The Uncreated Church

A man went to Elder Porphyrios: “Geronta, I want your blessing, so that I can take communion tomorrow.” “Do you hate anyone?” “No, Geronta.” “Good. Go and receive communion.” Simple, right? Why do we Orthodox prefer to complicate things, with rules and man-made traditions? Porphyrios was a profound thinker and man of the spirit, but …

A Magnificent Prayer

The Responses to Thalassios is considered by many to be the greatest work of St. Maximos the Confessor, the great Byzantine theologian of the 7th century. The book consists of 65 answers that Maximos wrote in response to Thalassios, a renowned spiritual teacher in North Africa. Question 48 in this book begins with a prayer that …

The Divine

A few weeks ago a friend of mine in England, a very fine spiritual writer and blogger, wrote a short reflection that struck me at the time and I feel I should share it here after my own earlier post today on the Trinity. He has posted many poems and reflections inspired by Rublev's famous …

Paradoxes of the Cross

God prefers to reveal His ways through paradox. Because mystery is paradoxical. But people don't like paradox; people want clearcut answers, clearcut methodologies. And so people get confused. Why did God choose this way? Wouldn't it have been easier and less messy if God did it otherwise, maybe by just waving his hand and telling …