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Degrees of Spiritual Perfection
By Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos “The most important work of the Church is to cure man. Therefore the Orthodox Church is a Hospital, an infirmary of the soul. This does not mean that the Church disregards other domains of pastoral activity, since she aims at the whole of man, consisting of both body and soul. She cares indeed for the physical, economic and social problems as well; yet the main weight of her pastoral service is put on the soul’s therapy, for when man’s soul is cured then many other intractable problems are solved. Some people accuse the Orthodox Church of not being very much involved in social problems. However,…
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The Uncreated Map: Christ as the Light of Yoga
By Subdeacon Joseph Magnus Frangipani I’m reminded of pilgrims at the Himalayan foothills seeking passage around the icy mouth of the Ganges River. Among these hikers were two very different men, one an intelligent geologist and the other a simple backpacker. The geologist put every trust in his mind. As he told others, “I know all there is about the composition of mountains and valleys. I know how they’re formed and why they’re here. Look, I understand everything and really don’t need backcountry camping lessons, nor do I have time to get in shape for this journey.” So, he left unprepared, but very confident for the hard journey ahead. Meanwhile,…
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Spiritual Eyes: The Reality of the Unseen
[red_title title=”I SEE YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL” subtitle=”A shocking encounter with Elder Iakavos of Evia” style=”red-title-centered” ][/red_title] The following is a dialogue between Klitos Ioannidis and Dr. George Papazahos. Dr. Papazahos was a cardiologist in Athens, Greece and was the personal physician of Saint Porphyrios. Klitos Ioannidies is the author of books about Saint Porphyrios. In fact, the book that I used to translate into English was authored by Klitos Ioannidis. In that book about Saint Porphyrios “Elder Porphyrios, Testimonies and Experiences,” there is a whole chapter about the doctor’s personal experiences with the Saint. I found this article especially interesting because the doctor apparently had a very close doctor/patient relationship…
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The Opening of the Senses
By Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov Printed in Issue 6* PEOPLE become capable of seeing spirits by a certain alteration of the senses, which is accomplished in a way that is unnoticeable and inexplicable to a person. He only notes in himself that he has suddenly begun to see what before this he had not seen and what others do not see, and to hear what before this he had not heard. For those who experience in themselves such and alteration of the senses, it is very simple and natural, even though not explainable to oneself and to others; to those who have not experienced it, it is strange and not understandable….…
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The Impossibility of Aloneness: When Christ Found Me in the Himalayas
By Subdeacon Joseph Magnus Frangipani Printed in Issue 24 I’m an Orthodox Christian living in Homer, Alaska and experienced Jesus Christ in the Himalayas, in India. I listen to the heartbeat of rain outside… Cold, Alaskan fog blowing in off the bay, emerald hills now that autumn is here and summer chased away into the mountains. But a milky white fog spreads over the bay like a silken ghost. I used to visit Trappist monasteries, back when I was Catholic, at the beginning of high school, and searching for a relationship of love. I read plenty of philosophy then to know that knowing isn’t enough, that having a realization in…
