Sword in the Fire

One of the greatest Bible scholars the Church ever produced was Origen of Alexandria (d.254).  Considering the tools and resources he had at hand, he was ever to produce the multiple translations of the Bible as well as numerous commentaries and theological tomes.  His influence on future Biblical scholarship is incalculable.  But theological speculation proved to be a downfall of Origen. Much of his speculative work later influenced many Christians and led them into open heresy.  While never departing from the Church, Origen speculated about much beyond the scope of revelation.  His tendency toward pitting matter against spirit or body against soul brought about an extreme form of asceticism, and some sources report he castrated himself to become a eunuch for the kingdom. Tertullian (225) another important Churchman who gave us the term Trinity and upheld the moral purity of the faith, also allowed his strictness and theological speculation to drag him into...

St Ephrem's The Pearl 6:3 How strangely perplexed are all the heretics by simple things! For when He plainly foreshadowed this New Testament        By that of the Prophets, Those pitiable men rose, as though from sleep, And shouted out and made a disturbance. And the Way, wherein the righteous held straight on, And by their truths had gone forth therein, That [Way] have these broken up, because they were besotted: This they left and went out of; Because they pried into it, it fell, and was lost. Of the pearl they made a stone, that they might stumble upon it. 6:4 O Gift, which fools have made a poison! The People were for separating Thy beauteous root from Thy fountain, Though they separated it not: Teachings estranged Thy beauty also from the stock thereof. By Thee did they get themselves estranged, Who wished to estrange Thee. By Thee the tribes were cut off, And scattered abroad from out of Sion, And also the teachings of the seceders. ...

Think back to the days when you were in school.  Now think of the number 211.  What was special about 211? Did something significant happen in that year?  Not really, but if you are curious Septimus Severus, the Roman emperor died as well as Serapion of Antioch a Patriarch of Antioch. It is a prime number, but that's not what makes it special. 211 is the degree immediately before water begins to boil.  If you could keep your pot of water at this temperature, it would be very hot, make a nice cup of tea or burn your hand, but it would not be boiling. It's funny how one degree can make such a big difference.  Raise that pot of water 1 degree and everything changes dramatically, steam is created, and power is released. 1 degree.  Just 1 degree, and nothing's the same. Adding a couple words to the Creed is not big deal.  Changing a phrase here or there, in a prayer or Scripture, is small.  Giving God a different title won't make that b...

Here's my most recent article for The Sounding, the blog project for OCN: http://blog.myocn.com/culture/orthodoxy-in-the-american-religious-bazaar.html Check out the other contributors to the project. There is some great writing and you can subscribe to the full feed of articles.

St. Ephrem's The Pearl 6:1-2 1. Would that the memory of the fathers would exhale from the tombs; Who were very simple as being wise; And reverend as believing. They without cavilling searched for, and came to the right path. He gave the law; The mountains melted away; Fools broke through it. By unclean ravens He fed Elijah at the desert stream; And moreover gave from the skelton honey unto Samson. They judged not, nor inquired why it was unclean, Why clean. 2. And when He made void the sabbaths, The feeble Gentiles were clothed with health. Samson took the daughter of the aliens, And there was no disputing among the righteous; The prophet also took a harlot, And the just held their peace. He blamed the righteous, And He held up and lifted up their delinquencies: He pitied sinners, And restored them without cost: And made low the mountains of their sins: He proved God is not to be arraigned by men, And as Lord of Truth. That His servants were His s...

Ben Franklin and his connection to Orthodoxy Damascus Monastery Attacked :  continue to pray for Christian's in the Middle East If the World were only 100 People  - Fascinating and Sobering.  What surprised you the most? Earliest Iconography Found?   Interesting new archaeological finds And my favorite cartoon of recent weeks: click on to embiggen

The final chapters of Judges are some of the most depressing reading in the Old Testament.  Israel's confederacy of tribes is on the brink of self-destruction.  The author continues his rallying cry -- "there was no king in Israel, and the people did what was right in their own eyes." These chapters should come as no surprise, for each proceeding judge encountered greater and greater resistance until the people became so comfortable in their conformity to pagan culture, there was no longer a cry for salvation.  God appointed Samson, the lone judge, with no army and no support to disturb His people from their slumber with Philistine life.  Even Samson was less than ideal, succumbing himself, only to cry out for salvation at life's end. Within these chapters the caretakers of the covenant, the Levites, those who should be prodding the perpetuation of the faith, reject their duties and are as confused spiritually as the common man.  One tribe has beco...

2011 Nominations now open For the Eastern Christian New Media Awards.   If you like what you read here, go here , choose a category, and nominate.   Nominations will be taken until April 1.  

St. Ephrem's The Pearl 5:4,5 The naked ones in a type saw thy rising again by the sea-shore; And by the side of the lake they, The Apostles of a truth, Saw the rising again of the Son of thy Creator. By thee and by thy Lord the sea and the lake were beautified. The diver came up from the sea and put on his clothing; And from the lake too Simon Peter came up swimming on his coat; Clad as with coats, with the love of both of you, were these two. ** 5. ** And since I have wandered in thee, pearl, I will gather up my mind And by having contemplated thee, Would become like thee, In that thou art all gathered up into thyself; And as thou in all times art one, One let me become by thee! Pearls have I gathered together that I might make a crown for the Son In the place of stains which are in my members. Receive my offering, not that Thou art shortcoming; It is because of mine own shortcoming that I have offered it to Thee. Whiten my stains!This crown is a...

Top Posts for Feb 2012. Thanks again to Fr. Andrew's agreeing to a blog interview.   Track 4 - Unexpected Victory - Jul 11, 2011 Interview with Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick: Author ofOrthodoxy and Heterodoxy - Feb 16, 2012 Track 1 – Deliverance - Mar 31, 2011 The Pearl 4:2 - Let the Pearl Reprove in the Ass's Stead - Jan23, 2012 Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem - Feb 26, 2012 Church as Context - Feb 14, 2012 5 Reasons Samson was a Great Judge – Feb 24, 2012