Thracian Times. Severius Mendax, reporting. Yesterday, on July 17th, 362, the Thracian town of Dorostolon was honored with a visit from representatives of our great Emperor Julian. The goal of the visit was to ensure the Emperor's civil orders that outlaw the troublesome Christian sect are being implemented. Dorostolon was initially found to be in …
Tag: Christian Faith
Christians Must Be Crazy
“To get ahead one must have a crazy streak, in the good sense of the term. Depending on how you use this crazy streak, you can become either a saint or a hero. But if you are not helped and are led astray, you can also become a criminal. One who doesn't have a crazy …
A New Announcement from the Council for Religious Unity, Fraternity, and Serenity in Social Affairs: Concerning Old and New Imagery of Jesus
An update from the Council for Religious Unity, Fraternity, and Serenity in Social Affairs. Regarding religious imagery. The Coronavirus crisis presents a unique opportunity to evolve in our understanding of God. Our former ignorance may be shed as we progress to a more humane understanding of God. We are confronted with a chance to reshape …
Gracious Evil and Apostasy
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith, prove your own selves” (2 Cor. 13:5). The Scriptures are replete with the call to self-examination. For the believer, this includes the examination of “whether ye be in the faith.” That is are we striving to hold fast to sound doctrine and teaching? St. Paul even gives …
Christianity and Socialism
A very pertinent teaching by St. Hilarion (Troitsky). He lived in the days of the rise of socialism and its taking of power in Russia under the form of Soviet Socialism. St. Hilarion ended his life as a martyr, tasting first hand the ruthless fruit of socialism against which he warned. The discerning reader will …
Right Theology Without Right Praxis is Dead
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (James 1:22). True faith is both in word - theology, faith – and in deed - work, practice, application. Thus, there is no right faith devoid of right practice. St. Paul also echos this spiritual reality when he teaches “Not …
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Government, Social Justice, and the Hearts of Men
“From what place comes wars and fights among you? They are from this place, from your desires after pleasure which war in your members, are they not?” (James 4:1). Modern ideological systems have convinced humanity that the “problems” of the world are located “outside” of a person: a political system, an economic system, racism, poverty, …
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Mankind: God-Created Being of Reason or Biological Computer?
“In the beginning was the Logos ...” (Jn 1:1). An aspect of the nuanced meaning of logos is reason. Ultimately, Christ is the governing principle, the source, the reason, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, of all meaning and purpose. Thus, humanity is created a rational, reasoning being. We have been given logoi. …
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Meeting with Immortality
St. Justin Popovich proclaims that through the whole incarnate action of Christ the Lord, He “has sentenced mankind to immortality.” Truly, it is for immortality that we were made. St. Gregory Palamas teaches, in light of Christ Jesus' Ascension, “He ascended in glory (cf. Acts 1:9), entered the Holy of Holies not made by hands …
To the Church of Thyatira: Beware of Jezebel
“To the angel of the Church in Thyatira write ...” (Rev. 2:18) The ancient town of Thyatira had little historical significance, “but,” notes Archbp. Averky, “it is known in the history of Christianity because from it there came Lydia, who was enlightened with the light of faith in Christ by the Holy Apostle Paul (cf. …
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The Inkless Pen 