Search results for: “church as cross”
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Wednesday – The Cross and the Betrayal of Christ
Read more: Wednesday – The Cross and the Betrayal of ChristWednesdays and Fridays of the Orthodox week are always observed more solemnly than other days in terms of fasting and prayer. The use of these days in this manner can be dated as early as the first century. The Didache, a Palestinian Christian document as old as many parts of the New Testament but not included […]
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Zizioulas and the Church that is Communion
Read more: Zizioulas and the Church that is CommunionOne of the more profound writers and thinkers in the Orthodox Church today has to be Metropolitan John Zizioulas – who has taught for years in Scotland and England – and is known to be one of the closest theologians to His Holiness, Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Zizioulas [as he is commonly referred to without […]
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Why I Am Not Concerned about the Church as Failure
Read more: Why I Am Not Concerned about the Church as FailureI suspected that having written about the “Church as Failure,” today’s post would be a required follow-up. I am not concerned about the Church as failure – because I believe the Church was meant to fail – if you’ll allow me explain. I have chosen the word “failure” to translate St. Paul’s description of Christ […]
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The Church as Failure
Read more: The Church as FailureI do not always like conversations about the Church. It invariably becomes problematic. The Orthodox sound unbelievably hauty in our description of the Church, others are driven to defensive positions, and on it goes. When we look across the Christian scene, however, we should be accurate in what we see: failure. Not by counting numbers […]
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Being Saved This Day in the Church
Read more: Being Saved This Day in the ChurchI thought I would bring the discussion down from the heady heights of theology and into the place where I spend my time and the bulk of my life. Being saved in the Church is a very day-to-day and moment-to-moment thing. Getting started: Do I cross myself before I get out of bed. It sure […]
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The Church of the Second Storey (And Why There Isn’t Really One)
Read more: The Church of the Second Storey (And Why There Isn’t Really One)For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and […]
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Ecclesiology of the Cross
Read more: Ecclesiology of the CrossPart I Writing to the young Timothy (first letter) St. Paul gives this homey admonition: These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, […]
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St. Silouan and the Church
Read more: St. Silouan and the ChurchThe following excerpt from St. Silouan the Athonite, begins with a quote from the saint, and is followed by the comments of Archimandrite Sophrony. It is given to our Orthodox Church through the Holy Spirit to fathom the mysteries of God, and she is strong in the holiness of her thought and her patience. The […]
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Back to the Cross
Read more: Back to the CrossI feel a need to tie a few loose ends together – or at the very least to make a few connections. It’s possible as in this last week to drink rather deeply at one of the many wells of living Orthodoxy such as the writings of Fr. Sophrony. It’s also possible in doing so […]
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The Ecclesiology of the Cross – The Pillar and Ground of Truth – Part 4
Read more: The Ecclesiology of the Cross – The Pillar and Ground of Truth – Part 4We continue from our previous posts with the last two points: 3. All discussion of the Church and its life must include this self-emptying [of Christ], not only of God, but of each of the members of the Church. 4. Every description of the various aspects of the Church would do well to include the […]
Thanks so much Mark. Really good thoughts. I so appreciate them.