One Pilgrim's Eastern Exploration
Hello friends! For the past two years, I have been writing my thoughts on my journey to Orthodoxy here on TIB. I have also been up to other projects like creating a daily readings website (orthodoxdailyreadings.com), and more recently - and perhaps most importantly - I have finally discovered a ministry opportunity that is both … Continue reading Toe In The Bosphorus Has Moved!
In which I confess that I am a worm, and not a man. Lord, have mercy.
Reflections on the Philokalia, instructions for beginning to pray.
Christ is risen! Yesterday, we celebrated St. Pachomius. While scrolling though the daily readings, this name popped out to me. It was last year, while reading through On the Jesus Prayer by St. Ignatius Brianchaninov that I came across a very simple prayer rule: "An Angel of God taught St. Pachomius the Great a rule … Continue reading St. Pachomius’ Prayer Rule
A few reflections on what I love about Orthodoxy, as well as some things that still make me uneasy as I continue to draw closer to the Church.
A common objection to the theology of Saintly intercession is that the Saints can't "hear" us. While there is a theological argument to be made that they, in fact, can hear us, I think that's going to be a separate post. For now, I'd like to look at the biblical case for the Saints being … Continue reading The Saints “Hearing” Our Prayers
A quick study on the term "save" as used in contexts other than Christ's direct work with regards to the accusation of asking the Saints or the Theotokos to "save us" being heretical.
I've had a lot of people tell me that in order to understand the Orthodox view of the atonement, one must start with the Orthodox view of the incarnation. At first, this made little sense to me. However, what little knowledge I had before has helped to make sense of why this is the case. … Continue reading God Incarnate: Jesus Christ is Divine
I have often remarked about how I am surprised by the wealth of knowledge found in the Church Fathers. This may seem obvious to the lifelong Orthodox, but to someone who grew up as a Lutheran and served as a Baptist pastor, little more than lip service was given to the Early Church unless a … Continue reading Contra Mundum
St. Cyril of Jerusalem's Catechetical Lectures: Part V Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. ---Hebrews 11:1-2 Having read through a few of St. Cyril's lectures now, I half-expected the one on faith to be his Magnum Opus, … Continue reading Catechetical Lectures: Faith