The Next Stage of the Journey to Antioch

After nearly four and a half years, it appears I must now give up my once seemingly perpetual status as an Orthodox inquirer, coming at Orthodoxy from the outside–though I suppose I can still call myself an Orthodox wannabe. For the time being.
Through the mercies of the man-befriending God, and the blessings of our priest, [...]

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More Options for Your Lenten Reading from Monachos.net

Theophan the Recluse, Four Homilies on Prayer
Macarius of Egypt, Spiritual Homilies 1-5
Macarius of Egypt, Spiritual Homilies 6-11
Macarius of Egypt, Spiritual Homilies 12-22
The Rule of Pachomius (full text)

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GOA ISOS Online Course on the Great Canon of St. Andrew

Through the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese’s Internet School of Orthodox Studies, comes an online course on the Great Canon of St. Andrew. Clicking on the individual titles of the course (there are several) brings up streaming video (requires Real Player).

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The Cure for the Mind Distracted During Prayer

A holy whapping over the head by a saint.
In one of the monasteries which he had built in those parts, there was a monk who could not continue at prayers; for when the other monks knelt down to serve God, his manner was to go forth, and there with wandering mind to busy himself about [...]

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On Patron Saints and Saints’ Lives

The life of St Benedict is for me a very fruitful source for reflection and meditation.  (Indeed, I had the pleasure a year or so ago of reading all of St. Gregory’s Dialogues [pdf file, an online version begins here].)  It has been some time, but I used to read a chapter of his life [...]

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Something to Keep in Mind During Lent

Though my temptation was different, the saint provides an example I would have done well to remember (from the life of St. Benedict):
On a certain day being alone, the tempter was at hand: for a little black bird, commonly called a merle or an ousel, began to fly about his face, and that so near [...]

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Lent Day 2

So, now that two days of Lent are just about done, how’s it been?
Basic. Very basic.
What I mean by that is I have learned how terribly disconnected I have become, in several ways. I have long wrestled with my ever-growing awareness that my mind is too, too often absent from my heart.  [...]

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O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden

So, there I was, minding my own business, Johann Sebastian Bach’s St Matthew Passion playing softly in my work background, when I heard a familiar tune.  The words, however, were rather unfamiliar . . . at first.
O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden,
Voll Schmerz und voller Hohn,
O Haupt, zu Spott gebunden
Mit einer Dornenkron,
O Haupt, sonst schön [...]

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Post-Forgiveness Vespers

For those whom I’ve offended or harmed, please forgive me, and pray for me a sinner.

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Tractati Leonis Magni

From this webpage, Tractati Leonis Magni, comes sermons of St. Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome. The texts are in Latin, with several of them translated into English. And the sermons are read in Latin (mp3 files), as well.
Take note of the handful of sermons on Lent. Good way to celebrate his [...]

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