Category: Orthodox Christianity

Ancestral Versus Original Sin: An Overview with Implications for Psychotherapy

An essay by Fr. Anthony Hughes of St. Mary’s Church, Boston

The differences between the doctrine of Ancestral Sin—as understood in the church of the first two centuries and the present-day Orthodox Church—and the doctrine of Original Sin—developed by Augustine and his heirs in the Western Christian traditions—is explored. The impact of these two formulations on pastoral practice is investigated. It is suggested that the doctrine of ancestral sin naturally leads to a focus on human death and Divine compassion as the inheritance from Adam, while the doctrine of original sin shifts the center of attention to human guilt and Divine wrath. It is further posited that the approach of the ancient church points to a more therapeutic than juridical approach to pastoral care and counseling. (Abstract [1]) Continue reading “Ancestral Versus Original Sin: An Overview with Implications for Psychotherapy” →

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Mother Gavrilia: “A Holocaust to His Love” – The Ascetic of Love

by John Brady

The roster of 20th-century saints includes some who lived very public lives, such as Russia’s Royal Martyrs, and not a few who strove to live “hid with Christ in God.” Saint Silouan of Mount Athos might have passed without a worldly trace if God had not sent Archimandrite Sophrony to record his life for our benefit. Continue reading “Mother Gavrilia: “A Holocaust to His Love” – The Ascetic of Love” →

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Theosis (deification) is possible through the uncreated energies of God

By Archmandrite George, Abbott of the Holy Monastery of Saint Gregory at Mount Athos

In the Orthodox Church of Christ, man can achieve theosis because the Grace of God, according to the teaching of the Holy Bible and of the Church Fathers, is uncreated. God is not only essence, as the Westerners believe, but also energy. If God was only essence, we would not be able to join, to commune with Him, because the essence of God is awe-inspiring and inaccessible to man, according to “You can not see My face; for there shall no man see Me, and live” (Ex. 33:20). Continue reading “Theosis (deification) is possible through the uncreated energies of God” →

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The purification of the Heart

Our entire life is preoccupied with the spiritual law. This is the reason why we have withdrawn from the world and have forsaken family life, which itself is not something sinful. We have abandoned these in order to express our love towards the Lord in a unique way, obeying the first commandment precisely. Having been called by the Lord, we have followed Him in order to obey this commandment. We withdrew from society and denied our family to follow the proper, or rather the undisturbed way, preoccupying ourselves with inwardness and paying attention to the meanings of things. Continue reading “The purification of the Heart” →

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The use of the word “religion”

“Religion”* as an ideological system

When we say that “Orthodoxy is not a religion* in the usual sense of the word”, we are clearly implying that the term “religion” is not used in the Bible.

When we speak of “religion”, we mean an organized, world-theory system. In other words, we associate it with a group of people who have a specific IDEOLOGY, which they promote. And it is precisely this element that we reject in Orthodoxy. Because Orthodoxy IS NOT an ideological system. It IS NOT a philosophy, OR a theoretical fabrication. Orthodoxy is a PRACTICAL psychotherapeutic method.

Furthermore, Orthodoxy IS NOT a man-made fabrication, or an organization by people. It is a God-human institution, and the Body of Christ. Continue reading “The use of the word “religion”” →

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