During the twentieth century, the self-understanding of Greek identity, especially in relation to Western Christendom, became focused on finding a cultural continuity between Ancient Greece, Byzantium, and the modern Greek nation. Nicolas Prevelakis argues that this issue was successfully resolved through an interweaving of history and theology in the writings of Fr John … [Read more...] about Theologies as Alternative Histories: John Romanides and Chrestos Yannaras
History & Tradition
An American Experience of Romanian Hesychasm [VIDEO]
In this insightful short video Dr. John Farina, Professor of Religious Studies at George Mason University, opens to us the rich spirituality of Orthodox Romania through the simple but profoundly authentic lives of ordinary people. Farina speaks of Hesychasm, the practice of acquiring inner stillness primarily through the practice of the Jesus Prayer. "Be still and know that … [Read more...] about An American Experience of Romanian Hesychasm [VIDEO]
Literature, Culture and the Western Soul
In his his splendid biography of Fr Seraphim Rose, Fr Damascene Christensen tells the story of a young monastic aspirant seeking the esoteric spirituality of Orthodox Christianity on Mt Athos. But once he finally arrives at his destination, the Abbot hands him a copy of Dickens’ novel, “David Copperfield” to read. When the young man protests in dismay that … [Read more...] about Literature, Culture and the Western Soul
Perceiving the Sanctity of Saints: A Review of Konstantin Kapkov’s “The Spiritual World of Emperor Nicholas II and his Family”
The author of this essay, Andrei Manovtsev, is one of the foremost scholars of the lives of the Tsar Nicholas II and his family. He has contributed greatly to the current research on what are for now being called the “Ekaterinburg remains”—bone fragments unearthed near Ekaterinburg that are believed by some to belong to the Royal Family. In this review of a … [Read more...] about Perceiving the Sanctity of Saints: A Review of Konstantin Kapkov’s “The Spiritual World of Emperor Nicholas II and his Family”
Met. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos (and Fr. John Romanides) – On The Mystery of Pentecost
“Why was it necessary for the Ascension to happen and for the Holy Spirit to descend?” In two volumes of Empirical Dogmatics, Metropolitan Hierotheos offers us a once-hidden treasure: the unwritten teachings of Fr John Romanides, one of the greatest Orthodox theologians of the last century. These “spoken teachings” (recorded from lectures at the … [Read more...] about Met. Hierotheos of Nafpaktos (and Fr. John Romanides) – On The Mystery of Pentecost