Archive for November, 2008
Healing of the Paralytic, Dura Europos (c.235)
This wall painting, depicting the Healing of the Paralytic, is the earliest known representation of Jesus, dating from about 235 AD. The painting was found in 1921 on the left-hand wall of the baptismal chamber of the house-church at Dura-Europos on the Euphrates River in modern Syria.
In the Temple of Broken Hearts
The Way, through tests, introspection, and suffering, is hard and has many pitfalls. There is a strong temptation to look for happiness and consolation right from the beginning. If we experience disillusionment or disappointment, then we might start fearing that our journey to God might turn into torment and punishment…
Give me a word
A brother came to see Abba Macarius the Egyptian, and said to him, “Abba, give me a word, that I may be saved.”…
Such People We Have Never Seen
It’s Sunday morning. I am wondering what it will be like to meet Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Great Britain and a man regarded by many as nothing less than a modern-day saint. In a time when organized religion seems to have fallen into disrepute and spiritual authorities in general are regarded with suspicion and mistrust, what is it that attracts this man’s parishioners to Christian Orthodoxy…
When peace of heart is a problem
A brother said to an old man, “I see no warfare in my heart.” The old man said to him, “You are a building open on all sides, and whoever wishes can pass through you and you are unaware of it. If you have a door, you should shut it, and not allow evil thoughts to enter through it; for then you will see them standing outside, banging on the door, and attacking you.”
The Lost Gospel of Mary
There are many, many ancient Christian texts that are fully orthodox: biographies, commentaries, letters, sermons, debates with non-believers… These works got “lost” mostly because we forgot them—our “family memory” fades after a few decades or centuries. Contemporary Western Christians have a bad case of spiritual amnesia. I’m hoping to put a few of the more appealing and worthy works back on the shelf…
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