ἀνθρώποισι πᾶσι μέτεστι γινώσκειν ἑωυτοὺς καὶ σωφρονεῖν.
You might ask why it is that we today, who are less ascetic as Christians, are overcome with fear and trembling when we hear about asceticism. It makes us feel somewhat uncomfortable. This is because we’ve lost sight of a great truth of our faith. It’s summed up by Saint John of the Ladder: ‘love is conquered by love’*. Continue reading “Love as the Essence of Orthodox Asceticism”
Sister Gavrilia is a tonsured Greek nun and spiritual daughter of the well-known Mother Gavrilia (1897-1992), the “ascetic of love” of Greece. Homeless and possessing nothing, Mother Gavrilia made herself a friend of the world for the sake of Christ. Continue reading “The Obedience of Love: An Interview with Sister Gavrilia about Mother Gavrilia”
Here we present and analyze an excerpt from Homer’s Iliad. Continue reading “How should a man love his woman, according to Homer?”
Fr. Stephen Freeman
The most difficult aspect of love is the freedom it inherently requires. Love, in its ultimate and proper form, only exists between equals. There can be a sort of benevolence and nobility towards another who is not equal, but never love. This makes it difficult to understand the God-who-is-love. Continue reading “Love and Freedom”
Saint Isaac the Syrian
Practical love
Just as oil maintains the light of a lamp, so charity feeds the soul with true knowledge of God. The key for the heart to acquire divine gifts is given through love for our neighbour. Continue reading “On Love”
In this post we present and analyze four excerpts of Democritus. Continue reading “Democritus on Love, Shame and Philanthropy”
Novo Scriptorium 