“You have to force behaviors,” Larry Fink of BlackRock. The above quote comes from a 2017 interview that has resurfaced on the internet. In it Mr. Fink (sounds like a Dickens character, “Squeeze them Mr. Fink, squeeze them!”) speaks about how behavior must be forced to change and, in basic, certain prominent groups should use …
Continue reading We Found Witches! The Inquisition of Control over Human Freedom
Below the reader will find, in full, chapter 15 from my translation of select works form St. Dimitry of Rostov. The chapter title in the book is “The Search for Christ.” I believe it offers very profound themes of contemplation for us as we prepare to enter the Great Fast. Ultimately, every blessed thing that …
Below the reader will find a beautiful account of a disciple who through his seeming lack of strict obedience brought forth great fruit. He rightly coupled discernment with obedience. For without discernment, it is possible for obedience to become abusive. Of course, such discernment was (and must be) exercised with great Christian love and devotion. …
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but have the light of life” (Jn 8:12), says the Lord Jesus. It is only in the purifying light of God that we see light and become full of light. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore …
I'm very pleased to announce the republication in book form of my translation of select works by St. Dimitry of Rostov. I formerly had a post on my blog with a PDF version, entitled “Instruction on the Path of Virtue.” I have spent a bit of time revising and editing it for publication in print …
Below is another portion of my current continued effort to translate more of the works of St. Dimitry of Rostov. The preceding translations may be found through these links - Chapter 2: A True Mind and an Evil Mind. Chapter 3: Without the Purification of the Mind, Everything is Foolishness. Here, I offer Chapter 1, …
Continue reading The Loss of True Reason and the Fall of Mankind
It is, most likely, a tactic as old as history. Incite questions, or clear attack, as to the motive and character of your opponent, discredit him, and thereby circumvent addressing any viable and legitimate topics or issues he may raise or present. In modern times this is called character assassination. In the study of fallacies, …
Below is little more of my translation (from Russian) of a work by St. Dimitry of Rostov on the topic of knowledge, reason, and the mind. The reader may find the previous article on this subject, by St. Dimitry, here - “A True Mind and an Evil Mind.”The topic of true knowledge and understanding is …
Continue reading Without the Purification of the Mind, There is only Foolishness
Prayer to Mary, the Mother of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, is an ancient Christian practice. The earliest written record of a prayer to the Virgin Mary is dated around 250 AD. This prayer, “Beneath thy compassion,” is in use to this day in the Orthodox Church. Prayer to and veneration of the …
Continue reading Christian Prayer to the Virgin Mary and the Theotokos Rule
Below the reader will find excerpts from an article by Ven. Seraphim of Platina, The Goal of Dialogue with Non-Christian Religions, Orthodox Word, 1972, Vol. 8, #1, (42). As Orthodox Christians we may well have hoped that the topic would have lost its significance, and that Orthodox would have repented of their dabbling in communion …
Continue reading Can the Orthodox Church Enter a Dialogue with Non-Christian Religions?
The Inkless Pen 