Union with God pierces heart and mind with cauterising flame, enlightening the mind in the heart, severing glory from vanity by consuming confusion and dissolving division. Union by grace restores glory to God, purifying the heart by consuming vainglory, illumining the mind in the awakened heart, glorifying saints in the hallowed Name. Union by grace proceeds through Christ from the Father… Read more »
The Completeness of God is ‘eternally now,’ unveiling temporal incompleteness in timeless presence, awakening uncreated wisdom in uncreated glory. Christ, divine but human, communicates theandric co-inherence by grace to all who receive him, embracing the cosmos with cosmo-theandric glory. The Holy Spirit enlightens seers with uncreated wisdom, transfiguring saints with uncreated glory, communicating mysteries of glorification to all whose hearts are open. Orthodox Hesychasm… Read more »
The Holy Cross saves by crucifying confusion and healing division, raising into ascending glory all who turn and see with wisdom’s ‘single eye.’ The cross is holy because it purifies the heart, enlightening the mind in the heart, deifying saints through the holy practice of glorification. Cutting through layers of confusion, leaping over mountains of delusion, the Holy Cross hallows all… Read more »
The mysteries of the Mother of God unveil dimensions of deifying glory which remain utterly hidden until the eye of wisdom opens. Mystery through and through, from her Nativity through to her Dormition, her mysteries are celebrated yet concealed, visible yet invisible, revered in the silence of wonder. Her mysterious silence communicates ineffable stillness, imparting glorification beyond what words can… Read more »
The Nativity of the Holy Virgin is celebrated on September 8th, according to traditions based on the Proto Evangelium Jacobi, an apocryphal gospel with references to the birth of the Holy Virgin going back to AD 130-140. Although not named in Scripture, it very firmly supports Scripture, preparing for the Annunciation and Incarnation. Joachin and Anna, bearers of the God-bearer,… Read more »
Wisdom renews all that there is, dissolving thoughts of past and future, restoring everything to timeless glory. Cutting through time, wisdom reveals timeless presence of timeless glory, uniting heaven and earth in renewing glorification. Grace makes known God’s zeal for glorification, liberating ecstatic praise, releasing ineffable wisdom fulfilling all in all. Wisdom consumes confusion, dissolving division, renewing creation anew is… Read more »
When temptations arise, holy serenity observes their endless chatter without retaliation, knowing Christ endured the condemnations of officialdom with silence, choosing to abide in the holy realm of the Name, beyond this world. Accused by heresy hunters, Hesychasts abide in stillness, rejoicing in uncreated glory, deaf to subtle taunts and insinuations, brushing the dust of wordy contentions from uncreated light,… Read more »
Holy Anna the Prophetess gave thanks when she saw the child Jesus in the temple, transforming her turning to God into hallowing vision of God (Luke 2:34-36). Anna was holy because hallowing vision of God made her holy, enabling her to see who Jesus was and give thanks for the reign of his glorious Name. Daughter of Phanuel, Anna lived in… Read more »
Samuel the Prophet was told by Eli to say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening,’ when God called him in the night (1 Sam 3:1-4). Hearing God, Samuel turns and sees, glorifying God in his Name. Hearkening to God, prophets speak in God’s Name, inspiring redemptive prophecy and remedial prayer for generations to come. Prophets turn and see, giving… Read more »
The shroud image was called the ‘icon not made with hands’ when it was transferred from Edessa to Constantinople in AD 988 on this, its holy feast day. The image was ‘burned’ into the linen by the resurrection, not painted by hand, leaving the greatest of relics for our contemplation and adoration. In 1204, Templar crusaders took the Shroud from Constantinople and… Read more »