http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info A journey through our Orthodox faith as we live it every day Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:43:26 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/favicon.ico Copyright © Gladsome Light Dialogues - An Orthodox Blog 2010 blogadmin@stjohndfw.info (Gladsome Light Dialogues - An Orthodox Blog) blogadmin@stjohndfw.info (Gladsome Light Dialogues - An Orthodox Blog) http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpg http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info 144 144 A journey through our Orthodox faith as we live it every day Gladsome Light Dialogues - An Orthodox Blog Gladsome Light Dialogues - An Orthodox Blog blogadmin@stjohndfw.info no no http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/2012/02/the-empty-churches-of-the-city-of-lights/ http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/2012/02/the-empty-churches-of-the-city-of-lights/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:43:26 +0000 Fr. Vasile http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/?p=1497 Visiting Paris, the city of lights, is a wonderful experience, anytime of the year. The boulevards, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower and even more so the great cathedrals: Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, Saint Sulpice and so on, attract visitors like flies. From a tourism perspective it is wonderful to see these great historical churches full of people all day long. But if you cast a closer look and try to find the people that enter to actually pray, you soon realize that the flock is very small for the grandiose size of the gigantic stone and marble monuments. In contrast, during a recent trip to the same city I’ve been blessed with participating in the Continue reading]]> http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/2012/02/the-empty-churches-of-the-city-of-lights/feed/ 0 http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/2010/01/fasting-abundantly/ http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/2010/01/fasting-abundantly/#comments Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:21:46 +0000 Fr. Vasile http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/?p=1001 The idea that any Westerner has about fasting is strongly linked with renunciation, with giving-up, with sacrificing something for God. In the Eastern Orthodox Church however, fasting achieves a much richer meaning. Fasting is not only about giving-up, but it is actually more about gaining, about being able to reach things that are possible only through this spiritual exercise. In a legalistic understanding of salvation some believe that Christ has come on earth to fulfill a duty, to repair an offense that man has brought unto God. His sacrifice on the Cross satisfies this need and mankind enters again in God’s favors. From this perspective fasting is a similar symbol: a personal sacrifice that one makes to step back Continue reading]]> http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/2010/01/fasting-abundantly/feed/ 3