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Post by Charlotte on Jun 13, 2010 6:52:20 GMT -5
First paragraph posted Dec. 13, 09, repeated for continuity
Now Women took her jointure from the potency of spirit stored in flesh, the which, affined to her sex, became a property of intuition and grew in her, thru' mutual adaption with the invironments that wer its own effects, to a female character in worth alike and weakness distinct from the male: for while man's Reason drew him whither science led to walk with downcast eyes fix'd on the ground, and low incline his ear to catch the sermon-whisper of stones— whence now whole nations, by their treasure-trove enrich'd, crawl greedily on their knees nosing the soil like swine, and any, if they can twist their stiffen'd necks about, see the stars but as stones,—while men thus search'd the earth, stooping to pick up wisdom, women stood erect in honest human posture, from light's fount to drink celestial influences; and this was seen in them that worship'd Christ nor look'd, as then the apostles did, for some earthly prosperity or prospect, nor ask'd what chief seats might be theirs reserved in the Kingdom; his heav'nly call drew him, and the Mary who sat at Christ's feet in devotion, heard from him her choice pronounced the one thing needful; and as 'twas for her, so it is nowaday for us to our happiness.
For 'tis by such faith only a man can save his soul; since his unique spirit cometh more and more out of slumber into vision, he looseth heart the more at the inhumanity of nature's omnipotence. Thatt first savage suspicion is now the last despair of earnest thinkers, who for love of truth refuse to blink dishonestly the tribulation of man, but deem it final truth, and see no cure thereof, nor solace save what brave distraction of thought may bring in further keen persuit of knwoledge, on the old path that hath hereby led them where the everlasting worm eateth their hearts . . . and yet man's Reason (as is confess'd) since 'tis of nature's fabric must share in her fault; and man's spiritual sense, which inspireth his grief, is equally of her giving: whence his complaint sheweth the strange perversity of creation's self-reproach; tho' nature the while is by beauty awakening her heav'nly response to her heavenliest desire, and in spiritual joy sanctioneth to the full the claim of faith. To such despairers Christ out-spoke in his rich poetry 'Tis better with one eye blinded to enter into the life of Goddes Realm than with both eyes to grieve in Hell. Be thatt not Truth, then there is something found for man better than Truth; which thought wer the supreme vanity of vanities, at once a superhuman ambition and a poor pride, truly the last infirmity of his noble mind.
The Divine Poet
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 14, 2010 5:31:15 GMT -5
Feast of the Holy Apostle Hermes of the Seventy
Kontakion - Tone Four
With the light of the Holy Spirit, you illumine the the way of the faithful like a star, O Holy Apostle Hermes. As you gaze on God the Word you repel the darkness of error.
Again, it was wonderful in Church. What I mean by wonderful cannot and perhaps shoul not be described, but only experienced. His Grace, Bishop Maxim, standing aside, sang with melodious voice throughout the Matins served by Fr. Norman, served the Holy Liturgy, and gave a Homily which would have delighted Scientists, Psychologists, Philosophers and Historians.
The reading was from the Holy Gospel of Saint Matthew
"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness."
This was part of the Homily relating to the Observer of science, and to the first statement of this thread, 'our inner state becomes our outer invironment.
From the Church Bulletin Quote of the Day
"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this."
C.S. Lewis
The multifaceted, all inclusive Orthodox Church.
A few hours hence I will leave for San Francisco, return Saturday, and during my stay say Hallo from the Bay.
A lighted Lamp to All
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 14, 2010 16:57:12 GMT -5
Steven has been away all weekend visiting Eureka! CA. With Abbot Hilarion. But it seems that Charlotte's posting of yesterday's Church bulletin is right in tune with what he has to say on his return:
The aim of the Spiritual life is to help each of us to become a Well-balanced person as a 'Stepping off place' for being Sanctified and becoming God-like.
Paradise is what is considered, 'Natural' for us. We are intended for the Kingdom of Heaven. The world that we have become familiar with is essentially a mirage which has become superimposed over the real world.
If we choose to live our lives for and in such a manner that we try to, 'Get the most out of' and 'Make the best of', this present, fallen world, we run the risk of missing out on Paradise, the Kingdom of Heaven and all of God's promised Blessings for us altogether.
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Post by Don Barone on Jun 14, 2010 22:20:59 GMT -5
'... If we choose to live our lives for and in such a manner that we try to, 'Get the most out of' and 'Make the best of', this present, fallen world, we run the risk of missing out on Paradise, the Kingdom of Heaven and all of God's promised Blessings for us altogether. ...
You can't be serious ?
db
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 15, 2010 11:31:08 GMT -5
Greetings Don! Nice to hear from you once more. You must have seen the first "Matrix" movie, no?
It is in this sense that I 'm speaking of the 'world.'
Just think of the character,"Cipher", eating that piece of steak in the restaurant with agent Smith...
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 16, 2010 8:57:11 GMT -5
Greetings All,
On my last hasty post concerning the Church, it should have read 'our outer invironment influences our inner state', or that which is below and visible is like that which is above.
Gotta run
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 16, 2010 21:13:44 GMT -5
That's it exactly, Charlotte.
There is something wrong with the world and it is we who are responsible for that wrong. And we who are responsible for making it right once again.
our understanding of the future age is based in our understanding of the first created world.
According to the consensus of the Orthodox holy fathers, the entire first created world--not only paradise--was incorrupt, without death. It was a totally different reality than what we know today. There was no pain, nor suffering, nor disease, nor sickness; no death; all these things came into being through the fall. These things are UNnatural to the REAL world, and will have no place in the life of the world to come.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 20, 2010 9:18:16 GMT -5
Greetings Don, Steven, and Guests,
Back from the days in San Francisco, 'twas brutal, my Daughter and her Husband moved into a nice, large House and we cleaned, painted, and moved stuff 24/7. The House is on a hill and the street up to it is named "Ascension" which I like. Question is, Ascension on the Corporate Ladder or the Kingdom. In this case definitely the former.
Aside from the mundane influencing our inner state, there is the visible Church influencing and enriching our inner state with understanding, repelling the former.
Hearing the accent of the Taxi Driver from LAX to my Place as sort of Russian, and seeing the Orthodox Cross on his rear view mirror, I ask, "where are you from?" "Armenia", He answered. "Are you an Orthodox Christian?" "Yes, I am", he said. "I am in the process of becoming one", I told him, and that I read some of the History of the Church and region. We spoke about it some, and he said that the Armenians were the first Christians 2000 years ago to.... to .... he tried to find a translation for a word but couldn't and said it means something like the Armenians were the first Christians who looked for the fire. It seemed important to him to have me understand and he searched again for an English term, upon which I said not to worry, that I think I know the gist of what he is trying to convey.
This, then, was marvelous in my eyes, landing from a world so removed from mine, a thread was given to me to my world right at the Airport via the Taxi Driver.
As to our subject and the Church, I don't think I'm off the Mark in saying that in no other Church will you hear a quote from C.S. Lewis, such a true one at thatt, and many other things.
There is not much to get out of this world, and to make the best out of daily life is good, but to what end? Who can believe that this live is all there is to Us? Most people would say that we live on in our descendents, no, I thought. Anyhow, I always dreamed of a beautiful place in the clouds as is the way of Dreamers, such as my beloved divine Poet, wide awake.
From blind animal passion to the vision of Spirit all actual gradations come of natur, and each severally in time and place is answerable in man. As with the embryo which in normal growth passeth thru' evolutionary stages, at each stage consisting with itself agreeable, so Mind may be by observation in young changes waylaid, agreeable all, tho' no more congruous with themselves than what a baby thinketh of its naked feet, hen first it is aware of them, is like the thought of piteous sympathy with which when an old man he will come to regard them. So likewise of BREED, youth and age hold their irreconcilable extremes, from him who deemed sex to be the curse of man to him who findeth in it the only pleasur in life: then the four temperaments of blood possess of kind their different sensibilities, and every bias of education coloureth; while the abstract thought some would submit its energy to rule of state, to ethic duty some, others to personal health, to social propriety or the grace of good manners; climate can subjugate and religion constrain; national tast prescribe practice and fix ideals; yet howso no two men wil be found wholly alike, nor any one man always consonant in himself; the saint wil have his days of humiliation and trail, the clown his rare moments of revelation and peace, while commonsense wil waver in its faith with fortune.
Now as a physical object apparent to sense must in all its perspective be studied, tho' none be true wholly in itself, and reality is found by elimination of error, so 'twil be with Love, which, is it had no various aspects of feeling nor delusive perspectivs of spiritual sight, neither coud it hav any essential property in the Wisdom of God: thus men, who mostly liv in the light of one aspect and convinced thereby, wil deem of love differently, and in as many ways as there be planes of spirit, and faculties of Mind: and the philosopher expecteth little audience of men school'd to the habit of their own liking, and were he heaven-inspired he should not therefore look to win the general ear; yet, one proviso allow'd, he may command agreement; so (saith he) if ther be any one scheme of Reason in the evolution of Mind preferable and probable—and without so much faith he would sit dumb—then thatt ideal wil be found in few, not in many, but potential in them, and in the best imperfect, a desire of all, an everlasting hope not everlastingly to be rebuff'd and baffled, rather preordain'd by arch-creativ Wisdom, as man groweth to find his Will in Goddes pleasur, his pleasur in Goddes Will; drawn to thatt happiness by the irresistable predominent attraction, which worketh secure in mankind's Love of Beauty and in the Beauty of Truth.
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 20, 2010 23:07:50 GMT -5
I got to serve at the Monastery this morning with my son John, Fr.Gerasim,Fr. Hilarion, Fr. Damascene, Deacon Andrew and Deacon Paisius. It was great! (Not to mention helping Fr. Nicholas cut up vegetables for trapeza before going into the Altar to serve...)
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 21, 2010 9:13:03 GMT -5
Perhaps I was right some time ago in thinking that you are an Official in the Church as I quickly discern'd that you are most versed in All pertaining to Orthodoxy.
Father Ceko addressed me with "oh, she is back", referring to my calling Him that I would be in San Francisco all week - the week He was going to call me "to get started". We exchanged a few words and I think He will call me this week.
It was good being in Church to get over the commotion of the last days. At the beginning of the Matins an elderly Lady came close and said a few words I didn't understand. I speak only English, I said. "Oh English - you bring oranges?" Yes, I nodded. "How much you pay? We want to help". Thank you, but its a gift for everyone, I replied. "You born here?" No, in Germany. "My Daughter married to German man, they live in Stuttgart. You drive here?" Yes, I live in .... "How much you pay for rent?" I said the amount. "Expensive area but nice, I live in .... close, you come for Coffee and Cake?" I have not much time because I work every day. "What do you do?" I explained and She gave me a thumbs up. "My Grandchildren come tomorrow from Belgrade, they speak very good German, you will meet them, yes? I agreed. "My Husband and I like the oranges very much and we would like to buy some. How much for a sack?" The smaller one $2.50, and the large one $9.00. "The smaller if you bring please". I agreed. The Lady came back twice to ask more questions, it was so nice and simple speaking with Her and I'm looking forward to news from Germany.
That's about all that happened, I left after Church as no one I was acquainted with was present.
The Orange Lady
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 21, 2010 13:10:45 GMT -5
You may have been speaking a word of prophecy. Fr.Hilarion might have plans for me that I don't know about...
Sounds like you had a good day on Sunday! Good for you!
Back to what you were saying the other day about,"Living in our descendants," : If the only hope for us to realize our ideals is in our descendants than our only purpose in life is to have as many children as possible! If there is no possibility for EACH generation to realize it's ideals, then life would not be worth living.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 23, 2010 10:47:05 GMT -5
God forbid I should prophecy of plans unknown to you. 'Twould be a sharp misery. Cyril of Alexandria I was somewhat acquainted with the 24th Pope of Alexandria (376-444 A.D.) via my philosophical studies with different Teachers, at which time I didn't consider Him a Saint as I now understand a Saint. "Cyril is counted among the Church Fathers and the Doctors of the Church, and his reputation within the Christian world has resulted in his titles Pillar of Faith and Seal of all the Fathers, but Theodosius II, the Roman Emperor, condemned him for behaving like a proud Pharaoh, and the Nestorian bishops at the Council of Ephesus declared him a heretic, labelling him as a monster, born and educated for the destruction of the church. "Cyril was born about 376 in the small town of Theodosios, Egypt, near modern day El-Mahalla El-Kubra. A few years after his birth, his maternal uncle Theophilus rose to the powerful position of Patriarch of Alexandria. His mother remained close to her brother and under his guidance, Cyril was well educated. His education showed through his knowledge, in his writings, of Christian writers of his day, including Eusebius, Origin, Didymus the Blind, and writers of the Church of Alexandria. He received the formal education standard for his day: he studied grammar from age twelve to fourteen (390-392), rhetoric and humanities from fifteen to twenty (393-397) and finally theology and biblical studies (398-402). ".... Cyril followed his uncle in a position that had become powerful and influential, rivalling that of the prefect in a time of turmoil and frequently violent conflict between the cosmopolitan city's Pagan, Jewish, and Christian inhabitants. " Orestes, Praefectus augustalis of the Diocese of Egypt, steadfastly resisted Cyril's agenda of ecclesiastical encroachment onto secular prerogatives. "According to Christian sources, the Jews of Alexandria schemed against the Christians and killed many of them. Cyril reacted and expelled all of the Jews, or only the murderers, from Alexandria, actually exerting a power that belonged to the civil officer, Orestes. Orestes was powerless, but nonethless rejected Cyril's gesture of offering him a Bible, which would mean that the religious authority of Cyril would require Orestes' acquiescence about the bishop's policiy. "This refusal almost cost Orestes his life. Nitrian Monks en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadi_El_Natrun came from the desert and instigated a riot against Orestes among the population of Alexandria. These monks' violence had already been used, 15 years before, by Theophilus (Cyril's uncle) against the "Tall Brothers"; furthermore, it is said that Cyril had had spend five years among them in ascetic training. Yhe monks assaulted Orestes and accused him of being a pagan. Orestes rejected the accusation, showing that he had been baptized by the Archbishop of Constantinople. However, the monks were not satisfied, and one of them, Ammonius, threw a stone and hit Orestes on his head, and so much blood flowed out that he was covered in it." The Theology of Cyril reflects that of the Orthodox Church. "Cyril regarded the embodiment of God in the person of Jesus Christ to be so mystically powerful that it spread out from the body of the God-man into the rest of the race, to reconstitute human nature into a graced and eified condition of the saints, one that promised immortality and transfiguration to believers. Nestorius, on the other hand, saw the incarnation as primarily a moral and ethical example to the faithful, to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Cyril's constant stress was on the simple idea that it was God who walked the streets of Nazareth (hence Mary was Theotokos (Mother of God)), and God who had appeared in a transfigured humanity." Just last Sunday, Father Ceko put this in one sentence, "God assumed US". You know, but for my love of the Neoplatonists, Hypatia is on my Mind, immortalized by Raphael's glorious painting, the "School of Athens". "Cyril is controversial because of his involvement in the expulsion of Novatians and Jews from Alexandria and the murder of the pagan philosopher Hypatia. Historians disagree over the extent of his responsibility for these events." In view of this statement, and Cyril's Theology in agreement with the Orthodox Church, I give Cyril the benefit of doubt, but have to read His writings and Mind as these were tumultous times. "The Orthodox scholar John Anthony McGuckin states: "At that time Cyril is revealed at the head of dangerously volatile forces: at their head, but not always in command of them". Murder of Hypatia "Prefect Orestes enjoyed the political backing of Hypatia, a pagan philosopher and scientist who had considerable moral authority in the city of Alexandria, and who had extensive influence. Indeed many students from wealthy and influential families came to Alexandria purposefully to study privately with Hypatia, and many of these later attained high posts in government and the Church. Several Christians thought that Hypatia's influence had caused Osteres to reject all reconciliatory offerings by Cyril. Modern historians think the Osteres had cultivated his relationship with Hypatia to strenghten a bond with the Pagan community of Alexandria, as she had done with the Jewish one, to handle better the difficult political life of the Egyptian capital." 'Tis precisely how I see Hypatia the Philosopher and Diplomat and is the way of the Feminine, neither do I hold the pedestrian view of Pagans. "A Christian mob possibly led by Nitrian monks, however, grabbed Hypatia out of her chariot and brutally murdered her, hacking her body apart and burning the pieces outside the city walls." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_of_Alexandriaorthodoxwiki.org/Cyril_of-AlexandriaManly Palmer Hall The Adepts In The Esoteric Classical Tradition Mystics and Mysteries of Alexandria "In the uneasy years (of the Arian controversy) that followed many religious leaders became over-involved in politics. Among the most active of theses was Cyril of Alexandria, who was born about 375 A.A. and died in 444. His claim to fame was his conflict with Nestorius, Bishop of Constantinople. "Almost immediately upon his appointment to the leadership of the Christian community Cyril attempted to dominate the secular government. He contributed markedly to the expulsion of Jews from Alexandria; and, when his fanatical orthodoxy led to rioting and civil strive, he made no effort to intervene or pacify the public indignation for which he was responsible until the situation was taken over by the civil administration. He continued his attacks on Nestorius until he brought about his excommunication and banishment for heresy. As a result, Nestorian Christianity moved eastward, setting up churches in several parts of Asia and finally reaching China, where it was hospitably received. "At the time of Cyril's succession to the patriarchate in 412 A.D., the outstanding exponent of Neoplatonism and Greek learning in Alexandria was Hypatia, the daughter of Theon of Alexandria. Hypatia was born in Alexandria and after the death of Theon she became the acknowledged leader of the Neoplatonic School of Alexandria. Her extraordinary endowments attracted the attention of many outstanding intellects of her day, among them Synesius, Bishop of the Ptolemais. She was a women of great physical beauty, gentle and modest, and, according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, she was the world's first great women mathematician. The best known book dealing with her life is Hypatia by Charles Kingsley. Though somewhat fictionized, it contains considerable useful information. In his preface Kingsley assures the reader that her personal life was blameless. "Resolved to destroy the influence of Greek philosophy in Alexandria, Cyril found it expedient to dispose of Hypatia and, probably with his connivance, she was btutally murdered by his followers. Dragged from her chariot by an assassin, her flesh was scraped from her bones with oyster shells. "After the death of Hypatia it became evident that the golden age of Alexandrian Neoplatonism had come to an end, and those who shared her conviction departed from the city and sought asylum in distant regions. Almost immediately Alexandria lost its leadership as a center of learning." As with Cleopatra, so with Hypatia, ended an extraordinary period in our History. Charlotte
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 24, 2010 9:40:36 GMT -5
Somewhat different wording
Cyril of Alexandria: Becoming Temples of God
"[John] the Evangelist is not ashamed to declare the Disciples' ignorance and again their knowledge, because he wanted to neglect the shame before the people and to accord with the glory of the Spirit and show who the Disciples were before the resurrection, and who they became after the resurrection... After He was crucified, the veil of the temple was cleaved, in order for us to know that nothing remains hidden from the faithful and friends of God. The Disciples were illumined with the knowledge after the time of resurrection, when the Christ inspired their face and they became other than what they were before. Even more they were illumined at the day of the Pentecost, when they changed to the power of the Holy Spirit that came to them.
"They will be near God and somehow in the first places near Him than anyone else, those who have their heart clean, on whom the Saviour himself says He bestows a great award, when He says that the clean in heart will be blessed, because they will see God. I'll call to testify that this word is true, this most wise [John the] Evangelist, because he has seen the Glory of Christ, according to his saying, I have seen His Glory, he says, glory as of the only begotten from his Father, full of grace and truth. No one can gather with the eyes of the body the nature that is absolutely invisible to all creation. According to the Saviour's saying, no one ever saw the Father, except Him who is from the Father, that is the Son; He has seen the father. Those who have their mind clean from worldly stain and the passing care, I mean the care about this life, to them the Christ reveals His glory through a thin (veil?) somehow and above the mind theory, inside which He also reveals the glory of the Father."
'Tis a simple translation, but the Teaching always the same, Saint Paul's "The Christ in You the hope of Glory". Believers and Non-believers ponder this Mystery, and have since time immemorial, and those whose face was and is inspired by Christ never cease to encourage the Seeker.
Have to go get oranges
Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 24, 2010 10:02:29 GMT -5
Many people can not believe in God because:
1. If there WAS a God, how could He allow so many terrible things to happen? He must be a cruel God.
And 2. Because there are so many people who CLAIM to believe in God and yet, ACT as if there is none.
There is one answer which addresses both of these objections: God will NEVER violate our freedom of will, no matter what WE choose to bring into being.
In other words, in both instances, it is WE who are responsible for whatever problems that exist, not God.
At the same time, God is ALWAYS willing to help us to solve the problems we have created, IF WE SO DESIRE.
In order to bring about our complete conversion we have to invite the grace of God into every aspect of our lives; not just once, but without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
The grace of God cleaves a man in two. God's grace, coming first at a man's initial awakening, and afterwards visiting him during the whole period of his conversion, cleaves him in two. It makes him aware of a duality within himself, and enables him to distinguish between what is unnatural and what should be natural; and thus it makes him resolve to sift or winnow out all that is unnatural, so that his God-like nature should be brought fully to light. But obviously such a decision is only the beginning of the undertaking. At this stage it is only with his will and intention that he has left the domain of alien unnaturalness, rejecting it, and aiming at the naturalness which he expects and desires. But in fact his whole structure remains as before-that is, saturated with sin; and passions dominate his soul in all it's faculties and his body in all it's functions, just as they did before.
Thus the true life of grace in man is in it's beginning only a seed, a spark; but a seed sown among tares, a spark constantly smothered by ashes. It is still only a feeble candle glimmering in the densest fog. Man by his conscious choice has attached himself to God, and God has accepted him, has united with him in this point of free choice located in the highest aspect of his soul; his Spirit. And this is the only part of him which is healthy, agreeable to God and saved. All the other parts are still held prisoner and do not want and cannot be obedient to the demands of the new life: the mind as a whole does not yet know how to think in the new way but thinks as before; the will does not yet know how to desire in the new way, but desires as before; the heart does not know how to feel in the new way, but feels as before. It is the same in the body in all it's functions. Consequently the man is as yet wholly impure except at one point which is the conscious power of free choice within his Spirit. God, being wholly pure, enters into union only with this part to begin with; but all the other parts, being impure, remain outside Him and estranged from Him. He is ready to fill the entire man, but does not do so until the man is purified and illumined; then God makes known His full dwelling in him.
This purification and illumination takes place not from accepting God into our lives only once, but in accepting Him into our lives at all times and in every hour. This is what it means when the Apostle Paul admonishes us to, "Pray without ceasing." This ceaseless prayer does not consist of the particular words of prayers that we say to ourselves, necessarily, (Although the words of the 'Jesus Prayer', "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on me!" may be very helpful in the beginning,) but of an inner attitude, a frame of mind as it were, where we continually turn to the Lord in our heart, a standing before the all-seeing presence of God in our heart accompanied by feelings of love for God and surrender to His will for us. To the degree that we remember God and continually invite Him into our lives, to that degree the fire of grace burns brightly in us, entering in and penetrating every aspect of our being entirely, uprooting the alien and unnatural passions which have dominated us up until this point; Sanctifying us and rendering us God-like.
As we continue to cooperate in this inner transformation, our outer environment is transformed as well.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 25, 2010 9:52:09 GMT -5
Thank you for these words. In quiet moments everyone senses a pure aspect in him, I think, generally known as "The Inner Child". 'There is a pure part in me not touched by anything, cannot be touched by anything, have mercy on me', surely this wholly pure Movement I once saw and knew It accepted nothing but perfection. I read the post again before sleep and dreamed an unusual dream, amazing when the outer world interfaces with things wholly unknown in this dimension. In looking this morning for Saint Anastasia, the Mother of our Patron Saint Steven, whom we will honor in Church this Sunday, I happened upon this story of Saint Herman, Patron Saint of North America. "Russian sailors coming to Alaska were visiting Father Herman too. Once he was invited on board of a frigate, which sailed from Saint Petersburg. The captain of the ship, a man of excellent education, was sent to America by the Russian tsar to inspect the colonies. The 25 capatain's subordinates were also well-educated navy officers. And this company was perplexed by a conversation with a modest rather short monk in shabby clothes. The captain himself said later, "We were at a loss what to say, we were fools in front of him!" Father Herman asked them, "What do you like most of all? What would you like to have so you could think yourselves happy?" The answers were about wealth, titles, beautiful wives, position of a captain on a wonderful ship and so on. "Do you agree, sirs," Father Herman continued, that all of your aspirations can be reduced to one wish: each of you wants to have something that he thinks to be the best and most worthy of love?" Everybody agreed and he continued, "Then tell me what can be better and far more worthy of love than our Lord Jesus Christ Himself? The One who created us and adorned all with perfection, Who gave life, Who provides for all and nourishes all, Who loves all and Who is the best of all people and Who Himself is Love? Shouldn't we love Him more than anything else and aspire for Him?" Everyone started saying, "Well, of course, this is true! It goes without saying!" And then the old man asked, "Do you really love God?" Everyone said, "Of course, we do. How can we not love God?" "Here I am a sinner, aspiring for 40 years to love God and yet I cannot say that I love Him perfectly," noted Father Herman and started to explain how one should love God. "If we love someone, we always remember that person, we try to please him or her, and day and night our heart is preoccupied with that person. Do you love God that much? Is it often that you turn to Him, do you always keep Him in mind, are you always praying and following His commandments?" We had to confess that we do not. "For our own benefit, for our happiness, let us at least promise ourselves that from this day, this hour, this minute we will try to love God above all and do His Sacred Will!" This wonderful conversation with St. Herman must have impressed the hearts of those people for the rest of their lives." "It was so much pleasure to listen to him that his interlocutors, even the Aleutians and their women, were so enthralled that they reluctantly left him only at sunrise." A complimentary story to your post, I thought. And here is Christ Pantocrator in the main Dome of our Church, the Risen Christ under Whom is my place, the painting of the Wedding in Cana, I mentioned before, and the Chair of the Bishop, where His Grace, Bishop Maxim, abides at times, changes, assisted by the Priests, from a black robe and staff to Bishop's Attire with Crown and Crozier. Upon exiting the Church one passes by the Icon of Saint Sava, Enlightener of the Serbian people. Every time I pass by I want to stop and stand before the Icon, held by the Saint's Eyes alive. www.saintstevens.org/wp/art_and_architecture.htmlHave a great day Charlotte PS Yesterday at the Farmers Market, the Mexican farmer I buy honey from had laying there on the table a paperback book "The Middle Ages". Surprised, "Oh, may I?" He nodded, I turned the page, and Lo, there was the "School of Athens". I think we made each others day.
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 25, 2010 12:16:29 GMT -5
That quote from the life of St. Herman-Extremely complimentary! Exactly how I am feeling.
"Well of course this is true! It goes without saying!" And yet, when it comes right down to it, I live my life as if I love myself and everything else much more.
God is merciful however and is mindful of our struggles.
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 26, 2010 15:38:56 GMT -5
One of my favorite Epistle readings this morning:
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 27, 2010 9:22:35 GMT -5
I too noticed that the story of Saint Herman and the sailors is told somewhat dispassionate, and love for oneself is a prerequisite to love others, I think.
Art is the true and happy science of the soul, exploring nature for spiritual influences, as doth physical science for comforting powers, advancing so to a sure knowledge with like progress: but lovers who thereto look for expression of truth hav great need to remember that no plastic Art, tho' it create ideals noble as are the forms that Pheidias wrought, can ever elude or wholly escape its earthly medium; nor in its adumbrations reach thatt detach'd suprasensuous vision, whereto Poetry and Music soar, nor dive down in the mine where cold philosophy diggeth her fiery jewels— or only by rare magic may it sometimes escape.
And this was the intuition of our landscape-painters, whose venture seem'd humbled in renouncing the prize of the classic contest, when like truants from school they made off to the fields with their satchels, and came on nature's beauteous by-paths into a purer air: For the Art of painting, by triumph of clouring enticed to Realism, had confounded thereby its own higher intention, and in portrayal of spirit made way for Symbolism which, tho' it stand aloof, is outfaced in the presence of direct feeling: Sithence in presentation of feminin beauty the highest Art lost mastery of its old ideal; as in the great pictur of the two Women at a Well, where Titan's youn genius, devising a new thing, employ'd the plastic power to exhibit at once two diverse essences in their value and contrast; for while by the aesthetic idealization of form his earthly love approacheth to celestial grace, his draped Uranian figure is by Symbols veil'd, and in pictorial Beauty suffereth defeat: Yes, despite all her impregnable confidence in the truth of her wisdom, as there she sitteth beside the fountain, dazzlingly apparel'd, enthroned, with thoughtful face impassiv, averting her head as 'twer for fuller attention so to incline an ear to the impartial hearing of the important plea of the other, ho over-against her on the cornice-plinth postured her wonted nakedness in sensuous ease, leaneth her body to'ards her, and with imploring grace urgeth the vain deprecation of her mortal prayer.
The Divine Poet
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 28, 2010 9:32:22 GMT -5
Good Morning, The more one goes to Church the more the Church goes with one, that is to say, in my case, the interior Architecture and everything depicted in Saint Steven's Cathedral forms in and impresses Itself ever more clearly on the Mind's Eye. I missed Fr. Ceko's Greetings and bright smile early in the morning, Father Norman served the Matins and Divine Liturgy, and announced later that Fr. Ceko and Family were in Chicago for His Mother, Anastasia Ceko, passed away. Sunday was the Feast of the Holy Prophet Elisha (Elisei), who "lived in the IX Century before the birth of Christ, and was a native of the village of Abelmaum, near Jordan." Elisha, the second Forerunner Troparion - Tone Four "An angel in the flesh and the cornerstone of the prophets, the second forerunner of the coming of Christ, Glorious Elijah sent grace from on high to Elisha, to dispel diseases and to cleanse lepers. Therefore, he pours forth healing on those who honor him." Elisha picked up the cloak of Eliah, his Teacher, "which fell from the sky - and received the power and prophetic gift of Eliah. And when they went along the way and conversed, there appeared a fiery chariot and horses and parted them both. Elisha cried out: "My Father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horse!" www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/los/June/14-01.htmen.wikipedia.org/wiki/ElishaElisha gained fame with the Researchers of Vimanas, those mysterious flying vehicles thought to be ancient helicopters, aircraft or UFO's. Honored also Venerable Anastasia of Serbia "Saint Anastasia was the mother of St. Sava of Serbia (January 12). She was the daughter of the Byzantine Emperor Romanus, and received the name Anna when she was baptized. Later, she married the Serbian king Stephen Nemanya September 24). "She finished her life as a nun, receiving the name Anastasia." ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=108050I intend to write more on the Nemanja Dynasty, huge and most interesting, and of particular interest to me in its far-reaching History. As a reminder, King Stephen Nemanja, husband of Anastasia, founded the House of Nemanja. Their three Sons, Vucan, St.Sava, and Steven the First Crowned, I mentioned a few days ago. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Nemanji%C4%87Quote of the Day "A man who is eating or lying with his wife or preparing to go to sleep in humility, thankfulness and temperance, is, by Christian standards, in an infinitely higher state than one who is listening to Bach or reading Plato in a state of pride." C.S. Lewis Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jun 28, 2010 15:12:12 GMT -5
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41) "Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch." (Mark 13:33-37) www.orthodoxprayer.org/Articles_files/Damascene-Watchfulness%20&%20Prayer.htmlThe very first step when it comes to watchfulness and prayer is to recollect our senses and to round up our scattered attention, focusing it and leading it within, by an act of the will, to the eye of the heart inside of ourselves. As the five senses are organs of perception through which we experience the outer world and it's realities, the eye of the heart is an organ of perception through which we look within and experience, otherwise, invisible realities, more specifically, our own thoughts, the suggestions of the fallen angels and, conversely, the inspirations and vision of God. Once we have rounded up and placed our attention on the eye of the heart, watchfullness and prayer are our means of guarding the heart from thoughts and evil suggestions. It has been said that we must, "Guard the eye of the heart from evil suggestions as you would gaurd your physical eye from a needle." Watchfulness goes out ahead like a scout, identifying the enemy and prayer is the weapon which we wield in order to destroy the enemy, in particular, the "Jesus prayer." The Jesus Prayer, "Lord,Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner," by invoking the name of Jesus, with humility, dissolves evil suggestions while at the same time, opens us up and invites the Grace of God into our lives which then purifies, heals and transforms us entirely.
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Post by Charlotte on Jun 30, 2010 8:47:33 GMT -5
One of my favorite Icons on the linked site. Reading parts of Fr. Damascene's articles, and judging myself, I'm not doing too bad, having practiced negated negative thoughts for many years, as mentioned, though not with prayer, now almost habitual. All else is private. Possible Problems "It is also possible that you may encounter strong emotions during prayer. This can happen as you begin to find a deeper level of concentration and feel like you are about to enter in the place of the heart. If you are overcome with strong emotions simply open your eyes for a moment, make the sign of the cross and a few prostrations and then continue with your prayer. If you experience tears this is a good sign, but do not delight in the tears. They are normally accompanied with a feeling of humility and contrition couple with a profound love for God." My first month in Church I had to continually fight back tears. They never seem to ebb. "Another problem is seeing lights, images or even apperitions. They may even seem like bright ones. Saint Nil Sorski tells us, "Do not permit yourself any concepts, images, or visions. For vivid images darting to and fro, and flights of fancy do not cease even when the mind stands in the heart and recites prayer: no one is able to rule over them, except those who have attained perfection by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and who have acquired stability of mind through Jesus Christ." Saint Gregory the Sinaite warns similarly, "It must be completely imageless and we must on no account give freedom to the imagination or allow the fancy to form an image of any saint or light; because usually delusions, especially at the beginning deceive the minds of the inexperienced with false fantasies." This is good news for I neither see light nor Saint, nor things darting to and fro, or have visions, my mind devoid of these things is drawn into a quiet state of reverence and wonderment. Yesterday I was looking to find the picture of Robin Hood and Little John holding the Gospel, the Treasure, I had seen several weeks ago, but couldn't find it. Instead Fr. John Romanides on Robin Hood and Orthodoxy For History Lovers Friday, May 14, 2010 "[Since Robin Hood is being released today, I thought it worthwhile to reflect on what Fr. John Romanides had to say about this interesting legend and the value it has for Orthodox Christians. Since the complete story of Robin Hood will no doubt be overlooked as it always is in film, as well as the historical backdrop which makes the story so fascinating, this brief historical reflection will no doubt be of some interest to movie-goers this weekend. The question to ponder is whether or not the Robin Hood legend is a historical parable of the Frankish takeover of Roman Britain, initiated under the blessing of the new Frankish Pope? "I have kept the number of the footnotes from the original article which can be found linked under the source of the pericope for reference. The information presented can be examined alongside this website: www.robinhoodloxley.net/default.htm. J.S.] Robin Hood - Orthodox Martyr? "The most famous of the Saxon revolutionary leaders against the Normans was Robin Hood. He had become ill and was taken by Little John to a nunnery where someone recognized him. The Norman nun who was curing him by bloodletting converted this cure into an assassination by letting him bleed to death. Little John and his men escaped to Ireland to continue their war against the Normans. "So many Saxons made their way to Constantinople New Rome after the Norman conquest to join the Roman Emperor's Varangian army that they displaced the Scandinavians as the majority. One of the great generals of this Varangian army had been King Herald III Hadrada of Norway (1015-1066). This means that Norway was still Orthodox. He had become the head of the Varangian army under Emperor Zoe (1042-1056). General Harald led his Varangians "to frequent victory in Italy, Sicily and North Africa, also penetrating to Jerusalem. In Italy and Sicily he was fighting Franks and Normans at the time they were getting ready to rid themselves of the facade of Tusculan Roman Popes (1014-1056) in favor of real Franco-Latin Popes.... "The name "Greek" for the Eastern part of the Roman empire was inaugurated by Charlemagne in 794, as already noted. But the term "Byzantine" was established by Great Britain, France and Russia as part of their plan to break up and divide up the Ottoman Empire among them.... "Part of this same plan was to convince Orthodox peasants that the ancient Romans did not speak Greek, like the Romans of Patriarchate of Constantinople, but Latin. Therefore the Church of New Rome cannot be Roman. So it is in reality a Greek Church and nation just like Great father Charlemagne always said. "In this way the agents of Russia, Britain and France swarmed over the European part of the Ottoman Empire, called the "Land of the Romans" (the Balkans), telling all who for centuries have been calling themselves Romans and getting their education in Greek, that their ethnic enemies are those from the Phanar who also call themselves Romans, but are a bunch of Greeks." www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/05/fr-john-romanides-on-robin-hood-and.htmlPhanar orthodoxwiki.org/Phanar"We Are All The Children Of Byzantium" is what I mean when I attempt to interconnect America with the Ancient World. Charlotte
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 2, 2010 10:31:37 GMT -5
I can spend hours in Church, with the Saints or Monks every morning.
Charlotte
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 3, 2010 11:07:33 GMT -5
We Are All The Children Of Byzantium Professor Judith Herrin of Prineton University and King's College "In a lecture named after Steven Runciman it might be appropriate to suggest that he was a child of Byzantium by adoption. He adopted the identity of Bizantinist as a sort of self-definition, and many of us are proud to follow in his footsteps. On such an occasion, it hardly seems necessary to repeat our great dept to Steven, but this is an opportunity to thank our patron, Nicholas Egon, who set up an annual lecture in his name while Steven was still alive. Many will recall the times he sat in the front row and enjoied the lectures of my distinguished predecessor and asked a penetrating question. This evening I would like to draw attention to one of Runciman's less well known dictums - «I often wonder it it was the strenght of Byzantin women that kept the empire going for so long.» "Thanks to the efforts of many scholars the epithets traditionall associated with Byzantium are being rolled back; the bad old steriotypes are being countered by substantive demonstrations of what the empire achieved in its millennial history, and what that means for us today... It's now possible to stress that from its inception the newly Christianized empire of Rome in the East Mediterranean was in contact with a vast range of other forces, initially Persian, Turkie, even Chinese, and later Islam, pagan Russia, the Slavs, Vikings and Jewish communities among others. These contacts were military, diplomatic, theological and sometimes involved intellectual debate. Not only did Byzantium define its character and role in relation to this wider world, but it also influences even distant countries in the process. Its ancient Greek heritage as well as the formative Eastern, Roman and Christian features all played part in the shaping of Europe, the Balkans and the medieval Mediterranean world." Model for empires"Sometimes we may only find these influences at second hand, for instance, in the coronation ritual of European monarchs or the adaption of Roman law to serve a medieval Christian society. But its examples still echo, for instance in a proud monarchy that was also linked to a most unusual cosmopolitanism. In this particular association, Byzantium set a model for most subsequent empires (the Hapsburg, Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian and Russian). These were, in the main, true children and descendants of Byzantium. And today, a similar model of acceptance and toleration of difference may be cited as a guiding principle for contemporay metropoleis, like our own London. "In terms of imperial philantrophy, patronage of the arts, diplomacy and military tactics, Byzantine practice informed and helped to form its neighbors. And in the context of preserving and transmitting ancient wisdom with detailed commentary and explanation, Byzantine scholars excelled in many fields: medical, astronomical, historical and literary. Without making an excessive claim for the Byzantin contribution to world civilization, is we look at it more closely, we can see that Byzantium also continues to be our cousin. "But now I propose that we all imagine ourselves « children of Byzantium » for the next 45 minutes or so, while I use the epithet to trace out some of the less obvious ways in which Byzantium continues to have an impact on us today." Obvious as I'm writing about it. "Finally, who also said we are all children of Byzantium? "In November 2004, in connection with Turkey's application to join the EU, Jacques Chirac addressed a student conference in Marseille, the day after al large demonstration against Turkish membership. His use of the phrase is interesting on many counts, not least the fact that some Turks are indeed also claiming to be children of Byzantium: They emphasize how firmly the Ottomans maintained imperial traditions into the modern era, preserved Byzantine chancellery, habits, tax-keeping methods, and continued the multicultural and polyglot culture of Byzantium. This is claimed in the spirit of inclusivity and cousinhood, not of bickering and competition. "So in addition to the Balkan countries, and states emerging from the Russian and Soviet empires, Georgia and Armenia (distinctly different but orthodox), Syria and Lebanon with their ancient Christian communities, other groups such as the Copts of Egypt, can also claim to be children of Byzantium. In this larger family, Greece is our elder brother and sister. But it is also part of a wider group of siblings that is just beginning to be discovered. By drawing attention to the real, symbolic, and imagined children of Byzantium, I think we can expand and enrich our sense of that great civilization." www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/05/we-are-all-children-of-byzantium.htmlThe Light of the World www.bg-blog.ru/comments.php?id=555"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him, and I will sup with him, and he with me". The painting "is an allegorical painting by William Holman Hunt representing the figure of Jesus preparing to knock on an overgrown and long-unopened door, illustrating Revelation 3:20. - According to Hunt: "I painted the picture with what I thought, unworthy though I was, to be by Divine command, and not simply as a good subject." The door in the painting has no handle, and can therefore be opened only from the inside, representing "the obstinately shut mind". Hunt, 50 years after painting it, felt he had to explain the symbolism. "The original, painted at night in a makeshift hut in Worcester Park Farm in Surrey, is now in a side room off the large chapel at Keble College, Oxford. Toward the end of his life, Hunt painted a life-size version, which was hung in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, after a world tour where the picture drew large crowds." (wiki) www.explore-stpauls.net/oct03/textMM/LightWorldN.htmCharlotte
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 4, 2010 9:00:47 GMT -5
Giorgione, his master, already had gone to death plague-stricken at prime, when Titian painted thatt picture, donning his rival's mantle and strode to higher fame— yet not by this canvas; he who had it, hid it; nor won it public favour when it came to light, untill some mystic named it in the Italian tongue L'AMOR SACRO E PROFANO, and so rightly divined; for tho' ther is no record save the work of the brush to tell the intention, yet what the mind wrought is there; and who looketh thereon may see in the two left arms the symbolism apportioning the main design; for while the naked figure with extended arm and outspredd palmvauntingly balanceth aloft a little lamp, whose flame lost in the bright daylight wasteth in the air, thatt other hath the arm bent down and oppositely nerved, and clencheth with gloved hand closely the cover'd vessel of her secret fire.
Thus Titian hath pictured the main sense of my text, and this truth: that as Beauty is ail with Spirit twined, so all obscenity is akin to the ugliness which Art would outlaw; whence cometh thatt tinsel honour and mimicry of beauty which is the attire of vice.
Allegory is a cloudland inviting fancy to lend significance to chancey shapes; and here I deem not that the child, who played between the Loves at Titian's well, was pictured by him with purpose to show the first contact of love with boyhood's mind; and yet never was symbol more deftly devised: Mark how the child looking down on the water see'th only a refelction of the realities—as 'twas with the mortals in Plato's cave—nor more of them than Moses saw God; he can see but their backs, save for a shifty glimpse of the pleading profile of earthly Love (which also is subtle truth); and most how in his play his plunged hand strirreth to and fro both images together in a confused dazzle of the dancing ripples as he gazeth intent.
The Divine Poet
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Post by renwdimgink on Jul 4, 2010 17:32:57 GMT -5
Consciousness and Matter
Thinking+Feeling+Willing=Intent
Whatever we INTEND comes into being.
Presently, what we INTEND has to pass through the limits of Time/Space and the laws of Physics. These limits act as a governor and are there to protect us from our own creations which are out of balance and harmony with the over-arching framework of All-That-Is.
This temporary and extremely limited framework of Time/Space and the laws of Physics is what the Fathers of the Church mean by the term, 'The World.'
From this perspective, the Church cautions us that to live our lives for the sake of 'The world' alone is to miss the whole point of our existence which is, not to try to make the best out of this temporary, limited framework, but to free ourselves from any and all encumbrances that might keep us from becoming more fully who and what we really are truly meant to be.
So, when we say that we, as Orthodox Christians, are not waiting for the end of the world, but rather, running towards it, this is the context within which we mean that statement. We are doing everything in our power to, 'Imenentize the Eschaton,' or to, 'Bring about the end of the world' in ourselves.
As we are engaged more and more fully in this process of Healing, Purification/Illumination/Deification Which is at the heart of Orthodox Spirituality, the limits of this temporary, protective framework begin to recede and, what we INTEND begins to come into being more and more instantaneously until, an 'Omega point' is reached where whatever we Intend comes into being entirely instantaneously and we are ushered into another life which is Eternal, Everlasting, without effort, needs or limits of any kind-a perfect world of limitless creative freedom.
Most people do not "Get" Christianity these days because it uses a different language to describe itself, a language which has been re-defined over the centuries to mean something entirely different to us than what was originally intended. To truly begin to understand what Christianity is about, we have to go back to what it's original definitions of the language it uses first were. This is only one of the benefits of Orthodoxy, which has gone out of it's way to preserve and hand down, to the best of it's ability, the original understandings, beliefs and practices of the first Christians.
Jesus, for us, is not merely an historical teacher or a mythical figure, but a living being with whom we may enter into an intimate, telepathic, personal relationship with.
It is this intimate and personal relationship which opens the door for us into possibilities which are, 'Not of this world.' These possibilities bring us, gradually and consistently, step by step, from this world into the next.
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 5, 2010 10:25:14 GMT -5
Thinking+Feeling+Willing=Intent "Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men." Yet in rare moments time and space are not, a sound/vibration parts the veil - sitting in a Canyon I intended nothing, no thought, but simply was in beautiful Nature hearing all sounds about me extending to infinity, but I understand what You mean. Intimate, telepathic, personal relationship via Icons www.factsplusfacts.com/resources/pantocrator01.htmAnother of my Favorite, can't make it work, please search Saint John Anglican Church, Good Shepherd Stainglass Window, Ashfield, Sydney. Comes up immediately. images.quickblogcast.com/4/9/0/8/2//137097-128094/Road_to_Emmaus.jpgOne thing I noticed about the Church is the transparency of the activities of the Clergy, so I feel free to wite about it. For instance, Father Ceko told me "last week I was" here or there, "then we had to" do this or the other, "my Wife told me", etc. Father Ceko and Family are on vacation, hence Fr. Norman served the Matins and Holy Liturgy of Saint Chrisostom. In His Homily, Fr. Norman remarked that seeing ourselves as we truly are is a greater feat then the raising from the dead. The reading from the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Romans was also appropriate to using our gifts and powers. "Brethren, having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophecy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without hypocrisy. Abbhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectioned to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfast in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse." Quote of the Day "Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which was written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see" C.S. Lewis In leaving the Church we pass by the Icon of Saint Sava above the Bishop's Chair, whose eyes draw mine to His so livingly as if knowing my Mind, Heart, and Soul, and I have to avert mine at times. Yesterday, not so many People behind me, I made a few steps to the side, turned my head a bit and for the first time noticed the symbol on a round broadloom His Grace, when present, stands on. Indeed. A great week to All Charlotte
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Post by renwdimgink on Jul 7, 2010 11:32:23 GMT -5
Our thoughts determine our lives orthodoxincense.com/images/Books/OurThoughts.JPG For those who hold this philosophy of life; that we were created to be 'Like' God, that we are co-creators with God, that God is continually creating and re-creating the entire multiverse from micro-second to micro-second; we find ourselves in a unique place of personal responsibility for the quality of our life.We find that, when we are in an interior state of balance and harmony with All-That-Is, then everything seems to flow smoothly and work together for good. When there is any kind of pain, suffering, discord of any kind, it is a clear indication that we are out of balance and harmony and need to, immediately, readjust our inner relationship with All-That-Is. This interior awareness of our alignment or, non-alignment , as the case may be, becomes the source of our sense of ethics and morality. One quickly begins to realize that, particularly in these beginning stages, before our interior oneness with God is fully established, to what degree that we are consistently out of balance and harmony with All-That-Is. If we are fortunate, we also discover that God is ever-present and always ready, willing and able to help us in everything, IF WE SO DESIRE and are asking for help. Thus we begin to learn what it means to, "Pray without ceasing." We have been given complete freedom of will when it comes down to what we choose to bring into being. And yet, in any given moment, our choices range between only two catagories: What IS and what should never be... If we are honest with ourselves, and truly desire what is best for all concerned, we will trust in Divine providence and realize that, although we can't always get what we want, we get what we need... We have fallen out of our original blessed state; but, by the Grace of God we can get back to where we once belonged...
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 7, 2010 11:51:26 GMT -5
This morning I met Prince Marko, Hero of epic Serbian Poetry. " King Marko was an independant Serbian feudal lord in Macedonia from 1371-1395. Marko was venerated as a national hero by the Serbs and Bulgarians and he was also the protagonist of many epic poems. Folklore came to remember him as a respected protector and savior of the Christians during the period of early Ottoman Turkish occupation of Macedonian region. "Serbian epic poems attribute to Marko superhuman strenght: He is said to be able to squeeze water from cornel dried for nine years; his weapon of choice is said to be a mace (of 85 kilograms); the horse he chose was said to be the only one he could not throw over his shoulder. "The poems also assert his knightly valor: Even though he is prone to short-tempered outbursts, he remains a protector of the poor and the helpless, a guardian of the law and order, even when to his disadvantage. In one song he mourns killing a better hero, Musa, the Albanian robber, in another, he decides on the rightful ruler of the Serbian Empire, Uros, even though his dishonesty could have benefited his own father or his uncles. It is told that he chose to die when guns were invented (thus living for hundreds of years) and when he saw that "every coward can kill a hero," even from a distance. By some legends even in death he only sleeps, waiting in a cave until he is needed again, a typical king in the mountain motif." " Marko in Bulgarian epic poetry"Krali Marko is one of the most popular characters in the Bulgarian folklore from Macedonia for centuries. According to local legend, his mother was Evrosiya, sister of the Bulgarian voivode Momchil, who ruled territories in the Rhodope Mountains. At the birth of Krali Marko, three narecnitsi (fate-fairies) appeared and foretold that he would become a hero and replace his father, the king. When king Volkasin heard this he threw his son in a basket in the river to get rid of him. But a samodiva (also called samovila) named Vila found Marko and brought him up, becoming his foster mother. Because Marko suckled the samodiva's milk, he acquired supernatural powers. He is portrayed as a Bulgarian fighter for freedom against the Turks. He has a winged horse, called Sharkolia (meaning Dappled) and a stepsister — the samodiva Gyura. The Bulgarian legends incorporate important fragments of pagan mythology and beliefs, even though the Bulgarian folk epos from Macedonia from Macedonia was created as late as 14-18th century." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Markoen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkan_MountainsAren't Legends great? I hope you enjoy this equally great Ballad. Marco and the Turks, c. 1450VIZIER AMURATH is gone a-hunting; Hunting in in the leafs mountain-forest: With him hunt twelve warriors, Turkish heroes: With the heroes hunts the noble Marko: White days three they hunted in the mountain; Nothing found they in the mountain-forest. They a lake, a green-faced lake, discover, Where a flock of gold-wing'd ducks are swimming. There the proud vizier lets looose his falcon, Bids him pounce upon a gold wing'd swimmer; But the falcon turned his glances upwards, And he mounted to the clouds of heaven. To the proud vizier said princely Marko: "Vizier Amurath! is it allow'd me to let loose my own, my favorite falcon? He a gold-wing'd duck shall doubtless bring thee.' And the Moslem swiftly answer'd Marko: "'Tis allow'd thee Marko! I allow thee." Then the princely Marko loosed his falcon; To the clouds of heaven aloft he mounted; Then he sprang upon the gold-wing'd swimmer--- Seized him---rose---and down the fell together. When the bird of Amurath sees the struggle, He becomes indignant with vexation: 'Twas of old his custom to play falsely--- For himself alone to grip his booty: So he pounces down on Marko's falcon, To deprive him of his well-earn'd trophy. But the bird was valiant as his master; Marko's falcon has the mind of Marko; And his gold-wing'd prey he will not yield him. Sharply turns he round on Amurath's falcon, And he tears away his proudest feathers . Soon as the vizier observes the contest, He is fill'd with sorrow and with anger; Rushes on the falcon of prince Marko, Flings him fiercely 'gainst a verdant fir tree, And he breaks the falcon's dexter pinion. Marko's golden falcon groans in suffering, As the serpent hisses from the cavern. Marko flies to help his favorite falcon, Binds with tenderness the wounded pinion, And with stifled rage the bird addresses: "Woe for thee, and woe for me, my falcon! I have left my Serbians,---and all those wrongs have suffer'd." Then the hunters in their course pass'd by him--- Pass'd him by, and left him sad and lonely. www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1450marko.htmlCharlotte Noting Marko's Golden Falcon
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 8, 2010 12:30:06 GMT -5
This Book is on my mind ever since you posted it first, besides a hundred others to be read, Groucho's cart, while trying to finish that Novel, not to mention the endless online Resources, not forgetting to eat and sleep between work. Fie on small talk. I don't know what other people do, if anything, as no one wants to talk about Religion, except Fr. Ceko and You, I readjust my inner relationship with All-That-Is, 'Be still and know that I am God', and have done so for many years though not as often, to keep my sanity, and also know to some degree, in rare times and not just momentarily, completely, the state of being in harmony with All-That-Is by Virtue of Love. What IS and what should never be? What issues with me is that my dreams are still as new, ever the same, cannot be less or more, vouchsafe my life Above and Below to get back to where I once and will always belong. This morning I read much about the Emperor Constantine as he a Saint "in the Orthodox Church, although not in the Western Church. His great merit, from a Christian point of view, was in legalizing Christianity. His personal activities in other areas are less appealing." Eusebius of Caesarea on the Life of Constantine " Eusebius of Caesarea was the bishop of Caesarea in Palestine during the early fourth century. He was a prominent personality during the period when Christianity was recognized by Constantine the Great, ending the persecutions, and he participated in the First Council of Nicea. He is famous for his writings, particularly his Church History or Ecclesiastical History (Historia Ecclesiastica). He is often referred to as Eusebius Pamphili because of his close friendship with Pamphilius, the founder of the major library in Caesarea. "Eusebius' Life of Constantine (Vita Constantini is a eulogy, and therefore its style and selection of facts are affected by its purpose, rendering it inadequate as a continuation of the Church History. As the historian Socrates Scholasticus said at the opening of his history, which was designed as a continuation of Eusebius: "Also in writing the life of Constantine, this same author has but slightly treated of matters regarding Arius, being more intent on the rhetorical finish of his composition and the praises of the emperor, than on an accurate statements of facts." The work was unfinished at Eusebius' death". orthodoxwiki.org/Eusebius_of_CaesareaImplying that Eusebius' writings of Constantine have to be taken with a grain of salt resolving His words to descern truths. I read before on Constantine and now understand why there was always something amiss. A few excerpts of Eusebius' writings. His Humane Treatment of Prisoners "Thus the emperor and his army had long been accustomed to act, whenever there was a prospect of an engagement ; for his God was ever present to his thoughts, and he desired to do everything according to his will, and conscientiously to avoid any wanton sacrifice of human life. He was anxious thus for the preservation not only of his own subjects, but even of his enemies. Accordingly he directed his victorious troops to spare the lives of their prisoners, admonishing them, as human beings, not to forget the claims of their common nature. And whenever he saw the passions of his soldiery excited beyond control, he repressed their fury by a largess of money, rewarding every man who saved the life of an enemy with a certain weight of gold. And the emperor's own sagacity led him to discover this inducement to spare human life, so that great numbers even of the barbarians were thus saved, and owed their lives to the emperor's gold." 'Twas good bribery, one could say, works great today, mostly to the contrary. An Illustration from Ancient Times "FOR certainly anyone who will mentally retrace the course of events from the earliest period down to the present time, and will reflect on what has occurred in past ages, will find that all who have made justice and probity the basis of their conduct, have not only carried their undertakings to a successful issue, but have gathered, as it were, a store of sweet fruit as the produce of this pleasant root. Again, whoever observes the career of those who have been bold in the practice of oppression or injustice; who have either directed their senseless fury against God himself, or have conceived no kindly feelings toward their fellow-men, but have dared to afflict them with exile, disgrace, confiscation, massacre, or other miseries of the like kind, and all this without any sense of compunction, or wish to direct thoughts to a better course, will find that such men have received a recompense proportioned to their crimes. And these are the results which might naturally and reasonably be expected to ensue?" How often it is said loosely "what goes around comes around", and if we could keep it conscious to become first nature, we would be great co-creators with God. Charlotte
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Post by Charlotte on Jul 9, 2010 11:43:16 GMT -5
The Czech and Slovac Orthodox Church The Orthodox Church of the Czech lands and Slovakia is a self-governing body of the Eastern Orthodox Church that territorially covers the countries of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The primate is his Beatitude, Metropolitan Christopher of Prague and the Czech Lands and Slovakia, who was elected on May 2, 2006. "The Church of the Czech Lands and Slavakia presents both an ancient history as well as a very modern history. The present day Church occupies the land of Moravia, where the brothers Ss. Cyril and Methodius began their missions to the Slavs, introducing the liturgical and canonical order of the Orthodox Church, translated into the Church Slavonic language. In doing this they developed the first Slavonic alphabet. This mission was destroyed after Methodius died in 885, as Pope Stephen V of Rome forced all disciples of the brothers to leave the countryside which is now the Czech Rebublic. The Orthodox order survived in present day Slovakia due to its nearness to Kievan Rus' until the union with Rome was instituted by the Viennese Court." After WW I many people joyned the Serbian Church, among them "was a Roman Catholic priest, Matthias Pavlic" whom the Serbian Church "consented to consecrate Fr. Matthias as bishop of the Orthodox Church with the name Gorazd." "As the Orthodox leader in the new nation of Czechoslovakia, Bp. Gorazd laid the foundation of the Orthodox Church throughout Bohemia, Moravia, and into Slovakia." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czech_and_Slovak_Orthodox_ChurchBishop Gorazd "revived the Orthodox Church in Moravia, the Church of Czechoslovakia, after World War I. During World War II, having provided refuge for the assassins of SS-Obergruppenfuhrer Reinhard Heydrich, called The Butcher of Prague, in the cathedral of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Prague, Godarzd took full responsibility for protecting the patriots after the Nazi overlords found them in the crypt of the cathedral. This act guaranteed his execution, thus his martyrdom, during the reprisals that followed." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorazd_(Pavlik)_of_PragueMoravia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoraviaSaint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia Wenceslaus was Duke of Bohemia from 921 until his death. He is known in Germany, and "best known in the English-speaking world as the subject of the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslaus. "He was the son of Vratislav I, Duke of Bohemia from the Pfemyslid dynasty. His father was raised in a Christian milieu through his own father, Borivoj, who was converted by Saitn Cyril and Saint Methodius, the "apostles to the Slavs". His mother Drahomira was the daughter of a pagan trible chief of Havolans and was baptized at the time of her marriage. Wenceslaus' murder in September of 953 was the result of a plot involving his younger brother Boleslav O of Bohemia. He was venerated as Saint Wenceslaus and is the main patron saint of the Czech state." Saint Wenceslaus also sleeps in a Mountain Range and will awaken with his army of Knights "to aid the Czech people when they face ultimate danger". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._WenceslasSaint Adalbert of Prague Bishop of Prague "and a missionary, was martyred in his efforts to convert the Baltic Prussians. He was later made the patron saint of Bohemia, Poland, Hungery and Prussia." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adalbert_of_PragueLands of the Bohemian Crown en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_of_BohemiaSaint Adalbert baptized Stephen I of Hungary, "considered to be the founder of Hungary - becoming one of the most popular saints in Hungary, and his birthday is celebrated as a state holiday, commemorating the foundation of the nation." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_of_HungaryThe Cathedral of Saint Wenceslaus, Saint Vitus, and Saint Adalbert en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Vitus_CathedralA cup of Czech Tea (more than 70) with a beautiful view of Prague while reading a very interesting article. www.holymtn.com/tea/PragueTearooms.htmCharlotte
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