Orthodoxy in America
Be sure to watch this video from July 2018
19th All American Council: For the Life of the World
This video was broadcast on CBS just after Fr. Alexander fell asleep in the Lord.
It includes rare video excerpts of Fr. Schmeman teaching and is narrated by Fr. Thomas Hopko
The Spirit of St. Vladimir's
Copies of For the Life of the World are available in our bookstore for $18.
Kindle copies are availble from Amazon for $2.99
12 June 2019 - Our Wednesday Introduction to Fr. Alexander Schmemann's For the Life of the World
19 June 2019 - Chapter One: The Life of the World - Part 1
3 July 2019 - Chapter One: The Life of the World - Part 3
& Chapter Two: The Eucharist - Part 1
10 July 2019 - Chapter Two - Part 2 (Sections 3-4)
17 July 2019 - Chapter Two - Part 3 (Sections 5-6)
31 July 2019 - Chapter Two - Part 4
7 August 2019 - Chapter Two - Part 5
21 August 2019 - Chapter Two - Part 6 [with Dr. Jeffrey Macdonald]
4 September 2019 - Chapter Two - Part 7
18 September 2019 - Chapter Three - Part 1
11 October 2019 - Chapter Three - Part 2 - Having now listened to the first 7 of Dn. Michael Hyatt's 14 talks on For the Life of the World, this discussion picks up at the same point in the book where we left off last month. This was our discussion after listening to Dn. Michael talk on Chapter Three, Sections 4 and 5, focusing on the Christian year. Next Wednesday we'll finish our discussion of Chapter Three,
13 November - Chapter Three - Part 3 [Conclusion]
A very long ago, someone who could only come to a few Wednesday discussions, but was especially interested in the books we were discussing, asked if I could post the recordings. For years afterward I edited our Wednesday discussions so as to make sure they took the least amount of time to listen to, and then posted them. On checking, I found that the recordings were seldom if ever listened to. Although I do still keep the recordings, and they are available on request, I've stopped editing and posting them as this is very time consuming. The other day I had a request to hear the recording of our discussion on the sacrament of repentance. This is the full recording.
Volume Five of St. Paisios' Spiritual Counsels: Passions and Virtues
18 October- PT1Ch 2 [conclusion] & Ch3 Humility: The Great Power in Spiritual Life
11 October - PT1-Ch 2: Working Toward Humility
27 September- End of Intro & PT1-Ch 1: God Gives Grace Unto the Humble
20 September - SECTION TWO: VIRTUES (Intro Continued)
Special Link: Superman, by Jean Shepherd
Jean Shepherd was a writer, and radio and TV personality of the early 1960s. He is considered to be one of the then greatest American humorists, along with Mark Twain. He's probably most famous today for the movie classic, A Christmas Story.
His radio broadcast, Superman, is one of the best explanations of how the development of a strong ego-personality became, and continues to be, one of the bogus ways of building ourselves up to deal in a spiritually negative way with others. This is well worth listening to. It is clearly and directly related to St. Paisios' point about how it is possible to develop our natural virtues in a negative way.
13 September - SECTION TWO: VIRTUES (Intro)
6 September - PT4 The Children of Self-Love & Pride Ch 3: Sorrow
30 August - PT4 The Children of Self-Love & Pride Ch 2: Anger
23 August - PT4 The Children of Self-Love & Pride Ch 1: Envy
16 August - PT3 Ch 2: The Struggle Against Condemning
2 August - PT3 Ch2: Judge Not, That Ye Be Not Judged
19 July - PT2 Ch4: Combating Pride
12 July - PT2 Ch3: The Consequences of Pride
21 June - PT2 Ch2: Pride is Multifarious - Conclusion
14 June - PT2 -Pride, the Root of Evil, Chapter Two: Pride is Multifarious
24 May - PT1 Ch2: Freedom From Self-Love & PT2, Ch1: Pride, the General of Passions
17 May - Chapter One: Self-Love & Its Consequences [Conclusion]
10 May - PT1 Chapter One: Self-Love & Its Consequences
26 April - SECTION ONE: THE PASSIONS - PART ONE - The Struggle Against the Passions
Wednesday, Feb 8th: Chapter 5, The Idealized [self] Image, Pt5
Wednesday, Feb 1st: Chapter 5, The Idealized [self] Image, Pt 4
Wednesday, Jan 25th: Chapter 5, The Idealized [self] Image, Pt 3
Wednesday, Jan 18th: Chapter 5, The Idealized [self] Image, Pt 2
Wednesday, Jan 11th: Chapter 5, The Idealized [self] Image, Pt 1
Wednesday, Dec 14th: Chapter 4, Moving Away From People, Pt 2
Wednesday, Nov 30th: Chapter 3, Moving Against People
Wednesday, Nov 16th: Chapter 2, Part 3 & Chapter 3 Intro
Wednesday Nov 9th: Chapter 2, Part 2: Moving Toward People
Wednesday Oct 19th: Chapter 2, Part 1: Moving Toward People
Wednesday Oct 12th: Chapter 1, Part 3: Blocked in Spite of Our Efforts
Wednesday, Oct 5th: Chapter 1, Part 2: The Position of the Soul
Wednesday, Sep 28th: Chapter 1, Part 1: A Dive Into Ourselves
Audio of Discussions
Wednesday, September 21st: Chap 5: Beholding the Kingdom - Part #6
Wednesday, September 14th: Chap 5: Beholding the Kingdom - Part #5
Wednesday, August 31st: Chap 5: Beholding the Kingdom - Part #4
Wednesday, August 24th: Chap 5: Beholding the Kingdom - Part #3
Wednesday, August 17th: Chap 5: Beholding the Kingdom - Part #2
Wednesday, August 10th: Chap 5: Beholding the Kingdom - Part #1
Wednesday, August 3rd: Chap 4: Property and Work - Part #5
Wednesday, July 20th: Chap4: Property and Work - Part #4
Wednesday, July 6th: Chap4: Property and Work - Part #3
Wednesday, June 29th: Chap4: Property and Work - Part #2
Wednesday, June 22nd: Chap4: Property and Work - Part #1
Wednesday, June 15th: Chap 3: Marriage and Family - Part #5
Wednesday, June1st: Chap 3: Marriage and Family - Part #4
Wednesday, May 25: Chap 3: Marriage and Family - Part #3
Wednesday, May 18th: Chap 3: Marriage and Family - Part #2
Friday, April 22nd: Chap 3: Marriage and Family - Part #1
Friday, April 15th: Chap 2: Society - Part #7 - The Kingdom Through the World
Friday, April 8th: Chap 2: Society - Part #6 - Even More On Patience
Archimandrite Sophrony of Essex on the Jesus Prayer
Friday, April 1st: About the Jesus Prayer with Psalmody
Friday, April 1st: Chap 2: Society - Part #5 - More On Patience
Wednesday, March 16th: Chap 2: Society - Part #4 - On Patience
Wednesday, March 9th: Chap2: Society - Part #3 - On Compassion
Wednesday, March 2nd: Chap2: Society - Part #2 - The Goal of Life in Society
Wednesday, February 24th: Chap #2: Society - Part #1 - The Goal of Life in Society
Wednesday, February 17th: Chap #1: Theoria
Wednesday, February 3rd: Chap #1: Intellectual Virtues - Detachment, Discernment, Discretion, Humilty, Balance
Wednesday, January 27th: Chap #1: The Goal & Telos of Christian Life
Wednesday, January 13th: Preface
12-9-15: Conclusion of Chapter Eleven: Combating the Passions
12-2-15: Conclusion of Chapter Ten, & Beginning of Discussion of Chapter Eleven, Combating the Passions
11-18-15: Discussion of Chapter Ten: Christian Struggle
11-11-15: Discussion of Chapter Nine: Unseen Warfare
11-4-15: Discussion of Chapter Eight: Resisting Evil
10-28-15: Discussion of Chapter Seven: Guarding the Heart Amidst the Distractions of Life
10-21-15: Discussion of Chapter Six: The Christian Understanding of Freedom
10-7-15: Discussion of Chapter Five: Reawakening Our Conscience
9-30-15: Conclusion of Discussion of Chapter Four: Acquiring Gospel Love
9-23-15: Discussion of Chapter Four: Acquiring Gospel Love
9-16-15: Discussion of Chapter Three: Gospel Love and Humanistic Altruism
9-9-15: Conclusion of Discussion of Chapter Two: The Importance of Spiritual Discernment
9-2-15: Conclusion of Discussion of Chapter One & Chapter Two: The Importance of Spiritual Discernment
8-12-15: Discussion of the Introduction: The Essence & Meaning of Asceticism
Scanned text of the Introduction: The Essence & Meaning of Asceticism
Unless distractions become our focus, they are always a distraction from something.
Avoiding distraction is especially important when we are focused on:
- Driving
- Reading
- Performing
- Guarding the Heart [this can be done "in the background" - it is an aid to focus, not a distraction]
- Praying [can be either up front, or in the background].
- Serving the Divine Liturgy Together [something done corporately - that is, together]
But what if we begin to lose our ability to focus - on anything?
A short video to watch: Is the Internet Making Us Addicted to Distractions?
You may be asked to "Activate Quick Time" by clicking on the link.
Do that, and let me know if this video will not play for you & I'll add other types of video files.
A short article to read: Addicted to Distraction - Tony Schwartz
A short song by Sir Paul: Distractions
"Reflect on these things." - St. Paul
A Series of Discussions following the Blessed Theophlact of Ochrid's Explanations of the Gospels
We'll follow the Calendar of readings, week by week, reflecting together on the Gospel & Theophact's explanations
JAN 28 - 30th - Mark 8:11-9:16
Jan 31 - Feb 13th - Mark 11:10 - 11:26
DISCUSSIONS:
May 9th Discussion Chap 1 thru Chap 2 Question 3
May 16th Discussion Begins with Chap 2 Question 4
May 23rd Discussion Clarifies some points & moves to Chap 3 Question 2
May 30th Discussion Begins with Chap 3 Question 7
June 6th Discussion Begins with Chap 4
June 13th Discussion Begins with Chap 4 Question 5
June 20th Discussion Begins with Chap 5
June 27th Discussion Begins with Chap 5 Question 6
July 4th Discussion Clarifies some points & moves to Chap 5 Question 12
July 11th Discussion Chapter 6
August 1st Discussion Begins with Chap 7
August 8th Discussion Begins with Chap 7 Question 6
August 15th Discussion Chapter 8
August 22nd Discussion - Chapter 9
August 29th Discussion - Chapter 10
September 5th Discussion Begins with Chapter 10, Question 6
September 12th Discussion Begins with Chapter 11
September 19th Discussion Begins with Chapter 11, Question 8
September 26th Discussion - Chapter 12, Questions 1 - 7
October 3rd Discussion - Chapter 12, Longsuffering (Longanimity), then Questions 8 &9
October 10th Discussion - Chapter 12, Questions 10 - 12
Wednesday night discussion: 2-22-2012
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh, Beginning to Pray, Chapter #4 - Managing Time
Wednesday night discussion: 2-16-2012
Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh, Beginning to Pray, Chapter #3 - Going Inward
Members of our church have answered this question in different ways. Here are some of their answers:
"My shortest answer is: I am an Orthodox Christian instead of something else because I came and saw. Another possible answer is: 'I am an Orthodox Christian instead of something else because I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God and I am convinced that the Orthodox Church is the fulness of that Church which He came to establish'." – Russ Mangiopane
"Because of the fact that the Orthodox Church has stood on Holy Tradition since the beginning. I appreciate the fact that what is spoken by the Church today can be traced through Tradition back to the teachings of the Apostles who had the fullness of the Truth revealed to them at Pentecost when the Church had the fullness of the Truth revealed to them at Pentecost when the Church was started. To give a complete answer would take a book." – Alex Carroll
I am an Orthodox Christian because I feel that I have come home to Mother Church, where the faith and practices of the early Church are preserved without change. God doesn't change, so why would we need anything more than what the first Apostles and disciples of Christ taught and practiced. Come and See!" – Donna Hannam
I became an Orthodox Christian after researching the post-Reformation history of the Western Protestant movement and finding an entire )previously unbeknownst to me) linear historically rooted Church that both answered many of my lingering theological questions and led me deeper and beyond with Jesus Christ." – Jordan Thomae
"Becoming an Orthodox Christian was a long and unconventional turn of events. Upon a lengthy struggle through Protestant Christianity, I began to notice that something seemed to be missing. As I began to research the ancient Church, I took a class requiring me to go to a church service that I had never experienced before. I chose the Orthodox Church because I vaguely knew some people there. As soon as I entered into the worship at St. Timothy's, I knew that I had entered into an entirely different service (which was the goal of the class), and that this service was the sort of worship that my heart was crying out to be a part of. After my attendance of the Divine Liturgy that particular Sunday morning, I began researching the Orthodox Church. Getting 'back to the worship of Biblical times' wasn't what they were TRYING to do, it was what has been done for the past two millenia. All of this started with a simple task of 'come and see'," – Quintin Currington
"Why I converted to Orthodoxy: Western Christianity is a tree that has split so many times that the religion is in splinters. The disagreements come when men disagree with other men or when individuals decide that Christianity requires adaptation to survive in the 21st century. Orthodoxy, forever solid, is the faith once given to the Apostles that has come intact down to modern times. It hold the original teachings of the Church sacred, not continuously rewritten through a modern lens. I like having a Church where I know the teachings have been and forever will remain the same, not subject to reinvention every few decades.
"Orthodoxy is the fullness of worship. Every minute of Divine Liturgy worship, the mind and body and soul fully participate. I used to find my mind wandering off in other churches, but never with Orthodoxy! There are no "Grandparent Sundays" etc, every worship event enjoins us to transcend time and space to join the universe of Christians who have kept the faith before us and join the eternal and ongoing worship of the Trinity.
"The visual and physical worship help us to see the saints, who like us, were once sinners, but with perseverance and faith, worked out their salvation. It reminds us that we, too, should not give in to sin, but that we continue to work out our salvation. Seeing the icons, the pictures of those who literally kept the faith, reminds me that others have struggled and earned their salvation. Seeing the saints daily reminds me that Christianity is not just 'here and now" bu is timeless and eternal.
"A visit to an Orthodox church was the first place I heard the phrase, 'I was saved, I am working on salvation, I will be saved.' This, to me, answered all the arguments amongst all the churches, on the concept of salvation. Yess, we begin a journey, but it requires commitment and effort to continue to work out God's plan for us. No, we can't take a one time conversion as a 'free pass' to do what pleases us ever afterward, resting on our laurels.
"Orthodoxy is a lifestyle. This is no Sunday only commitment. Orthodox is better than any personal coach you'll ever find. The Church teaches us how to pray and commits us to a daily program of prayer and repentance and self discipline, helping us to live a sacramental life each and every day.
"Orthodoxy is time tested Christianity. The prayers have taught the true faith as given to the early Christians and have not needed to adapt to cultural concepts and political winds of the passing centuries. We do not have to revise the Bible continuously. The time we live in is not smarter than other generations in the history of man, but we think we are. the ways to overcome sin are the same today as they always have been taught by the Church. the Church shows us it is possible to hold the true faith in the face of contemporary social pressures. It is not just a moral code, but a way to experience the Divine while living." – Dana Anderson