There comes a time when God no longer hides his grace from us. When God knows our soul to be ready and fully mature there is a mystical union that occures. Continue reading ““Partakers of Divine Nature” – About Deification & Uncreated Light in Orthodox Church (Part 4 – God’s Dwelling Within – Theosis)”
“Partakers of Divine Nature” – About Deification & Uncreated Light in Orthodox Church (Part 3 – Deification – The Uncreated Light)
Deification is an enhypostatic* and direct illumination which has no beginning but appears in those worthy as something exceeding their comprehension. It is indeed a mystical union with God, beyond mind and reason in the age when creatures will no longer know corruption. – Saint Maximus the Confessor
“Partakers of Divine Nature” – About Deification & Uncreated Light in Orthodox Church (Part 2 – Basis for Union with God: Love not Intellect)
Some Protestant theologians see the Word as the only means of divine revelation. They say it was intended for our intellect. But this is a sign of a person distinct from us rather than one in union with us. This view explains their emphasis on Bible study and their denigration of the sacraments and all that is considered mystical. Continue reading ““Partakers of Divine Nature” – About Deification & Uncreated Light in Orthodox Church (Part 2 – Basis for Union with God: Love not Intellect)”
“Partakers of Divine Nature” – About Deification & Uncreated Light in Orthodox Church (Part 1 – Perfection: Deification)
Can we really be deified? What does this mean? This is a central doctrine in the Orthodox faith and is called Theosis. Continue reading ““Partakers of Divine Nature” – About Deification & Uncreated Light in Orthodox Church (Part 1 – Perfection: Deification)”
Pentecost (the Descent of the Holy Spirit)
Pentecost (also called Trinity Day or Descent of the Holy Spirit) is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated fifty days after Pascha (thus always falling on a Sunday, this year: June 19, 2016, next year: June 4, 2017, and May 27, 2018, the year after that.) Continue reading “Pentecost (the Descent of the Holy Spirit)”
A Noetic Life
by Fr. Stephen Freeman
Eskimos really do have over 50 words for snow. In total, there are around 180 words for snow and ice. There is “aqilokoq” for “softly falling snow” and “piegnartoq” for “the snow [that is] good for driving a sled.” There is also “utuqaq,” which means, “ice that lasts year after year” and “siguliaksraq,” the patchwork layer of crystals that forms as the sea begins to freeze; and “auniq,” ice that is filled with holes, like Swiss cheese. The reason, of course, is simple. If the information about snow and ice are a matter of survival, human beings develop a vocabulary sufficient to cover their need. They also develop a keen eye for snow and ice. They do not see better or different than anyone else, but they pay attention to certain things that others would ignore. Continue reading “A Noetic Life”
Novo Scriptorium 