Catechesis

Faith is a comprehensive knowledge of the essentials, and knowledge is the strong and sure demonstration of what is received by faith, built upon faith by the Lord’s teaching, conveying the soul on to infallibility, science, and comprehension. And, in my view, the first saving change is [...]

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Simplicity

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and [...]

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Between The Feast and The Fast

Between the Feast and the Fast lies Paradise – Eden – with the same choices and the same reasons and effects. In keeping the Fast and keeping the Feast, we get to relive the choices of Adam, and participate in our own redemption, and with Christ undo the curse.

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Simplicity

Walk before God in simplicity, and not in subtleties of the mind. Simplicity brings faith; but subtle and intricate speculations bring conceit; and conceit brings withdrawal from God. — St. Isaac of Syria
Let all of us who wish to attract the Lord to ourselves draw near to [...]

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Idolatry, Murder, & Witchcraft

There is only one sin, that of despising anyone. – a desert father
Rage is idolatry. When I rage, I play God. Rage is delusion. The raging person treats his own dissatisfaction not only as another’s crime, but a crime of such magnitude as to cease to see [...]

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Is Fasting a Good Idea?

Notes on the Great Fast
Catechumens: The question with which we’re often greeted by non-Orthodox observing our abstinence during the Great Fast is more or less whether fasting is a good idea. To such questions, we really have nothing to say in any language that would make sense while their [...]

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The Constant Awareness of Saints

Catechumens: It is easy to think of the Saints as distant, as inhabiting another time, or a kind of special world. This can feel as though it exempts us from the call to be Saints, but we are each, individually called to that, and the Lord, the angels, and [...]

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