True Theology

“Theology is the word of God that is comprehended by pure, humble and spiritually reborn souls. It is not the beautiful words of the mind which are formed with philological artistry and which are expressed with the juridical or worldly spirit. Created words can’t speak to man’s soul, just as a beautiful statue is not able to speak, unless the audience is very worldly and is satisfied simply by beautiful words. Theology that is taught as a [worldly] science usually examines things historically and consequently understands things externally. Because patristic asceticism and inner experience are absent, this theology is full of doubts and questions. With his mind man is not able to comprehend the divine energies unless he first struggles ascetically to live these energies, so that the grace of God might work within him.” – Elder Paisios

The Purpose of Life

“The ‘mystery hidden from the ages’ (Col. 1:26) and from the nations is now revealed through the true and perfect incarnation of the Son of God. For he united our nature to Himself in a single person, without division and without confusion, and joined us to Himself as a kind of first fruits. This holy flesh with its intellectual and rational soul came from us and is ours. He deemed us worthy to be one and the same with Himself according to His humanity. For we were predestined before the ages (cf. Eph. 1:11-12) to be in Him as members of His body. He adapted us to Himself and knitted us together in the Spirit as a soul to a body and brought us to the measure of spiritual maturity derived from His fullness. For this we were created; this was God’s good purpose for us before the ages.” – St. Maximos the Confessor

Freedom

Man’s freedom has been given him to choose between the true God and himself, between the true path to deification whereon the self is humbled and crucified in this life to be resurrected and exalted in God and eternity, and the false path of self-deification which promises exaltation in this life but ends in the Abyss. These are the only two choices, ultimately, open to the freedom of man; and upon them have been founded the two Kingdoms, the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Man, which may be discriminated only by the eye of faith in this life, but which shall be separated in the future life as Heaven and Hell. It is clear to which of them modern civilization belongs…The old commandment of “Thou shalt,” says [Nietzsche’s] Zarathustra, has become outmoded; the new commandment is “I will.” – Fr. Seraphim Rose

A Head of Cabbage

From the book, “God’s Fools”, a story about 2 fools for God from the 14th century:

“The Fools Theodore and Nicholas lived in Novgorod. A great bridge joined two sections of
the city, Torgova and Sofia. On this bridge many horrible fights broke out between the
Capuletokovs and Montaguskys (sic). Bishops often had to rush to the bridge and put a stop to
the violence.

“Well, then the Fools began to fight on the bridge, to demonstrate, as only Fools can, the
stupidity of violence. Theodore would not let Nicholas cross over, and vice versa.

“But then a nobleman invited Theodore to cross over and visit him. And Theodore, after much
begging, agreed. He crossed over, and suddenly Nicholas appeared. Nick chased Ted along the
bank of the Volkhov River, then Ted ran right ONTO the river. Nick rushed into a nearby
garden and grabbed a head of cabbage, and then he too ran ONTO the river. And Nick hurled
the cabbage at Ted.

“Many people witnessed this event. And Blessed Nicholas was given the name ‘Kochanov’
meaning ‘head of cabbage’.”

Wisdom from the Fathers

From St. Anthony the Great (4th century):

“God is good, dispassionate, and immutable. Now someone who thinks it reasonable and true to affirm that God does not change, may well ask how, in that case, it is possible to speak of God as rejoicing over those who are good and showing mercy to those who honor Him, and as turning away from the wicked and being angry with sinners. To this it must be answered that God neither rejoices nor grows angry, for to rejoice and to be offended are passions; nor is He won over by the gifts of those who honor Him, for that would mean He is swayed by pleasure. It is not right that the Divinity feel pleasure or displeasure from human conditions. He is good, and He only bestows blessings and never does harm, remaining always the same. We men, on the other hand, if we remain good through resembling God, are united to Him, but if we become evil through not resembling God, we are separated from Him. By living in holiness we cleave to God; but by becoming wicked we make Him our enemy. It is not that He grows angry with us in an arbitrary way, but it is our own sins that prevent God from shining within us and expose us to demons who torture us. And if through prayer and acts of compassion we gain release from our sins, this does not mean that we have won God over and made Him to change, but that through our actions and our turning to the Divinity, we have cured our wickedness and so once more have enjoyment of God’s goodness. Thus to say that God turns away from the wicked is like saying that the sun hides itself from the blind.”

An a more serious note

Hey all,

I’m sorry for not writing in so long.  On a not so serious note, I thought I would begin my return to the blog with a brief summary of the bible from the awesome scholars barats and bereta.  Also, please leave any ideas you would like to see discussed on the blog in the future in the comment box.

Enjoy!