St. John Cassian On Anger

In which I confess that I am a worm, and not a man. Lord, have mercy.

Lessons of Repentance from Evagrios the Solitude in the Philokalia

Reflections on the Philokalia, instructions for beginning to pray.

Catechetical Lectures: Of Sin and the Grace of God

St. Cyril of Jerusalem's Catechetical Lectures (Part II) In continuing my reading through St. Cyril's catechetical lectures, part II begins the major "lesson plan" after the introductory material of part I. The subject matter for this lecture is rather self-explanatory so I won't waste much time and dive right in. On Repentance and Remission of …

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Contra Mundum

I have often remarked about how I am surprised by the wealth of knowledge found in the Church Fathers. This may seem obvious to the lifelong Orthodox, but to someone who grew up as a Lutheran and served as a Baptist pastor, little more than lip service was given to the Early Church unless a …

Catechetical Lectures: Faith

St. Cyril of Jerusalem's Catechetical Lectures: Part V Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. ---Hebrews 11:1-2 Having read through a few of St. Cyril's lectures now, I half-expected the one on faith to be his Magnum Opus, …

Catechetical Lectures: Points of Doctrine

St. Cyril's Catechetical Lectures (Part IV) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, etc. ---Colossians 2:8 With this passage, St. Cyril begins his instruction on proper doctrine for the catechumen. It seems this lecture is being framed as the opposite …

Catechetical Lectures: For the Remission of Sins

St. Cyril of Jerusalem's Catechetical Lectures (Part III) Or do you not know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Were buried therefore with Him by our baptism into death ---Romans 6:3-4 In part III of St. Cyril's catechetical lectures, he examines baptism. This is directed primarily at …

Catechetical Lectures: A Call to Repentance, A Call to Learn

St. Cyril of Jerusalem’s Catechetical Lectures (Part I) In my continued efforts to work through the writings of the Church Fathers in relatively chronological order, I find myself providentially reading St. Cyril of Jerusalem (AD 313–386). Through my studies, I have come to the point where I am almost certain I wish to join the Orthodox …

Much Brings Salvation, But Only The Church Does

Cyprian of Carthage Slightly Confuses Me The latest Father I read was St. Cyprian of Carthage. I enjoyed reading his works. As always, here are my thoughts: Unity Once again, a central theme of Cyprian’s writings, as it has been with every previous author, is that of unity within the Church. So much does he focus …

A Working of Faith Through Faithful Works

Reading Clement of Rome Okay, I admit I went a little cheeky with the title on this one, but unlike some Church Fathers I know, my reason for doing so will be explicitly clear in this article. So far as I know, Clement of Rome is the last of his peers that I’ll be reading, with my next …