in honor among all . . ." (Hebrews 13:4). St. John Chrysostom typified the Orthodox Church Fathers: "From the beginning God has been revealed as the fashioner, by his providence, of this union of man and woman, and He has spoken of the two as one: 'male and female He Continue reading

Marriage As a Path to Holiness: Lives of Married Saints

Fr. Vasile — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:14:55 +0000

"Marriage As a Path to Holiness: Lives of Married Saints" is a very interesting book taking a closer look at saints that lived a married life. Here is an excerpt from the foreword by Bishop Kallistos Ware "Drawing on that rich but often neglected source, the Lives of the Saints, this book provides us with a representative selection of models, of icons in words, to encourage us on our own journey to the kingdom, whether we are married or not. . . . What is striking first of all about the examples chosen is their diversity. They are spread in time across nearly four thousand years, from the Old Testament era up to our own day. In space Continue reading

The Eros of marriage – Fr. Vasile Tudora

Fr. Vasile — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 15:37:53 +0000

"Everybody's sin is nobody's sin, and everybody's crime is no crime at all." This quote allegedly attributed to Alfred Kinsey, the parent of modern "sexology", if such a "science" exists, seems to become more and more the motto of our society. If everybody does something it has to be accepted and it has to be good.