Orthodox Christianity::Orthodox Internet - Sites Updates

Protoevangelium and materials on the Theotokos

monachos.net — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:48:54 +0300

Following from requests emerging out of an ongoing thread in the Discussion Community, we have published on-line three texts relating to the patristic veneration of the Theotokos. The first is the second-century Protoevangelium of James (also known as the 'Protoevangelion', the 'Gospel of James', and the 'Infancy Gospel of James'), which is one of our earliest documents on the life of the Mother of God, and one of the key texts that informs the festal hymnography of her feasts in the Orthodox Church. Second is an homily by St Gregory Palamas on the entry of the Theotokos into the Holy of Holies, given on the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos (21st Nov.), and dwelling upon her residing in the Most Holy Place, as recounted in the Protoevangelion and festal hymns. Finally, an homily by St Andrew of Crete on the Nativity of the Theotokos, which also considers materials from the Protoevangelion and festal hymnography.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

mechka

orthomatic.net — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:15:07 +0300

Orth-o-matic. ��

A patristic reading plan for Great Lent

monachos.net — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:21:34 +0300

Today we have published a day-by-day patristic Lenten reading plan, designed to provide readers with a forty-day guide for reading in the early Church Fathers during the period of Great Lent. Two versions of the plan are provided (one with longer readings each day, one with shorter), which provide key texts from the early Fathers on themes related to the Lenten ascesis and preparation for Holy Pascha. Texts are linked through the plans, so the texts can easily be read on-line each day. In this way the period of Great Lent may be a time of more intentional immersion in the writings of the patristic heritage.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

New patristic sources texts

monachos.net — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 09:14:27 +0300

Today we have added a number of patristic writings to our large library of patristic source texts in English. Amongst today's new additions are the complete text of�The Didache; the treatise by�St Cyprian of Carthage, On the Unity of the Church; the complete text of the Life of St Anthony by St Athanasius of Alexandria; two homilies by St Leo the Great of Rome:�Homily 21 (On the Feast of the Nativity, 1), and�Homily 49 (On Great Lent, 11); and the full set of five�Mystagogical Catecheses 1 by St Cyril of Jerusalem. Each of these texts, in its own way, addresses themes in the Christian life relevant to the spirit of Great Lent, and are encouraged reading during this time of the Fast.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

'The Cup of Christ' by St Ignatius (Brianchaninov)

monachos.net — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:17:57 +0300

We have today published an important text by St Ignatius (Brianchaninov), entitled The Cup of Christ. This remarkable text is a sustained reflection on Christ's 'cup' as that suffering He received from the Father, and how all Christians are called to partake of this Cup of suffering in this life in a proper spirit of willingness and joy. Especially in the season of Great Lent, this writing from a modern-day Father of the Church is of critical importance.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

Materials for the second week of Great Lent

monachos.net — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 22:45:24 +0300

A number of materials on Monachos.net are relevant to the current second week of the Great Fast. May we invite our readers to take a few moments to read some texts relevant to the recent Sunday of Orthodoxy: the�'Farewell homily' of St Tikhon of Moscow, on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, 1907; the full text of the�Service of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, commemorating�the restoration of the holy icons and including the anathemas, memory eternal, and many years; a�homily on the Triumph of Orthodoxy by St Tikhonwith a strong missionary focus; and a�text by St Gregory Palamas on the holy icons, from his larger�New Testament Decalogue.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

grisha

orthomatic.net — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:57:14 +0300

Orth-o-matic. ��

parting

orthomatic.net — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:10:23 +0300

Orth-o-matic. ��

your-life

orthomatic.net — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:34:57 +0300

Orth-o-matic. ��

osenovica

orthomatic.net — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:57:48 +0300

Orth-o-matic. ��

Understanding Eastern Christian Contemplation And Non-Dual Eastern Contemplative Religions

strannik.com/watchful_gate — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:48:41 +0300

Reader John Simmons will be giving a talk at Archangel Bookstore in San Francisco, titled "Understanding Eastern Christian Contemplation And Non-Dual Eastern Contemplative Religions".� This will be a talk that roughly encapsulates much of the material on the Watchful Gate Site, focusing on the comparisons and contrasts between contemplative paths: why there is so much similarity and what the important differences are. He will also give examples of the pattern observed by many at the Watchful Gate: Buddhists and other non-dual seekers who find the fulfillment of their search in the Ancient Christian teachings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers.

A Watchful Gate. Orthodox Library

New Discussion Community system launched

monachos.net — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 22:45:36 +0300

An upgrade of the system powering our Discussion Community on-line forum on 25th December has provided the forum with an updated look and a host of new functionality. With nearly 70,000 posts, the Discussion Community is an extremely active forum for the discussion of Orthodoxy's patristic and monastic heritage, and the upgraded system allows for a yet more interactive environment throughout. If you've not yet taken part in our discussions, please do join us now in the new year.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

"Christ The Eternal Tao" Seminar Media Now Online!

strannik.com/watchful_gate — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:45:17 +0300

The "Christ The Eternal Tao" Seminar announced below took place in Costa Mesa, and now photos and streaming audio of the event is online, with video clips soon to be added.

Access the media for the event here:

Christ the Eternal Tao with Hieromonk Damascene

A Watchful Gate. Orthodox Library

Materials for the Nativity Fast

monachos.net — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:45:46 +0300

May we take this opportunity to remind all our readers of various resources pertaining to the present Nativity Fast, which may be of interesting during this time of preparation for the Feast:

On the Nativity Fast: The Preparation of the Soul - A reflection on the nature of fasting as it relates to the Feast of the Nativity, and why Christians fast in preparation for the Lord's birth.
St John Chrysostom on the Charity of Fasting - An episode of our A Word From the Holy Fathers broadcast series, examining the nature of fasting as a pastoral activity, rooted in the love of God and of neighbour.
A series of older and newer threads in the Discussion Community focus on themes of the Nativity Fast, including 'The Nativity Fast'.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

Patristics broadcasts back for the Autumn

monachos.net — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:24:04 +0400

Our A Word From the Holy Fathers... series of patristics broadcasts have resumed this week, after an hiatus over the summer period. This weekly series offers a reflection on the writings of the Church Fathers, exploring their application to every-day Christian living. Our newest episode, 'Back to Forgiveness', is currently available in our Broadcasts Area, or from Ancient Faith Radio, the Apple Music iStore, etc.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

The Sermon and the Chalice

monachos.net — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 01:09:35 +0400

A new study has been added to our Liturgical Studies collection, entitled The Sermon and the Chalice: St John Chrysostom on Receiving the Word of God. This text explores the relationship between the homily and the Mystery of the Eucharist in the preaching of St John. How ought the sermon relate to the sacrament? Is there a proper, ascetical dimension to the Orthodox sermon?

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

'Word from the Fathers' quotations page back on-line

monachos.net — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:20:49 +0400

Our 'A Word From the Holy Fathers...' start page, which has been off-line for a few weeks, is now back on-line in a revised and expanded format. This page, which is intended to be used as a start page for your browser, randomly displays a collection of patristic sayings from our fuller, user-edited index of patristic quotations, each time it is loaded. Save this page to your browser to start your internet experience each day with a few pearls from the Fathers.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

Testing of new design across Monachos.net

monachos.net — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:33:16 +0400

We pleased that initial beta testing of the new style design for Monachos.net went well, and have this week begun widespread testing across the whole web site, including the Discussion Community forum. There is no need to sign up for this testing: the whole site has been converted to use the new styling, so that it is seen and interacted with by all visitors. Refinements will continue to be made over the coming few days and weeks before the 'beta' styling becomes final. We appreciate your feedback.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

Beta testing new styling

monachos.net — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:38:20 +0400

We have begun public beta testing of our new web style styling / design. You are welcome to take part in this beta test and explore the new styling, offering comments, feedback and any bug reports in the forum.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

Special broadcasts on heritage of St Paul

monachos.net — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:27:06 +0400

During this period of the Apostles Fast, leading to the Feast of the Holy Apostles, Monachos.net is broadcasting a two-part lecture on 'The Heritage of St Paul in Orthodox Spirituality', as part of its regular weekly patristics internet radio broadcast with Ancient Faith Radio: A Word from the Holy Fathers. The first half aired on 29th June and is available now via the link above; and the second half airs on Monday, 6th July 2009.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

Christ the Eternal Tao - Fall Seminar with Hieromonk Damascene

strannik.com/watchful_gate — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:25:51 +0400

Christ the Eternal Tao, which is a book by Hieromonk Damascene of the St. Herman of Alaska Monastery, will be used as the basis for a weekend seminar in Costa Mesa, CA.

Learn how Eastern Orthodox Christian spirituality provides seekers of our day clear guidance on acquiring stillness, overcoming the passions, dealing with thoughts, and cultivating the virtues, as well as precise teachings on spiritual deception which guides seekers more safely and surely on the path to communion with God (Tao – Chinese). In the profound mystical and contemplative tradition of the Christian East, seekers are able to go well beyond the realizations in Eastern religions. It will be a long – awaited answer for those who, having turned away from modern Western religiosity, are drawn to the freshness, directness and simplicity of Lao Tzu and eastern philosophies, and at the same time are strangely, inexplicably drawn back to the all-compelling reality of Jesus Christ.

�

Hieromonk Damascene (Christensen) is an Eastern Orthodox priest, monk and spiritual child of ascetic and spiritual struggler Bl. Father Seraphim Rose, of St Herman of Alaska Monastery, Platina, California. Fr Damascene is the author of Fr Seraphim Rose: His Life And Works and Christ The Eternal Tao, as well as numerous articles on Eastern Orthodox faith, doctrine and spirituality.

Raised a nominal Christian, Fr Damascene came to believe that a personal God or gods was a “less enlightened” spiritual Truth than that of the Trans-Personal experience taught in Buddhism. Through his practice of Zen Buddhism, he experienced what he describes as “darkness, infinite nothingness, existing outside of space and time, where everything is Now and time has no meaning.” After having this experience, he met Father Seraphim Rose lecturing on his college campus (UC Santa Cruz). Fr Seraphim had been a student of Zen with Alan Watts, and of Taoism under a genuine transmitter of the Taoist philosophical tradition, Gi-ming Shen, before becoming an Eastern Orthodox Christian convert and monk. Through an on-going relationship with Fr Seraphim, who became his spiritual father, Monk Damascene came to discover that the Truth was not just an abstract idea, sought and known by the mind, but was something personal – even a Person – sought and loved by the heart. As he later wrote, “And that is how I met Christ.” He was at Fr Seraphim’s bedside when he reposed less than two years later.

Not satisfied with a “normal or average” Christian experience, Fr Damascene went to live in the Northern California woods where Fr Seraphim lived, in his old wooden cabin, to be united with Christ without distraction. He has lived at St Herman of Alaska Monastery for over 25 years.

He does not often visit the Los Angeles-Orange County area to give lectures. This is a rare opportunity for seekers to learn about the “Way of Heaven, the Course that all things are to follow, and to return to the original state, the Primal Simplicity, at one with nature, which is the original designation of mankind.” (From an article in The Orthodox Way)

2009 Fall Seminar

A Watchful Gate. Orthodox Library

New patristic sayings database: 'The Fathers Say...'

monachos.net — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:20:47 +0400

We have begun work on our new, user-editable area: 'The Fathers Say...' - A Topical Index of Sayings from the Church Fathers. This wiki-based resource will contain an ever-expanding collection of sayings from the Fathers of the Church, to which all readers can add through the wiki system. Browse the various topics and sub-topics already created; then sign in to create new categories, organize existing sayings, and add sayings yourself.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

New Paschal Materials for 2009

monachos.net — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 20:34:48 +0400

We have updated our collection of Paschal resources with a collection of new materials for Holy Pascha 2009. These includes Paschal greetings, texts, hymns, writings from the Fathers, broadcasts, and other resources for the celebration of the feast of the Lord's saving Resurrection.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

Lenten podcasts on the Fathers

monachos.net — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:34:10 +0400

Have you listened to our series of Lenten broadcasts in the A Word From the Holy Fathers series? Recent broadcasts have included 'Shall we forgive? The Fathers on Forgiveness as the Gateway to Salvation'; 'Rising in Repentance'; 'St Gregory Palamas on Icons as Tools for the Heart'; 'St Symeon the New Theologian on the "Impossible Beauty" of the Life in Christ'; 'St John of Sinai (a.k.a. St John of the Ladder) on Sorrow that Produces Joy'; and most recently, this week, 'St Mary of Egypt and the Grace of the Holy Mysteries'. You can listen to all these episodes, together with others, in our Word From the Holy Fathers Podcasts Area.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics

Orthodox Dictionary and Glossary

monachos.net — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:21:33 +0300

Our Orthodox dictionary and glossary is now on-line, offering identification and defintion of the many major terms encountered in Orthodox patristic, monastic and liturgical study. This is a collaborative product of members of the Discussion Community forum, edited by Monachos.net editors - and as such you can contribute new terms, definitions, or comment on existing entries.

Monachos.net. Orthodox Monasticism and Patristics