Comments for Glory to God for All Things

Comment on The Strange World of Ecumenism by Dana Ames

Dana Ames — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:03:21 +0000

Thank you, Father.
Dana

Comment on The Strange World of Ecumenism by kay

kay — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:02:57 +0000

Thank you Father Stephen - I’m very worried at how easily many ‘green’ objectives
overtly and covertly promote the idea that people are evil, and that ever tighter political control of them is “best for the planet.” (Mary, thanks for your comment, I’d like to see the photographs also if I may. My email address is: ciibored@cox.net)

Comment on The Strange World of Ecumenism by fatherstephen

fatherstephen — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:00:55 +0000

Dana,

First it would mean healing of any of our “needs”. Theosis or deification is simply the word used to describe our being conformed to Christ. I cannot conform myself and you can’t conform yourself. Only God can do this. Perfectionism is of no use to us. Rather kindness, humility, and love for others is the simple path God sets before us. And even on this path we will fall down. But His mercy is still such that He will do in us what we cannot do ourselves. Go to Church, say your prayers, remember God. That’s about as good a summary of the Orthodox life as I can think. It is also a quote from Fr. Thomas Hopko’s mother.

Comment on The Strange World of Ecumenism by Dana Ames

Dana Ames — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:55:36 +0000

Fr. Stephen,
Thank you for these thoughts.

I would be grateful for some words regarding whether theosis is the same thing as the idea of the Lord coming to open the pathway to “perfection”. As a person with a past but thankfully waning “sensitivity” regarding perfectionism (”I must be perfect or else God and everyone else will not love me or accept me….”), I wonder if I simply have a problem with the terminology making me squirm a little, or if the idea of “perfection” is a holdover from notions of “original sin”/Anselmian satisfaction.

Dana Ames

Comment on The Strange World of Ecumenism by J.S. Bangs

J.S. Bangs — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:30:46 +0000

Thank you, Mary, for letting us know about that. The one I was thinking of is in Romania, obviously, so it’s not the same one. But there’s a happier ending: at the foot of the ruined tower in Romania is a vibrant parish church, and repairs on the tower are scheduled to begin this year.

Comment on The Strange World of Ecumenism by handmaidleah

handmaidleah — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:10:27 +0000

Awesomely put as always Father Stephen…
Leah

Comment on The Strange World of Ecumenism by Margaret

Margaret — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:28:59 +0000

Thank you, Fr. Stephen, for taking time to post these thoughts. These words are necessary to hear and need to be repeated. (Of course I came into Orthodoxy from Anglicanism, so perhaps I am biased!) I agree totally with what you are saying, and thanks again!

Comment on The Strange World of Ecumenism by Mary in Tennessee

Mary in Tennessee — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 20:42:43 +0000

Mary,

May I please see those photos?

My email is ellyzahm at aol dot com.

Comment on The Strange World of Ecumenism by Mary

Mary — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:48:15 +0000

This photo was taken in Russia in July, 2005, on the road between Yaroslaval and Vologda.

Comment on The Strange World of Ecumenism by Mary

Mary — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 19:43:39 +0000

This photo was taken in late July, 2005, on the road between Yaroslaval and Vologda. Through the bus window, we spied cupolas in ruins against the eastern sky. As we drew nearer, there were hundreds of black birds roosting in their skeletons. It wasn’t on our itinerary, but Fr. Ilya Gotlinsky, our tour guide, challenged us, ”Do you want to go see?” And, of course, we did!

The local youths followed us to the abandoned church, like haunts of a familiar grave, though they didn’t seem to know name of the church. They may have even been responsible for the graffiti that desecrated its frescos. “Beloved,” Fr. Ilya said to us, standing on a pulpit of refuse in the gutted nave, “Behold your future.” We understood…a thousand years of Christianity turned to this in a mere 70 years of forced neglect, and worse, much worse.

Oh Lord, help us, can American Christians expect less from our own homegrown, state-sponsored atheism? From our own children, if we fail to catechize them for the Cross?

Photos of interior, its peeling frescos and local youth available upon request.