Gladsome Light Dialogues - An Orthodox Blog » Resurrection

Looking Death in the Face or The Aesthetics of Dying

Fr. Vasile — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:25:59 +0000

"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?" (1Cor 15:54-55) As a parish priest one has the privilege to face all aspects of human life from birth until the final departure. In the eyes of a priest, humanity is exposed in its most glorious and most deplorable experiences. Among them one of the most challenging is death. Even writing about it is a difficult task because it is a very unpopular subject. Nobody wants to die and even more so, nobody wants to talk about it, is a taboo, a place where you just don’t want to go Continue reading

Credo ergo sum – I believe therefore I am

Fr. Vasile — Tue, 03 May 2011 19:26:25 +0000

Last year there were rumors that the tomb of Jesus was found. The other day some claimed to have found the nails that were used to crucify Christ. More and more news like this surface today and, although most of them prove to be untrue, the people avidly read them because we, even as Christians, are not happy anymore with what the Holy Tradition has passed unto us for centuries and we want new proof for everything. We have ceased to believe in the catholicity of the Church, in the universal truth shared in the community of the ecclesia for generations and we trust more the intellect of man, despite its shortcomings, ignoring the divine Sophia, the Wisdom of God Continue reading

Hristos anesti! Christ is risen!

Fr. Vasile — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 19:32:20 +0000

Witnessing the Light or What happens after Resurrection?

Fr. Vasile — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:54:42 +0000

O Jerusalem, be exultant, dance and leap for joy, for you have witnessed Christ the King coming forth as a Bridegroom from the sepulcher (Stichera of Pascha) It is magnificent to participate in the Church services on Pascha night, to be part of the joyful festival of light that the Resurrection of Christ brings on earth. The only sad part is that we start with many and end up with a few. Many people come, they receive the light, listen to the Gospel and hasten to go home thinking they have fulfilled their duty as Christians. But just witnessing the Resurrection is not enough, and is not the goal, what comes after is equally important. The miracle Continue reading

Thank God is Monday…the day honoring the Holy Angels

Fr. Vasile — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:02:51 +0000

The Seven-Day Commemoration In The Orthodox Church "The Week: A Seven Day Holiday". The Greek Orthodox ecclesiastical year (Indiction), begins in September, and is marked with events and holidays of our religious history. In addition to the annual cycle, the seven-day week... Continue reading

Love in times of recession

Fr. Vasile — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:21:03 +0000

"The LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you."

(Deu 23:5)

What makes our Christian religion unique is our concept of salvation. As Christians we have a Savior that loves us and in His love He comes down on Earth and saves us by

Tarkovsky’s Mirror – Stop doing what you think you should be doing

Fr. Vasile — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:03:30 +0000

The "Mirror", the fourth film in Tarkovsky's line-up of 7 cinematographic wonders, is not made for the casual observer. It has no classic plot, it is anchored in a society that is far, far away, and most of all has no happy ending. Continue reading