The Intellect is not self-contained

It is my opinion that our intellect does not have a natural power to be
moved to the divine vision of Divinity. And in this one deficiency we
are the peers of all the celestial natures, for both in us and in them
grace moves that which is alien by nature both to the human [...]

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Happiness

“The doctrine of beatific vision, borrowed by St. Augustine from the Neo–Platonists, whereby man’s destiny is to become completely happy in the possession of the vision of the divine essence, is unknown to the Greek patristic Tradition. Man’s desire is rather the transformation of the desire for happiness into a non–utilitarian love which does not [...]

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Just a bit farther

“Only struggle a little bit more. Carry your crosses without complaining; Don’t think you’re anything special, don’t justify your sins and weaknesses, but see yourself as you really are; and, especially, love one another.” – St. Macarius the Great

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Living Sermons on the Mount

The most interesting thing about Christianity is the ascetics, because they make all of Christ’s talk about the Kingdom of God make sense. (From Not of This World, St. Herman Press)

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Patristics is Asceticism

“The patrisitic tradition is neither a social philosphy nor an ethical system, nor is it religious dogmatism: it is a therapeutic treatment… The spiritual energy of the soul that prays unceasingly in the heart is a physiological instrument which everyone has and which requires healing. Neither philosophy nor any of the known positive or social [...]

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Runway Lights in the Desert

“Angels are the light of monks, and monks are the light of men.”
Comment: Orthodoxy is not actually a belief system; it’s more closely understood as an asceticism. The essence of the Faith, in every aspect, is ascetic. Even our theology is apophatic – or negative theology – a theology of prayerfully removing from our minds [...]

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