Theophan suggests that we humans naturally tend to become preoccupied with the things that we see and touch. The things of this world become our highest good, although they cannot truly satisfy our feeling of emptiness. Only God can, Theophan … Continue reading
Category Archives: The Spirituality Of the Christian East
In this article I have been basing some of my ideas on those shared with us by Theophan the Recluse. He wrote a lot about mankind’s present condition. In our present state of learning how to become spiritual persons, we … Continue reading
I have often been asked why I thought God created us like we are. We come into the world without any real understanding of the meaning of life and have to struggle a lifetime to come to a real understanding. … Continue reading
In the last issue of this article I began to present Theophan’s ideas on the characteristics of a sinner. Theophan believed that a sinner is a person who has turned away from God and has become self-centered, making himself the … Continue reading
Theophan, you will recall from last week’s Bulletin, gave us a different image, I believe, of what sin is by giving us characteristics of a sinner. A sinner can be described as a person who is concerned about many other … Continue reading
Before the Great and Holy Week, I began to share the thoughts of one of our Father among the saints, Theophan, as a means of sharing some insights into Eastern spirituality as it is experienced by Slavic peoples. He was … Continue reading
We must realize that change in a person is only truly produced by God’s grace; yet it does not occur without the participation of a person’s free will. In repentance or metanoia, free will must participate in the very act … Continue reading
Theophan suggests some guiding principles that he believes are indispensable for the Christian life. These principles, he states, “define how to acquire the saving desire for communion with God” and to be able to “remain in communion with Him”. In … Continue reading
In the last issue of this article, I began sharing some of the thoughts of Theophan about turning our hearts to God. Theophan suggests that “whoever enters this true way of pleasing God” will most probably experience some struggle, “threatened … Continue reading
The very first type of prayer is the Prayer of Supplication, that is the humble asking for the gifts of heaven and the disposition to receive them. It is important to point out that when we offer such a prayer … Continue reading