Vigen Guroian

OrthodoxWiki - Vigen Guroian

Official Website

Videos of Vigen Guroian on Google

David Bentley Hart on Natural Law, Part Two

Ethika Politika
Hart Has Reasons that Reason Cannot Know

Hart’s (Non-)Response to His Critics: Trying to Have It Both Ways?

Natural Law, Public Policy, and the Uncanny Voice of Conscience: An Orthodox Response to David Bentley Hart

Related Posts:
David Bentley Hart on Natural Law

David Bentley Hart

David Bentley Hart

There are many other videos of David Bentley Hart on YouTube.

TAC - Best Book I’ve Read All Year by Rod Dreher

A Peek Into Orthodoxy

St. Innocent Orthodox Church, Macon, Georgia, USA from Ted Liedle on Vimeo.

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What is Orthodox Christianity?

Taking A Tour of The Orthodox Church

Understanding the Christian Orthodox Faith

Introduction to Orthodoxy

Frank Schaeffer

Why I’m Orthodox and Not Catholic

Ancient Faith Radio

Approaching the Wardrobe by Jeff Wisniewski
Why I’m Orthodox and Not Catholic
April 04, 2013 Length: 25:03
The humble heart of Pope Francis and memories of John Paul II have Jeff contemplating good things in Catholicism, but also why there is a certain “heaviness” to it and why he became Eastern Orthodox instead.

Ancient Faith Today
Papacy, Primacy, and Orthodoxy
March 24, 2013 Length: 102:50
Fr Laurent Cleenewerck, author of His Broken Body: Understanding and Healing the Schism between the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches and the editor of the Eastern Orthodox Bible (EOB), discusses with host Kevin Allen papacy, primacy, and church as they are differently understood in both Catholicism and Orthodoxy.

Related posts:
From Roman Catholic Priest To Eastern Orthodox Christian

Why I Am Not Eastern Orthodox

Fr. Laurent Cleenewerck

The Byzantine Empire

Lars Brownworth
12 Byzantine Rulers - The History of The Byzantine Empire

Lost to the West - The Forgotten Byzantine Empire that Rescued Western Civilization

Lars Brownworth - Author / Podcaster / Speaker

Lar's Blog - Finding History

***

The History of Byzantium - A podcast telling the story of the Roman Empire from 476 AD to 1453

Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov and Sretensky Stavropegic Monastery

NYTimes - Russians See Church and State Come Closer

FT.com - Putin and the monk

Everyday Heroes: An Interview with Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov)

Official Website of Everyday Saints

Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov)

Sretensky Monastery

Seeming Orthodox Vs. Being Orthodox

TAC - Seeming Orthodox Vs. Being Orthodox by Rod Dreher

The liturgy and the icons are inextricable from the theology, and from the “cultural shift” the Bartel family found was beyond their capacity. The Orthodox life is not about enhancing your Sunday morning experience with a few candles and a change of presentation. It’s not about changing your Sunday morning lifestyle; it’s about radically changing your life. The Orthodox liturgical experience has been essentially unchanged for many, many centuries. You can’t expect to “get” it after only a month of services. You have to have faith that there is something present here that Christians across the vast geography of nation, culture, and time, found valuable and true about this worship, this approach to God. If you stick it out, it will be revealed to you. But you have to submit to Orthodoxy’s rhythms and practices. You have to be willing to make the cultural shift, in order to be remade. To think that Orthodoxy is only about adding smells, bells, candles and icons onto what you normally do is like thinking you can dress up like the Queen of England and become Her Majesty...

The Culture War

Rod Dreher @ TAC
Wars And Culture Wars

...If younger Americans don’t share culturally conservative views on same sex marriage, abortion, and other hot-button issues of the last 40 years, the collapse of the GOP’s reputation for competent foreign policy management has left them with very little reason to vote Republican. So they don’t.

The Culture War, Part II or The Revolt of the (Republican) Elites by Ross Douthat

...On health care, education, jobs, you name it, the current G.O.P. is simply not equipped to meet that challenge.

So long as that remains the case, a Republican Party that takes the direction its elites seem to want to chart could easily find itself in an extremely perilous political position. It would have sidelined the concerns of many millions of voters, effectively shutting their views out of the political process, without necessarily gaining the kind of support in the center that would make that sidelining a net plus. There are plenty of social conservatives, evangelical and Catholic and Mormon, who would be happy to have an excuse to vote for centrist Democrats on economics or foreign policy, plenty of working class voters who would see a pro-immigration, pro-amnesty G.O.P. as yet another reason to stay home. For Republicans to thrive despite these losses, they would need to make substantial gains with other cohorts … and again, it’s awfully hard to see that happening so long as the party’s economic policy conversation mostly consists of office-holders attacking the Ryan budget from the right.

The True Culture War

I have written, and published, about the false structures of a “two-storey” universe. It is an image I use to think about the effects of living within a secularized culture and the temptations of a secularized Christianity. But all of the structures of a two-storey world exist in the imaginations of modern believers. God is everywhere present or He is nowhere at all.

Secularism is an intellectual construct. It has its own history – dating largely to the centuries of the early Reformation. Its assumptions are that the universe exists in a “neutral” zone. Things are just things with no particular religious significance in themselves. Religion is a matter of personal belief, but not a description of the material order.

Along with this comes a secularization of the sacraments. The significance of the Bread and Wine in the Eucharist is “spiritual,” affecting no material change in the Bread and Wine (note that the word “spiritual” is coming to mean “not having to do with everyday things”). “Freedom of religion” means “freedom of belief” since religion is simply a matter of belief (i.e. it’s intellectual).

Life lived in the “neutral zone” comes to be seen and understood as “normal life.” Today it even becomes synonymous with the “real world.” Religious practices that are publicly displayed tend to jar the neutrality of the real world. The sensibilities of the mainstream are often offended by such uninvited and unwelcome intrusions. The public square is not a religious square...

The culture war that rages within the believer is born of a double loyalty. How can Jesus be Lord of all and yet be Lord of nothing in the world around us? Some solve the contradiction by postponing Christ’s Lordship to the future. He will be Lord when He gets back. There are a variety of arrangements on this theme, but it is perhaps the dominant solution to the two-storey problem.

Ancient Faith Radio - Glory to God ~ Thoughts and reflections on Orthodox theology and life

The Life and Teachings of Martin Luther

Related Audio - The Protestant Revolution: Luther by Dr. William Marshner

What is Orthodox Christianity?

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Understanding the Christian Orthodox Faith

Taking A Tour of The Orthodox Church

Introduction to Orthodoxy

Frank Schaeffer

Mnsgr. Albacete on Charlie Rose

Charlie Rose - Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete; Frank Bruni and joined by phone, from Rome, by Daniel Wakin of New York Times

Reading the Franciscan Tea Leaves

RealClearReligion - Reading the Franciscan Tea Leaves by Dr. Adam DeVille

Having written my first book on the papacy in light of Eastern Orthodox thought, it was a point of small, admittedly geeky, pride that I seem to have been one of few people -- amidst the crushing mass of commentar -- to have picked up a hugely significant phrase used by the new pope. In his second paragraph from the loggia last Wednesday, Pope Francis quietly and without explicit reference quoted one of the oldest phrases extant to describe the Church of Rome as being the one "which presides in charity over all the Churches." This phrase goes back to Ignatius of Antioch, one of the earliest fathers of the Church who died somewhere around the turn of the second century... TO READ MORE CLICK THE ABOVE LINK.

Natural Law, Public Policy, and the Uncanny Voice of Conscience: An Orthodox Response to David Bentley Hart

AOI - Dylan Pahman – Natural Law, Public Policy, and the Uncanny Voice of Conscience: An Orthodox Response to David Bentley Hart

In this light, contra Hart, I would argue that Christians ought to affirm the natural law on the basis of conscience and employ well-reasoned arguments in support of the specific application of its dictates in areas of conflict in the public square with the hope that some may be able to see the truth or, at least, their own deficiency...

Related Post - David Bentley Hart on Natural Law

CPAC 2013 - Rick Santorum

Preaching the Astonishing Love of God

Eclectic Orthodoxy - St Isaac the Syrian: Preaching the Astonishing Love of God

Without the preaching of the boundless love of God enfleshed in Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, the Church has no reason to exist; indeed it cannot exist, for it is the Word of love that creates the new life that is the Church. Without love, there is no theosis, no repentance, no sanctification, only Pharisaic zeal and deadly dogmatism. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE.

St Isaac the Syrian: The Scandalous Injustice of God

great quotes from Paul Evdokimov

Check out the full quotes at Eclectic Orthodoxy (Fr. Al Kimel).
“From all eternity, God has thought only of the salvation of man”

“The true subject of faith is not the isolated individual but his ‘liturgical self’”

“It is of the greatest urgency to correct the ‘terrorist’ and ‘penitentiary’ ideas of God”

Related Posts:
Paul Evdokimov

St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute

Fr. Michael Plekon

The American founders’ philosophy

First Thoughts - Debating Deneen by Gabrielle Speach (Check out the links on this post.)

How should we understand the American founders’ philosophy? Did they choose principles that could only lead to America’s demise? Or, have those principles today morphed into new ones that they would find objectionable? Or, did they successfully unite the best parts of the Western philosophical tradition, and so create a political philosophy that could withstand its own worst tendencies?

Related Posts:
Liberalism

The Faiths of the Founding Fathers

David Bentley Hart on Natural Law

First Things - Is, Ought, and Nature’s Laws by David Bentley Hart

First Thoughts - Natural Law Debates

On the Square - A Christian Hart, a Humean Head by Edward Feser

Ethika Politika - Natural Law, Public Policy, and the Uncanny Voice of Conscience: An Orthodox Response to David Bentley Hart by Dylan Pahman

TAC
Why Natural Law Arguments Fail by Rod Dreher

More on Natural Law Arguments by Alan Jacobs

Politics and Natural Law, Cont’d by Rod Dreher

What’s Natural About Natural Law? by Noah Millman

Why Natural Law Is ‘Hopeless’ by Samuel Goldman

Rome Diary for the Conclave

If you want the most up-to-date information regarding the Conclave I recommend checking these sites daily:

Rocco Palmo

Sandro Magister

John L. Allen Jr.

Raymond Arroyo's Rome Diary

Robert Royal's Daily Conclave Report

The Light of the East - Film about Eastern Catholic Churches

Related Posts:

Fr. Apostolos Hill and Fr. Maximos

Eastern Catholics - Are They “Orthodox”?

Father Arseny

Wikipedia - Father Arseny

Father Arseny: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father Where Two or Three Are Gathered in My Name Excerpted from the Book: Father Arseny: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father

Ancient Faith Radio - Father Arseny: Fact or Fiction?
Dr. Bouteneff discusses a pair of books about Father Arseny, Fr. Arseny: Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father and Fr. Arseny: Cloud of Witnesses, both of which his mother translated from Russian into English.

Maria Skobtsova

Wikipedia - Maria Skobtsova

Orthodox Wiki - Maria (Skobtsova)

Resources available on the In Communion web site

Maria Skobtsova: Woman of Many Faces, Mother in Many Ways by Fr. Michael Plekon

A Saint of Our Day by Bonnie A. Michal

Mother Maria Skobtsova: Essential Writings

Fr. Michael Plekon

Official Homepage - Baruch College

Becoming the Jesus Prayer by Fr. Michael Plekon

The Church of the Holy Spirit- Nicolas Afanasiev’s Vision of the Eucharist and the Church by Michael Plekon

A Theologian of God's Beauty, A Life of Service by Fr. Michael Plekon

Father Lev Gillet: The Monk in the City, a Pilgrim in many worlds by Fr. Michael Plekon

Maria Skobtsova: Woman of Many Faces, Mother in Many Ways by Fr. Michael Plekon

Living Icons: Teachers of Our Past and Our Future by Fr. Michael Plekon

The Marketing of "Spirituality": Discerning its Spirit by Fr. Michael Plekon

Eastern Catholic Books - Authorial Interview: Fr. Michael Plekon

Patheos - Holiness In Our Time: A Q and A with Author Michael Plekon

Ancient Faith Radio, The Illumnied Heart - 132: Holiness In Our Time (audio)
Fr Michael Plekon, author of newly-released "Hidden Holiness" speaks with Kevin about the "crisis of holiness in our time" and the shape and form holiness can take in our day and age, both within and outside of our Orthodox Christian Tradition. Can St. Seraphim of Sarov and the Dalai Lama equally be called "holy"?

Books and Culture - Solus Christianus, Nullus Christianus ~ On holiness.

Redeeming Ritual

Faith and Leadership - James K.A. Smith: Tradition for innovation

Banner - Redeeming Ritual by James K.A. Smith

Orthodox-Reformed Bridge - A Calvinist Argument for Church RitualsZ

Related Post - James K.A. Smith's Desiring and Imagining the Kingdom

St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute

"Louis Bouyer told me that Pavel Florensky was the most important Russian Orthodox thinker of the 20th century." - Dr. Damian Bacich, San Jose State University

"Schmemann’s For the Life of the World: Sacraments and Orthodoxy is filled with DeLubacian insight." - Dr. John Wright, Point Loma Nazarene University

"Jacques and Raissa Maritain were close friends with Nikolai Berdyaev." - Dr. Mario Ramos-Reyes, Kansas City Kansas Community College

The dialog between Eastern Orthodox thinkers with Roman Catholic thinkers in France, especially among the Ressourcment (later Communio) thinkers, is something of great interest to me.  We know that Nicholas Afanasiev's Eucharistic eccesiology has had a significant impact on both Eastern Orthodox as well as Roman Catholic thinking.  Frankly it's hard to read Nicholas Afanasiev or Paul Evodokimov and know they were Eastern Orthodox and not Roman Catholic.  The same be said in reverse for Henri de Lubac, Jean Daniélou, or other Ressourcement thinkers who are often quoted by Orthodox writers.  They represent the best, the most nuanced, thought of their age.

Who are the Nicholas Afanasiev or Paul Evodokimov of Eastern Orthodox thinkers today?

Who are the Henri de Lubac and Jean Daniélou of Roman Catholic thinkers today?

The teachers and alumni of St. Sergius is a "Who's Who" list of some of the best thinkers in Eastern Orthodoxy in the 20-21st century.

Wikipedia - St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute

Orthodox Wiki - St. Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute (Paris, France)

Official Website

Videos (in French)

Sergei Bulgakov

Georges Florovsky

Nicolas Afanasiev or Afanassieff (Observer to Second Vatican Council)

Archimandrite Cyprian Kern (with Fr. Afanasiev began the Liturgical Conference(s) Saint-Serge) - "From Master to Disciple: The Notion of 'Liturgical Theology' in Fr. Kiprian Kern and Fr. Alexander Schmemann" by the Rt. Rev. Archimadrite Job (Getcha) is former Dean of St. Sergius Theological Institute, Paris.

Paul Evdokimov (Observer to Second Vatican Council)

Olivier Clément (Friend of Pope John Paul II)

Archimandrite Placide Deseille

John Breck

***

They following thinkers did not teach at St. Sergius but were involved in the dialog there.

Vladimir Lossky

Nikolai Berdyaev

***

Alumni of St. Sergius

Sophrony (Sakharov)

Alexander Schmemann

John Meyendorff

George Khodr - Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Mount Lebanon

Ignatius IV (Hazim) - Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East

Metropolitan Hilarion (Alfeyev)

John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco

Stephanos (Charalambides) of Tallinn

Sylvester (Haruns) of Montreal

Constantine (Essensky) of Richmond

Georges (Wagner) of Evdokia

Nikon (de Greve) of Brooklyn

John S. Romanides

Fr. Laurent Cleenewerck

Related Posts:
Msgr. Paul McPartlan

Paul Evdokimov and Olivier Clement

Paul Evdokimov on Women

Authorial Interview: Fr. Michael Plekon

Michael Plekon on Saints in Our Time

The Last of the Giants?

The Last of the Giants? - It is too early to judge the pontificate of Benedict XVI, but Joseph Ratzinger's brilliance and holiness cannot be denied by Carl E. Olson

Fr. Joseph Fessio, SJ, in reflecting on the (now completed) pontificate, spoke of Benedict as the “last of the giants”, referencing the great ressourcement theologians—de Lubac, von Balthasar, Danielou—who had so much to do with Catholic theology in the twentieth century and in shaping the work of the Council. I think it is an apt description, for Ratzinger is certainly a theological giant. But, as with John Paul II, what continues to impress most is his deep and obvious love for Christ and the Catholic Church. Few of us will be great theologians or popes, but all of us can love the Lord and his Mystical Body. Again, that is what it is all about: Eucharist. Communion with Christ. Communion with the Trinitarian God...

The CWR Blog - CWR exclusive: Fr. Fessio on Pope Benedict’s resignation

The Difference Between Orthodox Spirituality and Other Traditions

The Difference Between Orthodox Spirituality and Other Traditions by Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos

A fundamental teaching of the Holy Fathers is that the Church is a “Hospital” which cures the wounded man... Saint John Chrysostom... clearly show[ed] that the Church is a Hospital which cures people wounded by sin; and the bishops and priests are the therapists of the people of God.

And this precisely is the work of Orthodox theology. When referring to Orthodox theology, we do not simply mean a history of theology. The latter is, of course, a part of this but not absolutely or exclusively. In Patristic tradition, theologians are the God-seers. Saint Gregory Palamas calls Barlaam [who attempted to bring Western scholastic theology into the Orthodox Church] a “theologian,” but he clearly emphasises that intellectual theology differs greatly from the experience of the vision of God. According to Saint Gregory Palamas theologians are the God-seers; those who have followed the “method” of the Church and have attained to perfect faith, to the illumination of the nous and to divinisation (theosis). Theology is the fruit of man’s cure and the path which leads to cure and the acquisition of the knowledge of God.

Western theology, however, has differentiated itself from Eastern Orthodox theology. Instead of being therapeutic, it is more intellectual and emotional in character. In the West [after the Carolingian "Renaissance"], scholastic theology evolved, which is antithetical to the Orthodox Tradition...

mandatory reading - current posts of Rod Dreher

Rebellion And Empire

Is There A Crisis?

A Word About What I Believe

Round Two With R.R. Reno

What’s The Big Deal, Anyway?

Sex, Lies, And Clericalism

There Is Nothing Hidden That Will Not Be Revealed

The Blessing Of Routine

Politics and Natural Law, Cont’d

Why Natural Law Arguments Fail

Defending The ‘Catholic Moment’

Is The Pope Infallible?

Goodbye, Catholic Moment

More On Benedict’s Resignation

Holy Creeper!