Here we present some selected words of wisdom by St. Silouan the Athonite. Continue reading “St. Silouan the Athonite”
St. Silouan the Athonite
300 years of Orthodoxy in China
Orthodox people appeared on the territory of modern China in XIII century. By mutual agreement of Peter I and Kangxi – the fourth emperor (May 4, 1654 – December 20, 1722) of Manchu dynasty — an official mission was sent to China in 1712. Continue reading “300 years of Orthodoxy in China”
The Mystery, Upborne, Fulfilled
by Fr. Stephen Freeman
Orthodoxy has a number of “favorite” words – all of which fall outside the bounds of normal speech. Though we commonly use the word “mystery” (for example), popular speech never uses it in the manner of the Church. Continue reading “The Mystery, Upborne, Fulfilled”
Theosis; the true purpose of human life – Part 2
The Incarnation of God: The Cause of Man’s Theosis
The Church Fathers say that God became man in order to make man a god. If God had not taken flesh, man would not be able to achieve Theosis. Continue reading “Theosis; the true purpose of human life – Part 2”
On Humility and the Humble Outlook
by Elder Joseph of Vatopaidi
Βlessed and favoured people who are humble are meek, calm, serene, attached to virtue, opposed to evil, untroubled by any circumstance or threat. They live in the bosom of the faith, like infants in the maternal embrace of grace. They never live for themselves, because they’ve forgotten what that is. They’ve become one with the others; they become all things to everyone, in order to bring solace to them. They cry with those who are weeping and rejoice with those who are glad. Continue reading “On Humility and the Humble Outlook”
Respect for Others as a Restriction of Freedom
by Ioannis Karavidopoulos, Professor of the School of Theology of the University of Thessaloniki
Saint Paul’s 1st Epistle to the Corinthians is the richest in terms of the number of issues he addresses. Among the many subjects the Corinthians asked him about was that of eating or not eating food offered to idols, that is the meat remaining after an animal had been sacrificed to the gods. Because there was usually so much of this meat, it was given to the butchers or distributed as food at the ‘idoleum’, the temple and its surrounding area. There were opportunities for this every day (festivals, fairs, weddings, funerals and so on), and the obvious social commitments on the part of Christians towards their fellow-citizens would have meant that they had to take part in such events. Continue reading “Respect for Others as a Restriction of Freedom”
Novo Scriptorium 