Many times, during occasions such as the upcoming Valentine’s day, many individuals become depressed. These individuals may be either single or in a relationship. During this time, especially on the internet, many people are obsessed that their Valentine’s day was not met to fulfillment, or that they will be spending this day alone. This is a very good indicator of our times. We see people’s reliance on emotional highs like Valentine’s Day and we need to remember that these days sound not be like this for us. We as Christians don’t rely on worldly fulfillments like Valentine’s day, where disappointment will surely accompany. Rather, our hope is from above. From Christ our God, who has defeated the world and death and has given us freedom from reliance to this world.
To Him be all glory and honor, amen.
The Sinner, Steven
“ Where is the pleasure in life which is unmixed with sorrow? Where the glory which on earth has stood firm and unchanged? All things are weaker than shadow, all more illusive than dreams; comes one fell stroke, and Death in turn, prevails over all these vanities. Wherefore in the Light, O Christ, of Your countenance, the sweetness of Your beauty, to them whom You have chosen grant repose, for You are the Friend of Mankind. ”
Orthodox Funeral Hymn Tone 1
This is an excellent video about the development of the concept of the Logos in philosophy.
“ You have not yet acquired perfect love if your regard for people is still swayed by their characters. ”
Saint Maximos the Confessor (via orthodoxbrit)
(via patrickyadig)
(Source: evandroferreira)
The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever. Isiah 40:8
The verse above from Isiah, is one of my favorite verses contained in both Old and New Testaments. These words above, encapsulate the entire message of Orthodox Christianity and thereby all human inquiry into things beyond this material life. The message we need to grasp from this passage is the temporal nature of things. In our earthly life, people are born, people die. We make friends and gain acquaintances while only in the blink of the eye do we loose those same relationships we once held as solid and unshakable. Here, we see that the Psalmist David is communicating that God is the only one who despite circumstances, remains in our life, constantly trying to redeem us and bring us into union with Him. Throughout our lives, if this can be the idea that inspires our lives and actions, we will truly be able to transcend suffering and the limitations of our earthy life and reach into the realm of The Divine.
To Him who is The Constant in a world of never ending change be all Glory, Honor and Worship, to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages, Amen.
-The Sinner, Steven.
On September 27th, the Orthodox Church commerates St. Stephen the protomartyr. St. Stephen was the first martyr of the Orthodox Church. When brought before the court of the first century religious figures, he held fast to the Orthodox Faith, desiring Christ rather than the pleasures of this world. When asked about his charges of blasphemy, he merely stated the truth; That Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He was subsequently killed by stoning.
Despite St. Stephen’s literal example for us, that if put in the situation of keeping our life, or confessing Christ,we must love Christ more than the pleasures of this world, St. Stephen has another meaning for us. Like St.Stephen, we must confess Christ above all else. In the morning when we arise, we must confess Christ before our day begins. Before meals and interactions and tasks, we must confess Christ before all else. And in the evening, when we lie down for our night’s sleep, we must confess Christ above all else. St. Stephen is my patron saint, and this, I believe is what we must strive for every day, to love Christ above all else
- The Sinner, Steven
Isaiah 6:9 - For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Troparion of The Nativity : Your Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone to the world the Light of wisdom! For by it, those who worshipped the stars, were taught by a Star to adore You, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know You, the Orient from on High. O Lord, glory to You!
Let us remember what Christmas is about. It’s not about “Holiday traditions”,spending time with family, or even “that baby who laid in the manger”. Rather, it is about God becoming man. Let us remember the words of our father among the saints, St. Athanasius, “God became man so that men could become gods.” Let us ponder the mystery on the eve before our Savor’s birth.
-The Sinner, Steven.
![In 1876, Nicholas [later named Nektary] arrived at the Optina forest with a bundle swung over his shoulder, containing nothing but a copy of the New Testament. Many years later, the holy father recalled his first impressions of Optina: “Lord! How beautiful it is with the sun flooding the area from sunrise, and the flowers! Just as though in Paradise!” Nicholas was received by none other than Elder Ambrose, and his initial dialogue with this great sagacious elder produced such a deep impression that he remained there for the rest of his life. Elders Ambrose and Anthony (Zertsalov) became his spiritual mentors.When he in reclusion, Elder Nektary’s spiritual preceptors blessed him, after ten years of exclusive study of spiritual literature, to read secular authors and to study the secular sciences, obviously with the aim that he acquire that knowledge which would enable him to help lead the restless souls of the groping intelligentsia to salvation. He studied science, mathematics, history, geography and classical literature, both Russian and foreign. He spoke to his visitors about Pushkin and Shakespeare, Milton and Krilov, Spengler and Hegart, Blok, Dante, Gogol, Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. In his only hour of rest after dinner he would ask to have read aloud Pushkin or some fairy tales—either Russian or the Brothers Grimm.Starets Nektary became close to Constantine Leonti Bolotov, a scholar who became a monk living in Optina, and who used to read his original literary works to him. He studied painting under this academic and throughout his life maintained an interest by sketching icons and closely following new developments in trends and techniques. For example, his sketch of the Annunciation was made in the final year of his life at Optina.Having a talent for painting, this art was especially close to Starets Nektary. He used to declare, “Currently, the art of painting is on the decline. Previously, before commencing a painting a painter used to prepare himself – both internally and externally. Before sitting down to the task, he would prepare all the necessary items: canvas, paints, brushes etc… and would then paint not only a few days, but years, and sometimes a whole lifetime, like painter Ivanov’s ‘Appearance of Christ to the People’. Great masterpieces were created in those days. Today, painters work hurriedly, without thought or feeling… For example, when painting a spiritual work, it is necessary for the light to emanate from an angel rather than it fall upon him.”The Starets badly wanted a painting to be done of Christ’s Birth. “It is necessary for the world to remember this enormous event. After all, it happened only once in the entire history!… The shepherds are dressed in short frayed clothing, facing the light with their backs to the viewer. And the light should not be white but slightly golden, be totally whole – not as rays or clusters – and only the far corner of the painting should be darkened, so as to remind us that it was night. In order to make it quite clear that this beauty was not human but heavenly and not of this world” added the elder with particular emphasis, “the light from the angels’ configurations must be soft, barely discernible.” Another time the Starets mentioned to a girl: “Why were the shepherds worthy to see the angels that night? – Because they were vigilant.”Once the elder was shown an icon, depicting Christ’s Transfiguration, where the light from Mount Tabor contrasted with the dark ganglionic trees in the foreground. The Starets ordered their erasure, explaining that “where there is light from Tabor, there is no room for darkness… When there is this light, every nook and cranny is illuminated.”Regarding fine arts, the Starets had the following to say: “One can apply himself to the arts just as one would to any other activity, for example: carpentry or rearing cows. But everything has to be done as though in God’s view. There are major and minor arts. The minor one can be like this: there is sound and light. An artist is a person that is capable of comprehending these barely discernible colours, shades and inaudible sounds. He interprets his impressions onto canvas or paper. The results are painting, notes or poetry. Here, it is as though the sound and light are extinguished. Only colour remains from the light. The book, notes or painting are in their own way, crypts of light and sound. Along comes a reader or viewer, and if he is capable of creatively reading or viewing, then the resurrection of purpose occurs. Then the circle of the art is completed. In front of the viewer and reader’s soul, the light erupts and the sound becomes worthy of his hearing. Consequently, an artist or poet has nothing much to be proud of. He is only doing his part of the work. It is futile of him to think that he is the creator of his works – there is only one Creator, while people only destroy the word and images of the Creator and then, receiving His power, enliven them. However, there is a greater art – the word that is enlivening and inspirational (e.g. Psalms of David). The path to this art lies through the artist’s personal deeds – it is a path of sacrifice and only one from many achieve their aim… All the verses in the world are not worth a single line of a Psalm… Pushkin was a very intelligent man but was unable to live his life correctly.”These and other observations of Father Nektary were the fruits of his internal, spiritual experience. Having become Starets, he began to share with his visitors that which he acquired through reading and contemplation.Starets loved to quote from “Hamlet”: “There are many things on earth, friend Horatio, that our wise men have not even dreamt of.” He was talking about how it is essential for a writer to ponder over every word: “Before beginning to write, dip your pen into the inkwell, seven times.”Recognizing the importance of the theatre as a source of influence on the community, Starets Nektary advised the artists to keep a sense of proportion in the game. He once refused to bless a young woman, aspiring to join the theatre. When asked about his refusal, he responded: “She will not be able to overcome the temptations and will become immoral… Modesty is of great worth; it is none other than a virtue of chastity. If a person safeguards his chastity (which is easily lost by the intellectuals) he safeguards everything.”
- Bishop Alexander Mileant](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lwprw86KEb1r8msivo1_1280.jpg)
In 1876, Nicholas [later named Nektary] arrived at the Optina forest with a bundle swung over his shoulder, containing nothing but a copy of the New Testament. Many years later, the holy father recalled his first impressions of Optina: “Lord! How beautiful it is with the sun flooding the area from sunrise, and the flowers! Just as though in Paradise!” Nicholas was received by none other than Elder Ambrose, and his initial dialogue with this great sagacious elder produced such a deep impression that he remained there for the rest of his life. Elders Ambrose and Anthony (Zertsalov) became his spiritual mentors.
When he in reclusion, Elder Nektary’s spiritual preceptors blessed him, after ten years of exclusive study of spiritual literature, to read secular authors and to study the secular sciences, obviously with the aim that he acquire that knowledge which would enable him to help lead the restless souls of the groping intelligentsia to salvation. He studied science, mathematics, history, geography and classical literature, both Russian and foreign. He spoke to his visitors about Pushkin and Shakespeare, Milton and Krilov, Spengler and Hegart, Blok, Dante, Gogol, Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. In his only hour of rest after dinner he would ask to have read aloud Pushkin or some fairy tales—either Russian or the Brothers Grimm.
Starets Nektary became close to Constantine Leonti Bolotov, a scholar who became a monk living in Optina, and who used to read his original literary works to him. He studied painting under this academic and throughout his life maintained an interest by sketching icons and closely following new developments in trends and techniques. For example, his sketch of the Annunciation was made in the final year of his life at Optina.
Having a talent for painting, this art was especially close to Starets Nektary. He used to declare, “Currently, the art of painting is on the decline. Previously, before commencing a painting a painter used to prepare himself – both internally and externally. Before sitting down to the task, he would prepare all the necessary items: canvas, paints, brushes etc… and would then paint not only a few days, but years, and sometimes a whole lifetime, like painter Ivanov’s ‘Appearance of Christ to the People’. Great masterpieces were created in those days. Today, painters work hurriedly, without thought or feeling… For example, when painting a spiritual work, it is necessary for the light to emanate from an angel rather than it fall upon him.”
The Starets badly wanted a painting to be done of Christ’s Birth. “It is necessary for the world to remember this enormous event. After all, it happened only once in the entire history!… The shepherds are dressed in short frayed clothing, facing the light with their backs to the viewer. And the light should not be white but slightly golden, be totally whole – not as rays or clusters – and only the far corner of the painting should be darkened, so as to remind us that it was night. In order to make it quite clear that this beauty was not human but heavenly and not of this world” added the elder with particular emphasis, “the light from the angels’ configurations must be soft, barely discernible.” Another time the Starets mentioned to a girl: “Why were the shepherds worthy to see the angels that night? – Because they were vigilant.”
Once the elder was shown an icon, depicting Christ’s Transfiguration, where the light from Mount Tabor contrasted with the dark ganglionic trees in the foreground. The Starets ordered their erasure, explaining that “where there is light from Tabor, there is no room for darkness… When there is this light, every nook and cranny is illuminated.”
Regarding fine arts, the Starets had the following to say: “One can apply himself to the arts just as one would to any other activity, for example: carpentry or rearing cows. But everything has to be done as though in God’s view. There are major and minor arts. The minor one can be like this: there is sound and light. An artist is a person that is capable of comprehending these barely discernible colours, shades and inaudible sounds. He interprets his impressions onto canvas or paper. The results are painting, notes or poetry. Here, it is as though the sound and light are extinguished. Only colour remains from the light. The book, notes or painting are in their own way, crypts of light and sound. Along comes a reader or viewer, and if he is capable of creatively reading or viewing, then the resurrection of purpose occurs. Then the circle of the art is completed. In front of the viewer and reader’s soul, the light erupts and the sound becomes worthy of his hearing. Consequently, an artist or poet has nothing much to be proud of. He is only doing his part of the work. It is futile of him to think that he is the creator of his works – there is only one Creator, while people only destroy the word and images of the Creator and then, receiving His power, enliven them. However, there is a greater art – the word that is enlivening and inspirational (e.g. Psalms of David). The path to this art lies through the artist’s personal deeds – it is a path of sacrifice and only one from many achieve their aim… All the verses in the world are not worth a single line of a Psalm… Pushkin was a very intelligent man but was unable to live his life correctly.”
These and other observations of Father Nektary were the fruits of his internal, spiritual experience. Having become Starets, he began to share with his visitors that which he acquired through reading and contemplation.
Starets loved to quote from “Hamlet”: “There are many things on earth, friend Horatio, that our wise men have not even dreamt of.” He was talking about how it is essential for a writer to ponder over every word: “Before beginning to write, dip your pen into the inkwell, seven times.”
Recognizing the importance of the theatre as a source of influence on the community, Starets Nektary advised the artists to keep a sense of proportion in the game. He once refused to bless a young woman, aspiring to join the theatre. When asked about his refusal, he responded: “She will not be able to overcome the temptations and will become immoral… Modesty is of great worth; it is none other than a virtue of chastity. If a person safeguards his chastity (which is easily lost by the intellectuals) he safeguards everything.”
- Bishop Alexander Mileant
